Top Sports Stories Of 2011

Jan.%2010%3A%20Cam%20Newton%20and%20Auburn%20top%20Oregon%2022-19%20in%20the%20BCS%20National%20Championship%20Game.%20%28credit%3A%20Kevin%20C.%20Cox%29%20

Feb.%206%3A%20Aaron%20Rodgers%20and%20the%20Packers%20stepped%20out%20of%20the%20Brett%20Favre-era%20with%20their%20win%20over%20the%20Pittsburgh%20Steelers%20in%20Super%20Bowl%20XLV%2C%2031-25.%20%28credit%3A%20Timothy%20A.%20Clary%29%20

Feb.%2016%3A%20Cycling%26%238217%3Bs%20most%20famous%20face%2C%20Lance%20Armstrong%2C%20retired%20%26%238220%3Bfor%20good%2C%26%238221%3B%20racking%20up%20seven%20consecutive%20Tour%20de%20France%20victories.%20His%20career%20was%20not%20without%20controversy%2C%20however.%20His%20retirement%20was%20announced%20amid%20doping%20charges%20from%20the%20U.S.%20federal%20government.%20%28credit%3A%20Gail%20Oskin%2FGetty%20Images%29

Feb.%2021%3A%20A%20major%20three-team%20deal%20sent%20Carmelo%20Anthony%20and%20Chauncey%20Billups%20to%20New%20York%20from%20Denver.%20The%20new%20Knicks%20dropped%20their%20playoff%20series%20to%20Boston.%20%28credit%3A%20Elsa%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

Feb.%2027%3A%20Duke%20Snider%2C%20beloved%20Dodger%20and%20the%20Duke%20of%20Flatbush%2C%20died%20of%20unknown%20causes%20in%20California.%20Snider%20was%20a%20Dodger%20in%20both%20Brooklyn%20and%20Los%20Angeles%20and%20was%20inducted%20into%20the%20Major%20League%20Baseball%20Hall%20of%20Fame%20in%201980.%20%28credit%3A%20Jim%20McIsaac%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

March%204%3A%20Wes%20Leonard%2C%20age%2016%2C%20a%20student%20and%20star%20athlete%20at%20Fennville%20High%20School%20in%20Fennville%2C%20Michigan%2C%20collapsed%20on%20a%20basketball%20court%20moments%20after%20making%20the%20winning%20shot%20in%20overtime%20during%20the%20team%26%238217%3Bs%20last%20game%20of%20the%20season%20to%20get%20his%20team%20into%20the%20Class%20C%20District%20Playoffs.%20He%20was%20pronounced%20dead%20shortly%20afterward%20at%20a%20Holland%2C%20Michigan%20hospital.%20The%20cause%20of%20death%20was%20cardiac%20arrest%20due%20to%20an%20enlarged%20heart.%20%28credit%3A%20Bill%20Pugliano%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

March%2012%3A%20An%2018-week%20lockout%20shut%20down%20the%20NFL%20for%20much%20of%20the%20off-season%20but%20owners%20signed%20a%20new%20collective%20bargaining%20agreement%20in%20July%20before%20any%20regular%20season%20games%20were%20lost.%20%28credit%3A%20Robb%20Carr%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

April%204%3A%20Coach%20Jim%20Calhoun%26%238217%3Bs%20legend%20grew%20when%20his%20Huskies%20started%20the%20year%20unranked%20and%20finished%20with%20a%20freshly%20cut%20net%20in%20hand.%20Kemba%20Walker%20scored%2016%20points%20in%20the%2053-41%20win%20over%20Butler.%20%28credit%3A%20Streeter%20Lecka%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

April%208%3A%20Manny%20Ramirez%2C%20known%20for%20his%20success%20with%20the%20Indians%2C%20Red%20Sox%2C%20and%20Dodgers%2C%20retired%20after%20testing%20positive%20for%20steroids%20for%20the%20second%20time%20while%20playing%20for%20the%20Rays.%20Ramirez%20has%20now%20been%20reinstated%20back%20into%20baseball.%20%28credit%3A%20Elsa%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

April%2013%3A%20Barry%20Bonds%26%238217%3B%20steroids%20trial%20ends%20with%20little%20closure%20for%20fans%20after%20eight%20years%20of%20allegations.%20He%20was%20found%20guilty%20of%20obstruction%20of%20justice%20with%20several%20mistrials%20ruled%20along%20the%20way.%20%28credit%3A%20Justin%20Sullivan%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

