Dave Roberts deserves his flowers. Prior to the Los Angeles Dodgers breaking through last year, he often was criticized by the media and the fan base for his managerial choices. The disgruntlement and criticism has fortunately died down over the last calendar year given the fact he's established himself as one of the most decorated, well-liked, and well-respected skippers in the history of the sport.
A'ja Wilson's one-of-one season didn't end merely with confetti so much as a deeper confirmation. When her Las Vegas Aces finished off a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night to become only the second team in WNBA history to win three titles in a four-year span, the final horn felt less like a climax than a verdict: the best team of the era led by the best player of the era. When the dust settled the 29-year-old from Columbia, South Carolina, had achieved a quadrafecta no player in the NBA or WNBA had ever managed: winning the scoring title, the Most Valuable Player award, Defensive Player of the Year honors and MVP of the finals in the same year.
The sustained success of Menlo School's boys tennis program showcases its legacy, demonstrating that with hard work and dedication, excellence can be achieved consistently over decades.