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Sometimes sport has a way of pulling at our heartstrings – and 2024 had more than its share of special moments.
In baseball, Freddie FreemanWorld Series MVPhe returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers to a standing ovation after leaving the team to care for his son in the ICU, while the New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea he played one of the best games of his career a few hours after learning of his aunt’s death.
Meanwhile in basketball, a broadcasting legend Dick Vitale had great news about his health and LeBron a Bronny James make NBA history.
In Paris, the 2024 Summer Olympics bring tears on and off the field, starting Celine Diona triumphant return to performance in a moment he left Kelly Clarkson languageless
The biggest names in sports were recognized at the 2024 ESPY Awards and some were lucky enough to take home the coveted silver statuette. The ESPYs, which stand for Excellence in Annual Sports Performance, kicked off on Thursday, July 11, at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. Serena Williams hosts the evening. Before the (…)
As the calendar slips to 2025, here are the sporting moments that surpassed the box score and left us all wanting more.
The NHL Honors the Late Johnny Gaudreau
NHL left wing Johnny Gaudreau was due to enter his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2024-25 before he and his brother, Mathewkilled by a motorist while riding their bikes. Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 29.
The two were in New Jersey to celebrate their sister Katiemarriage, and while the news was not public at the time, Johnny’s wife, Meredithis pregnant with the couple’s third child. (She gave birth in December.) They also shared daughter Noah, 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, especially from his former teams, the Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames. They both honored him when their seasons began.
Courtesy of Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram The family of the late Johnny Gaudreau made an emotional return to the city where he earned the moniker “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 – Johnny’s team was (…)
In addition to the teams’ tributes and vigils in the arena, more than a dozen Columbus players came to Noah’s birthday.
The entire Gaudreau family also returned to Calgary, where Johnny played nine seasons, on Dec. 3, when the team played a video tribute 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 the ICU fight Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.
With Max home and recovering, Freddie returned to work on August 5 in 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. Weeks later, Max attended his first game since his hospital stay as Freddie’s teammates wore #MAXSTRONG t-shirts in his honor.
“It was an amazing night,” said Freddie after the game.
Courtesy of Chelsea Freeman / Los Angeles Dodgers Instagram 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 (…)
Cowboy Cheerleader Dances Without Wig After Alopecia Diagnosis
Armani Latimer He took the field at AT&T Stadium for Monday Night Football on November 9 without a wig after revealing her alopecia diagnosis on Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
Latimer was diagnosed at the age of 12 and had been performing in a wig, but explained that she now felt motivated to remove it.
“I think if I can overcome my negative self-talk and self-defeating mindset, I can help change the experience for the next 12-year-old girl who is diagnosed,” she said. “She can start to recover early instead of waiting until she’s 23, like me. There is so much social pressure that comes with being a woman – we don’t need more.”
“We can be empowered by so many things, and you don’t need your hair to feel that,” she added.
Dick Vitale is Cancer Free
Vitale, an ESPN college basketball analyst, is known for two things: his never-ending enthusiasm for hoops and his work to raise money for cancer research. He has dealt with several cancer battles himself, but announced on December 12 that he is now cancer free.
“SANTA CLAUS came early as Dr. Rick Brown called and said my PET SCAN at 7 AM came back CLEAR OF CANCER!” Vitale he wrote. “Thank you OMG so much to ALL of you for your (prayers.) Yes, I’m cutting the nets baby, it’s my National Championship!”
Several celebrities themselves went out to the ball game to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees compete in the 2024 World Series. Both teams have had a long history in the MLB championship series, having faced each other 11 times since 1941. The 12th game this year marks the teams (…)
Fittingly, his announcement came two days after the Jimmy V Classic, an annual men’s college basketball doubleheader at Madison Square Garden, to benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Vitale was close friends with Valvano, even introducing him before NC State’s late legendary 1993 ESPYS speech.
Celine Dion performing 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 at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Performing at the base of the Eiffel Tower, Dion sang in French, performing Edith Piaf‘s “The Hymn to Love.”
The song brought Clarkson, NBC’s Olympic reporter, to tears.
“I can’t really talk,” Clarkson managed to tell her co-hosts Mike Tirico a Peyton Manning have shared their surprise too.
Father of Diana Taurasi
Taurasi’s parents, Mario a Lilianathey were arguably the greatest women’s basketball player ever to win her sixth Olympic gold medal. There was Mario, a former professional football player himself see wipe away tears after Team USA’s 67-66 win over France in the gold medal game.
Competing in her last Olympic games, Diana gave her father a kiss on the forehead after the game as the family posed for pictures together.
The 2024 Summer Olympics may be taking place in the City of Light, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t come with their fair share of gloom. Following a flashy opening ceremony on Friday, July 26 that continues to draw the ire of some celebrities and religious figures, the Games have been plagued by allegations of sexism (…)
Bronny and LeBron James Suit Up
Bronny’s unconventional road to the NBA included a health scare 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 suited up for his father, LeBron, for the first time on October 23.
They were the first father-son duo to ever play in an NBA game together, momentarily silencing the critics as the two shared the court together.
“That moment, us being at the scorer’s table together and checking in together, is something I’ll never forget,” LeBron said after the game. “No matter how old I get, no matter how my memory may fade as I get older or whatever, I’ll never forget that moment.”
Sean Manaea Dedicates Game to 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 has died
Manaea pitched into the eighth inning that night, allowing one run on three hits. When Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was pulled from the game, Fox cameras caught Manaea blowing a kiss in the air.
“That was for my aunt,” he explained after the game. “Just got a message that she died early this morning. That game was for her.”
He continued, “Everyone back home loves you so much. I know what is happening is difficult, but we will pull through. I love you guys.”
