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The Sportsnet Connected teams of Brad Fay and Martine Gaillard, along with Jim Lang and Evanka Osmak, sat down with UMM Magazine to discuss their picks for the biggest stories from a memorable year in sports.

Best Team in the World:
1. FC Barcelona (Fay, Gaillard)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (Lang)
3. New York Yankees (Osmak)
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
5. Los Angeles Lakers

Brad Fay:  FC Barcelona. I begrudgingly give the nod to a soccer team because none of the North American champions in 2008 carry that panache like the 90's Bulls, 80's Lakers or 70's Canadiens did. Michael Irvin and his Dancing with the Stars partner are a very solid second on this list.

Martine Gaillard:  I'll take the angle that considering very few sports are played in all countries of the world…you have to go with the team who plays a game recognized universally on this planet.  Soccer…and FC Barcelona.  And their impressive number of wins and championships make for a pretty good argument too. 

Jim Lang: I'm a football guy so I have to go with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was fortunate enough to be in Tampa covering Super Bowl 43 for Rogers Sportsnet, so I had an up close view of the Steelers' thrilling win over the Cardinals. Ben Roethlisberger's game- winning touchdown pass to Holmes ranks as one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history.

Evanka Osmak: MLB may not transcend beyond North America, but it's hard to argue that there is a better franchise in the world than the New York Yankees. I guess money does buy wins after all.