Monday's P.M. Hot Clicks: Most Tweeted Sports Moments of 2014

Author:
Andy Gray
Publish date:
Nov 10, 2014

Most Tweeted Events of 2014

Most Tweet-Worthy Moments of 2014

2014 BCS National Championship - Florida State University vs. Auburn: 4.4 million tweets

Florida State University’s Kelvin Benjamin catches the game-winning touchdown from Jameis Winston with 13 seconds left in the BCS Championship Game, lifting them to a win over the Auburn Tigers.

NFC Championship Game – Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers: 1.2+ million tweets

Richard Sherman has a few things to say about Michael Crabtree to Fox Sports' Erin Andrews following the NFC Championship Game.

Super Bowl XLVIII - Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks): 24.9 million tweets

In one of the most hyped matchups in recent memory, the Seattle Seahawks end up surprising the world and blowing out Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII 43-8.

2014 Winter Olympics - Opening ceremony fail in Sochi: 10,120 tweets per minute

The final Olympics snowflake ring wouldn't expand during the opening ceremony, leading to countless jokes and memes.

2014 Olympics - Team USA vs. Russia: 72,630 tweets per minute

TJ Oshie hits 4-of-6 shootout goals to propel the US men’s hockey team to a win over Russia.

Ray Rice debacle: 1.9+ million tweets

TMZ.com/Splash News/Corbis; Patrick Semansky/AP

The Ray Rice debacle begins after a report of a domestic violence incident in Atlantic City, NJ is first reported. Things continue to spiral out of control after footage of the incident leaks out and the NFL botches their handling of the entire investigation, eventually leading to Rice being released by the Ravens and his indefinite suspension by the league.

Michael Sam: 671,000+ tweets

Michael Sam comes out as being gay months before the 2014 NFL Draft, making him the first openly gay player to enter the draft. He then becomes the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL when the St. Louis Rams selected him in the seventh round.

2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final - UConn vs. Kentucky: 2+ million tweets

Connecticut guard Shabazz Napier tries a layup in the 2014 national championship against Kentucky. — Greg Nelson/SI

In an unlikely matchup between two teams that were not expected to make a run to the championship game, UConn ends up defeating Kentucky 60-54.

Donald Sterling scandal: 1.7+ million tweets

TMZ releases an audio recording of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling making racist comments to Vivian Stiviano, paving the way for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to ban him for life.

2014 NHL Stanley Cup Finals - Los Angeles Kings vs. New York Rangers: 2.2+ million tweets

West coast versus east coast. Los Angeles versus New York. While the Kings won the series 4-1, it took them three closely contested matches and five overtime periods to dispatch of the Rangers.

2014 NBA Finals - Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs (Game 1): 30,000+ tweets per minute

LeBron James cramps up and sits out the final minutes of the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals. The Heat would go on to lose that game.

2014 NBA Finals - Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs (Series): 17+ million tweets

Looking to solidify a dynasty, LeBron James and the Miami Heat were dominated by the San Antonio Spurs, losing the series in five games. Tim Duncan hoisted his fifth championship, cementing his status as the greatest power forward to ever play in the NBA (136,654 tweets per minute at the final buzzer of Game 5).

2014 World Cup - Team USA vs. Ghana: 168,139 tweets per minute

John Brooks hits the game-winning goal for Team USA in the closing moments of the game.

2014 World Cup - Italy vs. Uruguay: 107,152 tweets per minute

Uruguay's Luis Suarez bit Italy's Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder during the match, eventually leading to a four-month, nine-match suspension and a fine of 100,000 Swiss francs. While Uruguay beat Italy 1-0, Suarez was banned from playing in the rest of the tournament.

2014 World Cup - Belgium vs. USA: 9.1+ million tweets

Tim Howard blocks 15 goals, but the U.S. men's team still loses to Belgium 2-1 and is eliminated from the World Cup. Howard, however, becomes one of the most talked-about players of the tournament, with 1,845,345 million tweets mentioning him that day.

2014 Wimbledon Men's Finals: 1+ million tweets

Novak Djokovic beats Roger Federer at Wimbledon in a five-set match, moving him back to the world No. 1 ranking after he captured his seventh Grand Slam title.

2014 World Cup - Brazil vs. Germany: 35.6 million tweets

Host nation Brazil is dominated by Germany 7-1.

LeBron James decision 2.0: 3.8+ million tweets

LeBron James announces his decision to leave the Miami Heat and return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

2014 World Cup Final - Argentina vs. Germany: 32.1 million tweets

Germany defeats Argentina 1-0 to win the 2014 World Cup.

Tony Stewart: 231,000 tweets

Tony Stewart accidentally kills Kevin Ward Jr. at Canandaigua Motorsports Park.

