IS LAMENTING OVER THE LATISSIMUS
Here are some of our top Philly sports performances of the decade, in chronological order.
Feel free to chime in on the comments and let us know which was your favorite, or which ones we missed.
Above is a photo gallery from the Inquirer's Sports Decade in Review package.
Allen Iverson (2000-2001)
A.I. started the decade by winning the MVP and leading the 76ers to the NBA Finals, averaging 31.1 points per game along the way. The Sixers fell to the Lakers in five games, but Iverson’s high-step over Tyronn Lue in Game 1 will forever be one of our favorite moments.
Keith Primeau (2000-2001)
Primeau led the Flyers with a career-high 34 goals during the 2000-2001 season. The former Flyers center added 39 assists, also a career high, and finished with 73 points. In 2002, Primeau was named captain and he would wear the “C” until his retirement in 2006.
Jameer Nelson (2003-2004)
In his junior year at St. Joe’s, Nelson averaged 20.6 points, 5.3 assists and 3.0 steals, earning him the 2004 Naismith College Player of the Year award. Teaming up with backcourt mate Delonte West, he led the Hawks to a 30-2 record (the best in school history) and an Elite Eight appearance.
Donovan McNabb (2004)
With T.O. by his side, McNabb threw for 3,875 yards, 31 touchdowns and only eight interceptions in 2004, earning him NFC Offensive Player of the Year honors. He led the Eagles to their second-ever Super Bowl appearance before falling short against the Patriots.
Terrell Owens (2004)
Even though the marriage ended badly the following season, no one can deny the excitement T.O. brought to the Birds in 2004. He caught 14 touchdowns and piled up 1,200 yards receiving. And who can forget him fighting through injury to return in the Super Bowl, where Owens caught nine balls for 122 yards.
Ryan Howard (2006)
In his first full season in the big leagues, Howard hit .313 with 58 homers and 149 RBIs (all career bests). He also won the Home Run Derby, a Silver Slugger Award and NL MVP. The first baseman became just the second player in MLB history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in consecutive years (impressive, no?).
Jimmy Rollins (2007)
Rollins followed Ryan Howard’s MVP season with one of his own. He hit .296 with 30 homers and 20 triples. He also won a Silver Slugger Award and a Gold Glove, leading the Phillies to their first NL East title in 14 years.
Cole Hamels (2008 playoffs)
Hamels went 4-0 in the '08 postseason, helping the Phillies win their second World Series in franchise history and ending a 25-year championship drought in Philadelphia. He recorded 30 strikeouts and posted a 1.80 ERA, which earned him both the NLCS and World Series MVP awards.
Brad Lidge (2008)
Lidge’s 2008 season can be described in one word: perfect. He recorded 41 saves on 41 attempts in the regular season. The Phils’ closer added seven more in the playoffs, including Game 5 of the World Series where he struck out Eric Hinske, before dropping to his knees and causing the city to erupt in one of the most memorable moments in Philadelphia sports history.
Cliff Lee (2009)
Lee was a perfect fit from the second he arrived in Philadelphia, running and off the mound before every inning. In his first five games with the Phillies, Lee went 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA. In the postseason, he went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA and 33 strikeouts, getting credit for the team's only two wins. It was a short run as the Phils dealt Lee to Seattle after the season. We miss you already, Cliff.
Brian McCardle is a Philly.com Sports intern and a graduate of Penn State University.
