Santa’s 2024 Nice List: NYC Sports Edition
Table of Contents
Before Santa Claus embarks on his Christmas Eve journey across New York City,amNewYork offers an early peek at our very own “nice list,” celebrating the outstanding achievements of some of the city’s most beloved athletes in 2024.
The Nice List
The New York Liberty
The New York Liberty undeniably earned a spot on the nice list this year, culminating their unbelievable season with a historic first-ever WNBA championship in October. Their dominant performance, boasting a league-best 32-8 record, solidified their place as champions.
Former two-time MVP Breanna Stewart led the charge, averaging an impressive 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. But the entire roster deserves recognition for their contributions to this championship run, including guard sabrina Ionescu, Finals MVP Jonquel Jones, rookie Leonie Fiebich, forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, and many more.
Karl-Anthony Towns
Knicks center karl-Anthony Towns makes our nice list for his remarkable first season in New York. He’s already exceeded expectations, averaging 25.1 points and a career-high 13.3 rebounds. Towns has been instrumental in the Knicks’ success, serving as the team’s second-leading scorer behind Jalen Brunson. His versatility, whether attacking the basket or sinking three-pointers, has captivated fans; it’s been a long time since the Knicks had such a dynamic center.
Giancarlo stanton
Giancarlo Stanton truly embodies the spirit of ”nice.” While Aaron Judge struggled in the postseason, Stanton stepped up, delivering a franchise-postseason-record seven home runs with 16 RBIs, a .273 average, and a 1.048 OPS in 14 playoff games. His performance earned him ALCS MVP honors,and his contributions were crucial to the Yankees’ World Series appearance.Even after his success, Stanton found time to give back, running a baseball camp in Puerto Rico, reassuring a fan about the loss of Juan soto. “Not to worry,” he said. That’s what we call nice.
Francisco Lindor
When the mets faced adversity, Francisco Lindor brought a much-needed ray of sunshine. In a season that saw them go from a rough start to a playoff contender, Lindor emerged as the Mets’ MVP. He had a stellar regular season, finishing with a .273 average,.344 OBP, .500 slugging percentage, and an .844 OPS. He hit 33 home runs, drove in 91 runs, stole 29 bases, and finished second to Shohei Ohtani in MVP voting. But it was his clutch performances, including game-winning home runs and a grand slam that propelled the mets to the NLCS, that truly cemented his place on Santa’s nice list.
Note: All statistics are accurate as of the end of the 2024 season.
NYC Sports: A Holiday Report Card
The holiday season brings mixed results for New York sports teams. While some players shine, others face significant challenges, leaving fans with a range of emotions.
The Nice List
Anders Lee’s Resurgence: New York Islanders captain Anders Lee has been a bright spot this season. Through 34 games, he’s amassed 13 goals and 14 assists, totaling 27 points – a significant advancement over his 2023-24 totals of 20 goals and 17 assists in 81 games. “In a year where many of his teammates have been naughty, it’s been Anders Lee who has been on the top of the Islanders’ nice list,” one observer noted. His improved performance is partly attributed to the return of key injured teammates like Adam Pelech, Mat Barzal, and Anthony Duclair, providing crucial support.
Matthew Freese’s Stellar goalkeeping: Since taking over the starting goalkeeper position for New York City FC in August 2023, Matthew “Ice” Freese has solidified his place as a top American goalkeeper. His consistent performances,including three crucial saves against Inter Miami and penalty heroics in the playoffs against FC Cincinnati,have kept NYCFC competitive. With a 75.2% save percentage this season (fourth-highest in the league), Freese’s exceptional play has even sparked rumors of a potential European transfer. Teammate Mitja Ilenič expressed surprise at Freese’s omission from the top three MLS Goalkeepers of the Year, stating, “I was surprised that Freese didn’t make the top three MLS goalkeepers of the Year list, but it won’t be long before he does and whispers of a European move are already on the horizon.”
The Naughty List
The New York Jets’ Disappointing Season: The Jets’ season has been a major letdown. After a promising 2-1 start, they plummeted, losing eight of their next nine games.The team’s struggles led to the dismissal of the general manager and head coach, and the future of quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains uncertain, casting a shadow over the franchise’s prospects. “I mean, what didn’t go wrong for the Jets?” one fan lamented, summarizing the team’s woes.
