The Top 20 Philly Sports Moments of the Year: Nos. 20-16

It’s the end of the year, so I thought I’d put together a top 20 list of the top moments in Philly sports this past year. There’s been very little to cheer for in terms of championships, but there were plenty of milestones hit during 2016 that will hopefully bode well for the years ahead for our sports teams. If you disagree with any listing or think I forgot any, email me or hit me up on Twitter and let me know. I’m all for debate and discussion about this topic.

Let’s hit it!

20. Bye, Chooch! | August 25, 2016

2016 was the end of anything remaining of the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies World Series team. Ryan Howard finished the year out with the club, but Carlos Ruiz was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. And we all wept.

Thank you, Chooch.https://t.co/HMyRb1CN8d

— Phillies (@Phillies) August 25, 2016

RELATED | Say Goodbye to Chooch, He’s Been Traded to the Dodgers

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19. Ryan Howard’s grand slam with Jim Thome present | August 12, 2016

 
There were a lot of people wondering why Jim Thome got the Phillies’ Wall of Fame treatment because he was only here such a short time. I promptly ignored all that bullshit and watched the pregame festivities because I love Thome. I then watched the Phillies game – I know – and something awesome happened. The 19th best thing to happen in Philly sports this year, as a matter of fact.

And, yes, we’re all going to miss the hell out of Howard, too.

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18. Allen Iverson inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame | September 9, 2016

Allen loves us. He really loves us. And we love him. And 2016 may have been the year our love for each other really played out in the national eye. Iverson has made numerous appearances at Sixers games, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. And I dare you to not get emotional while watching his speech.

RELATED | Exclusive: Allen Iverson Talks about the Hall of Fame, Ben Simmons and His Sixers Boat

RELATED | Allen Iverson Officially Named to Basketball Hall of Fame

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17. Penn State wins the Big Ten Championship | December 3, 2016

Yeah, Penn State’s main campus is located hours away in State College, PA, but the turnaround from their early season woes into a Big Ten Champion was quite newsworthy. James Franklin was public enemy number one after the Nittany Lions lost to both Pittsburgh and Michigan in the first four weeks of the season. But after the loss to Michigan, Penn State ran the table to a Big Ten championship victory over Wisconsin, after being down 28-7, and 28-14 at halftime.

The Nittany Lions will play the USC Trojans on Monday, January 2nd at the Rose Bowl.

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16. Sixers win the NBA Draft Lottery | May 17, 2016

There was only one thing standing in between the Sixers and Ben Simmons – the NBA Draft Lottery. And on May 17, that one thing standing in between vanished. The Sixers won the NBA Draft Lottery, giving them the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. It was the first time the Sixers had the first overall pick in the draft since selecting Allen Iverson in 1996.

RELATED | NBA Draft Lottery 2016: The Sixers Get the First Overall Draft Pick

RELATED | The Top Twitter Reactions to the Sixers Getting the First Overall Pick

 

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s list: 15-11.