The Greatest Year of Championship Games Ever?

Jan+9%2C+2017%3B+Tampa%2C+FL%2C+USA%3B++Clemson+Tigers+linebacker+Ben+Boulware+%2810%29+celebrates+after+defeating+the+Alabama+Crimson+Tide+35-31+in+the+2017+College+Football+Playoff+National+Championship+Game+at+Raymond+James+Stadium.+Mandatory+Credit%3A+Matthew+Emmons-USA+TODAY+Sports

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers linebacker Ben Boulware (10) celebrates after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-31 in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Conor Coleman, Sports Section Editor

Is this calendar the greatest year of sports in American history? Many have made the argument that it is, and its hard to disagree with them. The many championship games played this year will likely go down as the best in history.

NCAA Men’s Basketball

Down 74-71, North Carolina’s Marcus Paige hit an off balance three to tie the game at 74-74 with around 5 seconds left. Villanova called a timeout after Paige hit his shot to come up with a play to win them the game. Villanova in-bounded the ball to Ryan Arcidiacono, who dribbled the ball down the court and tossed the ball to Kris Jenkins, who was trailing behind him. Kris Jenkins shoots a three and drained it as the buzzer went off. This championship will go down as one of the greatest NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship games of all time.

NBA Finals

In this years finals, the Golden State Warriors were leading the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-1 in a best of 7 series. The Warriors had to win 1 game to clinch their back to back title, while the Cavs would have to come back and win 3 games in a row, something no team had ever done before in the Finals. The Cavs won two games in a row and forced a Game 7. LeBron James’s block on Andre Iguodala will go down as one of the most clutch blocks of all time. Kyrie Irving, however, was the player that hit the clutch three pointer and ultimately won the Cavs the game in Game 7. The Warriors blew a 3-1 lead.

MLB World Series

The Cleveland Indians played the Chicago Cubs in this years World Series. The Cubs were looking to win their first World Series since 1908. The city of Cleveland was looking to win its second major league championship of the season, fresh off a Cavs NBA Championship. The Cleveland Indians pulled out to a 3-1 lead… and we know how that turned out for the Golden State Warriors. The Cubs came back and forced a game 7. The Chicago Cubs were leading all game, but in the bottom of the 8th inning, the Cleveland Indians scored 3 runs to tie the game. The Cubs scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning and put the pressure on the Indians. The Indians scored 1 run, but with two outs, Kris Bryant fielded the ground ball, and with a smile on his face, threw the ball to first base and ended the game. The curse of the Billy Goat had been broken.

NCAA CFB National Championship

A rematch of the previous National Championship, Clemson and Alabama faced off in Tampa, Florida. While Alabama was leading, Clemson made a comeback in the 4th quarter and went up by 3. Alabama drove down the field and scored a late touchdown, but left too much time on the clock for Clemson’s offense lead by Deshaun Watson. With one second left on the clock, Watson threw a pass to former walk-on, Hunter Renfrow. With one second left, Clemson kicked and recovered an onside kick to win the game 35-31. Clemson’s game winning drive will go down as one of the greatest last drives in CFB Championship history.

Super Bowl LI

In Super Bowl LI, most people expected the New England Patriots to win, but the Atlanta Falcons would not go down without a fight. In the third quarter, the Atlanta Falcons were up 28-3, and many thought the game was over; however, the New England Patriots had other plans in mind. The Patriots, lead by Tom Brady, came back and tied the game up at 28-28 with a clutch two-point conversion. Super Bowl LI would be the first Super Bowl to go to overtime in Super Bowl history. New England won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball first. The Patriots drove down the field and scored a touchdown to win the game.

As you can see, these championship games are some of the best ever, and they all occurred during the same calendar year. In your opinion, who blew the greatest lead: The Golden State Warriors (Up 3-1), the Cleveland Indians (Up 3-1) or the Atlanta Falcons (Up 28-3 at the start 4th quarter).