2009's Most Forgettable Sports Moments

While many choose to look back at 2009 by highlighting championship performances, scandalous transgressions and overall warm, fuzzy nostalgia, when the history books are written, there will be several happenings this past year that will be forgotten - be it by accident or by selective memory. For perseverance's sake, here's a look at some of the HHR crew's least memorable moments, stories and figures of 2009.

Dale Jr.'s "Breakout" Season

Dale Jr.'s second year at Hendrick Motorsports was supposed to be his breakout year. In 2008, he made the Chase, and this past year he was supposed to contend. Instead, Junior found himself with his worst season in NASCAR, and had to watch from the sidelines as his Hendrick teammates finished 1, 2, 3 in the points standings. A mid-year crew chief change couldn't even ease June Bug's woes.

ACC Football

This year was supposed to be the year for several teams in the ACC. NC State had the ACC's most prolific passer returning, Wake Forest was led by senior signal caller Riley Skinner, VT was Virginia Tech, and Bowden was promising great things as he fought for his job down in Tallahassee. Instead, the ACC struggled all year, losing early games to the likes of William & Mary and never coming close to being in the talk for a National Title contender. Now, the traditionalists' cries for the heads of the guys behind the expansion are growing ever more louder. It was supposed to elevate football in the nation's preeminent basketball conference, right?

Fat College Football Coaches

Apparently, this wasn't the year to be big and on the sidelines with a headset in college. The portly Mark Mangino and the rotund Charlie Weiss both found themselves without a job at the end of the season. While Mangino's dismissal had more to do with his treatment of players than his team's record, Weiss just couldn't eat enough donuts to help the Irish win enough games to keep his job. Surely, Ralph Friedgen's off season diet kept him on the sidelines in College Park, because Maryland's 2-10 record certainly didn't help.

Urban Meyer Resigning at Florida

Quite simply: Proof that the "do-over" rule is alive and well in college athletics.

WNBA's Shock Relocates to Tulsa

You know your league is in trouble when a team wins three championships in the decade and then decides a move from a major sports metro to Tulsa, OK is an upgrade.

Allen Iverson, Memphis Grizzly

"God chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career. I feel that they are committed to developing a winner." Two months God must've told the Answer to get the hell out of Dodge. Sometimes even God makes mistakes. Either that or he has a helluva sense of humor.

Terrell Owens, Buffalo Bill

While making an initial splash upon signing, TO has since taken backseat to the prospect of the Bills moonlighting in Canada. When all is said and done, it says something when a guy will forever be remembered more for doing sit-ups in his driveway than actually playing for the Buffalo Bills.

The Billy Gillispie Era at UK

Add a new coach (John Calipari), the best player in America (John Wall) and a shiny undefeated record, and it’s hard to believe that the Cats were bounced by Notre Dame in the NIT last year.

The New York Metropolitans

While the team opened a brand new stadium, the cross-city Yankees win the Series over the defending champion/division rival Phillies and fans protest the franchise by forfeiting astronomically-priced season ticket plans, the team looks to rebound in 2010 by signing the likes of Alex Cora, Kelvim Escobar, Henry Blanco, R.A. Dickey and Chris Coste. To add insult to fans' injury, Coste punctuates his signing by reminding NY faithful, "I will always be a Phillie."

Shawne Merriman Performs Lights Out Dance on Tila Tequila

In an incident that was as ridiculous as the bi-sexual reality star's "career," Tila claims "Shawne grabbed her, shook her like a rag doll, threw her down and choked her during an argument last September. Tila says the San Diego Chargers linebacker had a bad temper combined with a drug problem, and that he humiliated her because of her bi-sexuality." Yet, authorities and the public somewhat seem to buy the Charger's claim of acting in the name of being a responsible party host. Charlie Sheen: take note.

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Plenty of Options at Georgia Tech

Photo: SI

Good read in today's Washington Times highlighting coach Paul Johnson's Triple Option offense that he brings to Tech after using it to post a 107-39 record at Georgia Southern and Navy.

Seeing it in action at Rutgers last year was a thing of wonder as the Midshipmen gave the favored Scarlet Knights a run. Should be fun to see how it translates in the ACC.