May%208%3A%20The%20%26%238220%3BZen%20Master%26%238221%3B%20said%20early%20in%202011%2C%20%26%238220%3BThis%20year%2C%20there%26%238217%3Bs%20no%20maybe%2C%26%238221%3B%20referring%20to%20his%20decision%20to%20retire%20after%20the%20season.%20Following%20the%20Mavericks%26%238217%3B%20sweep%20of%20Los%20Angeles%2C%20Jackson%20stuck%20to%20his%20word%20and%20stepped%20out.%20He%26%238217%3Bs%20the%20only%20coach%20in%20the%20country%26%238217%3Bs%20major%20professional%20sports%20to%20have%20won%20at%20least%2010%20championships%20and%20has%20the%20highest%20winning%20percentage%20of%20any%20coach%20in%20the%20NBA%20Hall%20of%20Fame.%20%28credit%3A%20Kevork%20Djansezian%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

May%2013%3A%20The%20NHL%20enforcer%20was%20discovered%20dead%20in%20his%20apartment%20in%20Minnesota%20at%20the%20age%20of%2028.%20He%20played%20five%20seasons%20for%20the%20Wild%20and%2022%20games%20for%20the%20New%20York%20Rangers.%20His%20death%20was%20ruled%20an%20accident%20caused%20by%20a%20mix%20of%20alcohol%20and%20oxycodone.%20%28credit%3A%20Bruce%20Bennett%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

May%2017%3A%20Minnesota%20Twins%20legend%20and%20baseball%20Hall%20of%20Famer%20Harmon%20Killebrew%20died%20after%20a%20battle%20with%20esophageal%20cancer.%20%26%238220%3BHammerin%26%238217%3B%20Harmon%26%238221%3B%20finished%20his%20career%20with%20573%20home%20runs.%20%28Hannah%20Foslien%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

May%2030%3A%20Jim%20Tressel%26%238217%3Bs%2010%20years%20as%20head%20coach%20of%20Ohio%20State%20ended%20when%20he%20stepped%20down%20amid%20allegations%20he%20wasn%26%238217%3Bt%20cooperating%20with%20an%20NCAA%20investigation%20into%20whether%20he%20allowed%20players%20to%20play%20while%20ineligible.%20After%20an%20initial%20suspension%2C%20Tressel%20resigned%20after%20meeting%20with%20Ohio%20State%20president%20Gordon%20Gee%20and%20athletic%20director%20Gene%20Smith.%20He%26%238217%3Bs%20third%20on%20the%20list%20for%20most%20games%20won%20by%20an%20Ohio%20State%20coach.%20%28Jamie%20Sabau%2FGetty%20Images%29

June%2012%3A%20Despite%20LeBron%20James%20making%20his%20%26%238220%3BDecision%26%238221%3B%20and%20going%20to%20the%20Miami%20Heat%20to%20join%20Dwayne%20Wade%20and%20Chris%20Bosh%2C%20he%20once%20again%20fell%20short%20of%20winning%20the%20title.%20The%20Dallas%20Mavericks%20defeated%20the%20Heat%20105-95%20in%20Game%206%20to%20capture%20the%20championship.%20%28credit%3A%20Don%20Emmert%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

June%2015%3A%20The%20Bruins%20joined%20the%20Patriots%2C%20Red%20Sox%20and%20Celtics%20in%20spoiling%20New%20England%20fans%20with%20championships%20after%20beating%20the%20Vancouver%20Canucks%203-0%20in%20Game%207.%20The%20city%20of%20Vancouver%20rioted%20after%20the%20loss.%20%28credit%3A%20Jeff%20Vinnick%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

June%2027%3A%20The%20Dodgers%20filed%20for%20bankruptcy%20after%20the%20league%20rejected%20Frank%20McCourt%26%238217%3Bs%20television%20deal.%20Commissioner%20Bud%20Selig%20blames%20the%20team%26%238217%3Bs%20financial%20woes%20on%20McCourt%26%238217%3Bs%20debt%20and%20claimed%20he%20diverted%20club%20assets%20to%20address%20personal%20needs%20through%20his%20bitter%20divorce.%20%28credit%3A%20Matt%20Kemp%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

July%209%3A%20Derek%20Jeter%20became%20the%20first%20player%20in%20Yankees%20history%20to%20reach%20the%203%2C000%20hit%20mark%20when%20he%20blasted%20a%20pitch%20from%20the%20Rays%26%238217%3B%20David%20Price%20for%20a%20home%20run.%20%28credit%3A%20Michael%20Heiman%2FGetty%20Images%29

