Lionel Messi took home an eighth Ballon d'Or. Shohei Ohtani was named the American League's Most Valuable Player, while Ronald Acuna Jr. received the honor for the National League. The 2023 Heisman Trophy, meanwhile, went to LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Here at Mail Sport, however, the time has come to salute some of those players and coaches who have triumphed in… less recognized categories over the past twelve months.
So here are our alternative prices for 2023…
BEST GAME OF THE YEAR
Jalen Milroe (Albama vs. Auburn)
With 43 seconds left in this year's Iron Bowl, the Crimson Tide were on fourth and 31. They were down by four points, quarterback Jalen Milroe had just fouled and botched a pass and the Auburn Tigers were on the brink of a memorable victory.
In the student section, thousands of supporters had already left their seats and were streaming down the aisles, ready to invade the field.
Unfortunately, Milroe had other ideas. The quarterback waited and waited before sending a throw into the air. In the end zone, Isaiah Bond found an inch of space and Milroe found him. The receiver jumped to make the catch and silence Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Jalen Milroe celebrates after his latest heroics led Alabama to victory over rival Auburn
Honorable mentions:
Lionel Messi's winning free-kick on his debut against Cruz Azul
Charlie Woods drives OVER the green on 321 yard par four with his father Tiger
VILLAIN OF THE YEAR
Jamal Adams (Seattle Seahawks)
'Sure'. That's all it took to push Seahawks safety Jamal Adams over the edge. That's all it took to convince him that mocking a reporter's wife was a good decision.
Last month, Adams came under fire for his defense following a game-winning touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys. Connor Hughes, a journalist who has covered the Jets since Adams played in New York, retweeted a clip of the piece and captioned it, “Yikes.”
Adams then used the same caption — and a derogatory emoji — when he tweeted a photo of Hughes' wife. Adams later deleted the tweet, but not before fans saw it and security condemned it.
“Jamal Adams is a piece of human trash,” wrote one NFL supporter, while others called him “a loser” and said he had “hit rock bottom.” However, security doubled down, emphasizing after the event: “When others go low, I go lower.”
Jamal Adams refused to back down after mocking a reporter's wife on social media
Fans called Adams “human trash” and a “loser” on social media after he mocked Hughes' wife
Honorable mentions:
Connor Stalions – Michigan Wolverines
Jay Monahan – PGA Tour Commissioner
BEST PLAY CALL
Ian Eagle on James Harden's wild pass
There was perhaps no better summary of James Harden's start in Los Angeles than one passage in November.
After finally leaving Philadelphia, the 10-time All-Star lost his Clippers debut against the Knicks. A few days later, at the home of former team the Brooklyn Nets, Harden was taunted by the crowd before he shot. a hilarious cross-court pass that flew off the field and into the hands of play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle.
The only impressive part of the whole incident? Eagle's foresight and his comic live commentary. 'That's coming my way! I get it,” he said during the broadcast.
'Unbelievable. I saw it from the beginning… that might have been my biggest decision in NBA history. I knew it from the moment it left his hand… I have tea on my lap too.”
James Harden threw a hilarious cross-court pass that landed on the announcer's desk
Honorable mentions:
Ian Eagle's Taylor Swift calls Travis Kelce TD
College football announcer blows his cover
MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT
Robert Griffin III's wardrobe malfunctions
It was early September and the opening day of another college football season. Former NFL QB Robert Griffin III was on duty as an analyst for ESPN prior to the Huskies' opening game against Boise State.
In the name of work, the 33-year-old decided to film a segment from a boat on picturesque Lake Washington, which flanks the Huskies' 103-year-old stadium.
“I'm so excited that college football season is back. Let's go ahead and start with a splash,” the former Baylor quarterback said before jumping off the boat into the lake.
Unfortunately, before he hit the water, cameras caught RGIII's pants splitting in half. Luckily, he took it in good spirits and even shared memes comparing him to SpongeBob SquarePants.
Robert Griffin III only jumped into Lake Washington because his pants split in half
Honorable mentions:
Washington CB drops six yards short of the end zone, but still celebrates
The Yankees' terrible fielding turns the Padres' single into a Little League home run
BIGGEST NINE LINE INVASION
Aaron Boone imitates Laz Diaz
It was a miserable year for the New York Yankees, who finished well outside the playoffs and barely managed a winning season, finishing the 2023 season with a .506 record.
However, there was one award that ended up at Yankee Stadium for the third straight season. No manager in the AL had more ejections than Aaron Boone (seven).
None was more memorable than during the Yankees' 5-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox in August, when the coach confronted home plate umpire Laz Diaz after a strike call. “Laz, what the hell are you doing?” the coach asked.
Soon, the Yankees manager and Diaz found themselves face to face, engaged in a close-quarters shouting match. And then Boone drew a line in the dart and hilariously mocked the referee's “strike three” punch-out signal.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone mocked home plate umpire Laz Diaz after he was ejected
Honorable mentions:
Patrick Mahomes yells at officials after the Bills beat the Chiefs
Troy University coach Jon Sumrall needs to be contained against Appalachian State