Tag: Washington Nationals

Best sports social media moments of the year

From the zany to the unbelievable, the heartfelt to the inspiring, these were some of the best social media moments of 2019.

When it comes to a worthy sports moment, social media provides us with a unique feature: we can see a play, an iconic feat, a touching tribute, and so much more, from different angles and personalities—even the athletes themselves—with each one capturing and adding a different feel to the experience. The incredible moments you missed, for whatever reason, are then stored forever across multiple platforms, in scrollable, like-inducing infamy.

This year’s top moments were creations of legend, both topical and heavy on the funny. From Baby Yoda to Taco Tuesdays, World Cup dominance to Auburn’s shrubbery and a good-luck hockey dog named Barclay, it was quite the digital smorgasbord. So, let’s thumb up, and take a look back at some of the best sports social media moments of 2019.

This “bears” repeating

The power of social media at the very tip-top best, the Hershey Bears—a minor league affiliate of the Washington Capitals—set a record during a wonderful cause. They reminded all fans that the annual “Teddy Bear Toss” was happening, and urged them to bring a stuffed animal to the game against the Hartford Wolf Pack. The toss, as advised by the team, was scheduled to occur after the first Bears’ goal. And when that puck hit the back of the net…what a sight—over 45,000 teddy bears rained down in a smile-inducing frenzy!

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Biggest sports stories of 2019

Whether it was on the field or off of it, these were some of the biggest sports stories of 2019.

Every year, the sports world provides a ton of front-page material—from the inspirational to the absolute meme-worthy comical—and 2019 was no exception. What started with the buzz of an inexplicably missed call and familiar faces holding yet another Lombardi Trophy, ended with the Baseball Hall of Fame and NCAA Selection Committee getting it right.

In between were stories of impactful women providing a voice for countless other women, while fighting to change outdated cultural normalcies. There were titles challenged, first-time champs, and a knock on a trashcan that allegedly helped a baseball team send things into orbit. And there was so much more!

Whether it was on the field or off of it, these were some of the biggest sports stories of 2019.

Saints-Rams: The no-call

Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

People were still cleaning up confetti from the New Year’s festivities when the first big-time news-maker struck. The NFC Championship Game was an overtime thriller between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams. But it will forever be remembered for the no-call on the blatant pass interference by Rams’ Nickell Robey-Coleman. The game ended 26-23, Rams, and though there were a few missed calls throughout the game, nothing changed the news cycle—or the NFL rulebook—like that particular blunder.

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WATCH: Nationals GM Mike Rizzo responds to backlash over White House visit

One week after the Washington Nationals visited the White House as honorees following their 2019 World Series Championship, team General Manager Mike Rizzo responded Monday to the backlash over the visit.

One week after the Washington Nationals visited the White House as honorees following their 2019 World Series Championship, team General Manager Mike Rizzo responded Monday to the backlash over the visit.

“We weren’t trying to make a political statement, whatsoever,’’ general manager Mike Rizzo told USA TODAY Sports in a wide-ranging conversation about the club’s crucial offseason. “We just thought that the honor and the tradition of champions being invited to the White House and the office of the president, and especially us being the hometown team in their backyard two miles away from the capital, is something that should be done.

“Obviously, each player could make their own decision whether they wanted to attend, but most of the players were excited by it.”

Most memorably, catcher Kurt Suzuki put on a “Make America Great Again,” hat when he took the podium and president Donald Trump hugged him from behind in response.

Rizzo said that the team was “damned if you do and damned if you don’t,” in regard to accepting the invitation from the president following the Nats’ first world championship, adding that he is a registered Independent and that he votes in every election for who he wants.

“The office of the president is something that we respect,” Rizzo said. ‘We felt we should be there. We also felt we should do it with everyone still in town there, or not do it at all.”

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo responds to backlash over White House visit

One week after the Washington Nationals visited the White House as honorees following their 2019 World Series Championship, team General Manager Mike Rizzo responded Monday to the backlash over the visit.

One week after the Washington Nationals visited the White House as honorees following their 2019 World Series Championship, team General Manager Mike Rizzo responded Monday to the backlash over the visit.