Behind the Mic: Top Tens

As the year comes to a close, it’s time for my annual thoughts on the Yahoo Year in Review.  This is their annual look back at the top sports stories (and other trends if you wish to search Yahoo for those).  Comparing the list to last year’s Top-Searched Sports Teams and Top-Searched Athletes, you will notice that some have dropped in stature, stayed the same, or have dropped off the list entirely.    Obviously, that means there are some new names, too.  Let’s opine together:

Top-Searched Sports Teams on Yahoo in 2014

1. Dallas Cowboys
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Green Bay Packers
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
5. Detroit Tigers
6. Kansas City Royals
7. Los Angeles Lakers
8. St. Louis Cardinals
9. Philadelphia Eagles
10. Chicago Bears

Half of the teams are from the NFL; four are Major League Baseball teams; and one from the NBA.

The Dallas Cowboys stayed at #1 again.  I do not want to think of them as “America’s Team”, but it is obvious they are.  Imagine the interest if they actually won enough games to matter.  The Super Bowl champion, Seattle Seahawks, did not make the list.  I guess success does not always breed interest.

It appears that baseball fans are a fickle bunch as they seem to follow a winner.  It’s the world champion Giants this year – #2 last year was the Boston Red Sox and they are not even on this year’s list.  Baseball and “bandwagon” seem synonymous.  Give the Detroit Tigers credit, however.  They stayed at #5 for the second consecutive year.  The Dodgers (#7) and Yankees (#8) are both gone this year!  That tells you something about these two legendary franchises.  The Packers stay at #3; the Steelers remain as the most popular Pennsylvania NFL team, but, at least, the Eagles made the list this year, something they could not do last season.  The Royals, Cardinals, and Bears are all new.   The Denver Broncos (also in the Super Bowl) and the Milwaukee Bucks have been displaced.

Top-Searched Athletes on Yahoo in 2014

1. Tiger Woods
2. Ronda Rousey
3. Danica Patrick
4. Caroline Wozniacki
5. Tony Stewart
6. Maria Sharapova
7. Hope Solo
8. Tito Ortiz
9. Ray Rice
10. Michael Vick

I wonder if you even want to make this list because, more often than not, it’s not because you had a great year as an athlete, but for entirely different and , usually, negative reasons.  Tiger Woods (injury), Danica Patrick (beauty),Caroline Wozniacki (Rory McIlroy’s former girlfriend), Tony Stewart (the death of a fellow race car driver), Maria Sharapova (beauty), Hope Solo (arrested), Tito Ortiz (DUI), Ray Rice (domestic violence), and Michael Vick (just because, I guess).

Ronda Rousey, whom I did not even know when she made the list at #5 last year, moved up to #2 this year.  She may very well be there because of her accomplishments as a mixed martial arts champion.  I hope that is why she is on the list because I should mention that she is, also, attractive.

Gone from the list (probably a good thing) are Tim Tebow (#1 last year – long forgotten), Lindsey Vonn (#4 last year; still Tiger’s girlfriend; just not as much interest), Lamar Odom (#6 -no longer with a Kardashian), Serena Williams (#8 – ho-hum, I suppose), and Gina Carano (#10 – I didn’t know her last year and still don’t).

Looking at this compilation, it appears that if you make the list as a team it’s a good thing; make the list as an individual, get your picture taken by a good photographer or, even worse, get a lawyer!

ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)

1. If you are a fan of college basketball, I am sure you were stunned by the NJIT 72-70 win over #17 Michigan on Saturday afternoon in Michigan. Just a few notes – NJIT was 2-5 going into the game having lost to John’s, Albany, UMass (Lowell) twice, and Marquette.  They have no league affiliation and just a few years ago, they had a 51-game losing streak.  This was supposed to be a “guarantee” game for Michigan – the Wolverines guarantee a nice payday to NJIT and NJIT is guaranteed to lose.  That did not happen.  I guess there are no “guarantees”.
2. Speaking of Michigan, as of Monday, December 8, Central Catholic’s Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman is on the Michigan roster. He has played in five of the eight games, a total of 26 minutes.  He is 0-9 from the field, 0-1 from beyond the arc, and has not been to the foul line.  He does have an assist and has turned the ball over twice.  It’s great to see the freshman getting some playing time.
3. Watching the Eagles on Sunday against the Seahawks, it is still obvious they do not belong in the upper echelon yet. I do, however, like their defense.  They were on the field just too long on Sunday.  The offense is sporadic and it seems to me that LeSean McCoy fumbles at least once in big games.  Dallas is next up in Philly and that becomes a must win as the two teams are tied for the division lead.
4. How does Oakland beat San Francisco? Oakland lost 52-0 to St. Louis last week and had only one win until this past Sunday.  I thought just the front office wanted to get rid of Jim Harbaugh – maybe the players do, too.  Their playoff hopes came to an end with the loss.
5. Parkland’s Andre Williams had a career day with the Giants on Sunday, rushing for 131 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown run. And… the Giants won!

(Last week – 12-3)  (136-69-1 overall – 66%)
            ST. LOUIS
            KANSAS CITY
            BALTIMORE
            PITTSBURGH
            INDIANAPOLIS
            CINCINNATI
            NEW ENGLENAD
            CAROLINA
            GIANTS
            GREEN BAY
            DETROIT
            JETS
            DENVER
            SEATTLE
            PHILADELPHIA
            CHICAGO