Every year in the world of sports it seems like we are treated to at least one feel good story. This being a performance that keeps the viewer glued to the television as a team or athlete overcomes seemingly insurmountable obstacles to be victorious.

In the last quarter century there have been many highly publicized triumphs which involved grit, determination and possibly even a little luck.

The movie ‘Miracle’ is a great example as it tells the story on one of the greatest upsets in sports when a group of United States’ hockey amateurs defeated the mighty Soviets in the semifinal round of the 1980 Winter Olympics hockey tournament. No one gave the Americans a shot especially after the team had lost 10-3 in an exhibition game days before the Olympics started.

Sticking with the Olympics, on July 23, 1996, a group of seven young United States’ gymnasts defeated the powerhouse Russians and Romanians to win the gold medal in a thunderous Georgia Dome. When an 18-year-old Kerri Strug landed her final vault on a sprained ankle it was the most dramatic moment of the Summer Olympics, if not the entire year.

With many of the students from Chicago or neighboring suburbs, it seems like we take the accomplishments of Michael Jordan for granted. After all, Jordan hit so many game-winning shots it’s hard to keep count, but one during the 1997 NBA Finals sticks out like no other. Battered by the flu, Jordan went out in game five in front of a hostile environment to score 38 points including the decisive three-pointer against Utah to propel the Bulls to a 90-88 victory and their fifth NBA title days later.

Just over a week ago we were treated to another masterpiece in the sports world. While this achievement didn’t unify a nation like the hockey upset, the gymnasts’ gold medal or add to the legend of the greatest athlete to ever compete it certainly was the feel good story of 2004.

Golfer John Daly burst onto the PGA Tour in 1991 with hype only topped by Eldrick Woods. With his powerful drives, accuracy out of the bunker and humble personality Daly instantly became a fan favorite on the Tour. Daly’s three shot win at the 1991 PGA Championship (as the ninth and final alternate in the field) showed signs that greatness could be right around the corner for “The Lion.”

In 1992, Daly picked up another victory and had five top-10 finishes in 25 events played. He struggled in 1993, but seemed to regain form a year later when he won the BellSouth Classic after a magnificent second round 64. Daly’s biggest win to date came at the 1995 British Open, held at the famous St. Andrews Links. In the event, “Long John” took a 36-hole lead into the third round only to shoot a 73 and fall into fourth place. Playing under treacherous winds, Daly shot a 71 in the final round and won a playoff against Costantino Rocco to pick up his second major PGA Tour title.

Daly became the youngest player on tour with two major championship titles and was just the fourth American to win two majors before his 30th birthday, joining the likes of a few guys named Nicklaus, Watson and Miller.

But then on the verge of greatness Daly could not defeat his alcohol and gambling addictions. From 1996 to 2000, Daly had just four finishes in the top 10 and saw his World Golf Ranking slip to 507. In 2001, Daly found his old form again earning a career-high $828,914, which placed him 61st on the money list. “The Lion” had four top ten finishes and eight in the top 25 to reach the top 50 in the world rankings.

However in 2002 and 2003, Daly seemed to lose it all again. Daly made just over half the cuts (12 of 21) during the 2002 season and fell out of the top 100 on the money list. In 2003, his golf faltered while his fourth wife (Sherrie) and her parents were indicted on federal charges of laundering more than $1.2 million in illegal drug profits. Daly fell so deep that if he had another poor year in 2004 he could’ve lost his tour status. One of the great talents in the last 25 years of golf was on the brink of Q-School if he didn’t get his act together.

But John Daly proved he can never be counted out. On February 15, 2004, Daly won his first event on the PGA Tour in nine years when he defeated Chris Riley and Luke Donald in the first playoff hole at the Buick Invitational. It wasn’t easy for Daly (not that we should expect it to be) as he shot a 3-over 75 to force the playoff. We did, however, see the glimpses of greatness we expected years ago when his 100-foot sand save rolled four inches to the cup to set up an easy birdie for the win on the first playoff hole.

Daly’s performance in San Diego will never be viewed in history as equal to the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.” Nor should it, as Daly’s win didn’t make us proud to be Americans like the 1980 U.S. hockey team.

But John Daly’s victory is exactly why we watch sports; to see our heroes, although sometimes fallen, reign supreme.