Everywhere you look, the lists are being compiled. We all like to create the list of the stories that had the most impact on the worldwide entertainment and sports scene. I've drawn the line to address those topics and have left out some of the major news stories of 2007. No perfect guideline, but it's one man's attempt to frame the year of 2007.
I will count down:
10. The reunion tours: The Police and Led Zeppelin reunited to entertain a legion of fans. The Police toured worldwide and brought in 131.9 million dollars. Led Zep played one concert at London's new 02 Arena.
9. The New England Patriots: The Pats defeated the NY football Giants with an impressive come-from-behind performance which saw Tom Brady 'go up-top' to Randy Moss for the game-breaking TD. The Patriots began the year, amidst controversy, with an NFL investigation into illegal sideline videotaping. The NY Post still prints the NFL standings each day with an "*" to denote, "Caught Cheating."
8. Luciano Pavarotti: Pavarotti passed away on September 6, 2007. In the many year-end analysis of 2007, his life and career will be overlooked. Not this one. The man is a legend and was the very best in his field. Only once in a lifetime, maybe once in three lifetimes, does a person/performer of his stature come along.
7. David Beckham: The MLS and the LA Galaxy/AEG hoped to bring a nation of youngsters to the pitch of LA to witness the new life behind United States-based Major League Soccer. Instead, Beckham turned his ankle and the soccer/football ignoring USA turned the channel once again.
6. The 'Dumbing Down' of America: The trend continued and the American TV public soaked it up, driving ratings through the roof and sealing the fate for more 'reality' TV to be brought to your living room in 2008 and beyond. "Amazing Race" to "Dancing with the Stars" (complete with NBA owner Mark Cuban, saying 'look at me' and race car driver Helio Castroneves in the winner's circle of the dance floor. "American Idol to Survivor"... I just can't watch.
5. Bad Boys, Bad Girls: The beat and the list go on... Michael Vick (NFL), Tim Donaghy (NBA ref), Barry Bonds (MLB) and Marion Jones (USA Track), among others. The take-away from it all? Crime and cheating do not pay. You will get caught. You will go to jail.
4. Mitchell Report: The report named names and brought real people to become the face of the MLB Steroid Era. Still, it was not based in the legal/judicial system. Marion Jones forfeited her medals. Roger Clemens still has his Cy Young awards. The fans are left to wonder, as Clemens denied it all.
3. Harry Potter: The final book of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released. By far, it was the most important day of 2007 in my household. Midnight madness book release parties don't happen every day.
2. Rupert Murdoch Owns the WSJ: For a hefty $5-billion, Murdoch made off with the prize jewel of the industry. I wonder how many newspaper lists will even make note of the transaction? It was HUGE.
1. WGA: The Hollywood Writer's Guild Strike continued as 2007 comes to a close. The strike has taken its toll on the industry, yet politicians, like Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, seem more concerned about a single NFL game on cable tv? Meanwhile, hundreds and thousands of film/movie, book, producers, literary agents and television workers are out of work and millions of viewers are waiting by the sidelines for the WGA strike to come to and end.
The 'not to be forgotten list' of 2007 ... (in no particular order):
- Rem Dog elected president of Red Sox Nation.
- Springsteen issued "Magic" and toured throughout the US and Europe.
- Sopranos final episode.
- Jerry Colangelo turned over the Suns to Robert Sarver.
- iphone.
- Celtics got a new 'big 3' - KG sparked new life into the franchise.
- Tony Blair stepped down.
- Oprah backed Obama.
- Mortgage Meltdown, yet Goldman Sachs' Lloyd Blankfein dodged the crisis and banked a $69-million bonus.
- Marion Jones forfeited her Olympic medals, yet WADA can't tell you if her opponents in each race were 'juiced' or not.
- RIM and the blackberry - started the year, fearing a gov't close-down, ended the year with a week of cheer, up 11.9% in the last week of '07 to 118.63.
- oh yeah... Lyons stepped down from NBA VP post after 26-year career.
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