Pictures of the Year

SI Staff | Jan 27, 2010

Pictures of the Year /

Pictures of the Year

Twisted Steel

With a tight grip on Hines Ward's chin and shoulder, Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan wrestled the Steelers wide receiver to the ground during the two teams' season opener in Pittsburgh on Sept. 10. "A play like this occurs a few times a game. This is where the true brutality of football is revealed: grotesquely bent ankles and knees, wrenched necks. It's amazing these players get up off the ground as often as they do." -- Photographer Al Tielemans/SI

Conover the Top

Michigan's Jon Conover hurdles an Indiana lineman and nearly blocks a punt by Chris Hagerup during the teams' Big Ten opener in Ann Arbor on Sept. 26. The Wolverines prevailed 36-33 to get off to a 4-0 start. "I was running from end zone to end zone following the football but decided to stop for a shot of this punt, since both teams had come close to blocking a number of kicks. At first glance I didn't think much of the shot, since the punt wasn't blocked. Then I took a second look." -- Photographer Eric Bronson/ICON SMI

They Might Not Be Giants

Saints running back Mike Bell dived over the Giants' defensive line for a two-yard touchdown during a showdown between undefeated NFC teams at the Superdome on Oct. 18. Bell had 15 carries for 34 yards and that one TD in the Saints 38-27 victory. "All I remember is that it happened very quickly, right at the beginning of the game. I'm always looking for an image like this, but over an NFL season there is usually only one chance to get it." -- Photographer Simon Bruty/SI

Moment Of Terror

Jockey Marcus Foley fell off his horse, Boomshakalaka, at a jump during the John Smith's Topham Steeplechase on April 3 in Liverpool, England. Foley, 28, was not injured, but retired four months later. "The image sums up how physical this sport can be, and to see a rider on the floor unprotected from these huge beasts passing by shows the jockeys' courage and dedication." -- Photographer Warren Little/Getty Images

Plate Crashing

Yankees rightfielder Nick Swisher took a tumble after colliding with Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz and scoring in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the World Series, in Philadelphia on Oct. 31. New York went on to win the game 8-5 and take a 2--1 Series lead on the way to its 27th major league championship. "I was sitting on the first base side, concentrating on the plate, hoping for action. When I saw Swisher rounding third base I knew a play at home was going to happen. When he collided with the catcher I captured the moment by not giving up on shooting. I followed the whole sequence." -- Photographer John Iacono/SI

Turning A Buc

Buccaneers linebacker Geno Hayes (54) was flipped upside down by Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith (62) as Hayes tried to block an extra-point attempt by Green Bay kicker Mason Crosby on Nov. 8. The kick was good, but the Bucs went on to win the game 38-28. "Many times what starts out as a mundane situation develops quickly into something quite special. I was focused on the kicker, and when one of the defenders was flipped, I was ready." -- Photographer Bill Frakes/SI

Putting Her Best Feet Upward

Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia powered her body up to the bar on the first day of the pole vault competition at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Thessaloniki, Greece, on Sept. 12. She would go on to win the competition by clearing a height of 15' 9", well below the world record of 16' 7" she had set in Zurich on Aug. 28. "Isinbayeva is always good news for photographers, very charismatic and entertaining and stylish in her technique. She makes good pictures from all angles, but this one from the side shows the strength needed to compete in this tough event." -- Photographer Michael Steele/Getty Images

Ice Trey

Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (center) celebrated a hat trick with teammates Sergei Fedorov and Milan Jurcina on May 4 during Game 2 of Washington's second-round series against the Penguins in D.C. Pittsburgh won the series in seven games and went on to claim the Stanley Cup. "Ovechkin is dynamic and explosive. Add the intensity of a playoff game and a hat trick to boot, and those ingredients combine to make an image reflective of his passion for the game. He's fun to watch, and a joy and challenge to photograph." -- Photographer Lou Capozzola/SI

Off With Your Head!

