2022: A Year in Review

By Peyton Schultze

The Los Angeles Rams were one of the top teams of 2022, especially after their nail-biting win in Super Bowl LVI over the Cincinnati Bengals (via Turf Show Times).

The last twelve months have shown us nothing short of excellence across the world of sports.

2022 was the year where things started to get back on track for many. But some star athletes and even fewer elite teams decided to take their game to the next level over the past year, providing awe-inspiring moments with key plays and clutch marks that brought out the best of their teammates and respective competitors. It has been a year to remember across sports, from the icy slopes of Beijing to the new digs of the Chase Center in San Francisco, and while the year will soon come to a close, it is important to reflect on the stunning amplitude of greatness that surrounded us in the past year.

There is plenty to cover, but without further ado, here is our look at a year in review as we step back and look at the intensity, craziness and preeminence that defined 2022.

The Stars of the Year

There are good players and there are great players.

And then there are players who defy our expectations. Who find ways to set new standards, while also placing unrealistic expectations on themselves to constantly push themselves forward into the new depths of greatness. There are many athletes in the world who fit this bill, but 2022 gave us a new batch of some generational players who found more ways than one to overcome and inspire others to be the best version of themselves.

Here is a look at our five stars of the year in the world of sports.

Aaron Judge: It Was an Honor, Sir

The New York superstar not only earned a record-breaking contract from the Yankees, but delivered one of the greatest regular season performances in MLB history (via The New York Times).

In recent years, baseball has struggled to garner most of the national media coverage that has followed it since the beginning and eventual emergence of America’s pastime. That is, until Aaron Judge’s miraculous 2022 season.

Before 2022, Judge was an All-Star and a player capable of being the best player on a championship team, but few could have thought he was capable of breaking longstanding records. Nevertheless, the towering slugger took home AL MVP honors and slapped 62 home runs, breaking Roger Maris’ nearly untouchable AL record and bringing a new conversation to the debate of the home run king. Judge’s marathon toward history was followed by many around the country, interrupting football weekends and primetime news coverage with every at-bat, providing a look into the life of one of the country’s most captivating athletes on the country’s most recognizable team.

The Yankees have seen the likes of Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Jeter and Rivera, and after the power-hitting right fielder put together a season for the ages, he is on pace to rank right next to the notable names found in center field in Yankee Stadium. Judge is set to be the next captain and the leader of a new generation of Yankees, and there is no doubt that he has emerged as the face of baseball in a major time of need.

Stephen Curry: The San Francisco Sniper

Curry wrote down the finishing touches of his Hall of Fame legacy in 2022, guiding the Warriors to a surprise postseason run that ended with the fourth championship of his career (via Golden State of Mind).

The story of Stephen Curry was thought to have already been written.

The greatest shooter of all-time and a three-time NBA champion before entering the 2021-2022 season, Curry did not need to have much of a follow-up to already seal his place in history as one of the greatest basketball players to ever lace up. But after two years of misery and injuries in Golden State, few thought Curry could return to the game’s greatest stage of the NBA Finals. Think again. Curry put together the best postseason run of his career in 2022, taking Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and the Warriors back to the game’s biggest stage for another shot at a ring against the upcoming Boston Celtics.

Curry was excellent in the Finals, delivering the signature performance of his playoff career in Game 4 of the Finals on the road in the Boston Garden, and was awarded Finals MVP honors once the series came to a close in six games. It was the perfect comeback for the perfect leader that the NBA has always relied on, paving the way toward a story of redemption for one of the finest players that has ever stepped foot on the hardwood.

Joe Burrow: As Cool as the Other Side of the Pillow

Burrow’s Bengals were a shocking story to follow throughout the year, but his play on-the-field helped guide Cincinnati to highs it had not reached in decades (via CNN).

Joe Burrow was the talk of the college football scene during his spectacular stint at LSU, but few could have predicted the levels of success that he would reach so quickly in his NFL career.

Burrow emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in football over the past year, leading the Cincinnati Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance in over three decades and bringing new life to an organization that was in need of a jolt. Yet Burrow has followed up the first act with another ridiculous season in 2022, which has the Bengals in the middle of the AFC playoff race with hopes of capturing a Lombardi Trophy.