Adrian Peterson scandal: 278,000+ tweets

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is indicted on charges of reckless endangerment for punishing one of his children by severely punishing him with a switch. Peterson is eventually placed on the exempt list, and while he has reached a plea deal, his playing status is currently being contested.

Jameis Winston’s troubles: 299,000+ tweets

Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston just can't seem to stay out of trouble. From shoplifting crab legs (156,000 tweets) to his “offensive and vulgar” comments (101,000 tweets), Winston has stayed in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. And the autograph scandal he’s currently embroiled in is certainly not helping his case with the 2015 NFL Draft looming.

Derek Jeter’s final home game: 1.3+ million tweets

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has a walk-off single against the Baltimore Orioles in his final home game.

NLDS Game 2 – San Francisco Giants vs. Washington Nationals: 9,200 tweets

Brandon Belt’s 18th-inning home run lifts the San Francisco Giants past the Washington Nationals in Game 2 of the NLDS, which was tied for the longest game in playoff history.

NLCS Game 5 – San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals: 27,300+ tweets per minute

Michael Morse ties Game 5 of the NLCS in the eighth inning with a home run (4,300 tweets per minute), and then Travis Ishikawa hits a three-run, walk-off homer to win the game (23,000 tweets per minute), sending the Giants to the World Series.

Peyton Manning breaks Brett Favre’s record: 448,000+ tweets

Aaron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/Getty Images

Peyton Manning throws his 508th, 509th and 510th career touchdowns, tying and breaking Brett Favre's career touchdown record.

2014 MLB World Series - Kansas City Royals vs. San Francisco Giants: 5.4 million tweets

The Kansas City Royals were looking to break a long drought, making their first postseason appearance and return to the big stage since they won the World Series in 1985 29 years ago. However, the San Francisco Giants would go on to win their third World Series in five years in a back-and-forth seven-game series.

As part of SI's fourth annual Twitter 100 project, we reached out to Twitter for data on the most talked-about moments and events in sports so far this year. Here are the top 20.

10 Weirdest Things You Can Buy From the NBA Store

From thongs to red leather belts to bizarre Pacers boots that I can't even begin to explain, check out the weirdest things you can buy from the NBA Store. And while we're on the subject of weird things you can buy at random places, here's our list of Dick's Sporting Goods' least sportsy items.

One-Finger Salute

The UConn women's soccer team won the AAC title on Sunday and Noriana Radwan's celebration would've made "Stone Cold" Steve Austin proud. The freshman, who didn't play in the game, flipped the bird to an ESPN camera and the image spread quickly across the internet. Radwan found out today that she's been indefinitely suspended from team.

P.M. Lovely Lady of the Day

I'd never heard of Laura Whitmore before last night's MTV European Music Awards, but now she's my favorite MTV presenter (click here for full-size gallery) ... Lily Aldridge posed for the British edition of GQ ... Sydney Leroux still looks good in a bikini ... Natasha Barnard posed in a bikini and lingerie for Freya.

Dumb Controversy of the Day

Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters is Muslim, so some took it as a religious statement when he failed to appear for the national anthem before Wednesday's game against the Jazz. According to Waiters, however, it was all a "big misunderstanding." His pregame locker-room routine just took longer than usual. I'm guessing the bathroom was involved but that's just me.

Points For Honesty

Packers Fan Loves His Jay Cutler Jersey

Bears Fan Hates His Jay Cutler Jersey

Trolling the Lakers

Odds & Ends

The Twins will wear a new home uniform next season ... Shorter NBA refs tend to call more fouls than tall ones ... The "Fire Jon Izdik" billboards have gone up in New Jersey ... The week's best college football and NFL Vines ... The Warriors, Grizzlies and Raptors lead this week's NBA Power Rankings ... Packers coach Mike McCarthy was not happy with a stray sideline cord ... For those wondering what a lifesize Jennifer Lawrence and Peter Dinklage cake looks like ... Is Google discriminating against the porn industry?

Taiwanese Animation Video of the Day

You know you've made a bad play when Taiwanese animators recreate it. Just ask Utah wide receiver Kaelin Clay.

Most Cringeworthy Press Conference Moments

We collected the 20 most cringeworthy press-conference moments in the history of sports. This Jim Calhoun exchange is No. 15. I love surly Jim Calhoun.

Surprise!

Fresh off of flipping Steelers safety Mike Mitchell,Nick Mangold scares unsuspecting gas station customers.

[youtube:http://youtu.be/mOmIweiq_j0]

Watch Out, Air Bud

This dog is jealous of a bouncing baby chair and tries to get in on the fun. (H/T Huff Post)

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