Sometimes sports truly have the power to touch our hearts – and 2024 has had more than its share of special moments.
In baseball, Freddie FreemanWorld Series MVPreturned to the Los Angeles Dodgers to a standing ovation after leaving the team to care for his son in intensive care, while New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea threw one of the best games of his career just hours after learning of his aunt’s death.
Meanwhile at basketball, broadcast legend Dick Vitale received excellent news regarding his health and Lebron And Bronny James made NBA history.
In Paris, the 2024 Summer Olympics shed tears on and off the field, starting with Celine Dionthe triumphant return to the stage in a moment that left Kelly Clarkson speechless.
The biggest names in sports were recognized at the 2024 ESPY Awards and some were lucky enough to win the coveted silver statue. The ESPYs, which stands for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly, kicked off on Thursday, July 11 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. Serena Williams will host the evening. Ahead of […]
As the calendar turns to 2025, here are the sports moments that transcended the box office score and left us all wanting more.
The NHL pays tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau
NHL left winger Johnny Gaudreau was supposed to begin his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2024-25 before he and his brother, Matthewwere killed by a motorist while riding their bicycles. Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 29.
The two were in New Jersey to celebrate their sister KatieJohnny’s marriage, and although the news was not public at the time, Johnny’s wife, Meredithwas pregnant with the couple’s third child. (She gave birth in December.) They also shared daughter Noa, now 2, and son Johnny, now 9 months.
Johnny’s unexpected death sent shock waves through the hockey community, leading to an outpouring of support, including from his former teams, the Blue Jackets and the Calgary Flames. Both honored him at the start of their season.
Courtesy of Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram The family of the late Johnny Gaudreau made an emotional return to the city where he earned the nickname “Johnny Hockey.” Johnny played the first nine seasons of his NHL career as a member of the Calgary Flames. On Tuesday, December 3, the Columbus Blue Jackets — the team Johnny was […]
In addition to team tributes and vigils at the arena, more than a dozen Columbus players attended Noa’s birthday.
The entire Gaudreau family also returned to Calgary, where Johnny played nine seasons, on December 3, when the team released a tribute video to their former player before the game.
Freddie Freeman cries after Dodgers honor his son
Dodgers first baseman Freeman missed two weeks of regular season action while his 3-year-old son, Maximus, spent eight days in intensive care battling Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.
With Max at home and recovering, Freddie returned to work on August 5 during a home game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Dodgers fans gave him a standing ovation when he stepped up to the plate for the first time. A few weeks later, Max attended his first game since his hospitalization as Freddie’s teammates wore #MAXSTRONG t-shirts in his honor.
“It was an incredible night,” Freddie said after the match.
Courtesy of Chelsea Freeman/Instagram Los Angeles Dodgers player Freddie Freeman made sure his team’s World Series parade was a family affair. On Friday, November 1, the MLB player was joined by his wife, Chelsea Freeman, and their three sons, Charlie, 8, Brandon, 3, and Maximus, 3, for an unforgettable celebration. “Thank you from the bottom […]
Cowboys cheerleader dances without a wig after alopecia diagnosis
Armani Latimer took the field at AT&T Stadium for Monday Night Football on November 9 without wig after revealing her alopecia diagnosis on Netflix America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
Latimer was diagnosed at age 12 and played with a wig, but explained she now felt motivated to take it off.
“I think if I can overcome my negative self-talk and self-destructive mindset, I can help change the experience of the next 12-year-old who gets a diagnosis,” she said. “She can start healing early instead of waiting until 23, like me. There is so much societal pressure related to being a woman – we don’t need more of it.
“So many things can make us feel empowered, and you don’t need your hair to feel that way,” she added.
Dick Vitale is cancer free
Vitale, an ESPN college basketball analyst, is known for two things: his endless enthusiasm for hoops and his work to raise money for cancer research. He himself faced several battles with cancer, but announced on December 12 that he was now cancer free.
“SANTA came early when Dr. Rick Brown called and told me my 7am PET SCAN came back CLEAN OF CANCER! » Vitale wrote. “OMG, thank you ALL so much for your [prayers.] Yes, I’m cutting the nets baby, it’s my national championship! »
Several celebrities traveled to the game to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees compete in the 2024 World Series. The two teams have a long history in the MLB Championship Series, having faced each other 11 times since 1941 The 12th clash of this year marks the teams’ match. […]
Fittingly, his announcement came two days after the Jimmy V Classic, the annual men’s college basketball doubleheader at Madison Square Garden, benefiting the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Vitale was close friends with Valvano, introducing him even before the late NC State coach’s legendary 1993 ESPYS speech.
Celine Dion performs at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Dion performed in public for the first time since her diagnosis of stiff person syndrome on the biggest stage imaginable, closing the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Performing at the base of the Eiffel Tower, Dion sang in French, performing Edith Piaf“The hymn to love”.
The song brought Clarkson, an Olympic correspondent for NBC, to tears.
“I actually can’t talk,” Clarkson managed to say as his co-hosts Mike Tirico And Peyton Manning also shared their astonishment.
Diana Taurasi’s father
Taurasi’s parents, Mario And Lilianewere on the court as arguably the greatest women’s basketball player of all time won her sixth Olympic gold medal. Mario, himself a former professional footballer, was seen wiping her tears after Team USA’s 67-66 victory over France in the gold medal game.
Competing in her final Olympics, Diana kissed her father on the forehead after the match as the family posed for photos together.
The 2024 Summer Olympics may be held in the City of Lights, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with its share of darkness. After a raucous opening ceremony on Friday July 26 that continued to spark outrage among some celebrities and religious figures, the Games have been plagued by allegations of sexism. […]
Bronny and LeBron James dress up
Bronny’s unconventional path to the NBA included health issues before his only collegiate season at USC and controversy, as he declared for the NBA draft despite a lackluster season. Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers In the second round, Bronny faced his father, LeBron, for the first time on October 23.
They became the first-ever father-son duo to play together in an NBA game, momentarily placating critics as the two shared the court together.
“That moment, we were at the scorer’s table together and we were recording together, something I’ll never forget,” LeBron said after the game. “No matter how old I get, no matter how my memory fades as I get older or anything, I will never forget this moment.”
Sean Manaea dedicates game to his late aunt
Manaea pitched the game of his life in the New York Mets’ 7-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on October 8 in Game 3 of the 2024 National League Division Series, just hours after learning his Aunt Mabel was dead.
Manaea pitched the eighth inning that night, allowing one run on three hits. When Mets manager Carlos Mendoza pulled him from the game, Fox cameras caught Manaea blowing a kiss to the sky.
“It was for my aunt,” he explained after the match. “I just received a message that she passed away early this morning. This game was for her.
yHe continued: “Everyone at home, I love you so much. I know what’s happening is difficult, but we will get through this. I love you guys.
