This year, 2017, began and ended the same way, with Landry Jones beating the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field in a meaningless Week 17 football game. On New Year’s Day 2017, Jones and the Steelers sent the Browns to 1-15 on the season with a 27-24 overtime victory. On New Year’s Eve 2017, Jones led the Steelers to a 28-24 victory and sentenced the Browns to a winless 0-16 season.
It was almost fitting the year was bookended by these two events because it encapsulated what 2017 was all about, a surreal and never ending onslaught of news, entertainment, and overall surrealness from one day to another.
Despite what some considered to be bad year for several different reasons, 2017 had more than its fair share of great moments.
–A Rose Bowl to remember kicked off the year.
–Clemson’s comeback over Alabama to win the National Championship.
–Falcons blow 25 point second half lead to hand Patriots Super Bowl.
–Nintendo releases its newest gaming system, the Switch, to critical acclaim.
–North Carolina defeats Gonzaga to win Men’s Basketball championship.
–UConn’s run of dominance comes to an end on the women’s side.
–Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.
–Sports survived the midsummer blues where baseball was all we had.
–NFL and college football kick off in early September.
–Penguins raise Stanley Cup banner.
–Cubs begin another century long championship-less drought.
–The Houston Astros lift a city with the franchise’s first World Series title.
–Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a hit again.
–The Bat Flip is born.
–24 hour long debate about the college football playoffs.
–Central Florida brings the party to college football.
–The NFL still couldn’t figure out what a catch was.
–Buffalo Bills break 17 year playoff drought on final day of the year.
Regardless of how your year went, you cannot deny it was filled with plenty of memorable moments from beginning to end and this was just the highlights from the last 365 days.
Here’s to hoping 2018 gives us many more memories we can reflect on for years to come.
From both Shawn and I here at The Bat Flip, Happy New Year. Stay tuned for what we have in store for the coming year. We think you’re going to like it.
The Bat Flip 