With the year ticking down to its last hours, we count down the top New York City Sports moments from the year 2015.
By Skylar Darel
Both baseball teams made the playoffs, and the New York Mets even captured the pennant. Both NY hockey teams made the playoffs, and the Rangers made it all the way to Game 7 of the East Finals. The New York Jets are one win away from the playoffs after a brilliant first campaign for new head coach Todd Bowles. And the Red Bulls held the best regular season record in the MLS.
However, the Knicks recorded their worst ever season, the Nets have fallen apart in the new season, the Giants have lost six games in the last 10 seconds, and the Yankees were ignominiously dumped out of the playoffs in the Wild Card Game.
There were some great moments in New York Sports this year, so we’ll count them down, ten to one. We’ll start with an honorable mention for each team, before getting into our Top 10.
Without further adieu, here they are: the Top New York Sports Moments of 2015.
Honorable Mentions:
Red Bulls Clinch Supporters Shield:
The New York Red Bulls suffered a heartbreaking defeat to the New England Revolution in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. They saw manager Mike Petke leave the club, as well as super forwards Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill. Not much was expected of new manager Jesse Marsch and his men, but as is so often in sports, the outcome deviated from the expectation. The Red Bulls won the Supporters Shield in 2015, the award given to the team with the best regular season record in the MLS. Led by a group of unlikely heroes, the Red Bulls managed to wrap up the Shield with a 2-1 victory against the Chicago Fire. NYRB went all the way to the Conference Finals, but ultimately fell at the penultimate hurdle for the second season in a row, this time at the hands of the Columbus Crew.
Knicks Knock off the Spurs:
The New York Knicks were 13-53, and going into a matchup with the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, who were 41-25. It was expected to be an easy road win for the Spurs, who were playing against a ragtag group of misfits, rejects, and D-Leaguers who resembled the Knicks roster. The result was an astounding 104-100 overtime victory for the Knicks, led by Alexey Shved and Langston Galloway. Galloway had 22 points, Shved had 21, and Lou Amundson had 12 points and 17 rebounds. That win represented arguably the biggest one for the Knicks in their most forgettable campaign ever. They won only three more times all season, and finished with the second worst record in basketball.
Yankees make Postseason Return:
On Oct. 1, the New York Yankees won their 10,000th game in franchise history with a 4-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. More importantly, they clinched their first playoff berth since 2012, ending a two year playoff sabbatical, unheard of for the most successful team in the history of American sports. Carlos Beltran, Greg Bird and Rob Refsynder homered for the Yankees, who won their 87th game of the season. That was the last game the Yankees won for the remainder of the regular season. They lost their final three games, before losing to the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card game.
Mets trade for Yoenis Cespedes:
Aug. 1, 2015. The New York Mets were reeling after their trade to acquire All-Star outfielder Carlos Gomez collapsed, but they made up for it by acquiring outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers. The Cuban outfielder was a revelation at Citi Field, hitting 17 home runs and driving in 44 runs in just 57 games with the Mets. His sensational bat led the Mets to the National League East division title, and eventually all the way to the World Series.
Beckham Explodes on Monday Night Football:
The New York Giants had lost three consecutive games when they traveled to Miami to meet the Dolphins on Monday Night Football. At 5-7, the Giants were a half game behind the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins in the NFC East. They needed a victory to keep pace in the division, and they got one, defeating the Dolphins 31-24. They were led by superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who made a ridiculous tip-toe touchdown catch to tie the game, before catching an 84 yard touchdown to win the game. Beckham finished with 7 catches and 166 yards, showing off once again on primetime.
Darelle Revis Returns:
The defending champion New England Patriots lost their best defender to the New York Jets in the offseason. Cornerback Darelle Revis, fresh off a Super Bowl ring during his first season with New England, returned to the Jets after he was traded three seasons ago. Revis has been a focal point of a very strong Jets defense that ranks fifth in the NFL, but the symbolism of a star returning to the Jets, from the hated Patriots, also carried a large significance.