It has been a wild ride for Burrow in his short professional career, and while the ranks of names like Allen and Mahomes remain contenders alongside him, it would be foolish not to consider him among the league’s best. The Bengals are hungry, and with Burrow at the helm, they’ll go just as far as he can take them.

Chloe Kim: The Aerial Wizard

Kim continues to redefine snowboarding, proving that she is one of the greatest athletes in the world today (via amNew York).

Chloe Kim was an instant star when she soared through the air at the 2018 Winter Olympics, but her follow-up act took her status to new heights.

The premier snowboarder of her generation, Kim became the first woman to ever win two gold medals in the snowboard halfpipe at the Winter Games in 2022, sealing her place as a legendary American Olympian. Kim’s first run with a 94 score left her unchallenged at the top by her fiercest competitors, and while she remains on track to potentially compete in the next Games as well, she also made the bold choice to take a step back for the next year to focus on other aspects of her life.

Still young and thriving, Kim has set the tempo for the modern athlete with her grace in winning and acknowledgment of things that may be impacting her life outside of the halfpipe. It is a tough road to follow along for many, but Kim has proven that she is a star in her daily life with the impact that she continues to make on others around the world.

Jocelyn Alo: A Diamond Year for the Ages

Alo led the Sooners to one of the most dominant seasons in NCAA softball history with an impressive display of power in the batter’s box (via Sporting News).

There are great players.. and then there is Jocelyn Alo.

The Michael Jordan of college softball, Alo capped off her collegiate career at Oklahoma with a season for the ages. With 27 home runs, 75 RBIs and a ridiculous .485 batting average in just 46 games, Alo led the Sooners with a 59-3 record and took them all the way to the College World Series, where she dominated on the game’s biggest stage. Plowing through the likes of teams like UCF, UCLA and finally Texas, the Sooners capped off their dream season with a national championship that ranks among the most impressive in Division I history.

Alo finishes her career as the all-time leader in NCAA in home runs, slugging percentage and total bases, while also holding numerous records at the university for her play in the batter’s box. Alo had plenty of help from the teammates around her on a loaded Sooner team, but there is no doubt that her superhuman performance in 2022 was not only record-breaking, but potentially even once-in-a-lifetime.

The Breakout Studs

Year after year, there are several athletes that come out of nowhere.

They make our jaws drop with sheer athleticism, and they step up in the biggest of moments when nothing but pure doubt fills the air. They have this sneaky quality that makes their opponents doubt them, but just when the moment allows, they strike with nothing but force and an overpowering will to win.

With that said, here is a look at our breakout studs of the year.

Ja Morant: Up, Up and Away

Morant took the Grizzlies to the next level in the past year, with Memphis emerging as perennial title contenders with their star point guard on the attack (via Yahoo Sport Australia).

We have seen plenty of high fliers before, from Vince Carter to Tracy McGrady, but few players have brought the same amount of electricity to the game like Memphis point guard, Ja Morant.

Morant, despite a few nagging injuries in 2021 and 2022, has become the ultimate highlight warrior in the social media age. With massive dunks and acrobatic moves toward the basket on a nightly basis, Morant has brought attention to himself on platforms like Twitter and Instagram due to his pure ferocity toward the game of basketball. And it is not only his dunks; Morant has the Grizzlies in the middle of a title pursuit that has brought a new energy to Grind City.

Caleb Williams: The Next, Great Trojan

Williams took home this year’s Heisman Trophy behind incredible performances against Notre Dame and UCLA, making the Trojans contenders again for the first time in a decade (via Los Angeles Times).

USC Football had been an afterthought in the Pac-12 for the better part of the last decade. That is, until head coach Lincoln Riley arrived in town with a flashy new quarterback in Caleb Williams.

Williams was the star that Trojan fans had been craving to have again for years, guiding USC to a comeback year that saw their national starpower once again rise to the top. With a record-setting year in the Coliseum that saw Williams account for 4,075 passing yards with 47 total touchdowns, the USC signal caller took home the honors for the Heisman Trophy and sealed his place in the prolific history of USC. And that’s not all: Williams will return next season and will have USC in a prime position to contend for a national championship once again.

