Sunday marked the end of the 2014/15 season for Manchester United, with a scoreless draw at Hull City. It was a unique campaign for the club, one that included no Champions League for the first time in almost two decades. As with every other season, United experienced many ups and downs from August to May.

Priority #1 for incoming manager Louis van Gaal was extremely simple on paper: to get United back into the Champions League. (In truth, this goal was probably Priorities #2-10 as well.) Several sponsors made it very clear over summer 2014 what the ramifications would be should the club miss out on Europe’s most prestigious club competition a second time. The Red Devils’ 4th-place finish in the Premier League means they will be in the UCL’s play-off round, but that task of reaching the UCL is “mission accomplished” for the manager. Another accomplishment for the club: their first Premier League home win over bitter rivals Manchester City since 2011. A double over Liverpool (wins at both Old Trafford & Anfield) also brought delight to United supporters.

The campaign was not without its challenges, however. Van Gaal & company will be lamenting a chance to automatically make the Champions League group stage, after a mini-collapse late in the year. Following their home win over City, the Reds failed to score in three successive defeats at Chelsea, at Everton, and in a home game with West Bromwich Albion. An earlier in-game collapse came in late September, when United threw away a 3-1 lead at newly-promoted Leicester. Of course, the key moment when van Gaal realized this job would not come easy was the League Cup second round in August, when a United team was embarrassed at Milton Keynes Dons 4-0.

As the club heads into the summer, there are plenty of questions about the future of Manchester United. It’s already been confirmed that Radamel Falcao is returning to Monaco after a rather disappointing loan spell in England, and he may not be the only one leaving. David de Gea, who has been tipped by many to succeed Iker Casillas as the Spanish national starting goalkeeper, may also be replacing Casillas at Real Madrid in the coming season. Other names linked with moves away from Old Trafford include Angel Di Maria and Robin van Persie. Also, with Javier Hernandez and Nani having completed their loan spells in Spain & Portugal, respectively, does van Gaal have a plan to include them in the United squad going forward?

How do you feel Manchester United fared in the 2014/15 season? Leave a comment below!

One of the defining characteristics of any sports team is its ability to right a ship after enduring tough times. Whether the change is immediate, or whether it takes an extended period of time, the feeling of success arguably has a greater impact on players than a feeling of failure, particularly if success is consistently rarely. Memorial Day weekend provided many examples of turnarounds for teams in multiple sports.

In baseball, Ohio University struggled mightily in its first two seasons under head coach Rob Smith. The Bobcats only managed 14 wins overall in 2013, followed by 11 in 2014. This season, Ohio managed the best turnaround in the nation among NCAA Division I baseball squads, with 36 wins and their first Mid-American Conference Tournament title since 1997. The Bobcats are headed to the Champaign regional of the NCAA Tournament, along with Illinois, Notre Dame, and Wright State.

England cricket has had a tumultuous few months, to put it bluntly, since their World Cup fiasco in Australia and New Zealand. In their first home Test of the summer – against the Kiwis – they were looking down the barrel of a heavy defeat. But an inspired 2nd innings from Alastair Cook, complimented by Ben Stokes hitting the fastest-ever Test century at Lord’s, propelled England to an unlikely victory. It was the visitors’ match to lose through the first three days, but the hosts rallied with a comeback that give them plenty of confidence for the 2nd Test, and the Ashes series with Australia later this summer.

Staying in cricket, the Mumbai Indians of the Indian Premier League had a slow start to the 2015 IPL season before completing an impressive turnaround of their own. The club endured similar adversity last year, losing their first five group matches before embarking on an improbable run to qualify for the play-offs, highlighted by a dramatic final group game against Rajasthan. This year, Mumbai dropped their first four contests, before rallying to finish second in the standings, automatically qualifying the Champions League Twenty20 group stage. A dominant performance over Chennai in the first qualifier, then another win over the Super Kings in the final gives Mumbai their second IPL title in a three-year span.

