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1. Shohei Ohtani, a sensational two-way baseball player, was unanimously chosen as the American League MVP.
Shohei Ohtani, baseball's amazing two-way standout, was unanimously named the American League Most Valuable Player for 2021 on Nov. 18, 2021.
Ohtani, 27, is coming off a remarkable season in which he starred for the Los Angeles Angels on both the pitching and at the plate, a performance that has garnered parallels to Hall of Famer Babe Ruth.
He is the second Japanese-born MVP, following Ichiro Suzuki, who won the American League MVP award in 2001 while playing for the Seattle Mariners.
Ohtani had 23 appearances as a starting pitcher, winning nine games and losing two. 156 hitters were struck out by the Japanese pitcher. (Goertzen, 2021)
He blasted 46 home runs and drove in 100 runs in 155 games, second only to the 48 home runs hit by Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals and Vlad Guerrero of the Toronto Blue Jays. He also had a total of 26 base steals. (Goertzen, 2021)
Ohtani's offensive prowess also qualifies him as the only player in American League or National League history to hit 45 home runs, steal 25 bases, and hit five triples in the same season. (Goertzen, 2021)
Ohtani joins teammate Mike Trout in winning the American League MVP award. Trout won the award in 2014, 2016, and 2019 despite missing most of the 2021 season due to injury.
Ohtani was complimented by Trout on his accomplishment. In a tweet, Trout said, "It's been something wonderful to experience what you've done as a teammate." "You've created a season all your own."
Fumio Kishida, Japan's Prime Minister, spoke out on Nov 19th "It's a remarkable achievement, and I'm quite delighted to be a Japanese citizen," he remarked.
Ohtani praised teammates, Angels fans, and his manager in an interview with MLB Network. He also made care to thank the doctor who operated on his elbow in 2018 with Tommy John surgery.
After being chosen first on the list by the Baseball Writers' Association of America's 30 voters, Ohtani became the 11th baseball player to be unanimously awarded AL MVP. (Goertzen, 2021)
2. Tiger Woods practicing golf after getting a bit better from a car accident in February
Tiger Woods, the golfing great, shared a brief video of himself practicing his swing on a golf course on Nov 21, 2021.
Woods, who has not competed in a golf competition since his February car accident, posted a three-second video to social media with the phrase "making progress."
Woods is seen taking a swing in the video, holding a basket full of golf balls at his side and wearing a black sleeve on his right leg.
On February 23, the 15-time major winner was seriously injured in a single-vehicle rollover accident outside Los Angeles, when his SUV over a median, crossed two lanes of traffic, hit a tree, and fell in the brush on the driver's side. (Fuente, 2021)
The 45-year-old has been spotted standing without crutches at his son's golf event in recent months.
3. Cam Newton is back again with the Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have just become a little better after bringing back veteran quarterback Cam Newton in an unexpected decision. One that should make both the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints feel uneasy.
While the Falcons and Saints are both ahead of the Panthers in the standings, both must be uneasy about this move. The Falcons are well aware of Cam Newton's abilities, and they will meet the Panthers again this season.
The fact that the Panthers beat them with Sam Darnold should make Atlanta even more concerned that they've added a player who can help the Panthers win more games than they would have otherwise.
Newton's return to Carolina is a win-win situation for both parties. Watching Newton play for the Patriots last season was always strange.
From Atlanta's standpoint, this makes it more difficult to beat Carolina than if Darnold or P.J. Walker were at the helm. Cam, on the other hand, isn't the exceptional quarterback he was in previous seasons, and he'll need some time to come back in game form and up to speed.
Cam had been waiting for the right opportunity to return to the NFL and prove he wasn't done following a disappointing season with the Patriots. There couldn't have been a finer method or a greater match for Cam to return to the league from a story standpoint.
Despite his disappointing performance against the Broncos, he propelled Carolina into the relevance and willed them to a Super Bowl.
It's anyone's guess how much of a classic Cam he can resurrect in Charlotte. Carolina still had two more games against Tom Brady, including following weekend's matchup with Arizona. If he starts this week, he will have his hands full and will be thrown directly into the fire. Atlanta should be keeping a tight eye on Cam when he returns home.
4. Alexander Zverev wins the ATP Finals and creates history.
At the ATP Finals, Alexander Zverev created history by defeating World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to win his second end-of-year title.
