As we look back on the 2013 sport’s season, we are reminded of our everlasting love for the world of sports. This year, we saw a city torn by tragedy; find a common hope though a baseball team. We saw age being undefined in the NFL in Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis. We saw a Louisville basketball team come together after the gruesome injury took one of their brothers, and we saw an incredible act of character as a college football team filled a young boy with hope. Here are Chief Editor Parker Cyza’s, Senior Editor Edgar Reynaga’s, and Junior Editor Brian Gould’s picks on the best of the 2013 world of sports.

BEST TEAM

Parker and Edgar’s pick: Boston Red Sox – The beautiful morning sky of April 15, 2013 was broken apart by smoke as the terrorist attacks at the Boston Marathon filled the air with screams and horror. The Red Sox, however, reminded a city of the healing power of sports. A year after finishing last in their division, the Red Sox battled back in the most improbable of seasons, winning the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Looking back at 2013, no team came had a better season than the Red Sox, giving them our title as team of the year.

Brian’s pick: Louisville Cardinals Basketball – Entering the NCAA Tournament as the overall number one seed, Louisville looked to win their first national title since 1986. Using teammate Kevin Ware, who gruesomely broke his leg in the tournament as motivation, the Louisville Cardinals defeated Michigan in the championship game, proving that they are the best team in College Basketball.

BEST COACH

Parker’s Pick: Gus Malzahn, Auburn Tigers Football – One year ago, the Auburn Tigers football team finished with a 3-9, and 0-8 record in Southeastern Conference play; the program’s worst record in 60 years. Malzahn led the Tigers to quite possibly the most magical season in college football’s recent history; an 11-1 record with unbelievably styled wins over Georgia and Alabama. Malzahn and the Tigers will be playing undefeated Florida State in the national championship on Jan. 6.

Edgar’s Pick: John Farrell, Boston Red Sox – Farrell took over the storied Red Sox after a year in which the team finished dead last in the American League East division. Farrell helped guide his team through the Boston Marathon tragedy and put Boston back on top of the baseball world. Very few times in sports have we seen teams go from worst to first, and the fact that Farrell accomplished that with the Boston Red Sox makes him an easy choice for coach of the year.

Brian’s Pick: Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs – In 2012, the Kansas City Chiefs finished with one of the worst records in the NFL, 2-14. After being fired from Philadelphia, Andy Reid came to Kansas City, where he turned the program around. After winning just two games last season, the Chiefs started the season winning 9 in a row and look to grab the number 5 seed in the playoffs.

BEST PLAY

Parker’s Pick: Adam Scott’s two putts on 18 & 10 – Before 2013, no Australian has ever won the coveted Masters Golf Tournament. Australian golfer Adam Scott entered his final hole on the final day of the tournament with a tie for the lead. He delivered an incredible putt on 18 to head into a sudden death playoff with Angel Cabrera. After Cabrera nearly made, but missed his birdie putt on 10, Scott lined up and hit his Master’s clinching putt. An emotional Scott, accepted his countries first Masters win.

Edgar’s Pick: DeAndre Jordan’s Dunk on Brandon Knight – There is perhaps no more humiliating play in all of sports than being dunked on. The play is the ultimate display of sheer force, and leaves the victim speechless as he must know put his life back together. DeAndre Jordan had a dunk for the ages, as he absolutely embarrassed Detroit Piston Brandon Knight in 2013’s play of the year. Words can barely describe this play, so check it out for yourself, and also see Jordan’s reaction following the dunk.

Brian’s Pick: Jadeveon Clowney’s hit – In the 2013 Outback Bowl, South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney delivered a hit to Michigan running back Vincent Smith that sent him into the last century. The hit was legal and ended up with Michigan turning the ball over. It would have been impossible for Smith to keep possession anyway.

BEST GAME

Parker’s Pick: Alabama vs. Auburn – Without a doubt, the 2013 version of the Iron Bowl will be one of those, “where were you when…” moments in sports. The game will obviously be remembered for the final play when Chris Davis returned a 109-yard missed field goal, but the game in itself was one for the ages.

Edgar’s Pick: NBA Finals Game Six – When Ray Allen hit the game tying three in game six of the NBA Finals this summer, I once again was reminded of the true beauty of sports. I’ve never screamed so loud, been so excited, and never experienced a sports moment like that. With their back against the wall, the Miami Heat battled hard all game against the San Antonio Spurs, yet it took a Ray Allen three from the corner to send the game to overtime. There, the Heat won and forced a game seven in which they won, giving them back-to-back championships. That championship, however, would never had been possible without the miraculous game six that proved to be the best game all year.

Brian’s Pick: Broncos vs. Ravens, AFC Divisional Playoffs – The AFC divisional round playoff game

between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos was the best NFL game of the year. The teams

traded points the whole game, and the Broncos had plenty of opportunities to win, but the ravens capitalized on the Broncos mistakes. The game went into double overtime, but the Ravens won the game, 38-35. The ravens went on to win the Super Bowl.

BIGGEST UPSET

Parker’s Pick: Harvard vs. New Mexico – What else do you expect during March Madness? Every year we see major upsets that leave a top team being sent home early in the tournament. This year, it was a three seed (and one of my Final Four candidates) New Mexico Lobos, being knocked out by the nerds of Harvard in the first round.

Edgar’s Pick: Wichita State during the NCAA Tournament – Wichita State is no stranger to playing Cinderella come tournament time. The Kansas school has played the part of spoiler in the past, yet 2013 was special for the Shockers. Wichita State “shocked” the world as they piled on upset after upset en route to a Final Four berth against the eventual champion Louisville Cardinals. Their run, however, help them earn my honor of best upset in 2013.