NYCFC Get First Victory at Home:
After an opening day draw at Orlando City, New York City Football Club went to Yankee Stadium to host the New England Revolution in their first ever home game. The defending Eastern Conference champions were certainly a tall task for the new club, but NYCFC managed to come away with an impressive 2-0 victory, their first ever win and first ever home win. Captain, designated player, and talisman David Villa was phenomenal, scoring the opening goal, before assisting Patrick Mullins late to seal the points.
Islanders First Game at the Barclays Center:
Following their move from the Nassau Colliseum in the summer, the New York Islanders hosted the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks in the first ever home hockey game at the Barclays Center. The Islanders lost 3-2 in Overtime, but regardless, the game ushered in a new era of Islander hockey.
Nets Make the Playoffs on the Final Day:
The Brooklyn Nets went into the final day of the NBA regular season knowing a win was not enough to make the playoffs. The Indiana Pacers would need to lose at Memphis as well. Both results happened. The Nets knocked off the Orlando Magic in Brooklyn, 101-88, and the Grizzles beat the Pacers 95-83. Brooklyn clinched the eighth seed, and a first round matchup with the Atlanta Hawks. As Tim Bontemps of the New York Post eloquently put it, “The Nets did everything they could to miss the playoffs, but the ineptitude of the Eastern Conference proved to be too much to overcome.”
Rangers Force Game 7 vs. Lightning:
The New York Rangers were stunned at home in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals, and went into Tampa Bay with their backs against the wall. A loss would knock the top seeded Rangers right out of the playoff hunt. But, in the most Ranger-like fashion, the team rallied and forced another Game 7. They thoroughly outclassed the Lightning, 7-3, chasing goaltender Ben Bishop in the process. The Rangers had reason for optimism going into game seven– they were 7-0 in those games at home– but they lost 2-0 and fell ignominiously out of the postseason.
Now, on to the big show:
10. Nets Tie Series With Hawks At 2
The Nets received a miracle to make the playoffs, but their entry to the dance matched them up with the top seed in the East, the Atlanta Hawks. Mike Budenholzer’s side, characterized by their crisp passing and ball movement, took a 2-0 series heading to Brooklyn. The Nets won Game 3 before taking Game 4 in epic overtime fashion. 35 points from point guard Deron Williams, who scored only five points in Games 2 and 3 combined, led Brooklyn to a 120-115 victory and more importantly, a 2-2 tie in the series.
It was a vintage performance from Williams, who was aggressive from the get-go. He dropped 11 points in the first quarter, including sparking a 13-3 fourth quarter run to tie the game late. Williams did everything — he was money from deep, he was aggressive in the paint, and he showed a great first step to the basket. Williams had a playoff personal high with seven threes.
The Nets held a 104-102 lead before they surrendered a Paul Millsap layup to tie the game. Williams missed a go-ahead bucket, and Millsap was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra period, big men Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young each had huge and-ones to give the Nets the lead, and the Nets clinched the victory with free throws.
Brooklyn went on to lose Games 5 and 6, but the fact that they were able to tie the top seeded Hawks at 2-2 was very impressive.
9. Islanders Close Nassau Coliseum With Crucial Win
The New York Islanders were set to move to the Barclays Center at the conclusion of the 2014-15 season, and they needed a victory in what turned out to be the final ever home game to keep their season alive. Down 3-2 to the favored Washington Capitals, the Islanders fought out a gutsy 3-1 win at home to force Game 7, to close Nassau Coliseum in style.
Captain and superstar center John Taveras started the scoring in the first period. However, with 4.3 seconds left in the first, John Carlsonn scored a power play goal to tie the game at 1 heading into the first intermission. In the third, Nikolay Kulemin scored to make it 2-1 Islanders before Cal Clutterbuck’s empty netter made it 3-1 and sealed the victory.
