The Top Sports Moments From 2023

By Frank W. Gillespie | Posted 4 months ago
The Top Sports Moments From 2023

Only five days remain in this calendar year before we ring in 2024 with flutes of bubbly, midnight kisses, and resolute optimism. While it’s certainly still possible that we’ll witness more remarkable sports moments as 2023 draws to a close, a review of what has already transpired is in order. Two-thousand and twenty-three has really packed a powerful punch with regards to milestones and first-time champions in the major sports.  

February 7: LeBron Breaks Kareem’s All-Time Scoring Record

In the midst of his 20th NBA season, LeBron James broke a record long held by a former Los Angeles Lakers’ legend. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record of 38,387 career points lasted for 38+ years before King James ascended to the throne in a game vs the Oklahoma City Thunder. James entered the game needing to score 36 points to overtake Abdul-Jabbar, and a fadeaway jumper with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter did the trick. The Lakers lost to the Thunder 133-130, but James helped to cement his legacy as one of the greatest basketball players ever to play the game. 

February 12: Kelce Bowl/ Two Black QBs Start Super Bowl LVII

Super Bowl 57 between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs made history in a couple of ways. This game was the first Super Bowl battle in NFL history where brothers played against each other. Eagles’ center Jason Kelce and Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce found themselves on opposite sides of a championship game. For this reason, it was also dubbed “The Kelce Bowl”. Donna Kelce, the proud mother, wanted to show support for both of her boys. The split jersey and shoes she wore are now on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.   

More importantly, Super Bowl LVII also marked the first time ever that there were two black starting quarterbacks, and the significance was not lost on Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. Mahomes and Hurts dueled brilliantly in what was a highly competitive and entertaining game, right up until the referees made a controversial call against the Eagles in the closing minutes. Kansas City prevailed, edging Philadelphia by the final score of 38-35. Mahomes and Hurts put on one heck of a show in Glendale, AZ. 

March 21: Ohtani Strikes Out Trout; Japan Wins WBC Title

Baseball fans couldn’t have dreamed up a more dramatic finish to the World Baseball Classic than what actually took place on the field. MLB megastars Shoehei Ohtani and Mike Trout, then teammates on the Los Angeles Angels, faced off for ownership of the final out. Japan was leading the defending champs 3-2 with two outs in the ninth, and Ohtani had to deal with Trout to close the game. It was a Battle of Titans that would potentially decide the outcome of the game. Ohtani struck Trout out, and Japan won the 2023 WBC. Japan finished the tournament undefeated, won its third WBC title, and Ohtani was named MVP..

June 12: Jokic and Denver Nuggets Win First NBA Championship

The world’s best all-around basketball player finally won an NBA Championship. Two-time league MVP Nikola Jokic put on a triple-double clinic throughout the 2022-23 regular season (29), and “The Joker'' recorded another 10 trip-dubs during the playoffs. The 10 postseason triple-doubles by Jokic during the Denver Nuggets’ title run broke the record of seven that was previously held by Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain. 

While it’s true that Jokic and wingman Jamal Murray were huge factors in the Nuggets’ championship run, we must acknowledge that Denver deployed a balanced total team effort in earning its first NBA title. The Nuggets dominated the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, winning in five games. Jokic was appropriately named Finals MVP, putting Denver on the basketball map of relevance out West. 

June 13: NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights Hoist First Stanley Cup     

It only took Las Vegas’s hockey squad in the desert six seasons to win a Stanley Cup. One day after the Nuggets won their first NBA championship in five games, the Golden Knights unceremoniously ejected the Florida Panthers from Las Vegas in five games. The final score of the Vegas Massacre was 9-3, and center Jonathan Marchessault was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy as series MVP. Here’s a dose of sick irony: Marchessault is a former Panther who was claimed by the Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft. One of the six “Original Misfits” of this Vegas team, Marchessault finished tied for first in postseason goals (13) and second in postseason points (25). 

August 19: Lionel Messi Leads Inter Miami CF to 1st Trophy

Inter Miami CF signed soccer superstar Lionel Messi on July 15, and by August 19 they were already celebrating their first-ever trophy. Messi scored a “golazo” in the wild Leagues Cup Final, and Inter Miami knocked off Nashville SC 10-9 following penalty kicks. The Argentinian fútbol GOAT was fresh off of a World Cup victory in 2022, and does not appear to be slowing down any. Messi is a force to be reckoned with and is signed with Inter Miami CF through the 2025 MLS season. 

September 10: Novak Djokovic Wins Record 24th Grand Slam

During the second half of January, Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic showcased his superior tennis skills at the Australian Open. Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in the final, winning his 10th title in Melbourne, and his 22nd Grand Slam. This victory tied Djokovic with long-time rival Rafael Nadal for the most Grand Slam titles won by a male player. As it would turn out, 2023 has been Djokovic’s year.

On June 11, the 36-year-old Djokovic became the oldest man to win the French Open, dispatching Casper Ruud to win his record 23rd Grand Slam title. While Nadal has recently announced his retirement from tennis after 2024, Djokovic is putting him in his rear view mirror. With Djokovic’s U.S. Open win over Daniil Medvedev on September 10, “Nole” is now two Grand Slams ahead of Nadal, and ranked #1 in the world again.

November 1: Texas Rangers Win First-Ever World Series

The Texas Rangers are the third major sports team in 2023 to win their first-ever championship in five games. The Rangers also beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0  in that Game 5. A gambling man might be inclined to bet on the numbers one, three, five, twenty, twenty-three, and forty-three on Lotto Pick-6. Just a friendly suggestion, as well as a subterfuge litmus test to see if you’re still paying attention here. Stay with me, folks. 

It took 63 years, but the Rangers won their first World Series in franchise history. Texas SS Corey Seager hit .286 with six hits (half of them dingers), six RBI, and six runs scored in only five games, thereby earning MVP honors. Seager has been named World Series MVP twice in his career, one of only four men to accomplish this feat (Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, and Reggie Jackson are the others). Rangers’ fans were ecstatic and electric in their celebration after the final out was recorded vs the Diamondbacks. 

RELATED NEWS

Some Good JuJu for Mother’s Day
Some Good JuJu for Mother’s Day
Mike Breen gracious as Hall of Fame induction nears
Mike Breen gracious as Hall of Fame induction nears
NFL agent profile: Ross Jones of MGA Sports
NFL agent profile: Ross Jones of MGA Sports
Tim Tebow Is Always One Interesting Cat
Tim Tebow Is Always One Interesting Cat
11 games to eyeball on the 2021 NFL schedule
11 games to eyeball on the 2021 NFL schedule
Emotions to Soar as Kobe Bryant Inducted Into Basketball Hall of Fame
Emotions to Soar as Kobe Bryant Inducted Into Basketball Hall of Fame
Donte Whitner Helps Athletes Make Sense Of Their Finances
Donte Whitner Helps Athletes Make Sense Of Their Finances
BRAND MANAGER PROFILE: DOUG SANDERS OF SSE
BRAND MANAGER PROFILE: DOUG SANDERS OF SSE
Playing the over/under game with NFC teams
Playing the over/under game with NFC teams
James Harden offers to cover half the price of Nets’ playoff tickets
James Harden offers to cover half the price of Nets’ playoff tickets

Get updates on the launch of OSDB Plus and sign up for the OSDB Newsletter.