Featuring the sports editor for The Daily Mississippian Dylan Rubino and NewsWatch sports director Browning Stubbs
1. Best Ole Miss sports moment?
Browning- The win for Ole Miss football against Alabama was the best moment for the Rebels. From senior quarterback Bo Wallace’s zip pass to junior running back Jaylen Walton in the end zone to senior defensive back Senquez Golson’s game-winning interception and finally tearing down the goalpost, it truly was a game that will never be forgotten.
Dylan- The Egg Bowl win for Ole Miss football against Mississippi State was the best moment of the year. Losing three straight conference games heading into the matchup, the Rebels ran the ball exceptionally well, and Wallace gutted out a great performance, leading to the upset victory over their hated rival.
2. Best Ole Miss game?
Browning- Even though it was a loss, the Ole Miss vs. Auburn game had to be the game of the year. There was so much back-and-forth action that it will always be remembered.
Dylan- I’ll head down a different path. Ole Miss baseball’s game three win against No. 1 seed Louisiana-Lafayette was the best game for me. Holding a 5-4 lead heading into the 8th inning with a winner-take-all game three on the line, the Rebels added five runs in the last two innings to secure their first trip to Omaha since 1972. It was a monumental win for an athletic program striving for future success.
3. Best NFL moment?
Browning- After the Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, cornerback Richard Sherman went on an epic, trash-talking rant in a post-game interview after the Seahawks advanced to the Super Bowl. The loud-mouthed Sherman solidified himself as one of the best defensive players in the game and a popular figure for the NFL.
Dylan- My NFL moment had to be Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning throwing his 509th touchdown pass on Oct. 5, against the San Francisco 49ers to become the NFL’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns. Manning cemented himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks and players in NFL history.
4. Best NBA moment?
Browning- LeBron James returning home to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers once again is the moment of the year. After four successful years with the Miami Heat, NBA superstar LeBron James signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the offseason that united the city of Cleveland, which forgave LeBron for leaving back in 2010.
Dylan- The San Antonio Spurs defeating the reigning champion Miami Heat in five games in the 2014 finals was the best moment. Head coach Gregg Popovich and players Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli all playing together since 2001 proved to work. The Spurs won their fifth championship with the victory over the Heat.
5. Best MLB moment?
Browning- Derek Jeter’s walk-off hit in his final home game as a member of the New York Yankees was the best moment in baseball. Fans didn’t want to leave Yankee Stadium as they said their goodbyes to the captain.
Dylan- How can you not go with Derek Jeter’s final at-bat at Yankee Stadium? It was an improbable win to Jeter’s illustrious career with a walk-off hit in his final at-bat. His 20 seasons with the Yankees concluded in a fairy tale-like ending only Jeter and fans could have dreamed of.
6. Best college basketball moment?
Browning- The No. 7 seed UCONN Huskies pulled off a numerous amount of upsets to win the NCAA Tournament the 2013-2014 season. Final Four MVP Shabazz Napier led the Huskies with wins over the No. 2 seed Villanova Wildcats, No. 3 seed Iowa State Cyclones, No. 4 seed Michigan Wolverines, No. 1 seed Florida Gators and John Calipari’s No. 8 seed Kentucky Wildcats to capture their second title in three years.
Dylan- The relationship between former Michigan State forward Adreian Payne and 8-year-old cancer patient Lacey Holsworth was a touching story everyone paid attention to. Payne made many visits to Holsworth in the hospital and brought her to many Michigan State games. Holsworth died on April 8, but the relationship between the two will live on forever.
7. Best college football game?
Browning- Currently, TCU and Baylor are fighting for the final spot in the college football playoff. Their matchup on Oct. 11 was one for the ages. After trailing by 21 points in the fourth quarter, Baylor rallied to defeat the Horned Frogs 61-58 in what became a monumental shootout.
Dylan- The Oct. 18 matchup between then fifth ranked Notre Dame and first ranked Florida State in Tallahassee was one for the ages. The Seminoles bounced back from a 17-10 deficit at halftime and stayed perfect for the season with a 31-27 victory. Reigning Heisman trophy winner Jameis Winston dug Florida State out of the hole to advance to 7-0 on the season.
8. Best overall game?
Browning- Even though Team USA lost to Belgium 2-1 in the round of 16, it was still a game to remember. USA Goalie Tim Howard finished with 16 saves, which was the most in a World Cup game since 1966. The loss knocked Team USA out of Brazil, but the passion and pride for United States soccer gained a lot of momentum heading into the future.
Dylan- The United States hockey team’s win over host country Russia in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi was the best game of the year. Heading into a decisive shootout to win the game, USA’s T.J. Oshie took six shots for the United States and made four of them to secure the 3-2 win for the United States. The performance by Oshie will go down as one of the greatest performances in USA Olympics history.
