The Emotional Sports Moments of the 2010’s

I began this decade as a fifth grader and will exit it as a college junior. When I’m old, I will look back on my childhood and point to right now: the 2010’s. The 2010’s established my sports fandom and will forever shape the way I view the world. I often recall the series finale of The Office when Andy talks about wishing you could know when you’re in the “good old days”. Here’s my attempt to remember the good ol’ days of sports while I’m living in them.

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The single greatest aspect of sports are those rare moments that seemingly transcend time and space. These briefs period of heightened significance that carry an almost supernatural gravity. They drop our jaws, start citywide parties in the streets, and drive us to tears. You never forget where you were when they happened. Here are the emotional moments of the 2010’s:

Kevin Durant gives emotional MVP speech — May 2014

In team sports, players rarely give memorable speeches when accepting individual awards. They want to acknowledge all those who helped them along the way without making themselves bigger than the team. But sometimes, an athlete is able to formulate a beautiful tribute to someone who inspired them. That’s exactly when Kevin Durant did during his 2014 MVP acceptance speech. Everyone remembers Durant’s heartfelt message to his mom: “you’re the real MVP”.

Dee Gordon honors Jose Fernandez with home run — September 2016

Jose Fernandez, the heart and soul of the Miami Marlins, unexpectedly passed away in a boating accident on September 25, 2016. He was only 24 years old. Fernandez, a Cuban immigrant playing in South Florida, was an icon in the community. His death not only affected his family and teammates, but all of South Florida. Dan Le Batard, the son of Cuban immigrants, explained why the community loved Fernandez so much and how he represented freedom to so many people.

The Marlins game the next day — one in which Fernandez was scheduled to start — was cancelled. We witnessed the Marlins’ locker room painfully grieve all over social media. We knew the players deserved their privacy, but we couldn’t look away. Dee Gordon seemingly took José’s death the hardest; he brought Fernandez’s glove and a baseball to the mound before their next game. The entire Marlins team wore a jersey with Fernandez’ name and number 16 in their return to the field.

Gordon led off the game for the Marlins. He took the opening pitch donning Fernandez’s batting helmet and even mimicked his stance. Gordon returned to his left-handed batter’s box and two pitches later, he launched a home run into the upper deck of right field. He was barely able to round the bases as we could see the tears streaming down Gordon’s face. After the game, Gordon said “I ain’t never hit a ball that far, even in [batting practice]… that’s the best moment of my life, to hit a home run for him”.

James Conner’s comeback leads to NFL draft selection by hometown team — April 2017

James Conner’s story sounds more like that of a sports movie than real life. He was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania, just two hours north of Pittsburgh. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh, winning ACC Player of the Year his sophomore year in 2014. He seemed destined for greatness.

During Pittsburgh’s opening game of Conner’s junior campaign, he tore his ACL. That wasn’t the worst news, though; during his rehab process, Conner was diagnosed with a form of cancer called Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Conner fought the disease and tried to inspire other cancer patients in their own battles. He never let the disease affect his dreams.

Conner received the life-changing phone call that he was cancer-free in May of 2016. Four months later, he returned to the football field on opening night of his senior season. Conner scored a touchdown using a powerful and symbolic stiff-arm to fend off his defender. In next April’s NFL draft, Conner got another life-changing phone call — this time, from none other than the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Isaiah Thomas drops 53 points in playoff game on his late sister’s birthday — May 2017

Isaiah Thomas’ sister, Chyna, died in a car accident on April 15th, 2017 at just 22 years old. Even though the Celtics were scheduled to begin their first round series the very next day, Thomas was determined to play. Thomas was seen understandably extremely emotional in the days leading up to the game and many questioned how he would be able to suit up for the game. 

A few weeks later, in Game 2 of Boston’s second-round series against the Wizards, Thomas dropped 53 points in the Celtics overtime win. Thomas hit improbable shot after improbable shot down the stretch, almost as if some other force was assisting him. After the game, Thomas was asked why he played so well. In an emotional interview, he says “It’s my sister. It’s her birthday today”.

Superfan Pancho Billa announces Bills’ draft pick — April 2018

In my slightly biased opinion, there’s no fanbase like the Buffalo Bills. In a small city, professional sports teams mean everything. Buffalo is no exception.

There’s no better example than when the team allowed Ezra Casto, better known as the prominent superfan, Pancho Billa, to announce the team’s third-round selection of the 2018 NFL draft. Castro had been battling cancer for quite some time. Pancho Billa’s relationship with the Bills didn’t end there. While he wasn’t able to attend the 2019 draft as his cancer forced him into hospice care, Bills general manager Brandon Beane allowed Pancho Billa to call in their selection via conference call. He passed away on May 14, 2019, but his legacy will live on in the Bills Mafia forever.

Tyler Trent inspires Purdue to an incredible upset victory — October 2019

I decided to start my blog on this day last year — the day Tyler passed away — and I got this as a gift from my sister today. New Year’s Day has a bit of a different meaning to me now. @theTylerTrent #TylerStrong pic.twitter.com/APBx4musw6

— Nolan Hughes (@nolan_hughes24) January 2, 2020

I could write an entire essay about how Tyler inspired Purdue, the entire country and myself specifically — and someday I will — but here’s what you need to know.

Tyler, the most passionate Purdue fan in the world, had his all of his future dreams taken away by cancer. Tyler never let cancer control his life, not the first time and certainly not the fourth and final time cancer came his way. In an ESPN College Gameday feature story, Tyler made a heart-felt prediction that Purdue would upset then #2 in the country Ohio State. The day before the game, his kidney tubes failed and Tyler withstood intense surgery without anesthesia; by some miracle, he made it to the game.

Purdue would not let Tyler down that night. The Boilermakers pulled off the improbable upset. While the fans stormed the field, Tyler awaited the team in the locker room to celebrate. He passed away on New Year’s Day of 2019 at just 20 years old, but his legacy will last forever in West Lafayette and in our hearts.

Angels throw team no-hitter in first home game since Tyler Skaggs’ death — July 2019

In a similarly tragic incident, Los Angeles’ Angels pitcher, Tyler Skaggs, suddenly passed away on July 1, 2019 from a drug overdose. The Angels honored Skaggs in their next home game by unitedly wearing his name and #45. The game itself was a surreal tribute by the Angels to their late teammate.

Skaggs’ mom threw out the opening pitch — a perfect strike. Mike Trout launched a home run in his first at-bat that traveled exactly 454 feet — a palindrome of Skagg’s jersey number. Taylor Cole started the game on the mound for Los Angeles with two perfect innings; Felix Pena came on in relief and threw the next seven innings without allowing a hit to complete the combined no-hitter.

On the night in which the Angels stood together in honor of their fallen teammate, they damn near pitched a perfect game. Though it seemed almost too good to be true, the story only gets more unbelievable. The game ended just past midnight on July 13, 2019 — it would have been Skaggs’ 28th birthday. The Angels scored 7 runs on 13 hits — July 13th is 7/13. And perhaps the craziest coincidence of them all: the last time the Angels threw a combined no-hitter was on July 13, 1991 — the day Tyler Skaggs was born.