Norwich City is also celebrating a great weekend after a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in the Football League Championship play-off final. The Canaries are headed back to the English Premier League just one year after being relegated. A strong performance in the second leg of the semifinal with Ipswich, then two goals in the opening quarter-hour against Boro, carried Norwich – whose manager, Alex Neil, was only appointed in January – into another season in the top flight. In a 2005 documentary, Stephen Fry (who is on the board of directors) once said he doesn’t mind when Norwich lose because he almost expects them to; but when they win, “I am so happy, infinitely happier…”

How many more impressive turnarounds in sports will fans see in the remainder of 2015?

Nine months of drama will come to a head Sunday as the English Premier League completes its 2014-15 season. There may not be as many compelling storylines as previous seasons, but for some clubs, the day will be extremely important nonetheless.

At the top of the Premier League table, Chelsea have already clinched their first title in five years, and will close the season at home against a Sunderland team that will remain in the top flight thanks to Wednesday’s draw at Arsenal. Speaking of the Gunners, they sit in third, which would automatically put them in next year’s Champions League group stage. Manchester United could pip them to 3rd if they win, Arsenal lose, and the Red Devils make up the goal difference gap (Arsenal is currently at +32, United at +25). With the Gunners tempted to rest several key players for next week’s FA Cup Final, it’s still an unlikely scenario for Louis van Gaal & company, but not an impossible one.

The main drama on Sunday will come from the battle to avoid occupying the final relegation spot. Burnley & Queens Park Rangers are going back to the Championship after one season in the EPL, while Newcastle and Hull will battle each other to stay up. The Magpies have a two-point advantage on the Tigers, meaning Joe Carver will pull off an escape if his side wins or Hull fails to win. A unique plot twist comes with the matchups involving both clubs; Newcastle host West Ham United, currently managed by former Magpies boss Sam Allardyce. Hull, meanwhile, welcome Manchester United to Yorkshire; Tigers manager Steve Bruce was one of United’s top defenders at the start of the EPL era, while defenders James Chester & Paul McShane both went through the Red Devils’ youth academy. Hull will be relegated with either a draw or a loss, so they’ll be hoping for extra support from a home crowd in their quest for three points.

Other clubs to keep an eye on are Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Southampton, who are fighting for Europa League spots. If Arsenal beats Aston Villa in the FA Cup Final, all three will qualify for various stages of that competition, but none of them will feel it’s worth risking their European fate by leaving it up to another club. Steven Gerrard plays his final Premier League game for Liverpool, determined to go out as a winner, after his home finale turned into a nightmare with a loss to Crystal Palace.

As they did last year, NBC Sports Group will show all 10 matches live on its various channels, allowing viewers to flip back and forth to follow scores. NBC will have Hull-Manchester United, while Newcastle-West Ham is on USA. NBCSN will air Chelsea-Sunderland before the Blues begin their trophy celebration. NBC Sports Group has received a lot of praise for its production of the Premier League over the past two years, with many fans wanting the company to keep the rights when their current contract expires next season.

Can Newcastle stay alive in the top flight, or will Hull pull off a great escape? With those matches, along with the eight others, all starting at 10 AM Eastern, it will be an entertaining final day to the campaign.

In the United States, Memorial Weekend is when Americans remember those who have died while serving in the armed forces. In 2015, the weekend will prove to be a memorable one for three different English soccer clubs, as the Football League holds its promotion play-off finals at the iconic Wembley Stadium.

Saturday’s League Two play-off final features Wycombe Wanderers and Southend United. Both clubs just missed out on direct promotion to League One – the third tier of the English system – but one of them will be 90 minutes from a win that fans will likely talk about for many years. Both clubs finished with 84 points, although Wycombe may have a psychological edge, winning their home fixture against Southend 4-1 and then getting a point in Essex in March. Wembley may not be sold out for this match, but expect just as much passion from the two fan bases.

