US goalkeeper Tim Howard makes a save during extra-time in the Round of 16 football match between Belgium and USA at The Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador on July 1, 2014, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

It’s that time of the year to look back at everything that transpired; and I don’t really want to. There was a lot of promise in 2014 and it actually turned out to be a down year for me sports fan wise. But I’m sure I can dig up five moments that really stood out for me in 2014.

5. San Francisco 49ers 23 – Green Bay Packers 20

With zero apologies to SportsRadio 610’s program director Ryan McCredden, the Niners win over the Packers in a freezing Lambeau field really kicked off 2014 strong for my sports fandom. Colin Kaepernick solidified himself as a top quarterback (at the time) and pushed the Niners to the divisional round and eventually their third straight NFC Championship. It was a great day. Watch the highlights again here!

4. TJ Oshie’s Shootout Heroics

If you like hockey at all, or America, or just hate Russia, this should be on your list. In Sochi Oshie stepped up scoring 4 of 6 times in the shootout for the United States to defeat the Russian team in an early round game. The USA didn’t win the Gold, but TJ Oshie won my heart. It was amazing. I wish I could post a video, or even link to the video of the goals. But NBC and the Olympics hate the Internet and it is nowhere to be found. If Oshie hadn’t done this, there is a good chance the Men’s Curling Bronze Medal match between Sweeden and China, it was awesome. And I CAN find video of that, of course.

3. Clint Dempsey’s Goal Vs. Ghana

This is the way to start a World Cup. Twenty-eight seconds in against the team that knocked the USA out of the last two World Cups. The Captain. Nifty footwork. At that moment I thought it was going to be a special summer in Brazil for the USA. It wasn’t as special as some would have hoped. But it was still pretty special.

Here’s a cool video from the crowd of that goal that just gave me chills as I watched it.

2. Yonies Cespedes’ Cannon Arm

I was watching this game at home trying desperately to stay awake. (West Coast night games make being an A’s fan in Houston hard and hazardous on sleep.) Cespedes kicks the ball into the corner and I thought for sure Kendrick was going to score. There was no way he wasn’t going to score. Ohh wait. Cespy took his cannon with him to left field. It was amazing. A mistake, turned into one of the greatest throws I’ve ever seen.

1. Tim-my How-ard Clap-Clap Clap-Clap-Clap

This was amazing. AMAZING. If this performance isn’t on every sports fan list of top moments from 2014 I would like to pronounce them legally dead. I’ve never seen one man will his team against a superior opponent like this. It was the greatest.

They make a great GIF

Here they all are again in video.

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