2021 was the year we returned to stadiums, cheering both familiar and new champions. The real world once again intruded on sports, as COVID carved a path right through the center of every team and league. But sports also helped open doors and eyes in the real world, bringing the challenges and necessities of mental health into the spotlight.
With the help of the Manning brothers, we watched sports in different ways, and with the explosion of legalized sports gambling, we made a few bucks off sports, too. We watched as sports like the WNBA and Formula 1 enjoyed exponential growth, and saw old familiar names like Phil Mickelson, Bill Belichick and the Atlanta Braves step back into the spotlight.