2013 Off to a Hot Start
PDF Kevin Ryan, Sports Editor
Going into this year, there were a lot of questions and uncertainties in the world of sports.
Would the NHL end its lockout? Could Notre Dame upset Alabama? Could Northwestern actually win a bowl game? Is Lovie Smith coming back for the last year of his contract?
Some of these questions were answered on New Year’s Day, while others were answered later on in the month along with some other surprising, confusing and bizarre stories.
As I was looking at the month of January on my calendar, I couldn’t help but look back at the action packed 31 days. The month that usually has long, dark days and is full of snow and brutally cold weather was filled with headlining sport stories.
We had:
Jan. 1:
Bears GM Phil Emery fires Lovie Smith.
Northwestern wins its first bowl game in 64 years.
Jan. 7:
Notre Dame loses to Alabama in the National Championship.
Jan. 12:
NHL and the NHLPA sign CBA to end the lockout.
Ravens stun the Broncos in overtime thriller.
Colin Kaepernick captures his first playoff win over the Packers.
Jan. 16:
Manti Te’o hoax story is released to the nation.
Jan. 17 & 18:
Lance Armstrong goes on the Oprah Winfrey Network to admit to using performance-enhancing drugs during his cycling career.
Jan. 19:
NHL begins season.
Jan. 20:
Kaepernick leads 49ers over Falcons in NFC Championship.
Ravens go to Foxborough and win the AFC Championship.
Jan. 24:
Manti Te’o goes on “Katie” to tell his side of the mystifying story.
Jan. 27:
Blackhawks go 6-0, getting off to best start in franchise history.
Jan. 31:
Ronaiah Tuiasosopo goes on Dr. Phil to reveal himself and his side of the story.
Feb. 3:
I couldn’t make this list and not mention the Super Bowl, since all the hype leading up to the game takes place in January.
Flying under the radar throughout all of this are the Bulls, who are 28-17 (as of Jan. 31), and in first place in the Central Division.
Looking down the road, in February we have the Blackhawks, the Bulls and college basketball to entertain us, which isn’t a terrible thing with the way things are shaping up right now. However, it will not come close to the drama and chaos that January brought us.
As of right now, it looks like we’re going to have to get through the tail end of the Chicago winter and the month of February and look forward to March, which is one of my favorite months of the year.
March brings us spring training, NBA and NHL teams playing to their limit to qualify for the postseason, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, and, for the first time in four years, we get to enjoy the World Baseball Classic.
There are only 25 days left until March is finally here, so let’s hope February is over quickly and painlessly.
About the Author
Kevin Ryan is now the Sports Editor for the Flyer, after serving as the Assistant Sports Editor last school year. He is on the baseball team at Lewis, and when Ryan is not at a game or practice, he is constantly following all Chicago sports teams and college athletics.
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