Every year the sporting world gives us memories to last a life time. Some are good and some are bad – or mostly bad if you live in Toronto.
All joking aside, 2014 was certainly another sports year to remember. Near death experiences, lovers and fighters, strip teases, mandatory anthem acts and more highlight a year that had it all.
Anthems can be classy…and not so classy
Hours after an attack in Ottawa left Cpl. Nathan Cirillo dead, one of the most tear-jerking renditions of Canada’s national anthem rang out as the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Philadelphia Flyers.
“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight our thoughts and prayers are with our friends in Ottawa and across Canada. Please join us in the singing of ‘O Canada.’”
But the Pennsylvania residents didn’t just sing it – they nailed it (watch the video above).
READ MORE: Penguins play ‘O Canada’ to honour those affected by Ottawa shooting
A mid-November pre-game ceremony between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the visiting Nashville Predators went viral after a video was posted online of “The Star-spangled Banner.”
When the anthem singer’s mic cut out, the music didn’t end there. The Air Canada Centre’s faithful took up the torch and finished the anthem in style as chills likely went down the spines of millions of Americans.
A video of Mark Donnelly – aka “Mr. O’ Canada” – singing Canada’s national anthem at the Penticton Vees home opener went viral in October.
Why, you ask? Donnelly was on skates, had a microphone in his face and a red carpet somewhere on the ice.
The rest is the stuff of legends.
READ MORE: Mark Donnelly’s on-ice fall goes viral
Boy, that was close
In early October, Italian rally car fans miraculously survived what appeared to be a terrible crash.
Driver Piero Scavone and navigator Diego D’Hérin lost control of their car as it came around a corner. The vehicle appeared to mount a wall and flip straight over half a dozen spectators before rolling back on the course.
Everyone walked away unscathed – including Scavone and D’Hérin – while one fan was treated for shock.
READ MORE: Incredible video as Italian rally race car flips into spectators
It was just your average day in March at a Ukrainian Premier League match. Not only did Dynamo Kyiv captain Oleg Gusev get knocked unconscious in a collision with the opposing goalkeeper – he swallowed his tongue as well.
But in an act of heroism, Dnipro midfielder Jaba Kankava rushed over to the motionless Gusev without hesitation and moved Gusev’s tongue from blocking his airway.
READ MORE: Soccer player swallows tongue, life saved by opponent
Brains and brawn, the Fitzpatrick family motto
Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had just thrown a record-setting six touchdowns in a game – but it was his eight-year-old son that left everyone in awe.
While addressing the media the elder Fitzpatrick – a former Harvard economics major – brought his son Brady to the podium and asked a reporter to think of two random numbers in the nineties to multiply.
When Ryan’s son Brady, incredibly, nailed the answer there was only one thing the proud papa could say.
“Boom!” Fitzpatrick yelled as he and his son left the room, smiles and laughter in tow.
READ MORE: Texans QB’s son steals show at press conference with math skills
They call him ‘Captain Clutch’
Derek Jeter wore New York Yankees pinstripes for twenty seasons. Not many players show that kind of loyalty anymore – and not that many players are as clutch either.
Jeter earned the moniker “Captain Clutch” over multiple post-seasons full of stellar play. And in classic Jeter style, his final at-bat at Yankee Stadium was in the bottom of the ninth with the game on the line.
You can bet your first-born that he hit a game-winning single.
So long, Derek Jeter. And good riddance to those “Derek Jeter” chants every time the Yankees visit the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
READ MORE: Jeter wins it for Yanks in home farewell
I really, really want that ball
Catching a foul ball can be a really big thing for young baseball fans. Heck, it can be a big thing for fans of any age.
So when one ball landed in front of an Australian boy at a Los Angeles Dodgers exhibition game ‘down under,’ he sure wasn’t happy when security handed it to someone else.
Cue the tears. Good thing it was returned to him.
READ MORE: Australian boy throws tantrum over foul ball
But, at least, the Australian boy wasn’t put in any danger. Meanwhile, during spring training action one man took himself out of contention for “Father of the Year” by abandoning his child for a souvenir baseball.
After a ground-rule double was hit over the fence, the dad lunges for the ball and lets go of his son’s wagon. And, of course, it all happens on a hill. And there goes the wagon.
Baseball, child, baseball…child. Tough decision.
READ MORE: Dad chases baseball leaves kid in runaway wagon
There’s no stripping in baseball
Myrtle Beach Pelicans manager Joe Mikulik is now famous for all the wrong reasons.
In August, Mikulik squared off with an umpire over what he considered to be a controversial call. After recreating the play with some Academy award-type acting, Mikulik decided to go all Magic Mike to underline his point.
Off came the shoes and then the jersey.
The best part, he called the clothes “safe” before storming off the field. You win, Joe.
READ MORE: Minor league manager Joe Mikulik strips in epic ejection meltdown
I love you, man
Joel Theriault and Gaby Roch, a pair of LNAH (Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey) players, got caught up in a tussle back in March.
But this was no ordinary bout of fisticuffs. Seemingly exhausted, the two exchanged a high five and a hug when it was all over.
READ MORE: Hockey fight ends with high five and a hug
Insert eye roll
Game seven of the World Series. Not many events get any bigger than that for exposure. Just think of all the millions upon millions of folks watching from home.
That’s more than likely what Rikk Wilde, a sales and marketing rep for Chevrolet, was thinking when it came time to present the World Series MVP trophy to San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner.
“It combines class-winning, leading, um, you know technology and stuff…”
Nice one, Rikk.
READ MORE: Chevy sales rep completely botches World Series MVP presentation
We all make mistakes. But a mistake can be magnified when you’re a celebrity and you say something that is incorrect. Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltender Jonathan Bernier learned that in December when he said the late South African President Nelson Mandela was one of his favourite athletes.
“He is one of the most known athletes in the world and a lot of impact in any kind of sport that he did. Even playing hockey, everyone knows him. From being the type of person he was off the ice and on the ice. But you know he changed a lot while he was with us. He’s a tremendous guy.”
Yikes.
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