Editing 2000s (section)

=== Sports ===
{{Main|2000s in sports}}'''Major sporting events'''[[File:Michael Phelps Ryan Lochte Laszlo Cseh medals 2008 Olympics.jpg|thumb|[[Michael Phelps]] holds his gold medal on the podium during the 2008 Olympics. Pictured with [[Ryan Lochte]] (left) and [[László Cseh]] (right)]]
The Sydney [[2000 Summer Olympics]], followed the centennial anniversary of the modern era Olympic Games, held in Atlanta in 1996. The Athens [[2004 Summer Olympics]], were a strong symbol, for modern Olympic Games were inspired by the competitions organized in [[Ancient Greece]]. Finally, the [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing Games]] saw the emergence of China as a major sports power, with the highest number of titles for the first time. The [[2002 Winter Games|2002 Salt Lake City]] and the [[2006 Winter Games|2006 Turin]] Winter Olympic Games were also major events, though slightly less popular.

Association football's important events included two World Cups, one organized in [[2002 FIFA World Cup|South Korea and Japan]], which saw Brazil win a record fifth title, and the other in [[2006 FIFA World Cup|Germany]], which saw Italy win its fourth title. The regional competitions, the [[Copa América]] and [[UEFA European Championship]], saw five nations rising the cup: Colombia (2001) and Brazil (2004, 2007) won the Copa América, while France (2000), Greece (2004) and Spain (2008) won the European Championship.

In 2001, after the [[9/11 attacks]], both the [[National Football League]] and [[Major League Baseball]] canceled their upcoming games for a week. As a result, the [[2001 World Series|World Series]] would be played in November for the first time and the [[Super Bowl XXXVI|Super Bowl]] would be played in February for the first time.

The expansion and rise of the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] (UFC) occurred after the airing of [[The Ultimate Fighter]] in 2005.

[[Rugby football|Rugby]] increased in size and audience, as the [[Rugby World Cup]] became the third most watched sporting event in the world with the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]] organized in France.

[[Bloodgate]] is the nickname for a rugby union scandal involving the English team Harlequins in their Heineken Cup match against the Irish side Leinster on April 12, 2009. It was so called because of the use of fake blood capsules, and has been seen by some as one of the biggest scandals in rugby since professionalization in the mid-1990s, indeed even as an argument against the professional ethos. The name is a pun on Watergate.

The [[New York Yankees]] won the first [[Major League Baseball]] [[World Series]] of the decade in 2000, as well as the last World Series of the decade in 2009. The [[Boston Red Sox]] won their first [[World Series]] since 1918 in 2004 and then again in 2007.

The [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] won a record sixth Super Bowl on February 1, 2009, against the [[Arizona Cardinals]]. Pittsburgh's Super Bowl win would remain the championship record for an NFL franchise until [[Super Bowl LIII|a decade later]] when the [[New England Patriots]] defeated the [[Los Angeles Rams]] to tie the Super Bowl championship record.

'''Athletes'''

One of the most prominent events of the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] held in Beijing was the achievement of [[Michael Phelps]] the American swimmer, frequently cited as the greatest swimmer and one of the greatest Olympians of all time.<ref>{{cite news |title=5 things we learned about Michael Phelps |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/swimming/news/newsid=229303.html |first=Pamela |last=Barone |date=August 17, 2008 |access-date=July 30, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091103052144/http://www.nbcolympics.com/swimming/news/newsid%3D229303.html |archive-date=November 3, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Phelps officially world's greatest athlete ever |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna26194188 |work=[[NBC News]] |first=Mike |last=Celizic |date=August 16, 2008 |access-date=July 30, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Forde |first=Pat |author-link=Pat Forde |date=August 13, 2008 |title=It's over, there are no arguments ... Phelps is the best ever |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/summer08/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3532594 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225094027/http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3532594 |archive-date=December 25, 2013 |access-date=July 30, 2009 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> He has won 14 career Olympic [[gold medals]], the most by any Olympian. As of August 2, 2009, Phelps has broken thirty-seven [[List of world records in swimming|world records in swimming]]. Phelps holds the record for the most gold medals won in a single Olympics, his eight at the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing Games]] surpassed American swimmer [[Mark Spitz]]'s seven-gold performance at [[1972 Summer Olympics|Munich]] in 1972.

