Crucial Moment of the Year: 2009 – US Airline Terrorist Attack Foiled 2008 – Collapse of Lehman Brothers and Buyout of AIG 2007 – Virginia Tech Shootings 2006 – Foiled Terrorist Plot in England 2009 – Michael Jackson’s Death 2008 – Global Economy 2007 – Death of Benazir Bhutto 2006 – North Korea Missile Crisis 2009 – President Obama’s Inauguration 2008 - Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech 2007 – Virginia Tech Recovery 2006 – City of New Orleans Random Story of the Year: 2009 – Somali Pirates Take Hostage of U.S. Ships 2008 - Myanmar Cyclone 2007 – Minnesota Bridge Collapse 2006 – Cory Lidle’s Death Most Controversial Story of the Year: 2009 – United States Healthcare Reform 2008 - Government Bailouts 2007 – The Jena 6 2006 – Illegal Immigration in the United States Most Overrated Story of the Year: 2009 – Bret Favre’s “Comeback” 2008 - Madonna/A-Rod Romance 2007 – Paris Hilton in Jail 2006 – Barbaro’s Broken Leg Invention of the Year: 2009 - Twitter 2008 - Nintendo Wii 2007 – iPhone 2006 – Youtube Comeback of the Year: 2009 – Alex Rodriguez 2008 - Britney Spears 2007 – Alex Rodriguez 2006 – Jay-Z "I'll Kill For This" Award of the Year: 2009 – Employment/Rebounding Economy 2008 – Hip Hop Music 2007 – New Management for New York Knicks 2006 – Playstation 3 "Just Go Away" Award of the Year: 2009 – Jon and Kate Gosselin 2008 - Anti-Obama/Democrat Supporters 2007 – Britney Spears 2006 – Britney Spears "Largest Fortitude" Award of the Year: 2009 – Chesley B. Sullenberg III (Sully) 2008 - Barack Obama "We'll Miss You" Award of the Year: 2009 – Michael Jackson 2008 – Yankee Stadium 2006 – Dave Chapelle "What Were You Thinking?" Award of the Year: 2009 – Kanye West 2008 – Governor Elliot Spitzer 2007 – Michael Vick 2006 – Michael Richards "What a Shame" Award of the Year: 2009 – Taconic Parkway Crash 2008 - Caribbean and Gulf Coast - Hurricanes Ike and Gustav 2007 – Barry Bonds and the All-Time Homerun Record "Welcome to the Scene" Award of the Year: 2009 – Taylor Swift 2008 – Usain Bolt 2007 – City of Boston 2006 – Global Warming "This Should Have Been Done Before" Award of the Year: 2009 – Public Outcry Against The MTA 2008 - Regulation of Wall Street Executives 2007 – Writers Guild Strike of America “The Incredibles” Award of the Year: 2009 – Usain Bolt "We Need to Fix This" Award of the Year: 2009 – Global Economy 2008 – Global Economy 2007 – Homeowner market and mortgage crisis 2006 – Genocide in Sudan Biggest Letdown of the Year: 2009 – Dominican Republic National Baseball Team 2008 - Clay Bennet's Move of Supersonics to Oklahoma City 2007 – 2007 United States Women’s Soccer Team Idiot of the Year: 2009 – Bernie Madoff 2008 - Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich 2007 – James Dolan Dome Pondering Person of the Year: 2009 – Chesley B. Sullenberg III (Sully) 2008 - Barack Obama 2007 – Every American Soldier 2006 – Stephon Marbury/Steve & Barry Co. Fighter of the Year: 2009 – George St. Pierre (UFC) 2008 - Anderson Silva (UFC) 2007 – Floyd Mayweather (Boxing) 2006 – Chuck Liddell and Tim Sylvia (UFC) Pay Per View Event of the Year: 2009 – TNA Turning Point 2008 - WWE One Night Stand 2007 – TNA Bound For Glory Pro Wrestling Match of the Year: 2009 – AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels – TNA Turning Point 2008 - Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair – WWE Wrestlemania XXIV 2007 – Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness – ROH Driven Pro Wrestling Tag Team of the Year: 2009 – Beer Money Inc. (TNA) 2008 - The Miz and John Morrison (WWE) 2007 – The Briscoe Brothers (ROH) 2006 – AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels (TNA) Female Pro Wrestler of the Year: 2009 – Awesome Kong (TNA) Male Pro Wrestler of the Year: 2009 – Randy Orton (WWE) 2008 - Shawn Michaels (WWE) and Kurt Angle (TNA) 2007 – Bryan Danielson (ROH) 2006 – Edge (WWE) and Samoa Joe (TNA) Sports Event of the Year: 2009 – Super Bowl XLIII – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals 2008 - 2008 Olympic Summer Games 2007 – AFC Championship – New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts 2006 – FIFA World Cup ‘06 Coach of the Year: 2009 – Joe Girardi – New York Yankees 2008 – Joe Maddon – Tampa Bay Rays Team of the Year: 2009 – New York Yankees 2008 – New York Giants 2007 – New England Patriots 2006 – St. Louis Cardinals Dome Pondering Sportsman of the Year: 2009 – Mariano Rivera 2008 – Michael Phelps 2007 – Tom Brady 2006 – Tiger Woods and LaDainian Tomlinson
World Affairs Issue of the Year:
Inspirational Story of the Year:
"Working in higher education must be interesting these days, huh?" That question was posed to me by several people who recently learned that I worked in higher education. The recent discourse around the industry and field has certainly shifted in narrative and the overall feel within it. I recently wrapped up my fourteenth (!!) academic year. It's remarkable to think that I've been serving students and following a passion for this long. This is especially the case considering the rising turnover, the documented yearly burnout, and the increasing exodus from the field. And, yup, there is that whole enrollment cliff combined with the politics that are more present than ever on college campuses. So yeah, higher education is weird right now. Very weird. Some quick thoughts : IS IT TIME? Yes, I have thought about leaving the field several times. Especially, over the last few years. COVID didn't really bother me, but it's safe to say that the world of higher edu...