2020 will be remembered as the most unique year in sports history
From the death of Kobe and Gianna Bryant to developing sports bubbles amidst a global pandemic, Yahoo Sports examines the most intriguing stories from 2020. Sports played a key role in society, with athletes leading social justice protests and making voting more accessible during the 2020 General Election. While there was much agony off the field of play in 2020, there was plenty of ecstasy on it, providing joy to athletes and fans around the world.
Video Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
- Breaking news.
- Kobe Bryant, the legendary NBA star, is dead tonight. His adorable 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, also dead tonight. Seven other people, all dead.
- They were funny, happy, silly, and they loved life. He was so easy to love.
- Fast breaking developments in the coronavirus emergency in the US and around the world. More than 80 million Americans now told to stay at home.
- Due to unforeseen circumstances, the game tonight has been postponed.
- Every single arena and stadium in North America is empty. Courts all over the globe came to a grinding halt.
- We agreed to postpone the Olympic games at Tokyo 2020.
- I've had to be a part of a bigger team in this COVID-19 fight.
- Today is my seventh shift at the long-term care facility.
- Instead of dribbling the ball, she juggles patients.
- It has been almost four months since the league suspended its season. Today, teams started arriving in Orlando to resume playing.
- Nearly 800 players stepping inside their fancy bubbles, all part of the new normal.
- But we're about to start baseball. How fired up are you?
- Sports have a way of lifting us up, of bringing us together.
GEORGE FLOYD: I ain't dying, man. I can't breathe man, please.
- The killing of George Floyd has led to reckonings not only here in the United States, but in many countries around the world.
- We are dedicating this season to Breonna Taylor.
- 29-year-old Jacob Blake, another black man gunned down by police.
[CROWD CHANTING]
- We're not just basketball players. And if you think we are, then don't watch us. You watching the wrong sport. Because we're so much more than that. We're going to say what we need to say, and people need to hear that.
- Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball. We're calling for justice for Jacob Blake and demand the officers be held accountable.
- Within a week of Bill's tweet, the flag was changed.
- How does it feel?
- Oh, god, I feel like I can live life now.
- More than two dozen arenas and stadiums across the country have opened up to voters.
- Make sure y'all get y'all ballots, fill them out.
- Proof today that activism matters, and never doesn't always mean never.
- I keep playing to show others that they can play too.
- And here comes Sarah Fuller, more history on display.
- The Miami Marlins shattering baseball's gender barrier by hiring Kim Eng as their general manager.
- I keep playing for the next generation so that they will have better opportunities than ours.
- We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier.
- Here's Davis for three and the win. Oh, it's good! Anthony Davis.
- Lucas Giolito no-hits the Pirates.
- I don't think there's been a more anticipated uniform change in the history of the league.
- I was trying out here for the people, man, gave us some [INAUDIBLE] masks.
- Jansen. That is into center field. But the ball gets away! Tampa Bay wins it! Brett Phillips, game four hero! Alex Smith back out here to play quarterback in the National Football League.
- Kevin Durant's first bucket in a Brooklyn uniform.
- If I have to look at another crying meme for the Knicks.
[LAUGHTER]
- Can he do it? Yeah!
- Split my pants. There was so much torque in that swing.
- Right after-- oh, the club twirl.
- Oh, boy.
- Let's hear from you right now. Oh, come on, guys, you can do better than that.
- [INAUDIBLE] Johnson, he does it again!
- Win the Heisman, perfect season, national championship.
- Chiefs are Superbowl champions here in Miami.
- Liverpool, champions again.
- Hamilton has more wins than any other driver in Formula One history.
- Naomi Osaka wins her second US Open Championship.
- [INAUDIBLE] title. Grand Slam win number 20.
- Tampa Bay Lightning have won the Stanley Cup.
- Masters champion, Dustin Johnson.
DUSTIN JOHNSON: Never had this much trouble gathering myself. It's hard to talk.
- And strike three! Dodgers have won it all in 2020!
- In a year we will never forget, the Seattle Storm are the team we will always remember.
- This historic 2020 NBA championship belongs to the Los Angeles Lakers.
- You know, we've been through our ups and been through our downs. And I think the most important part is that we all stayed together throughout.