Kristof Vliegen, a journeyman pro from Belgium, decapitated his racket in frustration on the red clay of Monaco during his first-round match against Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters tournament on April 13. Ljubicic won 6-4, 6-7, 6-4. "it was toward the end of the match, late afternoon. The sun was going down, and Vliegen was in the shade. Sometimes rage is not enough, and it took two tries for him to break his racket." -- Photographer Stephane Danna/AFP/Getty Images

See Through Netting

Lakers center Pau Gasol's face was uniquely framed as he rose for a rebound against Rockets forward Ron Artest on May 6. "The camera was set up hours before the game on a catwalk at the Staples center. It was triggered by a button attached to a camera I was holding as I sat on the court floor near the basket. Having Gasol's face framed by the net is, of course, lucky, but luck favors the prepared!" -- Photographer John W. McDonough/SI

Slip-sliding Away

Matt Mortensen (top) and Preston Griffall of the U.S. crashed during a training run on Feb. 19 in Whistler, B.C.The two hope to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. "The sleds fly by at over 90 mph, so you need to really pay attention to the sounds. When I heard the scraping of metal on the ice and the banging of the sled off the walls of the track, I knew that someone had flipped, and I timed my shot as they passed through the curve. " -- Photographer Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Angel In The Outfield?

A fan at Seattle's Safeco Field had a moment of glory but did the home team no favor by catching a foul ball before leftfielder Ronny Cedeño, could put his glove on April 14. "Baseball engages us in ways no other sport can. I like this photograph because it captures a moment where the unlikely youthful dream of making a play in the big leagues comes true. How cool is that?" -- Photographer Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

Over Under

Jenna Randall, a member of the British synchronized swimming team, posed upside down on July 17, the first day of the world swimming championships in Rome. "The girls on the British Synchro team were great, very patient, as I swam around in full scuba gear trying to get the right angle. For this shot I used a fish-eye lens. luckily it was a perfect sunny day." -- Photographer Clive Rose/Getty Images

The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon It

First baseman Chris Davis dove in vain into the seats at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, for a foul ball on May 3. "All the photo pits at field level were cramped with photographers and TV crews. I chose an area near the press box and was rewarded with this image. What I like most is the intensity in Davis's eyes, focused on the ball coming down." -- Photographer Jim Cowsert/ICON SMI

Oh Danny Boy, The Ropes Are Calling

Danny Hughes, a 23-year-old boxer from Sunderland, England, reclined pensively after being knocked down by Audley Harrison on Oct. 2 in the semifinals of Prizefighter Heavyweights III, an eight-man tournament for British boxers held in the East End of London. "What I like about the picture is that the guy has been clean knocked [down], and if it had not been for the ropes, he would have been knocked into the judges below." -- Photographer Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Golden Eyes

Ashleigh McConnell of Sunbury, Victoria, swam the backstroke during the final of the women's 14-and-under 200-meter individual medley at the Australian Paralympic Youth Games in Melbourne on Oct. 7. Ashleigh, 13, who was born without a lower left arm, won the IM and competed in five other swimming sprint events: the 50-meter freestyle, 50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke, 50 butterfly and 100 butterfly. "I really like how the golden glow in the goggles draws the viewer into this image and shows a determined athlete representing her state in the national youth paralympics." -- Photographer Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Bronco Stampede

Led by sledgehammer-waving safety Winston Venable (17), the Boise State team galloped onto the blue turf of Bronco Stadium on Nov. 27 before a game against Western Athletic Conference rival Nevada. The Broncos defeated the Wolf Pack 44-33. "Usually the team runs out of the fog right after the horse and rider, but at this game they came out slowly, in one group, like a regiment, and paused for a few seconds before breaking into a run. I've never been more pleased with their display of the concept of a team." -- Photographer Otto Kitsinger/Getty Images

Wurst-Case Scenario

Rockies catcher Paul Phillips was nearly trampled by giant wieners when he ran into the middle of the Sausage Race at Miller Park on his way to the plate during a game against the Brewers on June 11. "Phillips wasn't hurt, but if he had been, I would've loved to have seen the injury report: 'out after collision with a running sausage'! " -- Photographer John Biever/SI

Published Jan 27, 2010

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