Sadly, the Capitals took Game 7 to advance, but the Islanders closed out their Long Island tenure with an impressive victory.
8. A Franchise Is Born
New York City Football Club kicked off their life in Major League Soccer against fellow expansion side Orlando City Soccer Club. Jason Kreis started players such as Josh Williams, Adam Nemec, Ned Grabavoy, and Jeb Brovsky, none of whom are still with the club. Regardless, the realization of the NYCFC dream was an important day.
The two clubs did battle on Mar. 8, in a match that ended in a 1-1 draw. Orlando City certainly had the better of the chances, led by Brazilian legend Kaka and pacey forward Carlos Rivas.
Orlando had the first chance in the 37th minute, when Kaka fizzed a shot straight at keeper Josh Saunders, who made a fine save. He made another incredible fingertip save to deny winger Kevin Molino in the 47th minute. NYCFC were sparked by rookie Khiry Shelton, whose shot in the 68th minute crept wide of keeper Donovan Ricketts’ net. Adam Nemec wasted a shot two minutes later, skying it over the net.
NYCFC scored their first ever goal in the 75th minute. USMNT member Mix Diskerud curled in a beautiful shot from just outside the box to give the expansion side an away lead. They were unable to hold the lead. Despite being downgraded to ten men following an Aurelien Colin red card, they conceded in the 94th minute. Kaka’s free kick took an unfortunate deflection, and went past a helpless Josh Saunders, who dived the other way.
The match, deservedly so, finished 1-1. Neither team made the postseason in 2015, but the start of two new franchises signified a key moment in sports in 2015.
7. Jets Come Back To Defeat Giants
The Giants have made a habit of blowing late leads this season. Their debacle against the Jets in Week 13 continued their spiral out of playoff contention. The Giants took a 7-3 lead in the second quarter, when Dwyane Harris took a punt 80 yards for a touchdown. The Jets tied the game at 10 through a Chris Ivory touchdown, but then the Giants went on a huge run, sparked by a fantastic touchdown grab by Odell Beckham Jr.
The Giants were up 20-10 at halftime, and had the ball at the Jets four yard line with 8:50 to go in the fourth quarter. On 4th and 2, Tom Coughlin opted to go for it, and Eli Manning was promptly intercepted. Ryan Fitzpatrick led the Jets down the field twice, for three points, and then, for seven. He found Brandon Marshall in the end zone with 28 seconds left to tie the game at 20.
In overtime, the Jets won the toss, but were held to a field goal. On fourth down, the Giants attempted a field goal, but Josh Brown — who hadn’t missed a field goal all season– pulled it wide to clinch a 23-20 win for the Jets. The Giants blew their third double digit fourth quarter lead, and fell to 5-7. The Jets improved to 7-5. As we stand now, the Jets can make the postseason with a win against the Buffalo Bills, while the Giants have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Which team runs New York? Because of this game, it’s Gang Green’s city.
6. Hayes, Hagelin Sink The Penguins
Game 4, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The top seeded New York Rangers held a 2-1 lead against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and were level at one heading into overtime. Rookie forward Kevin Hayes was the hero, tapping in a Carl Hagelin shot from point blank range to send the Rangers back to Madison Square Garden up three games to one.
In Game 5, overtime was necessary once again. This time, Hagelin was the hero, slotting a shot past goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury at the near post to send the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Semi finals. The final score was 2-1, which, coincidentially, was the scoreline in all four of the Rangers victories in the series.
5. Kristaps Porzingis
The man. The myth. The legend.
No figure in New York Sports has been more contraversial, mercurial, scrutinized, and celebrated than New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian big man was a largely unknown commodity in the predraft process. His 7’3” frame and silky smooth jumper were promising, but his lack of size and his overseas status meant New York fans didn’t want anything to do with him.
However, Phil Jackson pulled the trigger on Porzingis, selecting him with the fourth overall pick in the NBA draft. Porzingis was booed by fans and pundits alike.