Jeremy Pena: The Newcomer that Nobody Saw Coming

Pena was not even known by many fans before the regular season started, but emerged as a household name by the time the Astros captured their second World Series in franchise history (via DraftKings Nation).

Among all of the big names on the Houston Astros, nobody really could have predicted such a breakthrough from rookie shortstop, Jeremy Pena.

Filling in for Carlos Correa after he departed last season, Pena took his game to the next level in the postseason after a nice regular season. By hitting .345 with four home runs and eight RBIs over the course of the postseason, Pena took home World Series MVP honors and not only helped manager Dusty Baker take home the first title of his illustrious career, but helped rebuild the reputation of a franchise that had taken a toll in recent years.

Eileen Gu: Elegance and Precision on the Slopes

With a dominant run at this year’s Winter Olympics, Gu quickly became an international star (via Reuters).

An American-born skier who competed for China in this year’s Winter Olympics, Eileen Gu became one of the biggest superstars in the world behind an epic display on the slopes.

By becoming the first extreme sports athlete to ever win three medals at a single Olympic games, Gu shattered the record books and redefined excellence behind two gold medals and a silver in Beijing. Gu’s starpower did not stop there: during the summer, she also revealed that she will serve as a U.S. ambassador to bring the 2030 or 2034 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City, Utah and has served as an international inspiration to an entire new age of skiers.

Iga Swiatek: Dominance on Nearly Every Swing

Swiatek was not known by many before the year started, but wowed fans with impressive play at major tournaments (via WTA).

Women’s tennis went through a year of transition in 2022, but Polish stud Iga Swiatek took matters into her own hands this year.

By capturing women’s singles titles at the French Open and U.S. Open this season, Swiatek emerged as the premier player in the sport and found ways to stun her opponents at every turn. Swiatek also remains the world number 1 right now according to the Women’s Tennis Association, and even though she has already mastered the court in her early career by becoming the first Polish player to ever win a singles title, it appears her run of excellence is just getting started.

The Moments That Stunned Us

Every year, we are left with a few games that will live with us forever.

Whether it is a walk-off home run or a game-saving play by a defense, sports moments live in our heads for years and give us a preview of the impossible in our daily lives. It is a story unlike any other, when we can see something that even we really can’t believe, which is what keeps us watching again and again and again.

We now present several spectacular moments throughout the year that left us in pure awe.

AFC Divisional Round: Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City Chiefs

An epic conclusion that might have kicked off the league’s next great rivalry came down to some ridiculous plays from some of the game’s finest stars (via Buffalo Rumblings).

The game that proved that 13 seconds is plenty of time for Patrick Mahomes.

One of the greatest playoff games in the history of the NFL came down to the wire in the fourth quarter of a tight contest. With Mahomes and Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen dueling for the latter part of three hours in Arrowhead Stadium, the game seemed all but over when Allen connected with receiver Gabe Davis in the endzone with 13 seconds left in the game for his fourth passing strike of the game.

But Kansas City got the ball back on a confusing special teams mishap by Buffalo, and with a few quick passes from Mahomes to his star weapons on the outside, kicker Harrison Butker nailed a 49-yard field goal to tie the game and send the matchup into the uncertain clouds of playoff overtime.

The game came down to which team got the ball first in overtime, to which Mahomes and company capitalized. The Chiefs received the ball first, marched the ball down the field on an exhausted Buffalo defense and capped off one of the wildest playoff games of all-time with a dime from Mahomes to tight end Travis Kelce to send the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game. The records (and rules) were rewritten, and the league still may never seen another outing quite like it.

NLCS Game 5: San Diego Padres vs Philadelphia Phillies

Bryce Harper was able to remind fans of his greatness throughout the 2022 playoffs, but even he could not have imagined the swing that would eventually send the Phillies to the World Series (via That Balls Outta Here).

The game that proved why Bryce Harper is one of baseball’s generational talents.

