Arizona Sports’ Best (and worst) of 2012
Dec 27, 2012, 7:14 PM | Updated: Dec 28, 2012, 3:58 pm
Believe it or not, another year is in the books.
And what a year it was…starting with Kyle Stanley’s win in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, to the Phoenix Coyotes’ magical run to the Western Conference Finals, to the Arizona Rattlers winning their third Arena Bowl, to the roller coaster ride that was the Arizona Cardinals’ campaign.
The staff of Arizona Sports 620 and ArizonaSports.com got together and placed their votes for the Best of 2012…and some of the worst.
John Gambadoro, Co-host, Burns and Gambo
Arizona Athlete of the Year – Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes
Top Moment of 2012 – Coyotes reaching Western Conference Finals
Best Game of 2012 – Arizona rallies to beat Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl
Biggest Surprise of 2012 – Wade Miley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Biggest Disappointment of 2012 – Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks
Coach of the Year – Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
Best Newcomer(s) – Jahii Carson, ASU Basketball and D.J. Foster, ASU Football
Player(s) You’re Glad Left in 2012 – Robin Lopez, Hakim Warrick and Josh Childress, Phoenix Suns
Doug Franz, Co-host, Doug and Wolf
Arizona Athlete of the Year – Wade Miley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Top Moment of 2012 – Every game of the Coyotes-Blackhawks series
Best Game of 2012 – The first five games of the Coyotes-Blackhawks series (they’re all equal)
Biggest Surprise of 2012 – Coyotes advance to Western Conference Finals
Biggest Disappointment of 2012 – Every player on the Cardinals’ offense
Coach of the Year – Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
Best Newcomer(s) – Wade Miley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Player(s) You’re Glad Left in 2012 – Vontaze Burfict, ASU Football (for the way he played while he was here)
Dave Burns, Co-host, Burns and Gambo
Arizona Athlete of the Year – Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes – Advanced in playoffs and displayed remarkable loyalty in signing a contract extension.
Top Moment of 2012 – Steve Nash traded to the Lakers – I say ‘top’ in the sense that you’ll never forget where you were when it happened.
Best Game of 2012 – Cardinals 20, Patriots 18 – You’ll never forget where you were when this happened, either.
Biggest Surprise of 2012 – Peyton Manning visiting the Cardinals as a free agent.
Biggest Disappointment of 2012 – Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks
Coach of the Year – Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
Best Newcomer(s) – Todd Graham, Head coach, ASU Football
Player(s) You’re Glad Left in 2012 – Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns
Craig Grialou, Reporter, Arizona Sports 620
Arizona Athlete of the Year – Ka’Deem Carey, UA Football
Top Moment of 2012 – Fans chanting ‘We Want Steve’ in Nash’s last home game April 25.
Best Game of 2012 – Cardinals upset Patriots in Foxborough
Biggest Surprise of 2012 – Phoenix Coyotes’ playoff run
Biggest Disappointment of 2012 – Arizona Diamondbacks
Coach of the Year – Kevin Guy, Arizona Rattlers
Best Newcomer(s) – Todd Graham, Head coach, ASU Football
Player(s) You’re Glad Left in 2012 – Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns
Adam Green, ArizonaSports.com
Arizona Athlete of the Year – Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes
Top Moment of 2012 – Phoenix Coyotes advancing to second round of Stanley Cup Playoffs
Best Game of 2012 – Gildan New Mexico Bowl – Arizona’s comeback against Nevada.
Biggest Surprise of 2012 – Phoenix Coyotes
Biggest Disappointment of 2012 – Arizona Diamondbacks
Coach of the Year – Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
Best Newcomer(s) – Rich Rodriguez, Head coach, UA Football
Player(s) You’re Glad Left in 2012 – Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
Vince Marotta, ArizonaSports.com
Arizona Athlete of the Year – Will Sutton, ASU Football
Top Moment of 2012 – Shane Doan finally getting his first career hat trick in the closing seconds against the Islanders.
Best Game of 2012 – Stanford beats Arizona 54-48 in overtime.
Biggest Surprise of 2012 – Taylor Kelly, ASU Football – Started fall camp #3 on depth chart, and led Sun Devils to seven-win season.
