Okay, so here we are, on the brink of kicking the old fart we call 2005 in the ass and ushering in the new and fresh aura of 2006. But before we do just that, let’s take a look at some of the best stories of the past 365 days.

10. Fernando Alonso Dethrones Michael Schumacher

Yep, it finally happened. The long (and boring) stranglehold of Scuderia Ferrari’s ace driver, Michael Schumacher, finally came to a close in 2005 when a Spanish Renault driver named Fernando Alonso took advantage of his fast start in the season, holding on just enough to end 2005 with an F1 championship.

I was rooting for Kimi Raikkonen, but hey, there’s always next year.

9. Shaq puts up the ‘’Lakers Remix'’ in Miami

Shaquille O’Neal was one of the engineers who got Jason Williams, James Posey, Antoine Walker and Gary Payton under one team.

This is very reminiscent of the fabled Los Angeles Lakers roster of Payton, Malone, Kobe and Shaq. With another awesome shooting guard in Wade, Shaq is in familiar territory once again when he was with L.A., reuniting with Payton and surrounding his seven-foot dominance with more talent.

The only problem is, the egos of Miami’s new acquisitions is as huge (if not bigger if we’re talking about Payton and Walker) as Shaq. Putting this team together and letting them act as one unit could be a handful.

8. Phil Jackson Returns To L.A.

I kinda’ saw this one coming.

Knowing Jackson, he can’t turn down the chance of, one more time, coaching Kobe, possibly the only true heir apparent to Michael Jordan. Of course, his girlfriend being the boss’ daughter with a gazillion dollars to boot surely helps.

7. Bernard Hopkins Stopped Twice

Another long tenure stopped in 2005. Proving that nothing lasts forever in boxing. The only thing that will do is Mike Tyson’s continued demise from the top.

Jeez… what dignity does he have left?

6. Donovan McNabb Falls to Madden Curse

Now this is getting weirder and weirder. It seems that every football player who becomes the cover of this video game endorsed by John Madden goes down with an injury.

McNabb certainly got the point. But what the fu.. happening here?

5. Eddie Guerrero Passes Away

A very shocking news item when it broke out. Eddie Guerrero was at the height of his wrestling career when fate decided it was time. Eddie Guerrero’s death certainly was very shocking as it was very untimely.

4. Terrell Owens got Kicked Out by the Eagles

When you dis your team’s star player and begin to think that you are the most important athlete in your league, when you start to dis the administration and demand for gazillion dollars, hey, you will get fired.

Ron? Are you reading this?

3. Colts Failed to Finish Perfect Season

Now this one was very frustrating. The Colts were that close, and then, with just one game, all that promise, all that hype, were washed away.

Sorry Peyton, but the ‘72 Dolphins remain to be the team to beat.

2. Pat Riley Returns to Coaching

This guy’s return to coaching is very opportune. It’s as if Riley waited for Phil to return before engineering his comeback to the sidelines.

‘’Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away, that’s what Dwyane Wade is all about,'’ Pat Riley said of his star guard.

Watching him transform Wade to one of the NBA’s greats will certainly be awesome to watch.

1. Deeetroooit Baaaskeeetbaaall

And at no.1, being a Detroit fan like myself, I have to give the top story of the year to the Pistons and their incredible start of the season.

Losing Larry Brown did not fazed them one bit.

In fact, it turned Chauncey Billups to more of a scorer, and as you can see, it’s fueling the Detroit train that will run over the rest of the NBA.