Even though the Phillies would eventually fall to the Houston Astros in the World Series, Philadelphia’s path through the National League was something that nobody saw coming. Led by the bats of Harper and Kyle Schwarber throughout the playoffs, the Phillies were able to slug their way to the top after a miserable start to the regular season.

But their miraculous run toward postseason glory eventually came down to one swing in Game 5 of the NLCS, down 3-2 to the Padres in the bottom of the eighth inning. With a runner on first base and with the count at 2-2, Harper received an outside fastball and drove it the opposite way on a line, sneaking over the left field fence in what broadcaster Joe Davis described as “the swing of his life.”

Harper’s clutch moment was the go-ahead swing in the game for the Phillies, and after a nerve-racking ninth inning that almost saw San Diego make an improbable comeback of their own, the Phillies were able to close the door and advance to their first World Series in over a decade.

2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship: Kansas Jayhawks vs North Carolina Tar Heels

Kansas struggled early on, but mounted an improbable comeback that sealed their fate as national champions (via CNN).

The game that proved that even blue bloods can be defined as underdogs.

Not many people associate North Carolina with the potential title of a Cinderella team, but after a low seeding from the tournament committee, the Tar Heels were doubted early. But the powder blue team of Tobacco Road plowed through the tournament, defeating top seed after top seed (including their biggest rival across the street with Duke in the Final Four of our dreams) until their fateful matchup with Kansas.

The Jayhawks were the opposite; favored early on, Kansas had just found way to sneak by teams all the way toward the Final Four. Kansas bounced Jay Wright and Villanova in the Final Four, but their matchup in the National Championship appeared to be a bust at first after a miserable 16-point deficit to the Tar Heels.

But by picking up the tempo and throwing the ball inside often to center David McCormack, Kansas stormed all the way back with assistance from Jalen Wilson and Christian Braun to capture their fourth title in program history. It was a second half for the ages, led by masterful coaching from Bill Self and big time tickers from key contributors on the Jayhawks, and Kansas sealed their fate as a team for the ages.

Game 6 Stanley Cup Finals: Colorado Avalanche vs Tampa Bay Lightning

The Avalanche were the overwhelming favorite throughout the NHL season, but their playoff excellence sealed their fate as an all-time team (via SBNation).

The game that showed that all great dynasties must come to an end.

A series that was being labeled as one of the most unpredictable playoff scenarios in recent memory due to the dominance of both teams came down to the wire between the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning. With Colorado taking home three of the first five matchups in the series, the penultimate game of the series was as tight and as physical as any other contest in the series.

But just like hockey on a warm, June night in west central Florida, the Lightning were finally washed away and a new champion arose in the NHL. With a fantastic core of players like by Nate MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin, the Avs set the pace for a new dynasty on the horizon in the league with their third championship in franchise history.

The Stanley Cup returned to its Mile High home for the first time since 2001, and Colorado has not looked back yet this year.

LIV Tour vs the PGA Tour

The newest golf rivalry turned the sports world upside down in 2022, with plenty of players making controversial choices (The New York Times).

The story… that changed the game for the foreseeable future.

Many major sports had a year of transition that followed, but none was more prominent than what was happening with golf. The LIV Tour, internationally funded and backed by the legendary Greg Norman, broke through in 2022, offering record-breaking contracts to some of the biggest names in the sport. Players such as Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka left the PGA Tour for the new chances presented at LIV, leaving stars such as Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas with work to do to improve the image of the PGA moving forward.

LIV’s offerings have been controversial at best, including comments by players regarding the funding of the league and the format being presented by the tournament itself. But one thing is clear: this emerging rivalry between two leagues is not over at all and appears like it will only continue to brew over time.

It is a story without an end date in sight, and 2023 will only give us clearer insight into just how interesting this budding duel will become between golfing superstars on the international stage.

2022 FIFA World Cup Final: Argentina vs France

A stunning World Cup Final came to a close with Lionel Messi and Argentina hoisting the trophy (via The Times of Israel).

