On
Wednesday July 18, ESPN hosted its annual ESPY awards. As part of the awards,
ESPN chooses candidates and fans vote for their favorite sports heroes in a
variety of categories. While these awards are ultimately frivolous, there was
one particular winner that upset me. In the category of “Best Championship
Performance” the winner was LeBron James. While I believe LeBron James is the
best player in the NBA and was the best player on the court during the finals,
there is one important fact that giving him the award forgets. He lost. Let me
repeat that. The best championship performance award went to someone who is, by
definition, not a champion. While LeBron is a phenomenal basketball player, I
believe that there are ten other candidates whose championship performances are
more worthy of recognition.
The above image shows LeBron James
accepting his ESPY for “Best Championship Performance”
1. Madison Bumgarner
My
choice for this award would be Madison Bumgarner, who single-handedly brought
another World Series championship to San Francisco. The NLCS and World Series
MVP went 4-1 with a save in the postseason, pitching 52.2 innings with a 0.646
WHIP and 1.03 ERA. His complete game shutout in the play-in game against
Pittsburg was a preview of what would come. In the World Series, he went 2-0
with a save, pitching 21 innings with a 0.476 WHIP and only one earned run
(0.43 ERA). Additionally, his dramatic 5-inning save on two days rest in game
seven of the World Series is one of the most legendary performances of all
time, and seals him as deserving for this award.
Madison Bumgarner appeared on the
cover of Sports Illustrated as sportsman of the year following his dominance in
the World Series.
2. Serena Williams
Serena
Williams has dominated the world of women’s tennis this past year. She
currently is the defending champion in the US Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and
Australian Open. Her winning has moved her to 3rd all time in Grand
Slam singles titles, and she has the chance to be crowned with a calendar Grand
Slam on September 12 if she can win the US Open. Her dominance at the grandest
events in her sport makes her a great candidate for the award, but ESPN did not
even make her a finalist.
3. Jordan Spieth
Jordan
Spieth won the first two majors of 2015. He won the Masters in a dominant
fashion, shooting -18 to win by four strokes. Then, he won the US Open in a
more dramatic manner, sinking a birdie put on 18 to snatch a victory from
Dustin Johnson. This 21 year-old champion might be the best young golfer since
Tiger Woods, and has performed best when the pressure mounts.
4. American Pharaoh
American
Pharaoh may not be human, but the renowned horse set its mark on history by
winning the Triple Crown. No horse had accomplished winning those three
hallowed races since Affirmed did in 1978. The dominance on the biggest stage
is deserving of recognition.
5. Duncan Keith
Duncan
Keith was a crucial piece for the Chicago Blackhawks during their Stanley Cup
run. The Conn Smyth trophy winner led Chicago to get his third Stanley Cup
title. In the process, he played 715 minutes, fourth most in playoff history.
He scored the game-winning goal in the deciding Game 6 of the Stanley Cup
Final. He was also tied for first in the playoffs in assists with 18 and became
the 11th defenseman in NHL history to score 21 points or more in the
playoffs. His 16 plus/minus led the NHL in the playoffs.
6. Tom Brady
Tom
Brady picked up his third Super Bowl MVP this year for his victory over the
Seattle Seahawks. He completed 37 of 50 pass attempts, throwing for 328 yards
with 4 touchdowns and two interceptions against Seattle’s “Legion of Boom”. In
addition, his clutch performance included two fourth quarter touchdowns, including
a game-deciding touchdown with 2:02 remaining.
7. Andre Iguodala
Andre
Iguodala was awarded the NBA Finals MVP for his heroic performance against
LeBron’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Iguadala posted good numbers throughout the
series, posting 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. However,
his defense against LeBron James is what is particularly notable. Iguadala was
the main player with the responsibility of guarding LeBron whenever they were
both in the game. When Iguodala was playing, LeBron shot 38 percent, and the
Warriors outscored the Cavaliers by 55. When Iguodala was on the bench, LeBron
shot 44 percent, and the Cavaliers outscored the Warriors by 30. Iguodala was
crucial to the Warriors winning the NBA Finals due to the way he played defense
on LeBron James.
8. Stephen Curry
Another
Warrior, Stephen Curry, deserves recognition for his contributions to the
team’s championship. The NBA MVP was the spark plug for the Warriors’ offense
for the entire season. He led the Warriors in points per game and assists per
game during the finals, posting 26.0 points per game, 6.3 assists per game, and
5.2 rebounds per game.
9. Malcolm Butler
Malcolm
Butler became a Super Bowl hero in 2015. His infamous interception on the goal
line saved the game. Without him, the Patriots would not be Super Bowl
Champions.
Malcolm Butler intercepts Russell
Wilson to seal the Super Bowl victory.
10. Floyd Mayweather
Floyd
Mayweather won in the biggest fight in years by defeating Manny Pacquiao on May
2. While the fight may not have been the most entertaining one ever, Floyd
demonstrated his mastery of defensive tactics and controlled the fight., as
Pacquiao only landed 19% of his punches. The victory brought him to 48-0 as a
professional, and defended his title as world champion.
In
all, while LeBron James played unbelievably well in the NBA Finals, he was not
able to lead his team to victory. The athletes above all performed heroically
on the greatest stages of their sports and, unlike LeBron, were able to win
their respective championships. These champions are all more deserving of the
ESPY for “Best Championship Performance” than LeBron James.
