Written by Jim Sarruda on Tuesday, 12 February 2008 Category:Sheldon on Sports Hits:4537

I remember when ten years ago was my childhood, but now, it has become my teenage years. If we don't stop and appreciate the past every once in a while, then next thing you know the Giants will have won the Super Bowl.

So here we are at the start of the year 2008, and I want to pay a quick tribute to the events that happened a decade ago. Can you believe that 1998 was ten years ago?

Not Exactly Jordan

• Vincent LeCavalier would be drafted first overall in the NHL Entry Draft and Lightning owner Art Williams proclaims he would be the "Michael Jordan" of hockey. (MVP of stanley cup in 04).
• Simon Gagne was drafted to the Philadelphia Flyers.
• The Flyers take Antero Niitymaki with one of the last picks in round 6.

Peyton Manning was drafted first overall

Ryan Leaf was drafted second overall

• San Diego traded two first round picks, a second round pick, a guy named Patrick Sapp, and the one and only Eric Metcalf to the Cardinals to move up ONE SPOT, in order to get Ryan Leaf.
• The Cardinals would turn these picks into David Boston in 1999, Andre Wadsworth in 1998, and tackle Anthony Clement also in 1998.
• The Chargers said they would have taken Leaf over Peyton Manning if they had the chance.

• Randy Moss was drafted 21st overall by the Minnesota Vikings.
• Eagles took Pro Bowler Tra Thomas at 11th overall.
• The Tennessee Titans draft Samari Rolle in the second round.
• The Pittsburg Steelers draft Hines Ward with the last pick in round 3.
• Michael Olowokandi is drafted 1st overall by the Los Angeles Clippers

Instead of Dirk and Pierce

• The Philadelphia 76ers draft Larry Hughes 8th overall, despite Paul Pierce and Dirk Nowitski still on the board.
• The Utah Jazz trade the rights to their 1st round pick Nazr Muhammed to the 76ers, for a future first round pick, which would later turn into Quincy Lewis in the 1999 NBA draft.
• The Michigan Wolverines beat the Washington State Cougars in the Rose Bowl, 21-16, staking claim to it's first national championship in 49 years.
• Brian Griese defeats Ryan Leaf in this Rose Bowl, despite Leaf going 17 for 35 with 331 yards passing. Griese would throw 3 TD passes and be the games MVP.
• Charles Woodson would win the Heisman with 7 INT and 4TD, and have 2 rushes and a reception in the Rose Bowl.
• Ryan Leaf is called a "Drew Bledsoe Clone," by CNN.

Stupid Wildcats

• The Kentucky Wildcats would beat Andre Miller and the Utah Utes in the 1998 NCAA Tournament Championship 78-69. Jeff Shephard is named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
• Jamaal Magloire has 3 blocked shots for Kentucky, which is 2nd place in the tournament game record book, and his career blocked shots in college are first all time in Kentucky.
• Jamaal Magloire would share the starting center job with Nazr Muhammed in that tournament run.
• Andre Miller records a rare triple double in the NCAA tournament.
• The New York Yankees sweep the San Diego Padres in the World Series, marking the first time the Yankees had ever faced an expansion team in the Championship.

Scott Brosius is the World Series MVP

• The Broncos defeat the Packers in Superbowl 32 by the count of 31-24 behind MVP Terrell Davis at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. This is the only year two championship games would be played in San Diego.
• Jim Sarruda predicts Denver to win by the final score, 30-24.
• The Chicago Bulls defeat the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals in six games, and Michael Jordan is the MVP.

• Michael Jordan crosses over Byron Russel and hits a 20 footer with 5.2 seconds left to give the Bulls an 87-86 point lead in one of the most memorable and easily recognizable highlights of all time.
• The Detroit Red Wings sweep the Washington Capitals in the NHL Stanley Cup finals and Steve Yzerman wins the Conn Smythe Trophy.
• Jim Sarruda purchases a Nintendo 64 in the summer.
• Jim Sarruda gets Ocarina of time for Christmas and beats it several DAYS later.
• Ocarina of Time is named Game of the year at the 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.

Thumbs Up

• Bill Clinton denies that he had sexual relations with Monika Lewinsky.
• The Winter Olympics are held in Nagano, Japan.
• Titanic wins 11 Oscars at the Academy Awards.
• Jessie Ventura is elected Government of Minnesota.
• Jim Sarruda turns 16.
• Six Days later, the "google" search engine is born.
• V for Vendetta is said to have taken place.
• Marty McFly Jr. is born.

• Phil Hartman dies.
• Elle Fanning, star of Daddy Day Care, is born.
• Sonic Underground is first aired untelevision.

Liked this Article? See below for more awesomeness

• Eagles vs. Cardinals -01/15/2009
• NBA 08 Early Thoughts -11/05/2008
• PHINALLY!! -11/03/2008
• Cook's WS rumblings -10/25/2008
• World Series Prophecy -10/20/2008

• Not Everyone Goes Yard -07/08/2008
• What Curse? -06/17/2008
• NFL Draft 2008 -04/25/2008
• The NHL Never Learns -04/15/2008
• Jims Tourney Picks -03/18/2008

---