The game that showed that soccer still brings the world together like no other.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup had been full of plenty of intensifying upsets and ridiculous highlights, but the final match of the tournament came down to a battle of titans in the sport. The aged-yet-magnificent Lionel Messi had scored in each round of the tournament to lead Argentina all the way to the final, but doing so meant a match with Kylian Mbappe and the French men’s team. It was a battle of powerhouses in the sport with arguably the two best players in the world taking center stage, and even though it was a bit of a slow start for France, the second half was nothing short of insanity.

With Argentina up 2-0 heading into the 80th minute, Mbappe turned it on. Scoring two goals in two minutes to even things up in the latter stages of the game, extended time allowed for even more madness. Messi seemed to seal the deal again for Argentina with a late goal in the 108th minute, but a last ditch effort from Mbappe in the 118th minute tied things up once again with a historic hat trick on the board. Late saves from both sides finally sent the match into penalties, in which Argentina went a perfect four for four after two French misses, and Argentina was finally able to close things out in a day of chaos.

Argentina held up the trophy in the end of the tournament, sealing Messi’s legacy as arguably the best player to ever take the field now that he had secured the final missing piece of hardware in his career. It was a sensational ending to a classic tournament, and another reminder that the insanity of sports always finds a way to one up each other in the end.

The Teams of 2022

Champions have no sunset on the horizon, and their legacies live on forever.

Whether it is a scrappy bunch that found a way to come together for a few weeks or a team full of superstar talent that plowed through their respective league, the best teams of 2022 found ways to inspire us in new ways that have not been seen before. Every good team is just one play away from disaster and the ultimate crumble, but these great teams instead understood that they are also just one play away from the ultimate search of glory.

Here are some of the best teams of 2022.

The Los Angeles Rams: Stars of the West Coast

Cooper Kupp captured Super Bowl MVP honors in a wild finish that saw the Rams take home their second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history (via ESPN).

The 2021-2022 Los Angeles Rams went all-in.

Teams commit to winning, and then teams commit to winning by giving up future assets for immediate help on-the-field in the pursuit of a championship. As led by head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead, the Rams put together an unreal roster capable of taking down contenders at every corner of the postseason. With top-end star talent such as Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Andrew Whitworth, Von Miller, Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald, the Rams simply overmatched many of the teams in front of them and found a way to get to the Super Bowl in their own friendly confines of SoFi Stadium.

It was not easy by any means with several ups and downs during the game, but constant pressure from Miller and Donald and clutch plays from Stafford to Kupp late in the 4th quarter were the difference in the game and ultimately led the Rams toward their second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. Their 2022 follow-up has not been quite as clean, but they will forever be remembered as champions in the City of Angels.

The South Carolina Gamecocks: Taking Down the Juggernaut

South Carolina proved that they are now regarded as the top program in women’s college basketball after taking down UConn with ease in the national title game (via The Washington Post).

Who could have predicted that South Carolina would become the college home of winning and excellence on the court?

Led by head coach Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks had emerged as a top team in the nation in recent seasons, especially during the wild 2017 season that saw the school take home their first national title. But when it came down to the end of the 2022 season, could the Gamecocks find a way to upset the mighty UConn and Geno Auriemma’s perfect record in national title games? The answer: a resounding ‘yes’. South Carolina dominated the Huskies on that fine April evening, limiting UConn to just 49 points and securing the second title under Staley’s run of greatness.

South Carolina’s squad may not have had the big names that UConn had, but studs such as Destanni Henderson, Aliyah Boston, Victaria Saxton and Zia Cooke contributed in a major way and helped guide this team throughout the tournament to a national championship. The Gamecocks have a long way to go before they can be recognized as back-to-back champions, but there is no doubt that South Carolina is quickly becoming one of the top powerhouses in women’s basketball.

The Georgia Bulldogs: The New Big Dogs in the South

Georgia has had an incredible year in 2022, emerging as the top team in the SEC under the wing of head coach Kirby Smart (via Dawn of the Dawg).

Alabama had been the team to beat in the SEC (and all of college football, really) for nearly over a decade, which made the challenge for Georgia even more difficult in the National Championship Game.