Brian’s Pick: Florida Gulf Coast vs. Georgetown – The NCAA tournament always delivers with exciting matchups. The 64-team tournament drives any sports fan crazy, with multiple games on at once, for several days. Florida Gulf Coast was the 15 seed, and was looked past by number two seed Georgetown. FGCU also called “Dunk City” because of their stylish dunks throughout the tournament upset number two Georgetown, and advanced all the way to the sweet 16 before falling to the Florida Gators. The historic run by the fifteen seed had never been done before will always be remembered by all sports fans.

BEST MOMENT

Parker’s Pick: The Boston Red Sox winning the World Series – After the Boston Marathon bombings in mid-April of 2013, the happenings left the city in torment, and disbelief. The city of Boston went through a lot in the following months, and when the Red Sox won their third title in nine years, there was uplifting in “Beantown” beyond belief.

 Edgar’s Pick: Ray Lewis winning the Super Bowl in his final game of his career – In his 17 years in the NFL, Ray Lewis became known as one of the best linebackers in history, terrorizing offenses throughout his storied career. Coming into the 2012-2013 NFL season, Ray Lewis was nearing the end of his career, but torn triceps threatened to end it even quicker. The always-strong Lewis, however, came back in time for the Ravens as the team entered playoffs. In the playoffs, Lewis guided the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory, earning MVP honors in the process, and capping off a Hall of Fame career. Seeing Ray Lewis hoist the Lombardi trophy as confetti showered around him made for the best sports moment of 2013.

Brian’s Pick: Jack Hoffman’s Touchdown – Jack Hoffman’s touchdown run reminded us all of the importance of enjoying the little things in life. Battling Pediatric Brain cancer, seven-year-old Jack Hoffman ran across the end zone, and the nearly 70,000 fans at Memorial Stadium went insane. The play warmed everyone’s hearts, and inspired people to keep fighting, and to not give up.

BEST CALL

Parker’s Pick: “AUBURN IS GONNA WIN THE FOOTBALL GAME… AUBURN IS GONNA WIN THE FOOTBALL GAME!” Quite possibly words we will remember for years to come is the famous call from the Auburn Sport Network’s, Eli Gold. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPlQHYkHEzchttp://

Edgar’s Pick: ESPN commentator Mike Breen is known for signature “BANG” call whenever a player hits a big three pointer. That call never sounded so better then when Ray Allen hit the game tying three in Game Six of the NBA Finals this year. Mike Breen’s iconic call help solidify that game as the best sports moments in recent history, as well as lock up my choice for call of the year. http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr6XsZVb-ZE

Brian’s Pick: With time running out, it looked as if Nebraska would lose to Northwestern 21-24. With just seconds remaining, Nebraska had time for one final play, Quarterback Ron Kellog III launched a hail Mary 50+ yards, and it was caught by Jordan Westerkamp to win the game. The call by Greg Sharpe and the reaction by Matt Davison of the Husker Sports Network is one of the best radio calls of recent, and shows what Nebraska football is all about.  http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2GR28uZrsg

CLUTH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Parker’s Pick: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens – Joe Flacco’s eleven touchdowns to zero interceptions ratio during the 2013 NFL Playoffs is the clutch performance of the year. He did so while winning on the road in arguably the toughest places to place during the playoffs – in Denver and in New England.

Edgar’s Pick: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox – Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz became the face of the franchise in wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, guiding the team, and his city, through the pain en route to a world championship. His performance in the World Series became one for the ages, as Ortiz racked up a box score that will stand in the record books for a long time to come, which is why he is my clutch performer of the year. His stat line speaks for itself. An insane .688 batting average. 11 hits in 16 at bats. 2 homeruns. 6 runs batted in. 1 awesome beard.

Brian’s Pick: Ray Allen, Miami Heat – In the 2013 NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs were five seconds from an NBA Championship. But Ray Allen of the Miami Heat pulled up in the corner, and nailed a three pointer to tie the game at 95 and force overtime. The play is one of the most clutch shots in NBA history, Ray saved the series for the Heat, who would go on to win game seven and claim their second straight NBA Championship.

BEST FEMALE ATHELE

Parker, Edgar, and Brian’s Pick: Serena Williams – Serena Williams might be the only woman in 2013

to qualify for this category. In what was a down-year for women’s sports, Williams soared, winning the women’s tennis French Open in June, and the U.S. Women’s Open in September.

BEST MALE ATHLETE 

Parker’s Pick: Peyton Manning – Denver Bronco’s quarterback Peyton Manning is exceeding on high levels in the 2013 NFL season. He is on track to break many NFL records – most passing yards in a season, most passing touchdowns in a season, and most pass completions in a season, while breaking other Bronco’s passing records and adding on to his already stellar career. Oh, by the way, he’s doing this at an age of 37 years old. Completely incomprehensible at his age in the NFL.

Edgar’s Pick: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers – Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers put together perhaps the best back-to-back seasons by any player in baseball history, making him an obvious choice by me for male athlete of the year. A year after winning the Triple Crown (leading the league in homeruns, runs batted in, and average), which hadn’t been done in almost fifty years, Cabrera pulled off the impossible feat again this year. Unfortunately for Cabrera, Baltimore Orioles player Chris Davis edged him out in homeruns. He still did, however, put up ridiculous numbers for the Tigers, ultimately earning him American League MVP honors for the second straight year.

Brian’s Pick: Lebron James, Miami Heat – Dominating the NBA for a season is tough. Dominating the game for multiple seasons is nearly impossible. But reining NBA Champion Lebron James continues to stand out the league. Finals MVP, regular season MVP, and helping the Miami Heat win their second consecutive titles are all things that Lebron James can say that he has done in the past year.