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| footer            = [[Kobe Bryant]] (left) and [[Shaquille O'Neal]] both helped the Lakers [[three-peat]] during the early 2000s.
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[[Usain Bolt]] of [[Jamaica]] dominated the male sprinting events at the Beijing Olympics, in which he broke three world records, allowing him to be the first man to ever accomplish this at a single Olympic game. He holds the world record for the 100&nbsp;metres (despite slowing down before the finish line to celebrate), the 200&nbsp;metres and, along with his teammates, the 4 × 100 metres relay.

The [[Los Angeles Lakers]] won 3 NBA championships in a row from [[2000]] to [[2002]], also known as a [[Three-peat]], led by [[Kobe Bryant]] and [[Shaquille O'Neal]].

In 2003, [[Michael Jordan]] retired from the NBA after 2 season with the [[Washington Wizards]], the official NBA website reading in 2006: "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time."<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Jordan Bio |url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/jordan_bio.html |publisher=NBA |access-date=March 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060902114359/http://www.nba.com/history/players/jordan_bio.html |archive-date=September 2, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Popular [[extreme sports]] athletes of the decade included [[Tony Hawk]], [[Shaun White]], [[Kelly Slater]], [[Travis Pastrana]], [[Matt Hoffman]], [[Shaun Murray]], [[Sarah Burke]], and more.

[[File:Michelle Kwan Spiral.jpg|thumb|210px|[[Michelle Kwan]] performing in the [[2002 U.S. Figure Skating Championships]]]]
Towards the middle of the decade, [[Michelle Kwan]] became the most decorated [[figure skater]] in U.S. history.<ref name=USbio>{{Cite web |url=http://www.usfigureskating.org/AthleteBio.asp?id=2267 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050424083301/http://www.usfigureskating.org/AthleteBio.asp?id=2267 |url-status=dead |title=Athlete bio at usfigureskating.org |archive-date=April 24, 2005}}</ref>

[[Michael Schumacher]], the most titled F1 driver, won five [[F1 World Championship]]s during the decade and finally retired in 2006, yet eventually confirming his come-back to F1 for 2010. [[Lance Armstrong]] won all the [[Tour de France]] between 1999 and 2005, also an all-time record, but was later stripped of all his titles when evidence emerged of his use of performance-enhancing drugs. Swiss tennis player [[Roger Federer]] won 16 [[Grand Slam title]]s to become the most titled player.

The decade saw the continued rise of several of the most notable and popular [[quarterbacks]] in [[NFL]] history, including [[Peyton Manning]], [[Tom Brady]], [[Brett Favre]], [[Drew Brees]], [[Ben Roethlisberger]], [[Donovan McNabb]], [[Kurt Warner]], [[Eli Manning]], [[Steve McNair]], [[Tony Romo]] and others.

'''Timeline of sporting events'''

In May 2004, [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] became the only top-tier team to go through an entire league season (2003/4) unbeaten when they won the English Premier League and became 'The Invincibles'. This feat had also been achieved in the 19th century, when the league was in its infancy and there were far fewer matches in a season, but not in the modern era. Arsenal's unbeaten run extended to 49 matches in total, and into the subsequent season.

In September 2004, [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] footballer [[Adrian Mutu]] failed a drugs test for cocaine and was released on October 29, 2004. He also received a seven-month ban and a £20,000 fine from [[The Football Association]].

The [[2006 Italian football scandal]], also known as "''Calciopoli''", involved Italy's top professional football leagues, [[Serie A]] and [[Serie B]]. The scandal was uncovered in May 2006 by Italian police, implicating league champions [[Juventus FC|Juventus]], and other major teams including [[A.C. Milan]], [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]], [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] and [[Reggina 1914|Reggina]] when a number of telephone interceptions showed a thick network of relations between team managers and referee organisations. Juventus were the champions of Serie A at the time. The teams have been accused of rigging games by selecting favourable referees.

