ESPN The Magazine Reveals 2004 'ESPN 100'; Third Annual List Names Year's Defining Sports Moments and Personalities; List to Debut in The Magazine: Special Telecast Airs January 3 at 8:00 p.m

Business Wire, Dec 7, 2004

NEW YORK -- ESPN The Magazine's third annual ESPN 100 - the single list that ranks the top 100 sports personalities, moments, trends, games and stories that mattered in 2004 - will debut in Wednesday's issue of The Magazine. Created from input and debate by a jury of ESPN experts, the list will also be examined in an ESPN Original Entertainment special telecast on Monday, January 3, 2005, at 8:00 p.m. ET. ESPN.com will carry the full details of the list and offer multimedia interaction and fan feedback beginning Monday, December 13.

In anticipation of the list, ESPN The Magazine has released the Top 10, but has not revealed the order in which they appear on the list. Fans will first be able to see the order Wednesday in ESPN The Magazine. In addition, numbers 11 through 100 have been released, in order.

ESPN 100's Top Ten (in random order)

? Barry Bonds: Bonds asked to be judged by his numbers, which are like those created by any other ballplayer, but he is now forever linked to Team BALCO.

? Phil Mickelson: The ex-Greatest Player Never to Win a Major proved that change could be good as a new game plan and some clutch shots earned him the elusive Green Jacket.

? Uconn X2: When the Huskies pulled off their unprecedented two-fer, they made us (okay, everybody) look smart.

? The Red Sox: David Ortiz led the Sox in a for-the-ages rendition of Roll Over Bambino.

? Soldiering On: Jake Plummer's salute to Pat Tillman, his ex-ASU and Cardinal teammate killed in Afghanistan, defied NFL rules but ultimately resulted in the league honoring Tillman with a PSA in every stadium.

? Lance Armstrong: While winning his sixth Tour de France, Armstrong has combined strength and vulnerability to reach the most exalted position of an American athlete: cultural icon.

? Ichiro: Move over George Sisler. Ichiro is the new single-season hits leader, but is it fair to criticize that 225 of his 262 knocks were singles?

? Michael Phelps: We wanted eight gold medals. He gave us six, plus two bronze. But really, why quibble? Phelps is just getting started.

? Basket-brawl: Short-tempered players and drunken fans teamed up to give us sports' ugliest moment of 2004, but who was really responsible?

? Victor Conte: Bonds, Giambi, Jones, Montgomery, Sheffield, Romanowski. Conte's company BALCO allegedly provided steroids to some of sports' biggest names.

ESPN 100: Numbers 11-100

11. Detroit Pistons: Coach Larry Brown leads Pistons to the big-time.

12. USA Basketball: The rest of the world has caught up, leaving the U.S. with the bronze.

13. New England Patriots: From Oct. 5 2003 to Oct 31 2004 the Pats won 21 straight and a Super Bowl.

14. Kobe: The latest "Trial of the Century" was settled out of court, and Kobe returned to the court in L.A.

15. Maurice Clarett: It's Mo's word vs. Ohio State's and now the NCAA will settle it.

16. Kurt Busch: The new format yielded another trophy for Busch, and another TV ratings bump for NASCAR.

17. LeBron James: In just his second season, King James is being compared to Michael.

18. Paul Hamm: What scoring error? Hamm is keeping his gold.

19. Smarty Jones: He captured America's hearts, but fell just short of the Triple Crown.

20. Peyton Manning: With four games to play, he's four TDs away from Marino's single season record of 48.

21. Janet Jackson: After the Super Bowl, two words dominated the headlines: Wardrobe Malfunction.

22. The Year that Wasn't: What if ...? A-Rod to the Sox, Shaq to the Kings, Eli to the Chargers.

23. BCS Mess: Changes were made after last year's debacle. The result: another train wreck!

24. Senior Year: The Rocket, The Big Unit, David Wells, Barry Bonds and other aging stars posted big years.

25. Buffaloed: Colorado football and the whirlwind of ugly allegations.

26. Big Fat Greek Debt: Athens silenced the critics by running a smooth, safe Olympics - for $14.6 billion.

27. Tampa Bay Lightning: They may not get to defend their title, but the Lightning were NHL champs.

28. Move Ova, Anna: Seven Russian women ended the year in the WTA's top 15.

29. Roger Federer: Federer won three majors in 2004.

30. Shattered Ice: Todd Bertuzzi's pile-drive of Steve Moore horrified hockey, not to mention the police.

31. Johan Santana: Santana's domination earned him the AL Cy Young Award.

32. Ricky Williams: On the eve of the season, Williams quit, and now he wants back.

33. Expos: After years of speculation, the Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals.

34. Olympic Marathon: Two Americans medalled, and a crazed spectator attacked the Brazilian leader.

35. NHL Lockout: With no season in sight, arena owners are booking divas in place of defensemen.

36. No NFL For You Young Man: Mike Williams, Mo Clarett, and Jeremy Bloom were left out.

37. Chicks Rule: USA women's basketball, soccer, and softball rolled over the competition in Athens.

38. Eric Gagne: His consecutive save streak ended at 84.

39. De La Soul: De La Salle HS (Concord, Calif.) loses its first football games since 1991.

40. Freddy Adu: 5 goals, 3 assists, 1 MLS Cup title, but his biggest numbers were at the ticket window.