The year 2009 consisted of Sports Championship winners Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), New York Yankees (MLB), Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL), Real Salt Lake (MLS)
HIGHLIGHTS
The
2009 NBA championship final series between the
Los Angeles Lakers and the
Orlando Magic was a thrilling seven-game series. The Lakers were led by Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom, while the Magic were led by Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Hedo Turkoglu. The Lakers started the series strong, winning the first two games, but the Magic fought back to tie the series at two games apiece. The Lakers then won the next two games to take a 3-2 series lead, but the Magic managed to force a Game 7 with a win in Game 6. In the decisive Game 7, the Lakers won 99-86, capturing their 15th
NBA championship. Kobe Bryant was named the MVP of the series, averaging 32.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists.
The
2009 World Series between the
New York Yankees and
Philadelphia Phillies was one of the most exciting series in recent memory. The Yankees had home-field advantage but the Phillies took the first two games in
New York to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. The Yankees fought back to tie the series at two games apiece, but the Phillies won the next two games to take the series 4-2. The Phillies were led by ace pitcher Cliff Lee who won two games in the series and was named the World Series MVP. The Yankees were led by veteran Derek Jeter who had a .407 batting average and was a key contributor to the Yankees' offense. The series was a great display of the strength of both teams and a great way to end the
2009 MLB season.
The
2009 Stanley Cup Final featured the
Pittsburgh Penguins and the
Detroit Red Wings. The Penguins won the series in seven games, becoming the first team in nearly two decades to win the Stanley Cup after trailing a series three games to two. The Penguins won the first two games of the series in
Pittsburgh, but the Red Wings responded with three straight wins to take a 3-2 series lead. The Penguins then won the final two games in
Detroit to clinch the championship. Sidney Crosby was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs, while Evgeni Malkin became the first Russian-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer in the regular season.
The
2009 Super Bowl was a battle between the
Pittsburgh Steelers and the
Arizona Cardinals. The Steelers were the defending champions and were looking to become the first team to win six Super Bowls. The game was a close one, with the Steelers leading the entire way and the Cardinals making a late surge. The Steelers defense was the key to the game, as they held the Cardinals to just one touchdown and forced two turnovers. The Steelers won the game 27-23, becoming the first team to win six Super Bowls and securing their place in
NFL history.
The
2009 World Series between the
New York Yankees and
Philadelphia Phillies was one of the most exciting series in recent memory. The Yankees had home-field advantage but the Phillies took the first two games in
New York to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. The Yankees fought back to tie the series at two games apiece, but the Phillies won the next two games to take the series 4-2. The Phillies were led by ace pitcher Cliff Lee who won two games in the series and was named the World Series MVP. The Yankees were led by veteran Derek Jeter who had a .407 batting average and was a key contributor to the Yankees' offense. The series was a great display of the strength of both teams and a great way to end the
2009 MLB season.