However, some were optimistic about Porzingis and his very high ceiling.
So far, Porzingis has been fantastic. He’s been the Knicks second best player by a wide margin. He’s averaging 13.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He has 12 double doubles. He’s provided Knicks fans with some incredible moments, like stellar blocks, stunning putback slams, and lights out shooting performances.
Despite hitting a rookie wall recently, Porzingis’s play and temperament far exceed every expectation set for him. He is a star in the making, his ceiling is limitless, and he may be the man to rekindle basketball in the Big Apple.
4. Mets Advance To NLCS
Game 5, National League Division Series. The No. 3 seeded Mets traveled to Los Angeles to face the second seeded Dodgers in a do-or-die final game of the series. The pitching matchup was as good as it gets — Jake deGrom and Zach Greinke, two Cy Young candidates.
The game was tied 2-2 in the sixth inning when second baseman Daniel Murphy belted out a go-ahead solo home run. That was all the run support the Mets bullpen needed. Noah Syndergaard worked a solid relief effort, and closer Jeurys Familia closed out the game and the series in the bottom of the ninth. The Dodgers’ capitulation was another disappointment in an underwhelming campaign for Don Mattingly’s men, but the Mets victory signified a turning point in the franchises’s history.
The Mets went on to meet the Cubs in the NLCS. The Dodgers parted ways with Mattingly in the offseason, before losing Greinke to division rivals Arizona in free agency. Ouch.
3. Daniel Murphy’s Unreal Postseason
How did the New York Mets reach the World Series?
Pitching, for one. Jake deGeom, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, and Steven Matz represented a fantastic young rotation to build around.
There was the veteran leadership of David Wright. The stardom of Yoenis Cespedes. The powerful Lucas Duda. The exciting Travis d’Arnaud.
Oh, yeah. And Daniel Murphy.
The Mets second basemen was absolutely unstoppable in the NLDS and NLCS. He banged out seven home runs, including a streak of six straight games with a home run, the most all time. He hit .529 in the NLCS, to win MVP honors. He tied Lou Gehrig’s playoff record, becoming the second person ever to have a hit, run, and RBI in six straight postseason games. Unreal.
Murphy’s magic, sadly, died out in the World Series, where he almost had as many errors (2) as he did hits (3). Still, his heroics in the first two rounds will live on in Mets lore forever, even if he did leave in the offseason to join the rival Washington Nationals.
2. Stepan Sends Rangers To The Conference Finals
Down 3-1 to the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the New York Rangers’ backs were firmly against the wall. They managed to scrape out one-goal wins in Games 5 and 6 before meeting the Capitals in a do-or-die Game Seven at the Garden. 11:24 into overtime, forward Derek Stepan scored the goal that sent the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year. The Rangers overcame a 3-1 deficit for the second consecutive year, and NHL first. The Capitals blew a 3-1 lead for the fifth time, an NHL record. The roar of the crowd when Stepan scored was the best home moment in New York Sports this season, and one that brings chills to any New York sports fan.
1. Mets Win The NL Pennant
Seriously, it happened. The New York Mets actually won the National League pennant. They swept the World Series favored Chicago Cubs who had just upended the top seeded St. Louis Cardinals. The Mets, led by the aforementioned Daniel Murphy, were comfortably the best team in the series, and finished off the sweep with an 8-3 victory at Wrigley Field.
This signified the culmination of a long and painful waiting period for Mets fans. From the heartbreak of 2006, to the collapse of 2007, to the losing years of 2008-2014, the Mets were the second best team in New York for a long time. However, fueled by a youthful pitching staff, a rejuvinated offense, and several standout performers, the Mets managed to snake their way past the Dodgers and Cubs, and return to the World Series for the first time since 2000. They were downed by the Kansas City Royals in five games, but the fact that they made it to the World Series signifies the biggest moment in New York Sports in 2015.