July%2017%3A%20The%20U.S.%20women%26%238217%3Bs%20soccer%20team%20lost%20a%20heartbreaker%20to%20Japan%20in%20the%20Women%26%238217%3Bs%20World%20Cup%20Final%20as%20the%20U.S.%20couldn%26%238217%3Bt%20hold%20onto%20a%20late%20lead.%20Penalty%20kicks%20ultimately%20decided%20the%20game.%20The%20Americans%20missed%20three%20of%20four%20while%20Japan%20made%20three%20of%20four.%20%28credit%3A%20Patrik%20Stollarz%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

July%2021%3A%20Football%20fans%20exhaled%20after%20NFL%20team%20owners%20announced%20a%20collective%20bargaining%20agreement%20was%20reached%20with%20the%20league%26%238217%3Bs%20players%20association%20to%20end%20the%20130-day%20lockout.%20Owners%20were%20bargaining%20for%20a%20better%20share%20of%20the%20league%26%238217%3Bs%20revenues%2C%20as%20rewards%20for%20major%20investments%20like%20new%20stadiums.%20Influential%20players%20suggested%20select%20owners%20were%20using%20the%20play%20to%20renegotiate%20for%20a%20better%20benefit%20than%20they%20received%20following%20a%202006%20collective%20bargaining%20agreement.%20%28credit%3A%20Antonio%20Brown%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

Aug.%2015%3A%20The%20NHL%20community%20grieved%20twice%20more%20when%20the%20Vancouver%20Canucks%26%238217%3B%20Rick%20Rypien%2C%2027%2C%20and%20the%20Nashville%20Predators%26%238217%3B%20Wade%20Belak%2C%2035%2C%20were%20found%20dead%20in%20separate%20incidents%2016%20days%20apart.%20Both%20deaths%20have%20been%20ruled%20suicides.%20%28credit%3A%20Christian%20Peterson%20%28top%29%20Rich%20Lam%20%28bottom%2FGetty%20Images%29

Aug.%2016%3A%20A%20Miami%20football%20booster%20and%20convicted%20felon%20blew%20the%20whistle%20on%20the%20Hurricanes%2C%20claiming%20he%20financed%20%26%238220%3Bthousands%26%238221%3B%20of%20banned%20benefits%20to%2072%20Miami%20players%20over%20eight%20years.%20%28credit%3A%20Joel%20Auerbach%2FGetty%20Images%29

Aug.%2024%3A%20The%20Orioles%20organization%20was%20shocked%20when%20former%20pitcher%20and%20executive%20committed%20suicide.%20Flanagan%20pitched%2018%20seasons%20for%20the%20Orioles%2C%20winning%20the%20Cy%20Young%20Award%20in%201979%20and%20a%20World%20Series%20with%20the%20team%20in%201983.%20Police%20reports%20said%20he%20was%20concerned%20with%20his%20finances.%20%28credit%3A%20Mitchell%20Layton%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

Sept.%207%3A%20Indianapolis%20fans%20sat%20miserable%20through%20this%20NFL%20season%20after%20Colts%26%238217%3B%20quarterback%20Peyton%20Manning%20said%20he%20couldn%26%238217%3Bt%20play%20after%20a%20setback%20following%20neck%20surgery%20in%20May.%20The%20Colts%20organization%20had%20placed%20the%20franchise%20tag%20on%20the%20four-time%20MVP%20in%20February%20and%20re-signed%20him%20to%20a%20%2490%20million%20contract.%20%28credit%3A%20Andy%20Lyons%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

Sept.%2028%3A%20Sox%20and%20Braves%20fans%20could%20use%20neck%20surgery%20after%20shaking%20their%20heads%20in%20disbelief%20following%20epic%20late-season%20breakdowns.%20Before%20September%26%238217%3Bs%20finish%2C%20both%20teams%20saw%20their%20playoff%20hopes%20slowly%20fade%20and%20lost%20their%20chance%20to%20make%20the%20postseason%20on%20the%20final%20day%20of%20the%20season.%20Before%20this%20fall%2C%20no%20team%20missed%20the%20playoffs%20with%20eight-game%20leads%20entering%20September.%20%28credit%3A%20Rob%20Carr%2FGetty%20Images%29