The [[2006 FIFA World Cup Final]] in Berlin, [[Zinedine Zidane]] widely considered by experts and fans as one of the greatest football players of all time, was sent off in the 110th minute of the game, which was to be the last match of his career. After headbutting [[Marco Materazzi]] in the chest, Zidane did not participate in the penalty shootout, which Italy won 5–3. It was later discovered through interviews that Materazzi had insulted Zidane's mother and sister that last moment which is what led to Zidane's heightened anger and reaction.

January 11, 2007 – When English footballer [[David Beckham]] joined the [[Major League Soccer]]'s [[LA Galaxy|Los Angeles Galaxy]], he was given the highest player salary in the league's history; with his playing contract with the Galaxy over the next three years being worth US$6.5&nbsp;million per year.<ref name="galaxy-millions">{{cite news |title=Beckham rejected Milan and Inter to take Galaxy millions |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/beckham-rejected-milan-and-inter-to-take-galaxy-millions-431736.html |work=The Independent |date=January 12, 2007 |access-date=September 9, 2008 |location=London |first=Sam |last=Wallace |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308193915/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/beckham-rejected-milan-and-inter-to-take-galaxy-millions-431736.html |archive-date=March 8, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/8_31_07_salary_info_alpha.pdf |title=2007 MLS Player Salaries: August 31, 2007: Alphabetical |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724203535/http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/8_31_07_salary_info_alpha.pdf |archive-date=July 24, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/9_7_08_salary_info_alpha.pdf |title=2008 MLS Player Salaries: October 7, 2008: Alphabetical |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724203456/http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/9_7_08_salary_info_alpha.pdf |archive-date=July 24, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/september_15_2009_salary_information__alphabetical.pdf |title=2009 MLS Player Salaries: September 15, 2009: Alphabetical |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724203636/http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/september_15_2009_salary_information__alphabetical.pdf |archive-date=July 24, 2013}}</ref>

October 2007 – US world champion [[track and field]] athlete [[Marion Jones]] admitted that she took performance-enhancing drugs as far back as the 2000 Summer Olympics, and that she had lied about it to a grand jury investigating performance-enhancer creations.

November 29, 2007 – [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] football manager [[Harry Redknapp]] angrily denied any wrongdoing after being arrested by police investigating alleged corruption in football: "If you are telling me this is how you treat anyone, it is not the society I grew up in."<ref>{{cite news |last=Crook |first=Alex |title=Harry Redknapp hits out at police raid on home |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2327092/Harry-Redknapp-hits-out-at-police-raid-on-home.html |access-date=February 25, 2013 |location=London |date=November 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122123625/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2327092/Harry-Redknapp-hits-out-at-police-raid-on-home.html |archive-date=January 22, 2014}}</ref>

The [[2008 Wimbledon final]] between [[Roger Federer]] of Switzerland and [[Rafael Nadal]] of Spain, has been lauded as the greatest match ever by tennis analysts.<ref name="greatestmatchever">{{cite news |first=Bruce |last=Jenkins |title=The Greatest Match Ever |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/06/SPP711KSLR.DTL |date=July 7, 2008 |access-date=February 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304234833/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2008%2F07%2F06%2FSPP711KSLR.DTL |archive-date=March 4, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="McEnroe-greatestmatch">{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Alleyne |title=Wimbledon 2008: John McEnroe hails Rafael Nadal victory as greatest final ever |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/2305019/Wimbledon-2008-John-McEnroe-hails-Rafael-Nadal-victory-as-greatest-final-ever.html |date=July 7, 2008 |access-date=February 14, 2009 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140215035202/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/2305019/Wimbledon-2008-John-McEnroe-hails-Rafael-Nadal-victory-as-greatest-final-ever.html |archive-date=February 15, 2014}}</ref><ref name="wertheim-greatestmatch">{{cite news |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_wertheim/07/09/wertheim.mailbag/index.html |title=Without a doubt, it's the greatest |last=Wertheim |first=Jon |date=July 9, 2008 |work=Tennis Mailbag |publisher=Sports Illustrated |access-date=February 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813175621/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_wertheim/07/09/wertheim.mailbag/index.html |archive-date=August 13, 2013}}</ref><ref name="tignor-greatestmatch">{{cite web |url=http://tennisworld.typepad.com/thewrap/2008/07/w-report-cards.html |title=W: Report Cards |last=Tignor |first=Steve |work=Concrete Elbow |publisher=Tennis.com |date=July 8, 2008 |access-date=February 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819130701/http://tennisworld.typepad.com/thewrap/2008/07/w-report-cards.html |archive-date=August 19, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

