Top 10 New York sports stories of 2010
The death of George Steinbrenner, the rebirth of the Knicks, Lebron mania and K-Rod's arrest were just a few of the big stories we covered in 2010. Here's the complete Top 10 list, counting down:
10. JETS, GIANTS OPEN NEW HOME
The Jets and Giants opened their new, $1.6-billion stadium in New Jersey on Sept. 12-13 when the Giants hosted the Panthers and the Jets hosted the Ravens on Monday Night Football. (The Giants won, the Jets lost.) This came a few months after the NFL announced that New York and the New Meadowlands Stadium would host the 2014 Super Bowl outdoors, in the cold. Feel-good story? Not entirely. Fans criticized the stadium's gray construction, dubbing it "The Big Air Conditioner." The stadium's tenants argued over a coin toss that gave the Giants the right to host first game at the New Meadowlands Stadium instead of the Jets. A blackout caused a 12-minute delay during a Giants loss to the Cowboys. And the Giants were unwilling participants in the most notable game played at the new stadium so far -- a 38-31 loss to the Eagles in which Philly overcame a 21-point deficit with less than 8 minutes to play.
More: Stadium photos | Giants' loss to Eagles | 2014 Super Bowl coverage
9. A-ROD JOINS THE 600-HOME-RUN CLUB
Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player to hit 600 home runs when he clubbed a two-run shot off the Blue Jays' Shaun Marcum on Aug. 4. It wasn't without drama, as A-Rod's wait for 600 lasted 13 days. The pressure got so bad that A-Rod was hitless in 17 at-bats before No. 600 finally left Yankee Stadium.
More: Alex Rodriguez photos | A-Rod's ups and downs
After a second straight losing season, the Jerry Manuel-Omar Minaya era came to an end in October when Manuel was fired as manager and Minaya was relieved of his general manager duties. Baseball veteran and former A's general manager Sandy Alderson was hired to replace Minaya. After assembling a front office that includes acclaimed talent-evaluators J.P. Ricciardi and Paul DePodesta, Alderson chose Terry Collins as manager over fan-favorite Wally Backman.
More: Mets hire Terry Collins | Alderson's Top 20 moves
7. JETER-YANKEES NEGOTIATIONS GET TESTY
Re-signing Derek Jeter should have been a slam dunk. Then again, nothing ever is when it comes to money and an aging iconic short stop coming off his worst year. Jeter's agent, Casey Close, and the Yankees traded barbs in the media. At one point, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Jeter was welcome to shop around for a better offer if there was one out there. Ultimately, the Yankees and Jeter got it right and agreed to a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year.
More: Derek Jeter photos | Cashman rappels down office building
In their quest to defend their 2009 World Series title, the Yankees couldn't get past Texas and ace lefthander Cliff Lee in the American League Championship Series. After nearly completing a trade for Lee during the season, it was a bitter pill to swallow. The Yanks were determined to correct their mistake by signing Lee as a free agent this winter -- so determined, they offered the 32-year-old a seven-year, $140-million contract. But Lee, whose wife had reportedly received harsh treatment at Yankee Stadium during the ALCS, elected to sign a shorter, cheaper contract with Philadelphia instead. The stunned Yankees were left at the altar to search for a Plan B.
More: Lee downplays fans' rudeness to wife | MLB free agent tracker
5. TRASH-TALKING JETS: SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS NO MORE
The Jets started the year with a loss to the Colts in the AFC Championship game that set the bar high for the 2010 season. True to form, Rex Ryan and the Jets didn't remain quiet for long. With HBO's "Hard Knocks" documenting the team during training camp, the trash-talking Jets provided plenty of drama. There was the Darrelle Revis holdout, Braylon Edwards' DWI case, and the allegations of sexual harassment of a female reporter just to name a few. The distractions didn't bother the Jets too much as they moved into position to clinch their second consecutive playoff berth.
More: 2010 Jets season tracker | Rex Ryan photos
4. K-ROD ARRESTED IN ASSAULT AT CITI FIELD
Mets closer Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez was arrested after arguing with and allegedly assaulting his girlfriend's father at Citi Field after a Mets loss in August. He was detained at the stadium overnight until he could be taken to court for his arraignment. In the aftermath, the Mets placed Rodriguez on the disqualified list. Later, it was revealed that Rodriguez had a torn thumb ligament, which cost him the rest of the season -- it's unknown if the injury was related to the alleged fight. K-Rod pleaded guilty to attempted assault in December as part of a deal to stay out of prison.
More: Plea deal keeps K-Rod out of prison | Francisco Rodriguez photos
3. AMAR'E'S KNICKS BECOME NEW YORK'S "IT" TEAM
After LeBron James gave them the cold shoulder in free agency, the Knicks moved on by signing Amar'e Stoudemire to a five-year contract worth $99.7 million. With no second big star to complement Stoudemire, fans were unsure what to expect. After an ugly 3-8 start, the team gelled in November and went on an eight-game winning streak that coincided with Stoudemire setting a Knicks record by scoring 30 or more points in nine consecutive games. With Stoudemire in early-season MVP form and the Knicks winning again, the buzz was finally back at the Garden after a decade of losing basketball.
More: Stoudemire photos | 2010-11 season tracker | Reshaping the Knicks
2. LEBRON'S "DECISION": IT'S NOT THE KNICKS
The Knicks waited two years for Cleveland superstar LeBron James to become a free agent. Knicks president Donnie Walsh cleared more than $34 million of cap space so he could offer "King James" a max deal. After a summer full of frenzied rumors and intense anticipation (aka the LeBron-athon), James announced his decision on ESPN's cleverly titled "The Decision." As more than 10 million people watched, James announced he was taking his talents to Miami -- not Madison Square Garden. Lebron was joined by Dwyane Wade and fellow free agent Chris Bosh to form a new "Big Three," who, despite a sluggish start, had made their way to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. The Heat beat the Knicks, 113-91, in their only meeting so far this season, with James scoring 32 points.
More: LeBron joins the Heat | Fan frenzy | LeBron-athon
1. THE DEATH OF GEORGE STEINBRENNER
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner died a few days after his 80th birthday. His death came two days after longtime Yankee Stadium announcer Bob Sheppard died at 99. In recent years, the ever-voluble "Boss" had faded from the public eye and transferred control of the team to his sons, Hank and Hal. Thirty-seven years after he bought the Yankees from CBS for $10 million, Steinbrenner had turned them into a $1.6-billion empire and guided them to seven world championships.
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