But on a night where everything seemed to go according to plan for the Bulldogs, Georgia found a way to capture their first title of the College Football Playoff era and took down Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide in a truly dominant fashion. Georgia’s 2021-2022 squad may have been a team for the ages; although they were led by Stetson Bennett at quarterback, other key names such as Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, Jordan Davis, Travon Walker, George Pickens, James Cook and Lewis Cine were major figures on this title-winning squad.

Yet the Bulldogs have continued their excellence throughout 2022, dominating the SEC this season and topping out as the number 1 seed in this year’s College Football Playoff. With back-to-back years of sheer perfection across the board on both sides of the ball, there is no doubt that another national championship win by the Bulldogs would certainly solidify their status as the sport’s top powerhouse in terms of recruiting and performance on-the-field in Athens.

The Golden State Warriors: The NeverEnding Story

After losing Kevin Durant to the Nets a few years ago, Golden State’s run appeared to come to an end. The 2021-2022 season flipped that narrative, and gave the golden franchise of prominence another polished-off trophy to add to their collection (via Sporting News).

The Warriors’ dynasty never seems to give up.

Kevin Durant leaves in free agency? No problem. Klay Thompson is out for two years with injuries? It won’t be a big deal. The team relies on little-known players such as Jordan Poole and Gary Payton II? Not an issue. The 2021-2022 Golden State Warriors may have been led at the top by Stephen Curry, but head coach Steve Kerr was able to rely on key contributors such as Draymond Green, Kevon Looney and Andrew Wiggins to form a squad that was eerily reminiscent of the teams of the Warriors’ past. Tough defense and sharp-shooting on the outside became the trademarks of this squad again, which was proven again on the NBA’s biggest stage.

Golden State was excellent in the NBA Finals, dominating Boston with intense physicality on the perimeter to limit the effectiveness of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown throughout the series. With Curry eventually capturing Finals MVP honors, the Warriors found themselves in a familiar position at the top of the league and proved that they are still the league’s premier organization of the modern day. Their repeat efforts still remain up in the air, but Golden State has consistently shown that they are one of the great organizations in sports today.

Red Bull Racing: Red Bull Gives You Wins

Red Bull has quickly become the premier constructor in the Formula One Circuit, as led by international superstar Max Verstappen (via The New York Times).

Take a step back, Mercedes and Ferrari; Red Bull Racing is here to stay.

Although Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes has dominated Formula One for most of the past ten years, Red Bull Racing has put together a two-year run that very few could have saw coming. Led by Sergio Perez and the star talents of Max Verstappen, Red Bull has emerged as the top force amongst Formula One constructors. With Verstappen becoming the World Drivers’ Champion in back-to-back years after a dominant run throughout this year after a tight win for the same title in 2021, Red Bull is also currently on pace to capture their first World Constructors’ Champion title since 2013.

Managed by Christian Horner since 2005 and led on the track by Verstappen and Perez, Red Bull has transformed their brand in the sport within 2021 and 2022, and figures to compete among the best until 2025, when their deal that supplies Honda engines supplied under Red Bull Powertrains comes to a close. Until then, Verstappen and the rest of Red Bull may continue to dominate the top of the F1 circuit, and 2022 may just be a sneak peek of the type of brilliance to come behind the scenes and on the track in the near future.

Final Note for 2023 and Beyond

Going back to the fall of 2018, there has been nearly 200 works posted on this site. What once started as a way to build a portfolio turned into something that was a great hobby that allowed me to share thoughts on things that I care about, including sports, movies, television, theme parks, travel, and even sneakers. There has been countless Weekly Wonders, some untimely tributes to fallen heroes, some glorious championship recaps and plenty of the most random articles you have ever seen. In between all of this, there has been two colleges: the University of South Florida (Go Bulls) and the University of Southern California (Fight On).

All of this has been amazing, and I am very grateful for anyone who has read even just one piece over the past few years. While this is likely the end of The Golden Angeleno’s run for the foreseeable future, I would like to acknowledge that the contents of this site will always be available. There’s some laughable podcast highlights, graphics and projects made from classes and a library of articles that take us all back to another time, and I hope you enjoy any of it.

Thank you very much for reading, and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and nothing but excellence and happiness as we move into 2023.

— Peyton Schultze