Ten Club

This is an appropriate title, since I saw Pearl Jam in concert last night (more on that later). As we enter the final month or so of the 21st century’s first decade, it’s time to crown the best performers and teams since 2000.

A look back at the decade reminds us that sports are still just a diversion for real life. The delayed games after September 11 showed us that. But it can still be inspiring (Lance Armstrong record-breaking run from ’00-‘05), make you believe in miracles (Red Sox ’04) and bring communities together (hell, even I rooted for the Yankees in 2001). For all the greed, problem athletes and steroid scandals, it’s still hard to beat a classic game in 2009. So here are my picks for the best teams and athletes of the no-name decade.

NFL: New England Patriots. They started out the decade as loveable underdogs. Eight years and three Super Bowls later, they’re a bit hated, but possibly the most successful sports team of the decade.

College football: Tough one between USC and Florida, and since I hate the Gators much, I’ll give it to the Trojans. Since ’02, they’ve been the best team on the west coast, and with the exception of this year, a lock for big-time BCS game. Florida remains number one at the moment and could win their third of the decade, but their qb is a preacher and coach seems like a major jerk. Enough reason for me.

NBA: LA Lakers. For all their infighting, the Shaq-Kobe-Phil incarnation brought the glory back to the purple and gold. Three straight championships, some possibly helped by questionable refereeing, might have been enough. The past two years and the ’09 championship put them above the Spurs.

College basketball: North Carolina. Another opportunity to knock Florida off their pedestal. Two championships is impressive, but Roy Williams finally breaking through and taking his alma mater to two championships gives the Tar Heels the ‘best of’ title.

Baseball: Boston Red Sox. While the Yankees have the most division championships, World Series appearances and tied for WS wins, it’s all about the Red Sox for me. Their comeback and eventual victory in 2004 remains one of the top five best sports stories of all time for me. Then to come back and win it two years later showed they weren’t a fluke. Without that story, baseball would be all about steroids and increasing gap between haves and have nots.

Hockey: Detroit Red Wings. A pretty sad decade for the league, with a marathon mid-decade strike and series of no-name franchises winning the Stanley Cup. Detroit won two - almost three this year – and remain Hockeytown USA, so I’ll give it to the poor city of Detroit. That might make up for the Lions, Tigers, General Motors and Kid Rock. Oye.

Athlete: Lance Armstrong. How can you go against the guy? He won seven straight tours, retired, came back and proceeded to sport the yellow jersey for much of this year’s race. Oh, and he was undergoing chemotherapy a little over a decade ago. Cycling wasn’t on the map before he came along, fell off when he was gone, and back again. Yes, he almost died f cancer and won an excruciating bike race against the best in the world for seven straight years.

Runner up: Tiger Woods. The most dominating athlete and a transcendent celebrity presence, but until he wins seven straight majors, he can’ beat Lance. Consistently hitting a golf ball has to be one of the toughest things in sports, but what’s harder is beating cancer and climbing a mountain on a bike. Tiger’s got all the money in the world, hot wife and a Stanford education. He can’t win everything.

There you have it. Here’s hoping for a memorable decade coming up that’s chock full of memories and less end zone dances, please. As for my fave sports moment of the decade, this might be tops since I snuck into this game in 2003: