2002 in Review
Bonds, Flowers and Woods:
Our Top 10 Black Sports List

By Mack Williams
SeeingBlack.com Sports Columnist

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Those like Trent Lott who voted for Mr. Thurmond in 1948, but are now deceased, are turning over in their segregated graves because of the people and events on our Black Sports Top 10 list for 2002:

1. Barry Bonds
How do you top a season in which you hit 73 homers, breaking the all-time record, at the age of 37? Well, at the age of 38, you hit 46 homers, bat a career-best .370, set a record for most walks (198) in a season, and lead your team to the World Series. The way teams pitch to—or pitch around—Bonds is indicative of his being one of the most feared hitters in baseball history.

2. Emmitt Smith
Now at 17,119 career rushing yards, Smith became the NFL's all-time leading rusher this season. The glory and success of the "America's Team" years is gone, but Smith has gone on to place his name atop those of the all-time greats.

3. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant
These are the people that Jason Kidd encountered when he arrived at the NBA Finals, and they are the two main reasons why the Lakers are on a three-peat and counting.

4. Jason Kidd
A trade involving two people—Kidd and Stephon Marbury—who probably needed to leave where they were has made a major impact on the New Jersey Nets franchise. In one year Kidd has taken the near-basement Nets to the NBA Finals, and has them positioned near the top of the Eastern Conference so far this season.

5. Michael Vick
When you think about the long historical denial of the ability of Blacks to play quarterback in the NFL, it's funny to watch every other story on the weekly NFL shows discussing "how will 'fill in the blank' shut down the Atlanta Falcons' Michael Vick this week." To this end, props as well to others such as Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair, Daunte Culpepper, Rodney Peete, Aaron Brooks, and Kordell Stewart.

6. Richard, Serena, and Venus Williams
Richard was right, much as some in the tennis establishment would hate to admit. He said his daughters would get to be ranked #1 and #2, and they are. What is surprising to some is how quickly Serena passed Venus to be the one in the #1 position. Like Tiger, when one of them doesn't win, it's newsworthy.

7. Ty Willingham
The Fighting Irish now have an African-American leading the charge. Notre Dame's first Black coach led his eleventh-ranked team to a 10-2 record, and they will take on North Carolina State in the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day.

8. Dusty Baker
If you owned the National League championship team that came within an inning of winning the World Series, you might want to keep your extremely successful manager. Well, something went down and Dusty Baker became the most sought-after managerial free agent this year, landing in Chicago with the Cubs. Furthermore, J.T. Snow scooping up Baker's 3-year-old son (who was attempting, as a batboy, to retrieve the bat) at home plate has to be the play of the year.

9. Tiger Woods
Tiger isn't late-breaking news nowadays. But he warrants making this list because when he doesn't play in a tournament, the Nielsen ratings are low, and when he doesn't win a tournament in which he plays, everyone is somewhat shocked—and with good reason. Out of 17 tournaments he entered, he won 5 and finished within the top 5 in a total of 10, walking away with close to $7,000,000.

10. Vonetta Flowers
This former track star stunned the experts by becoming the first African-American gold medalist in Winter Olympics history, winning the two-woman bobsled with Jill Bakken.

Honorable Mention:

• Jerry Rice—49ers seemed to think he was washed up. Across the bay, the Raiders know he is not. Rice and Oakland teammate Tim Brown are number one and two all-time in receiving yardage.
  
  
• Lennox Lewis—His 8th round TKO of Mike Tyson gives him legitimacy within the era that some would not have afforded him without a win over the ex-champ, no matter what condition Tyson's career is at this point.
  
  
• Jarome Iginla—The Calgary Flames right wing may be headed for NHL greatness.

-- December 23, 2002

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