It was an incredible year of sports around the country in 2021 and right here in our backyard, let's see what stood out as the very best moments of the year!

My rule is that you have to have some tangible connection to Central Florida in order to make the list…and it has to be something we care about at large. Not your local pickleball squad won regionals in Casselbury.

Orlando sports top 10 moments of 2021:

10- Apopka High made it to the FHSAA Class 8A football championship game in Fort Lauderdale vs Venice – they lost 35-7.

9- The Magic choose to blow up the team back in late March, ushering in the newest and latest era of Magic basketball. The Vooch trade actually turned into WJC and Franz Wagner.

8- Orlando City purchased by the Wilf Family – completed in July.

7- Orlando City clinches an MLS Playoff birth

6- Bryson DeChambeau wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational, beating Lee Westwood by 1 stroke

5- McKenzie Milton makes his epic return to the CFB gridiron vs ND

4- UCF’s comeback vs Boise State – September 2nd. DG and the Knights rallied, down 21 to beat Boise.

3- UCF beats Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl

2- Magic draft Jalen Suggs 5th overall – I was at the Amway Center, the place absolutely erupted.

Number 1!- UCF to the Big 12. Arguably the biggest news in Central Florida sports HISTORY outside of the birth of the Orlando Magic.

Other candidates: UCF/Florida sign a 2-1 deal, Steve Clifford walks out on the Magic, NIL deals, Brady/Bucs win in Tampa, Danny White takes Josh Heupel, Jason Preston’s run to the NCAA Tournament (Ohio), Tiger returns to a golf course in the PNC Championship, CONCACAF Gold Cup Matches at Exploria.