The year 2007 was a year of highs and lows with many ups and downs. So, I have compiled a list of the most notable quotes of 2007 in the world of sports. Enjoy!

NFL:(Photo of the Pats Mascot by Paul Keleher)

-”This happens once every 35 years,”- Tom Brady, after the Patriots finished with an undefeated season. He referred to the Miami Dolphins’ perfect season in 1972.

-”I was on the sideline and guys were talking about the score, and then it hit me — we won by 21. I came in the locker room and I yelled it out, and immediately I just kind of broke down in tears. Because I miss Sean, you know.”- Washington’s left tackle Chris Samuels, after they defeated the Cowboys to make it into the playoffs.

NBA:

-”I think the Spurs are a dirty team. I mean, (Manu) Ginobili during the regular season kneed me in the crotch on purpose. I just hope the league takes a look at it and cleans the game up a little bit.”- Amare Stoudemire’s take on the San Antonio Spur’s playing style.

-”He just body checked me out of bounds. I understand he’s frustrated; it happens, but he did body check me.”- Steve Nash, on Robert Horry’s flagrant foul in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semis in the playoffs.

MLB:

-”Everyone involved in baseball shares responsibility. Commissioners, club officials, the Players Association and players. I can’t be any clearer than that.”- Former Senator George Mitchell, on the groundbreaking Mitchell Report.

-”It’s the most impossible thing to get done, and we got it done. And [three] years later, we did it again.”- David Ortiz, on the Red Sox winning the 2007 World Series.

Formula 1: (Photo of Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren Mercedes by Paul Williams)

-”McLaren got it wrong. They lost the championship for the mistaken decisions they made in the second part of the season. It isn’t a secret that they haven’t helped me much” - 2005 and 2006 champion Fernando Alonso about why his team lost the championship.

-”It’s not going to really change my life too much” - Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen on winning the F1 championship.

-”If Hamilton wins the championship, he will also win it thanks to Ferrari because there is a lot of Ferrari in his car” - Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo. McLaren was fined a record $100m and stripped of all their constructor’s points for having Ferrari data in their possession.

NASCAR:

-”I think it’s probably the best Daytona 500 … that didn’t have a fight at the end of it.” – Robin Pemberton’s reaction to the 2007 Daytona 500. He was Mark Martin’s crew chief.

 

-”Go out in the parking lot with two or three beer cans and wail ‘em at your car. Don’t throw them at my car. C’mon. It’s a serious situation. Throw toilet paper. It’s hell to clean up but it won’t hurt anybody.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s reaction to fans throwing beer cans at the cars.

 

Tennis: (Photo of Maria Sharapova by Adrian Scottow)

-”I feel like a cow on ice. Especially on clay” - Maria Sharapova speaks about playing on clay, which is not her favorite surface.

-”I have been accused by an outsource testing company of taking cocaine during the Championships at Wimbledon. I find this accusation so horrendous, so monstrous, that I have decided to confront it head-on. I believe that I am absolutely, one hundred percent innocent. (But) accusations such as these don’t exactly provide me with motivation…I have decided to no longer play tennis on the Tour” - Former world number one Martina Hingis’ shocking announcement.

Soccer:

-”Just as many times I have cried with the Iraqis, in this circumstance I rejoice with them” - Pope Benedict after Iraq’s victory in the Asian Cup.

-”Now I will give up smoking. After a very difficult year we have won something extraordinary so there is plenty of happiness and satisfaction. We did great things because there was little hope” - AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, who had promised his children he would stop smoking if they won the Champions League. They defeated Liverpool in the finals.

Golf:

-“Before the Open, I kept saying I’d win it. It was like I was trying to tease myself…”- Padraig Harrington who would go on to win the 2007 British Open. It was his first major victory.

-”It’s not the first time, unfortunately, I don’t know … I’m playing against a lot of guys out there, more than the field.”- Sergio Garcia, on losing the British Open in a playoff to Padraig Harrington.

Other Sports:

-”Yeah, another day at the office, huh?”-Boise State coach Chris Petersen’s reaction to defeating Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

-”I don’t do only a program, I do a show. That makes the difference I think. When I’m on the ice I want to feel the crowd getting into the program, getting into the motion. I think that, for me, makes a real figure skater.”- Stephane Lambiel’s reaction after winning the Grand Prix finals by adding several improvised combinations late in the program, in order to compensate for early mistakes.