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Torontoist Year in Sport 2004
With the year coming to an end, Torontoist takes a look back at the sporting highs and lows of the past 12 months. Here’s the best, the worst, and of course, Vince Carter at his wimpiest in 2004.
1. Argos Win the Grey Cup
What else can we say about Mike Clemons’ pinballs? With no hockey and a worthless NBA team, the CFL gave Toronto something to cheer about.
2. Ron Artest & the Indiana Pacers
We can’t give the Rap Mogul / Basketball Star all the credit for our entertainment of Novemeber 19th, but watching overgrown athlete’s punching out portly onlookers will never tire.
3. Vince Needs a Drink
Following the trade that finally moved the sulking and oft-injured forward to the New Jersey Nets, Toronto fans weren’t at all surprised to see Vince Carter go down with full dramatics in his opener for his new team. With VC claiming dehydration, who can blame him for cramping up? He hadn’t played that hard for the past three seasons. Get the man a Gatorade.
4. The Calgary Flames – One Goal Short
For the second straight year the NHL was treated to a seven-game final to only have the cinderella team come up just short. Canadians from coast-to-coast cheered on a young Flames team that kept everyone’s interest in what was an otherwise uneventful season.
5. The Bertuzzi Attacks
At least one positive came out of Vancouver thug Todd Bertuzzi’s malicious attack on helpless Colorado forward Steve Moore: We all got to see Bertuzzi cry like a child with his hand in the cookie jar when given a year-end suspension.
6. Curtis Joseph – Another Disappointing Season
The return of the Dominik Hasek to the Detroit Red Wings last year led to ex-Leaf goaltender Curtis Joseph starting his season in the AHL against the likes of Aaron Gavey and Craig Darby. Cujo did make it back to the NHL thanks to the Dominators season-ending injury, only to disappoint Detroit fans by coming up short in yet another post-season opportunity. Serves you right Jo-Sieve.
7. Nicolette Sheridan & TO vs. Janet Jackson & JT
The NFL dabbled with eroticism bigtime in 2004. ABC must have missed the fallout of Justin Timberlake exposing Janet Jackson’s right mammary gland when a toweled Nicolette Sheridan dropped all for Terrell Owens in the show’s opening this past November. Many football fans did however start watching Sheridan’s Desperate Housewives the next Sunday. Enough can’t be said about Gabrielle and Edie.
8. Athens Summer Games – Few Bright Lights
Although a disappointing performance overall, Canada was given some highlights this past summer, capturing twelve Olympic medals – including three golds. Gymnast Kyle Shewfelt was named the Canadian Athlete of the year this past Monday. Shewfelt was awarded Canada’s first-ever Artistic Gymnastics medal at the 2004 Games.
9. Continuing to Dominate NHL ’94 on Sega Genesis
Beating Drew in countless best of seven series is quite an accomplishment; but outplaying a certain Torontoist co-editor while falling asleep on the couch might just be the greatest sports victory of the year.