British [[Formula One]] racing driver [[Lewis Hamilton]], was disqualified from the [[2009 Australian Grand Prix]] for providing "misleading evidence" during the stewards' hearing. He later privately apologised to FIA race director Charlie Whiting for having lied to the stewards.

In 2009, the [[World football transfer record]] was set by Spanish football club [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] when it purchased [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]'s [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] for £80&nbsp;million (€93&nbsp;million). Manchester United veteran [[Bobby Charlton|Sir Bobby Charlton]] said the world-record offer shocked him:

{{blockquote|1="It's a lot of money, it's crazy really. If you want to be in the race, you have to pay the price, it seems sometimes a little bit vulgar."<ref>{{cite news |title=Ronaldo price vulgar – Charlton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8107965.stm |work=BBC |access-date=February 21, 2013 |date=June 18, 2009}}</ref>}}'''Controversies in sports'''

A number of [[concerns and controversies over the 2008 Summer Olympics]] surfaced before, during, and after the 2008 Summer Olympics, and which received major media coverage. Leading up to the Olympics, there were concerns about human rights in China, such that many high-profile individuals, such as politicians and celebrities, announced intentions to boycott the games to protest China's role in the Darfur conflict, and Myanmar, its stance towards Tibet, or other aspects of its human rights record. In a 2008 ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' article entitled "Why Nobody's Boycotting Beijing", Vivienne Walt wrote:
'Leaders in power are more mindful of China's colossal clout in an increasingly shaky world economy, and therefore of the importance of keeping good relations with its government.'<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Walt |first=Vivienne |date=July 16, 2008 |title=Why Nobody's Boycotting Beijing |url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1823561,00.html |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822212632/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0%2C8599%2C1823561%2C00.html |archive-date=August 22, 2013 |access-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref>

[[Ron Atkinson]], is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits.
Ron Atkinson's media work came to an abrupt halt on April 21, 2004, when he was urged to resign from [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] by Brian Barwick after he broadcast a [[Racism|racial]] remark live on air about the [[Black people|black]] [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] player [[Marcel Desailly]]; believing the microphone to be switched off, he said, ''"...he'' [Desailly] ''is what is known in some schools as a lazy [[nigger]]"''.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 24, 2010 |title=Ron Atkinson calls Marcel Desailly a 'lazy nigger' on live TV |publisher=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olu8HWhcUeU |access-date=January 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101113827/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olu8HWhcUeU |archive-date=November 1, 2013}}</ref>

[[Steroids]] also spread the sports world throughout the decade, mainly used in [[Major League Baseball]]. Players involved included [[Barry Bonds]], [[Mark McGwire]], [[Sammy Sosa]] and [[Alex Rodriguez]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jussim |first=Matthew |date=2022-05-31 |title=15 biggest sports doping scandals |url=https://www.mensjournal.com/sports/15-biggest-steroid-ped-and-doping-scandals-sports-history |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=Men's Journal |language=en}}</ref>

The sport of [[fox hunting]] is controversial, particularly in the UK, where it was banned in [[Scotland]] in 2002, and in [[England and Wales]] in November 2004 (law enforced from February 2005), though shooting foxes as vermin remained legal around the world.