Sunday showcases the League One final between Preston North End & Swindon Town. Swindon was the second team in history to be promoted to the Premier League via the playoffs back in the mid-1990s, although that feat was a generation ago. Preston North End have never made it to the top flight in the EPL era, so the incentive to move within one tier of the Premier League will be huge. This game has a lot to live up to if it’s to compare with last year’s League One final; after being down 2-0 at halftime to Leyton Orient, Rotherham United stormed back with two second-half goals before winning on penalties, in a game highlighted by this incredible strike from Alex Revell:

Monday’s match, the Championship play-off final, has been called the richest game in the sport, with the winning club in 2015 set to receive at least 120 million pounds (roughly $186 million) in television cash alone from its status as a Premier League club. Middlesbrough and Norwich have both been in the top flight in recent years, with the Canaries seeking an opportunity to return to the EPL just one year after being relegated, exactly what Queens Park Rangers did in 2014. Middlesbrough was relegated to the Championship in 2009; this is the closest they’ve come to a top-flight return since then, so the club will be desperate to take advantage of every chance presented to them.

One thing to keep an eye on is how the losers of these matches move forward. Take Leyton Orient, for example; as mentioned above, last year they were 2-0 up at halftime of the League One final, before losing on penalties. This year, the O’s finished 23rd, meaning relegation to League Two in 2015-16. A wild weekend is in store at Wembley, with the next several days in line to be memorable ones for three different clubs.

The Players Championship, going on this week at the famed TPC Sawgrass, has often been referred to as a “fifth major” of sorts in professional golf. Apart from the current four championships – the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship – the Players arguably draws the most attention from any of the annual tournaments. So should it be granted status as an official major championship?

One of the big reasons it could become an official major in the future is the prestige of the tournament. The Players boasts the largest purse on the PGA Tour, with the winner receiving almost the same amount of points toward his world ranking as he would with a current major. Players champions also get exemptions & invitations to the four championships. Then there’s the television broadcast quality to the tournament. Although NBC airs multiple PGA Tour events, there’s a special factor used for the Players, the Ryder Cup, and, in the past, the U.S. Open that lets fans know this is a unique event; CBS has a similar approach for how they present the Masters and the PGA Championship. Viewers are aware this is an tournament that can grab the attention of the most casual golf fan, in a manner that few other tournaments on the Tour right now can.

One of the negatives to a fifth major is it could diminish the importance of a major championship in general. In the Players’ case, the timing of the tournament – in between the Masters and U.S. Open – could make it difficult for golfers coming off a disappointing week at Augusta to gear up for a major at Sawgrass, and then prepare for a U.S. Open. That leads to another significant issue: the desire to hold a major at the same course year after year. The Masters is staged at Augusta National Golf Club annually as a tradition, but the U.S. Open and PGA Championship are, in a way, not just about showcasing outstanding golf, but the outstanding courses this country has to offer; the same goes for the Open Championship in Great Britain.

With these and other factors to consider on both sides, what do you think of the potential of an official fifth major in golf? Vote below!

The 2014-15 UEFA Champions League has almost reached its climax, as the remaining teams have moved to the semifinal stage. All four clubs have lifted the European Cup in the past, three of them in the last five years. That no English team has made to this stage for the second time in three seasons is a narrative itself, as it wasn’t long ago that the Premier League was providing three UCL semifinalists on a regular basis.

The first semifinal starts Tuesday with the opening leg between Juventus and Real Madrid. Juve have not won the Champions League since 1996, and this is the furthest they’ve gone in the competition since 2003. However, the Italian side does boast several key players – Patrice Evra & Andrea Pirlo – who have winners’ medals with different clubs, while Gianluigi Buffon continues to provide a sturdy presence in goal. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have no intent on relinquishing their title, although they were made to work in the quarterfinal to defeat bitter rivals and 2014 runner-up Atlético Madrid. Los Blancos are seeking to become the first repeat winners of this competition in the modern era.