Zverev had lost five straight matches versus the Russian, but after defeating Novak Djokovic in the semi-final, the German won his sixth championship with a 6-4, 6-4 victory. (Riley Morgan, 2021)
The victory capped up a great 2021 season, which included ranking first on the tour with 59 victories, one more than Medvedev. At the Tokyo Olympics, Zverev also won a gold medal. (Riley Morgan, 2021)
Although Zverev is still missing a grand slam championship after losing an epic final to Dominic Thiem in last year's US Open final, he appears to be the man to beat at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
"He is a fantastic player capable of defeating anyone. He can undoubtedly win a Grand Slam since it is self-evident "Medvedev stated the following. "He isn't the only one, though. That's when things start to get difficult… To become a Grand Slam champion, you must win seven matches. Is he up to the task? Yes. Is he going to go through with it? We never know what will happen." (Riley Morgan, 2021)
In the semi-finals and finals of the ATP year-ending tournament, Zverev became only the fourth player to beat the World No. 1 and 2. (Riley Morgan, 2021)
5. Why did the Canucks dismiss coach Travis Green and general manager, Jim Benning?
Another Canadian hockey team has followed the Canadiens' lead and made big changes to their front office just over a week later. Before their night game against the Kings, the Canucks are parting ways with their top-ranked personnel as well as their top two coaches.
Coach Travis Green and assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner have been removed from their responsibilities; the Canucks confirmed in a statement. Jim Benning, the general manager, and John Weisbrod, the deputy general manager, have both been fired.
Green signed a two-year agreement with Vancouver just seven months ago, and these movements came just seven months later. He and his staff were scheduled to become unrestricted free agents, but the Canucks chose to keep him.
He was obviously on a short leash. Benning felt the same way. While Benning will be removed from inside, the Canucks have hired Bruce Boudreau to replace him as a coach. Since being sacked by the Wild during the 2020 NHL season, Boudreau had been working as a commentator.
Through roughly a third of the 2021-22 NHL season, the Canucks have completely failed to live up to expectations. They had an 8-15-2 record in 25 games with only 18 points, which is the NHL's fifth-lowest mark and the lowest in the Pacific Division. (Jacob Camenker, 2021)
During the 2020-21 season, the Canucks finished bottom in the all-Canadian North Division. They were hampered by a COVID-19 outbreak and finished 4-10-1 in their last 15 games, although there were some promising signs. (Jacob Camenker, 2021)
Their young players, such as Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and Bo Horvat, have not made as much improvement this year. Even when his job was on the line after the Canucks' 4-1 loss to the Penguins, Green refused to call them out. (Jacob Camenker, 2021)
With the club failing and Green's coaching under criticism, Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini decided it was time to shake things up and start over.
6. In the Olympic media zone, an unvaccinated American swimmer justifies going without a mask.
Michael Andrew, an American swimmer, is no stranger to generating headlines for his behavior outside of the pool.
The 22-year-name old's was spreading before the Tokyo Games due to his choice not to get vaccinated before traveling to Japan. Andrew made the news once more, this time for his choice not to wear a mask during a post-race interview.
Andrew claimed it boiled down to what was best for his personal "health" when asked why he opted to defy the necessary mask requirement, which every one of his USA swimming colleagues has observed thus far. "It's quite difficult for me to breathe in after sacrificing my body in the water," the swimmer explained. "I feel like my health is a bit more related to being able to breathe than safeguarding what's coming out of my mouth." "I believe processes are wonderful, but at the end of the day, we've all been quarantined and tested the same way, so there's a sense of comfort while we're racing." (Kellen Forrest, 2021)
The contentious interview, which was given with a mask on the table in front of him, came after Andrew finished two spots off the podium in the 200-meter individual medley.
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) first said that they will "take action as warranted." However, after conducting a comprehensive investigation into the event, the USOPC reversed its decision, determining that Andrew did not breach any regulations because athletes are permitted to be maskless during interviews in mixed zones. (Kellen Forrest, 2021)
The up-and-coming teenager has had a bad start to the Games, as he has failed to medal in either of his first two events — the 200-meter medley and the 100-meter breaststroke. (Kellen Forrest, 2021)
7. In beach volleyball, controversy erupts when Canadians defeat Americans.
Heather Bansley and Brandie Wilkerson of Canada are officially through to the Olympic quarterfinals after defeating Sarah Sponcil and Kelly Claes of the United States, but some American supporters are skeptical about how "legitimate" the victory is.
