If the Food Network can have its own awards, why can't I do the same?
In the spirit of honoring the best and most humorous events of the past year, it's time to announce the first winners of the Taylor's.
Better than an ESPY, even more of a career-changer than an Oscar, the Taylor awards are determined solely by me.
MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT
And the nominees are:
-Longtime Radio shock jock Don Imus gets the nod after he went on a rant about the Rutgers women's basketball team, calling them "nappy-headed-ho's."
-Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pac-Man" Jones getting investigated for allegedly making it rain at a Las Vegas Strip Club.
- Phil Mickelson's epic choke, I mean collapse at the 72nd hole of the U.S. Open at Winged Foot.
The Winner is ... Don Imus.
Nothing to be proud of in this circumstance. What should go down as one of the best seasons in Lady Scarlet Knight history was tarnished by an over-the-hill disc jockey who needs to start controversy just to compete with Howard Stern.
BEST SUPPORTING ATHLETE
-Steve Nash, point guard of the Phoenix Suns. Besides being the defending two-time MVP, Nash is averaging the most assists of his career, 11.5.
-Peyton Manning, quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts. By winning his first Super Bowl, Manning showed he is the best teammate around, making all of his teammates better in the process.
- Joe Thornton, center for the San Jose Sharks. With 92 helpers (assists), which leads the NHL, Thornton is the defending MVP, and is easily the best assist-man in the league.
The Winner is ... Joe Thornton
Not only has Thornton revived the Sharks franchise after he was stolen away from the Boston Bruins, he has made the Sharks a serious threat to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup.
BEST UPSET
- ASU Men's Basketball 68-58 win over USC.
-Boise State over Oklahoma in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
- The 107 people who actually saw Rocky Balboa in theaters.
The Winner is ... Boise State.
Besides the wedding proposal and amazing last three plays of the game, fans who complained about the boring match up were treated to the best college bowl game.
GAME OF THE YEAR
- AFC Championship game, 17-point comeback by the Colts over the Patriots.
- Arizona Cardinals vs. Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.
- ASU vs. Stanford. The 35-0 win over the Cardinal was not bad considering quarterback Rudy Carpenter had two broken hands.
The Winner is ... Cardinals vs. Bears. Finally, the Cards won something.
ROBERT GOULET LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT AWARD FOR CLASSY SPORTSMANSHIP
- Zinedine Zidane.
- Jeremy Roenick.
- Sergio Garcia. Just kidding.
The Winner is...Zidane.
While he is known for head-butting an Italian player at the last World Cup, Zidane is still the man in his homeland of France.
BEST DIRECTOR
- ASU Men's basketball coach Herb Sendek.
- Miami Heat head coach, Pat Riley.
- Florida Gators head coach, Billy Donovan.
And the winner is ... Donovan.
While all three have ties to Kentucky basketball, Donovan had the most impressive year.
Even though Sendek had a challenging run in his first year at ASU, he certainly changed the culture.
Riley also had a great year, winning an NBA title with the heat. But combined with Sendek's efforts, they couldn't match what Donovan accomplished.
Reach the reporter at: edward.price@asu.edu.
