It's been another intriguing sports year, with such stories as Keyshawn Johnson helping lead his team to the Super Bowl title in January and getting released in November for being a bad influence; 72-year-old Yankee coach Don Zimmer picking a fight with Boston's Pedro Martinez and ending up on his back counting stars; unknowns Ben Curtis and Shaun Micheel coming from nowhere to win two of golf's majors; and two local icons, John Stockton and Karl Malone, heading in different directions — one to retirement and the other in search of a ring.
By now you may have had your fill of best-and-worst lists, but, sorry, here's one more from the 2003 sports year . . .
Most impressive accomplishment by a Canadian transplant living in Utah: Draper resident Mike Weir winning the Masters in April. Weir reached the pinnacle of golf success, quite a distance from his days as an unspectacular golfer at BYU a decade earlier.
Second most impressive accomplishment by a Canadian transplant living in Utah: Well, one of the Utah Grizzlies hockey players must have done something of note this year.
Most memorable quote by a losing quarterback: "This is probably going to ruin my weekend," a tearful John Beck said after a BYU loss. It was one of many ruined weekends for Beck and the Cougars.
Most memorable quote by a losing coach: "I'd rather win by nine than two," BYU coach Gary Crowton, who called for a first-down pass deep in his own territory late in the game, while leading Stanford by two. Instead his team lost by four after an interception led to the winning score by Stanford.
Most impressive coaching performance, one game: Utah assistant Kerry Rupp, in his first try at coaching a major-college team, leading his team to a 79-75 upset over BYU — the Cougars' only loss in their last 55 home games — while coach Rick Majerus attended a funeral.
Most impressive coaching performance, one-third season: Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan leading his team to a 16-13 record, ninth best in the 29-team NBA. Did anyone predict this?
Most impressive coaching performance, season:Utah coach Urban Meyer, leading the Utes to a MWC title and a 9-2 record in his first season. Who would have ever predicted Meyer would go 9-2 in his initial season? Probably the same people who thought the Jazz would be 16-13 right now.
Most unheralded coaching performance: Utah State coach Stew Morrill, who once again led his team to the NCAA tournament, where the 24-9 Aggies gave eventual NCAA runner-up Kansas all it could handle.
Most unheralded coaching performance, minor sport: Utah women's soccer coach Rich Manning, who in just his second year, led the Utes to a 16-2-2 record and MWC regular season and tournament titles.
Best deflection:Utah's Dave Revill knocking the ball loose and Arnold Parker grabbing it out of air and returning it 75 yards for a TD against Colorado State.
Second-best deflection:Majerus, after his school was put on three years probation by the NCAA. Instead of addressing excessive practice hours, extra benefits, official visits and recruiting, Majerus focused on the same heart-wrenching story about taking Keith Van Horn to dinner the night his father died as if that was what got his school in trouble.
Biggest waste of talent: Utah's all-MWC guard Marc Jackson, who quit the team with two years of eligibility left.
Worst judgment by a coach who used to work in Utah:(Three-way tie) Former Weber State coach Mike Price's decision to go into that nightclub in Alabama; former Utah State coach Larry Eustachy's decision to go to that party of coeds half his age; and former Utah State assistant Jim Harrick's decisions that put Georgia on probation in the middle of a good season. All three were fired.
Worst use of the 'young and inexperienced' excuse: BYU's Crowton, explaining most of his team's eight losses this fall.
Second worst use of the 'young and inexperienced' excuse: Utah's Majerus, explaining his freshman and sophomore-dominated team's struggles this season.
Best example of the Midas touch: Utah's Meyer, whose first year as Ute coach couldn't have gone much better. He won over Ute fans with his charm, won over the media with honesty and civility and most important, he won more football games than anyone could have ever imagined.
Best 24-hour period to celebrate being a lifelong Cubs and Red Sox fan: Oct. 6-7, when the Cubs beat the Braves and the Sox beat the A's in the Game 5s of the first round of the playoffs.
Worst 24-hour period for a lifelong Cubs/Red Sox fan:Oct. 15-16, when first the Cubs, then the Red Sox blew 7th-game leads and missed the World Series.
Best consolation prize for a lifelong Cubs/Red Sox fan and longtime Yankee hater: The Marlins' surprising World Series win.
Best reason to take up skiing or snowboarding: The 100 or so inches of snow that piled up in Utah in the last three days.
E-mail: sor@desnews.com