The second semifinal begins Wednesday with Barcelona facing Bayern Munich. These two clubs have a recent history in the Champions League, with the Catalans winning decisively in the 2009 quarterfinals, only for the German club to return the favor in the 2013 semifinals. Bayern faced adversity in this year’s quarterfinal, facing a 3-1 deficit to Porto after the first leg in Portugal. How did they respond? A 6-1 rout in Munich. Whether they’re capable of producing a similar performance should they struggle at the Nou Camp will be something to watch. Barça, meanwhile, have at times been viewed as a team with players well into the second half of their careers, but they’ve continued to perform at a high level en route to the last four in 2015.

Seven of the last nine titles have gone to either Barcelona or the club that beat them in the semifinals. Another superstition that could help Bayern: the last two Champions League titles following World Cups have gone to clubs from that world champion country. With the Final in Berlin, does that give Bayern Munich an edge? Expect a wild ride in the semifinals.

There are still several games remaining for all 20 clubs in this year’s English Premier League (although Chelsea can clinch the title if they beat Crystal Palace on Sunday), but for 24 teams in the second tier, the Football League Championship, the 46th and final matchday is on Saturday. For those unfamiliar with the Championship’s setup, the top two teams automatically gain promotion to the EPL, while the third- through sixth-place teams are put into a four-team playoff, with the winner also headed to the top flight.

This year, one of the automatic promotion spots has already been clinched by Watford, who will make a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2006-07. As for the second automatic slot, it’s Bournemouth’s to lose, as they hold a three-point lead over Middlesbrough. For Boro to finish second, they’d need to win against Brighton, hope for a Charlton win over Bournemouth, and hope that the results erase the gap in goal difference, the first tiebreaker when two teams are level on points (Bournemouth is +50 through 45 games, Middlesbrough +31). With both sides’ opponents safe from relegation danger, there is a slight possibility that three points will not be the first priority for either Charlton or Brighton; if that is the case, Bournemouth would benefit from that approach, while Boro will have to hope for success in the playoff.

As for the playoff spots, two have been occupied, by Norwich City and Bournemouth/Middlesbrough. Ipswich Town and Derby County sit fifth and sixth, but both could potentially be overtaken by Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers based on Saturday’s results. The good news for the Tractor Boys and Rams is that both only need a draw to solidify a playoff spot; Ipswich would move beyond the reach of either Brentford or Wolves, while Derby has a goal difference advantage in the same manner as Bournemouth. There are many storylines that depend on how Saturday’s matches go; Derby, for example, made the playoff final a year ago, only to lose in the 90th minute to Queens Park Rangers. Brentford are seeking consecutive seasons of promotion, having played in League One – the third tier – last season. Wolverhampton have not played in the same tier in consecutive seasons since they were in the Premier League; they were relegated from the top flight in 2012, then sent to League One in 2013, only to return to the Championship in 2014. One, perhaps two, of those clubs will have a chance to continue adding to that narrative in 2015.

As in the Premier League, the bottom three in the Championship are relegated to the next tier down; Millwall, Wigan Athletic, and Blackpool are all headed to League One for 2015-16. With the other clubs safe from going down a division, how will that impact their approach to their respective games on Saturday?

All 12 fixtures will kick off at 12:15 local time (7:15 AM on the East Coast) in the same format used by the Premier League on its final day. It allows for maximum drama most of the time, and fans, particularly those who support a club in the promotion hunt, should be treated to an exciting two hours.

For the second straight year, the Mumbai Indians sit in a delicate position, having only won two of their first seven games in the Indian Premier League. With the second half of its season to begin Friday when they face Rajasthan Royals, their performance could be extremely indicative of whether or not they make the playoffs.

Last year, Mumbai lost its first five games of the IPL season. Part of that streak could be attributed to the unfamiliar environment of the United Arab Emirates, where the season began because of the Indian general election. Once Mumbai arrived in India, they went on to win seven of their remaining nine fixtures. But there were multiple instances throughout the year when the then-defending champions played with a lack of confidence, that particularly influenced their batting. Whether it was getting used to not having the legend Sachin Tendulkar play anymore (he retired from all cricket in November 2013), or the pressure of expectation to repeat as winners, the Mumbai team of 2014 wasn’t the same team that won both the IPL and the Champions League T20 the year before. They made a miraculous recovery – capped off by a wild finish in their final group game – to qualify for the playoffs, but it’s fair to say this was a team that failed to reach its true potential.