Says Johnson: "If we can execute the system, we can be pretty good," Johnson said. "It's been pretty good for a lot of years. That's why I kind of scoff and laugh when people say, 'This ain't gonna work.' It ain't like we're doing something that's never been done. We've been doing it for 20 years. It's worked at three different schools pretty good."

Georgia Tech Football Blog brings us Johnson's interview at the ACC kickoff meeting.

Rusty Weighs In on Being the Best in the ACC!!!

Alright, It's time for Rusty to weigh in on this here little argument. Seems some nut over at an unnamed national sports news web site, posted a bonehead list of stadiums in the ACC ranked by toughness.

The Idiot's List

As you can imagine, several REAL ACC fans took umbrage with that list. Those responses are below.

Raleigh N&O

The Response Letter

Well, not to be out done, Rusty's crafted his own list of best stadiums in the ACC.

1. Death Valley (Clemson) - C'mon! 80K+ screaming South Carolina rednecks!!!!! What's more impressive than that? And the whole running down the hill, smacking the rock is just plain awesome. Purple and Orange is an ugly combo, but the orange crush of Death Valley is impressive and deserving the #1 spot.

2. Doak Campbell (Florida State) - As the largest stadium in the ACC and the home of the historically best team in the conference, this rightly deserves a #2 position on this list. While recent years haven't brought a lot of wins to the Seminoles, going into Tallahassee against Bowden is no easy task, and it's not made easier by the fans in the stands.

3. Lane Stadium (VA Tech) - This has topped the previous lists, but this newcomer to the conference will need to prove it's tradition over a longer period of time, before ole Rusty jumps it up to #1. That being said, I've heard tell of an insanely loud (and often cold) place to play football is right here in the high country of Virginia.

4. Carter Finley (NC State) - Numerous coaches both college and pro have remarked at the awe of the new Carter Finley. Not only does it inspire awe, but it's loud as anything. The venerable Bobby Bowden called it one of the loudest he'd ever been too. In recent years the product on the field has not been much to write home about it, but mark Rusty's words, TOB is going to improve that, and Carter might just move up this here little list.

5. Scott Stadium (UVA) - Admittedly, 1 of only 2 stadium's Rusty's had the privilege of attending, this is a surprisingly impressive place to watch a football game. With the arrival of Al Groh, the stadium has been enclosed on one side, and the traditional yuppy tie wearing fans have begun to don more appropriate Saturday afternoon attire. I too am confused by the Auld Lang Syne, but whatever, it works when thousands of fans are singing and swaying in unison.

6. Bobby Dodd (GA Tech) - It gets some extra tradition points for being the oldest in NCAA, but I would agree the crowd leaves a little to be desired from time to time. However, seeing as Rusty's a bit of a car fan, I love the whole Ramblin' Wreck idea. Mabye one of these days, they'll call Rusty to drive that thing on the field. Boogity Boogity!!!!

7. Dolphins Stadium (Miami) - They are going to be playing in an NFL stadium for crying out loud. Second of all, they couldn't even fill out the Orange Bowl consistently. Miami has been a HUGE disappointment to the ACC.

8. Byrd Stadium (Maryland) - First of all, to those who've never been, the TV angle at this field makes this place look much bigger than it is. One endzone is completely open, and the upper deck only covers 1 side of the field. The rest of the stadium is just a smaller lower bowl. Secondly, the fans are pathetic. I was there a few years ago for Maryland's homecoming. It was a close game at 1/2 time, but I swear in the 2nd half there were more Pack fans than Terp fans. Maybe they had to go burn mattresses or something.

9. Alumni Stadium (Boston College) - It's way too far north.

10. Kenan (UNC) - It's Carolina, and as Rusty's fight song says, "Go to H**, Carolina" . . . Pine trees? Give me a break!

11. Groves Stadium (Wake) - Does anyone even go to Wake games? I mean, they have a football team, and a pretty decent one, but there's only like 5,000 students at Wake to begin with, so they don't really have the diaspora to fill a stadium, much less put on a good fan showing.

12. (Duke) - Worst team in the NCAA's, nuff said.
Now, I'm sure folks will take some umbrage at Rusty's list. So,

Y'all come back now, hear?