With the score tied at one set apiece, a contentious replay challenge in the third and final set sent the beach volleyball world into a frenzy.
Bansley and Wilkerson were up 12-11 in the third set when they opted to let a Sponcil serve to go by, figuring it was out. The line judge concurred, and Canada was awarded the point at the outset. Then things started to become bizarre. (Kellen Forrest, 2021)
According to the TV replay, the Americans, who had gone unbeaten in group play, elected to utilize one of their challenges and seemed to win the point. (Kellen Forrest, 2021)
However, after a lengthy examination, the referee determined that the ball was truly out and awarded Canada the point once more.
Part of the confusion, it appears, stemmed from the operator hitting the wrong button, which resulted in the words "challenge succeeded" flashing across the TV displays.
Unfortunately, that answer did not arrive until after the match, leaving American beach volleyball fans restless and perplexed at home.
Sponcil was enraged by the call, and after the point was officially awarded to Canada, she was issued a yellow card for her continuing protest.
8. Weird goal makes a team angry on the referee
Manchester United came back to defeat Arsenal 3-2 in the Premier League on December 2nd, 2021, after surrendering one of the oddest goals you'll ever see.
United's farewell match under Michael Carrick got off to the worst — and oddest — imaginable start with new interim head coach Ralf Rangnick on the bench for the encounter against Crystal Palace.
United goalkeeper David de Gea was hurt less than 15 minutes into the game while defending an Arsenal corner.
As De Gea lay curled up in a ball on the goal line, referee Martin Atikinson appeared to overlook the incident and let play continue, allowing Emile Smith Rowe to volley the ball into the open goal from the edge of the area. Atkinson sounded his whistle to indicate that the goal had been disallowed, but replays revealed that it was De Gea's own teammate Fred who stepped on his ankle, and the goal was awarded.
United's players swarmed the referee in rage, but there was nothing they could complain about.
After the game, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told broadcaster Amazon Prime Video, "I've never seen anything like it." "But it was the referee's decision, and VAR confirmed it — and it was a goal." (Matias Grez, 2021)
When it became clear that De Gea was hurt, United player Bruno Fernandes believes the ball should have been taken out of play, as is customary in football matches.
"Normally, we should halt the game when the goalkeeper is down," the Portuguese midfielder explained. "However, errors do occur. Players make errors. (Matias Grez, 2021)
After a spell of prolonged pressure on Arsenal's defense, United quickly recovered and equalized via Fernandes shortly before halftime.
9. Messi’s dedication in Copa America
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner not only put an end to Argentina's 28-year drought for a trophy but also broke his own record of not winning an international trophy at Maracana against Brazil. Lionel Messi had a fantastic Copa America 2021, scoring four goals and assisting five times. Even though
Luis Diaz of Colombia also scored four goals, Messi had more assists and was awarded the Golden Boot. (“This is for all, and of course also for Diego”, 2021)
"I want to dedicate this success to my family, who have always given me the strength to continue, to my friends whom I love so much, to all the people who support us, and above all to 45 million Argentinians who have suffered so with this dreadful virus," Messi wrote on Instagram. (Agence France-Presse, 2021)
Messi, who had a hand in nine of Argentina's 12 goals during the tournament, was awarded Best Player of the Tournament with Brazil's Neymar, who had two goals and three assists. Argentina's 15th continental title was earned with this Copa triumph, tying them with Uruguay for the most victories. With 9 victories, La Albiceleste is tied for first place with their La Plata rivals Uruguay. (“This is for all, and of course also for Diego”, 2021)
10. Rogerio Caboclo, the Brazilian football boss, has been suspended following a sexual harassment complaint.
After being accused of sexual harassment, Brazil's senior football official, Rogerio Caboclo, was suspended for 30 days by his federation on June 07, 2021, one week before the start of the, which the country is hosting at the last-minute owing to the epidemic. (Agence France-Press, 2021)
According to Globo Esporte, Caboclo, 48, was reported to the Ethics Commission on Friday by an employee who accused him of many incidents of sexual and moral harassment in recent months. He has vehemently disputed the allegations. (Agence France-Press, 2021)
Last week's stunning revelation that Brazil will host the tournament instead of Argentina and Colombia provoked a barrage of criticism in the country, which is one of the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the globe.
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