Wednesday marked the unofficial halftime of the year in sports.

The NFL, NHL and NBA are in the midst of vacation, while the MLB All-Star break supplied a pause in baseball’s marathon season.

Nothing on the slate provided some time to reflect on the first half of 2013 and although we’re only halfway home, it has already been a year to remember.

Super Bowl XLVII

Pittsburgh could have imagined a better start to 2013 than Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco and the rest of the rival Baltimore Ravens celebrating a championship, but no football fan can deny the greatest sports spectacle in the world produced great theater.

There was the Harbaugh brothers, there was the blackout and the game was pretty good, too.

San Francisco stormed back from a 28-6 deficit only to be denied by a late defensive stand in a 34-31 defeat.

Major breakthroughs

Adam Scott and Justin Rose are threats to win a tournament every time they step on the golf course. Rose and Scott are ranked third and fourth in the world, respectively, but had yet to claim a major title coming into 2013.

Scott prevailed in a playoff at the Masters, before Rose used a steady final round to climb atop the leaderboard at the U.S. Open.

Serving up history

A resurgent Rafael Nadal won a record eighth French Open, proving once again he is the King of Clay.

Andy Murray might as well have been named the King of England, ending a 77-year drought of British champions at Wimbledon in front of the home crowd.

Daytona Double

Five-time Sprint Cup champion put another notch in his belt by becoming the first driver to win the Daytona 500 and the summer’s 400-miler in the same season since 1982.

NBA Finals

The veteran San Antonio Spurs were on the verge of a title in Game 6, but let it slip through their fingers in the final minute of regulation. James took advantage, slammed the door in Game 7 and added to a growing legacy.

Stanley Cup Finals

Despite the Penguins’ exclusion, the finals were riveting. Three of six games were decided in overtime and Chicago ultimately stunned Boston with two goals in the final 1:16 of Game 6 to secure their second Cup in four years.

MLB

Chris Davis has 37 home runs and the World Series champion San Francisco Giants are struggling at 43-51.

Miguel Cabrera is chasing another triple crown and the likes of Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are ushering in the next era of baseball’s superstars.

Big whoop.

Ending a dubious 20-year skid of losing seasons is all Pittsburgh cares about.

The Bucs are above .500 at the All-Star break for the third consecutive season, but the previous two have ended with familiar disappointment.

This season’s team appears ready to take the next step. If so, 2013 will truly be a year Pittsburgh never forgets.

Jason Orfao is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.