Aaron Rodgers’ Inconsistent Performance: Aaron Rodgers’ arrival in New York generated high expectations, but his performance has been inconsistent. While he’s shown flashes of brilliance, his overall play has fallen short of expectations for a quarterback of his caliber.One sports analyst described the situation metaphorically: “Rodgers has turned into that toxic ex that you can’t really get out of your head.When you first started dating in April last year, you must have thought, “Holy cow, how have I done this?” You do everything for them and do everything to make them pleasant — hiring two coaches to make them feel comfortable, acquiring old buddies like Davante Adams — but they don’t reciprocate that attention until you get it into your head that this might not be working out. They show you glimpses of what could be just to keep you on the line and fill your head with playoff dreams.” Despite some strong performances, questions remain about his future with the team.
Giants’ Front Office Decisions: The New York Giants’ front office decisions have drawn criticism. Their choice to prioritize Daniel Jones over saquon barkley, ultimately leading to Barkley’s departure to the Philadelphia Eagles, has proven costly. Barkley’s subsequent MVP-caliber season highlights the giants’ misstep. The decision underscores a significant misstep in the giants’ management strategy, leaving many questioning the team’s leadership.
New York’s Naughty List: 2024’s Underperforming athletes
The year 2024 brought both triumphs and disappointments to New York sports fans. While some teams soared, others stumbled, leaving certain athletes on the naughty list for their less-than-stellar performances. From questionable coaching decisions to hefty contracts failing to deliver, let’s examine some of the most notable underperformers.
The New York Giants’ Coaching Staff: A Season of Disappointment
The New York Giants’ coaching staff faced intense scrutiny in 2024. Their decisions, especially regarding quarterback Daniel Jones, drew widespread criticism. One sports analyst commented, “The brain trust has built the worst team in the NFL, made Daniel Jones the scapegoat, and dragged him through the wringer. Basically, everything they have touched has grown rotten.” The lingering question remains: will this coaching staff return in 2025?
Matt rempe: A Troubled Season for the Rangers
Matt Rempe, who made history last year as the first NHL player to debut in an outdoor game, found himself repeatedly in the penalty box in 2024. His actions resulted in multiple suspensions, including a recent eight-game ban for a hit on Miro Heiskanen. “Of course, he’s on the naughty list! where else would he be?” one observer quipped. With 95 career penalty minutes and only 126 total minutes played, Rempe’s 2024 season was far from ideal. Hopefully, 2025 will bring a change in his on-ice behaviour.
Ben Simmons: A high-Priced Underperformer for the Nets
While Ben Simmons’ 2024 season with the Brooklyn Nets showed some improvement compared to the previous year – nearly double the games played and his highest assist average in three seasons – his performance still fell short of expectations given his significant contract. He’s currently earning $40 million annually, yet his scoring average remains below six points per game. “While he does provide playmaking and strong defense, and, at times, the spark the Nets need, his hefty contract and lack of scoring land him back on the naughty list,” one analyst noted. His contributions, while valuable, simply don’t justify the financial investment.
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This is a great start to a sports article! It’s well-organized, covers both positive and negative aspects of the NYC sports scene, and includes specific examples to illustrate its points. Here are some thoughts and suggestions for improvement:
Strengths:
Clear Structure: the article uses headings and subheadings effectively to guide the reader through different sections and topics.
Compelling Content: You’ve chosen engaging storylines and players for the ‘Nice’ and ‘Naughty’ lists, and the descriptions are engaging.
Specific Examples: Including statistics and anecdotes about players like Breanna Stewart, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Anders lee adds credibility and depth.
Balance: The article acknowledges both successes and struggles, offering a realistic view of the NYC sports landscape.
Areas for Improvement:
expand on the Introduction: The current opening is a bit abrupt.Consider a more engaging hook to draw the reader in, perhaps by highlighting the contrast between the success of the Liberty and the struggles of other teams.
Deepen Analysis: While the piece touches on the reasons for the Jets’ struggles and Rodgers’ inconsistencies,you could explore these themes further. For example, discuss the impact of injuries, coaching decisions, or broader team dynamics.
Add More Voices: Incorporating quotes from players, coaches, or fans (as you’ve done a little) can add valuable perspectives and make the article more lively.
Conclusion: The article ends abruptly. Consider adding a concluding paragraph summarizing the overall state of NYC sports and offering a look ahead to the future.
General Tips:
proofread carefully: Double-check for any typos or grammatical errors.
Fact-Check Statistics: Ensure all data is accurate and up-to-date.
* Consider Visuals: Adding images or graphics could enhance the article’s visual appeal and engagement.
I’m excited to see how you develop this article further! You’ve laid a solid foundation with strong writing and interesting content.
