Another hockey season has come and gone. The 14-team NHL is definitely the best hockey league in the world and there will not be any challengers to the NHL in the near future. We can safely assume that Canada's place as the best nation in hockey will not be questioned for the next 30 years. Since the Leafs have not won the Cup in 4 years, they are due to win it all next year. However, in spite of what the Leafs fans claims, Paul Henderson is just an average player and will never, ever, get all Canadian's admiration. With stars like Bobby Orr, Bobby Hull, Ken Dryden, and Stan Mikita playing as well as they are right now, the quality of play in the NHL will continue to be top notch even without the input of Europeans.
The juggernaut known as Brazil continues to rule the soccer world as they have won 3 of the past 4 World Cups. Even though Pele had announced that he has played his last World Cup match, the Brazilians will continue to roll as there are already a few talented young guns who are ready to step in. On the other side of the Atlantic, Netherlands is definitely the side that's on the rise. Its best club, Ajax, won the European Champions Cup held in historic Wembley. Cryuff has shown brilliance in club competition and will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
On the diamond, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the world series. Nolan Ryan, the highest paid player in professional sport at over $1,000,000 a year, continues to strike fear to opposition batters. Pete Rose doles out hit after hit after hit. The all-time hits record will no doubt be his someday and there is nothing standing between him and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Johnny Unitas tasted the thrill of victory after suffering the agony of defeat two years ago by the hands of Joe Namath. Unitas and his Batimore Colts defeated the Tom Landry-led Dallas Cowboys to win Super Bowl V. Even though this year's Super Bowl is its fifth installment, many skeptics remain doubtful that the event is viable, especially with the recent elimination of the AFL. Above the 49, Calgary beat Toronto to win Grey Cup. Unlike the Super Bowl, the Grey Cup is here to stay and the CFL will continue to have a strong following for years to come.
On the hardwood, second year player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar continues to score at a torrid pace. His play dazzles the crowd and makes headlines. He also led his team, the Milwaukee Bucks, with whom he plans to finish his career, to the NBA Championship. Many fans of the game are wondering if the NBA is going to give its final series a special name as the NBA is the only Major League sport in North America whose championship trophy has no alternative name.
Records that will never be broken:
Things that will never happen in the future:
Michael "the Loudspeaker" Lau