What a sports year it has been...

Penn State, 2009 NIT Champions

Last night Penn State's men's basketball team won the NIT championship by knocking off an inspired Baylor team, 69-63. It may be "just the NIT" but this is a big achievement for this program.

The success of the "should have been in the NCAA tournament" Penn State team got me thinking about how great of a sports year it has been since baseball's opening day in 2008. To recap...

• The Flyers defeated the Washington Capitals in seven games and the Montreal Canadians in five games to set up a fun ride to the Eastern Conference Finals.
• The Sixers played some uplifting basketball against the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
• The Philadelphia Soul won the Arena Bowl.
• The Phillies won the World Series after a dominant post season.
• Penn State's football team won the Big Ten title and went to the Rose Bowl.
• Penn State's women's volleyball team won the national championship.
  
• The Eagles snuck into the NFC Championship game.
• Penn State's fencing team won the national championship
  
• Penn State's basketball team won the NIT
  
• Villanova will be playing in the Final Four this weekend.

Most of these fun rides ended in futile efforts, but I would rather have the ability to watch my teams deep into a season with a chance for a championship rather than have no playoff action to look forward too.

Maybe Villanova can keep this fun streak alive and hold us over until the NHL and NBA playoffs start up again?