Biggest Disappointment of 2012 – John Skelton, Arizona Cardinals
Coach of the Year – Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
Best Newcomer(s) – Jahii Carson, ASU Basketball
Player(s) You’re Glad Left in 2012 – Ryan Roberts, Arizona Diamondbacks
Tyler Bassett, KTAR.com
Arizona Athlete of the Year – Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes
Top Moment of 2012 – Coyotes winning Game 6 over Blackhawks to advance second round of Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Best Game of 2012 – Diamondbacks 9, Athletics 8 – Ryan Roberts caps a comeback with a three-run walk-off home run off of Brian Fuentes on June 8.
Biggest Surprise of 2012 – Wade Miley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Biggest Disappointment of 2012 – Arizona Cardinals
Coach of the Year – Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
Best Newcomer(s) – Wade Miley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Player(s) You’re Glad Left in 2012 – Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns
Jarrett Carlen, Arizona Sports 620
Arizona Athlete of the Year – Ka’Deem Carey – UA Football
Top Moment of 2012 – Coyotes advance to second round of Stanley Cup Playoffs for first time in Phoenix.
Best Game of 2012 – Arizona 65, Florida 64 – Wildcats erase 6-point deficit in final minute capped by Mark Lyons’ runner with :07 left.
Biggest Surprise of 2012 – Wade Miley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Biggest Disappointment of 2012 – Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks
Coach of the Year – Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
Best Newcomer(s) – Jahii Carson, ASU Basketball
Player(s) You’re Glad Left in 2012 – Kyryl Natyazhko, UA Basketball
Dave Dulberg, ArizonaSports.com
Arizona Athlete of the Year – Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes
Top Moment of 2012 – Coyotes clinching first berth in Western Conference Finals
Best Game of 2012 – Coyotes rally from three goals down to beat Kings 5-4 February 21
Biggest Surprise of 2012 – Aaron Hill, Arizona Diamondbacks
Biggest Disappointment of 2012 – Arizona Diamondbacks
Coach of the Year – Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
Best Newcomer(s) – Wade Miley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Player(s) You’re Glad Left in 2012 – Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns
Daria Del Colliano, ArizonaSports.com
Arizona Athlete of the Year – Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes
Top Moment of 2012 – Coyotes win first Pacific Division title
Best Game of 2012 – Coyotes beat Nashville in Game 5 of Western Conference Semis
Biggest Surprise of 2012 – Phoenix Coyotes
Biggest Disappointment of 2012 – Arizona Diamondbacks
Coach of the Year – Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
Best Newcomer(s) – Todd Graham, Head coach, ASU Football
Player(s) You’re Glad Left in 2012 – Grant Hill, Phoenix Suns
(Fun) Katy Hartley, Doug and Wolf
Arizona Athlete of the Year – Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals
Top Moment of 2012 – Steve Nash getting a standing ovation in his last home game as a Sun
Best Game of 2012 – New Mexico Bowl – Arizona over Nevada – duh!
Biggest Surprise of 2012 – Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks
Biggest Disappointment of 2012 – Replacement refs in National Football League
Coach of the Year – Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
Best Newcomer(s) – Rich Rodriguez, Head coach, UA Football
Player(s) You’re Glad Left in 2012 – Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns
Joe Huizenga, ArizonaSports.com/KTAR.com
Arizona Athlete of the Year – Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes
Top Moment of 2012 – Cardinals outlast Miami in OT to start 4-0.
Best Game of 2012 – ASU beats U of A in Territorial Cup battle 41-34
Biggest Surprise of 2012 – Daryl Washington, Arizona Cardinals
Biggest Disappointment of 2012 – Michael Beasley, Phoenix Suns
Coach of the Year – Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
Best Newcomer(s) – Wade Miley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Player(s) You’re Glad Left in 2012 – Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns (sadly, it was two years overdue)
Carter Nacke, KTAR.com/Off the Ice on ArizonaSports.com
Arizona Athlete(s) of the Year – Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes and Aaron Hill, Arizona Diamondbacks
Top Moment of 2012 – Shane Doan scores his first NHL hat trick.
Best Game of 2012 – Coyotes vs. Blackhawks, Game 1 – Coyotes win 3-2 in overtime
Biggest Surprise of 2012 – Coyotes playoff run
Biggest Disappointment of 2012 – Arizona Diamondbacks
Coach of the Year – Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
Best Newcomer(s) – Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes
Player(s) You’re Glad Left in 2012 – Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
