[Blackwell:] So this was an incredible year in sports, from controversy on the racetrack to that spectacular World Cup win by the U.S. women's soccer team.
[Paul:] Yes. Andy Scholes has a look at the biggest sports moments of the year.
[Andy Scholes, Cnn Sports Correspondent:] From dominant performances to controversy to comebacks, this past year had it all when it comes to sports. Here's a look at our top nine moments in 2019, and we start with the single tweet that rocked the NBA.
[Brooke Baldwin, Cnn Anchor:] The NBA is standing up for free speech and behind Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.
[David Culver, Cnn Correspondent:] The fallout has been huge.
[Alisyn Camerota, Cnn Anchor:] Chinese businesses are cutting ties with the Rockets and the league.
[Jake Tapper, Cnn Anchor:] The China sports channel now says it will not broadcast any of the NBA games being held in China this week.
[Scholes:] Before the start of the season Houston Rockets' general manager Daryl Morey tweeting support for Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters. This caused a firestorm in China where the NBA is the most popular sports league. Chinese officials condemning the tweet and response from Commissioner Adam Silver, the whole controversy greatly affecting the NBA's bottom line.
[Adam Silver, Nba Commissioner:] We will have to live with those consequences.
[Scholes:] Number eight, what were you doing when you were 15 years old? Well, Coco Gauff is capturing the hearts of sports fans everywhere with an incredible run at her first Wimbledon tournament. Coco, the youngest player to ever make the main draw at Wimbledon, she beat Venus Williams in her first match and advanced all the way to the fourth round before losing to the eventual champion, Simona Halep. Number seven. Controversy on the track.
[Ana Cabrera, Cnn:] A stunning outcome at the Kentucky Derby.
[Paul:] The horse that crossed the finish line first did not win.
[Scholes:] The winner of the Kentucky Derby was disqualified. Maximum Security winning the race, but upon review was seen veering out of his lane.
[Unidentified Male:] He came out a little, but then I grabbed it right away. I stayed straight, you know.
[Scholes:] Country House was declared the winner at odds of 65 to one. Country House had the second longest odds than any Kentucky Derby winner.
[Unidentified Male:] Did that really just happen?
[Scholes:] Number six. On January 3rd, 2019, the St. Louis Blues had the worst record in the NHL, but that's when they turned it around. The Blues' season culminating with them beating the Boston Bruins in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals to win their first ever championship. And Blues super fan Laila Anderson, an 11-year-old battling a life-threatening autoimmune disease was an inspiration for the team all season and she got to celebrate with the team on the ice after they hoisted the Stanley Cup. Number five. 2019 was a year of more controversy for the NFL.
[Unidentified Male:] It was simple. They blew the call. Easy call for sure. It's tough. Tough to swallow.
[Scholes:] The Saints were robbed of a chance to play in Super Bowl 53 when the refs failed to call pass interference.
[Unidentified Male:] Worst call in history. I feel like somebody just robbed my house. Honestly. They didn't throw flag. The guy has to be blind.
[Scholes:] The NFL responded by making pass interference reviewable for the next season.
[Unidentified Male:] It doesn't help us at all. It's too late.
[Scholes:] The New England Patriots, meanwhile, beat the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl making Tom Brady the first player in NFL history to win six rings. Number four. Finally, something everyone in Washington, D.C. could agree on. That's cheering on the Nationals. The team taking their fans on a miraculous run in the postseason. And for the first time ever, the road team winning every game in the World Series. The Nationals beating the Astros in seven games to win their first ever title.
[Unidentified Male:] I hope they're ready for a party because we're coming home.
[Scholes:] Number three. It was an emotional year for Simone Biles as she opened up about being one of the victims of Dr. Larry Nassar and the failure of USA Gymnastics to intervene.
[Simone Biles, U.s. Gymnast:] We've done everything that they asked us for even when we didn't want to and they couldn't do one damn job. You had one job. You literally have one job and you didn't protect us.
[Scholes:] In spite of the controversy, the 22-year-old dominating the World Championships to become the most decorated gymnast ever. Number two, the U.S. women's national team capturing the hearts and minds of people everywhere with their efforts on and off the field.
[Baldwin:] The U.S. thoroughly dominant so far.
[Dave Briggs, Cnn:] The U.S. women's soccer team rewriting the record books.
[Christine Brennan, Sports Columnist, Usa Today:] This couldn't have been a bigger story.
[Scholes:] As the team took on opponents in the World Cup, they were battling the U.S. Soccer Federation in their fight to be compensated the same as their male counterparts. The team winning their second consecutive World Cup title beating the Netherlands two to zero in the final, with fans chanting equal pay. The women's equal pay lawsuit now looks like it's headed for a trial in 2020 as the team prepares to take the field in the Tokyo Summer Games. And finally the number one sports story on our list from 2019. Tiger Woods was back on top of the sports world winning the Masters.
[Fredricka Whitfield, Cnn:] Breaking news. Tiger Woods is donning the green jacket once again.
[Unidentified Male:] Tiger Woods has made a fairy tale comeback worthy of the silver screen. It is an extraordinary comeback. The greatest comeback ever. Tiger Woods is back.
[Scholes:] It was Tiger's first win in a major since the 2008 U.S. Open after multiple knee and back surgeries. Many didn't know if Tiger would ever win major number 15. But the 43-year-old won the Masters in dramatic fashion making his first ever final round comeback in a major. Tiger shared the incredible moment with his 10-year-old son, Charlie.
[Blackwell:] Thank you, Andy. And remember, you can start your new year right here. Ring in the new year with a new decade with Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen "NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE" begins at 8:00 p.m. new year's eve right here on
[Cnn. Paul:] We'll be right back.