2015 could be a case of new year, same results for Mumbai. Their main issue this year has been getting enough wickets to put opponents under pressure, notably early in the innings. In each of their five losses this year, Mumbai has allowed big innings from multiple players in a game; although their own roster has countered with solid performances on occasion, their bowling is arguably the one aspect they most need to improve in the second half of the season. Again, with the Rajasthan match to come on Friday, expect the result to be telling of how the team approaches the rest of the season.

Is it too late for Mumbai to salvage a playoff spot? Leave a comment below!

Thursday marks one year since Game 4 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoff series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Pittsburgh came into the series as the heavy favorite, but needed to rally to win both Games 1 & 3, while the Blue Jackets got their first-ever playoff win in the second overtime of Game 2. In Game 4, the Penguins got out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, and seemed poised to take a 3-1 series lead back to Pennsylvania. But the Blue Jackets rallied to tie the game in the final minute of regulation thanks to Brandon Dubinsky.

What followed was Nick Foligno’s overtime game-winner that tied the series at two games apiece. Relive the moment, as called by CBC’s Bob Cole…

Here’s the call from Kenny Albert of NBCSN…

And Bob McElligott’s call on the Columbus Blue Jackets Radio Network…

The key for the franchise now is whether they can start making the playoffs on a regular basis. The Blue Jackets suffered several disappointing losing streaks throughout the season, and while the team won 12 of its final 13 games – its lone loss in that stretch coming in overtime, meaning a point – Columbus missed out a second straight postseason appearance. It’s the second time in three years that the Blue Jackets ended a season as arguably the hottest team in the NHL, only for it to be too little too late. Watch for the front office to make major decisions as the franchise strives for its ultimate goal of a championship.

Imagine being so furious over a business decision made by your favorite sports team, that you join with others to form a completely new team. That happened 10 years ago, following American businessman Malcolm Glazer’s takeover of Manchester United. Many Red Devils fans stopped supporting the Premier League club, choosing to form a team completely owned by its fans; thus, F.C. United of Manchester was born.

The club began playing in 2005, in Division Two of the North West Counties Football League – one of the branches in the tenth tier of the English system. Led by 18 goals from Rory Patterson, FC United finished atop the division, earning a spot in Division One. The 2006-07 & ’07-’08 seasons brought more promotions, as the team earned success at a rate not unlike the Premier League side. After missing out on the promotion play-offs during the first two years in the Northern Premier League’s Premier Division, FC United made three successive play-off finals, only to lose at the final step. The 2013-14 season saw FC United lose in the play-off semifinals, after finishing second out of 24 teams – only the league champion gained automatic promotion.

In 2015, after seven seasons in the seventh tier, FC United of Manchester are champions of the NPL Premier Division, clinching the title Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Stourbridge. It caps off a campaign where the club didn’t lose a league match from late November (against Stourbridge) through mid-April. Greg Daniels scored the goal to ensure the three points that guaranteed first place.

Also on Tuesday night in Manchester, Salford City FC, a club partly owned by several former Red Devil legends (Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary & Phil Neville, and Paul Scholes), clinched the NPL’s Division One North title, meaning they’re headed to the seventh tier. But after seven years of trying to make the Conference, the joy of FC United fans is unmistakable.

What’s next for F.C. United of Manchester? For starters, there’s still one more league match to come Saturday, at second-place Workington, who would’ve still had a shot at automatic promotion had United failed to win on Tuesday. The main thing for fans to look forward to now, though, is the opening of their very own ground, Broadhurst Park. The club had hoped to open the new stadium during the 2014-15 season, but delays kept that from happening. The ground is set to formally open with a May 29 friendly featuring FC United and Benfica – the same Benfica that Manchester United defeated 4-1 in the 1968 European Cup Final. FC United show all the characteristics of a club setting goals and reaching them; with the club just two tiers away from the Football League, it will be interesting to see if they can keep this success rate.