Sports fans have a high threshold for misdeeds. However, 2007 featured several buzzworthy stories that could turn off some fans forever. Memorable scandals drove searches all summer long, culminating in August when Atlanta Falcons star quarterback Michael Vick was sacked for his involvement in a dogfighting ring.
Around the same time, basketball ref Tim Donaghy fouled up the NBA's buzz, which was coming off LeBron James' playoff heroics and an influx of new talent via the draft. Donaghy's role in a gambling ring damaged the integrity of a league already waist-deep in image problems. And just when we thought heralded rookie Greg Oden would jump in and build some positive buzz, he went out for the season with a bum knee.
Speaking of bums, baseball's steroid problem caused pinpoint search spikes throughout the year. As player names surfaced in various investigations, searches would surge. One notable exception was Barry Bonds, the center of the steroid storm. We weren't surprised that fans ignored baseball's new home run king, and the dearth of Bonds searches spoke volumes.
But amidst the scandals, there were a few sports stories that warmed the hearts of searchers. The Indianapolis Colts' triumph in Super Bowl XLI spurred interest in Peyton Manning, Tony Dungy, and of course, the commercials. And let's not forget everyone's favorite Super Bowl flop-searches on "rex grossman sucks" still linger in Buzz.
Always lacking in sports searches is soccer. Sure, we saw spikes for UEFA, Euro 2008, and Copa America, but nothing that indicated feverish interest from American shores. Well, that changed this summer when ultra-famous footballer David Beckham came to America. Becks' on-field accomplishments weren't so hot, but he did manage to warm a few casual sports fans to the joys of soccer.
In a final ode to joy, the Boston Red Sox capped the year with a fantastic finish to the baseball season. They fought the New York Yankees all year long for searches. At season's end, the Yankees built buzz over their stunning collapse and messy management bickering. But in the end, the Red Sox triumphed over their hated foes in Search, thanks to their stellar on-field accomplishments.
So where do we go from here? Will UFC continue to destroy the last vestiges of boxing's buzz? Will NASCAR keep motoring along on a comfy plateau? What scandals and surprises await us in 2008? Those are just a few of the questions that will play a part in next year's always-evolving buzz riddle...
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