Oct.%208%3A%20Al%20Davis%2C%20owner%20of%20the%20Oakland%20Raiders%2C%20died%20from%20heart%20disease%20at%20the%20age%20of%2082.%20Davis%20led%20the%20Raiders%20to%20their%20first%20winning%20season%20as%20a%20franchise%20and%20went%20on%20to%20own%20the%20team%20for%20more%20than%20four%20decades.%20The%20Raiders%20won%20three%20Super%20Bowls%20and%20won%20the%20AFC%20championship%20four%20times%20with%20Davis%20at%20the%20helm.%20He%20also%20won%20an%20AFL%20championship.%20%28credit%3A%20Joe%20Robbins%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

Oct.%2016%3A%20Indianapolis%20500%20winner%20Dan%20Wheldon%2C%2033%2C%20died%20tragically%20from%20injuries%20suffered%20in%20a%2015-car%20wreck%20in%20the%202011%20IZOD%20IndyCar%20World%20Championship%20at%20Las%20Vegas%20Motor%20Speedway.%20He%20just%20signed%20a%20multi-year%20deal%20that%20morning%20to%20replace%20racing%20star%20Danica%20Patrick%20on%20Andretti%20Motorsports.%20%28credit%3A%20Robert%20Laberge%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

Oct.%2028%3A%20After%20coming%20down%20to%20their%20last%20strike%20twice%20in%20Game%206%2C%20the%20St.%20Louis%20Cardinals%20improbably%20won%20the%20World%20Series%20in%20seven%20games%20against%20the%20Texas%20Rangers.%20The%20celebration%20would%20last%20only%20a%20few%20weeks%2C%20though%2C%20before%20Albert%20Pujols%20bolted%20to%20the%20Los%20Angeles%20Angels%20of%20Anaheim.%20%28credit%3A%20Ezra%20Shaw%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

Nov.%207%3A%20Weeks%20after%20Smokin%26%238217%3B%20Joe%20Frazier%20was%20diagnosed%20with%20liver%20cancer%2C%20it%20had%20metastasized%20and%20killed%20the%20boxing%20legend.%20Frazier%20was%20an%20undisputed%20world%20heavyweight%20champion%20and%20was%20inducted%20into%20the%20International%20Boxing%20Hall%20of%20Fame%20after%20an%2011-year%20career.%20Frazier%20may%20be%20best%20known%20for%20beating%20Muhammad%20Ali%20on%20points%20in%20%26%238220%3BThe%20Fight%20of%20the%20Century%26%238221%3B%20and%20losing%20the%20rematch%20called%20%26%238220%3BThe%20Thrilla%20in%20Manilla.%26%238221%3B%20%28credit%3A%20AFP%2F%20Getty%20Images%29%20

Nov.%209%3A%20Happy%20Valley%20was%20rocked%20after%20charges%20alleged%20former%20Penn%20State%20defensive%20coordinator%20Jerry%20Sandusky%20had%20inappropriate%20sexual%20contact%20with%20at%20least%20eight%20boys%20between%201994%20and%202009.%20He%20was%20indicted%20on%2040%20counts%20of%20child%20molestation%2C%20and%20the%20details%20of%20the%20investigation%20resulted%20in%20the%20firing%20of%20Penn%20State%20coaching%20legend%20Joe%20Paterno%20and%20resignation%20of%20university%20president%20Graham%20Spanier.%20%28Patrick%20Smith%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

Nov.%2017%3A%20Oklahoma%20State%20Women%26%238217%3Bs%20basketball%20its%20leaders%20including%20head%20coach%20Kurt%20Budke%20and%20assistant%20coach%20Miranda%20Serna%20when%20their%20small%20plane%20crashed%20in%20Arkansas%20leaving%20no%20survivors.%20Budke%20is%20survived%20by%20his%20wife%20and%20three%20children.%20%28credit%3A%20Brett%20Deering%2FGetty%20Images%29%20

Shortly%20following%20news%20of%20Penn%20State%26%238217%3Bs%20sex%20abuse%20scandal%2C%20Syracuse%20University%20was%20faced%20with%20its%20own%20when%20two%20men%20appeared%20on%20ESPN%26%238217%3Bs%20%26%238220%3BBehind%20the%20Lines%26%238221%3B%20and%20said%20associate%20head%20basketball%20coach%20Bernie%20Fine%20molested%20them%20when%20they%20worked%20as%20ballboys%20between%20the%20late%201970s%20and%20the%201990s.%20Fine%20initially%20denied%20the%20allegations%20before%20ESPN%20released%20a%20tape%20on%20which%20Fine%26%238217%3Bs%20wife%2C%20Laurie%2C%20admitted%20knowledge%20of%20his%20behavior.%20The%20university%20fired%20Fine%20after%20the%20tape%20was%20released.%20%28credit%3A%20Jim%20MacIssac%2FGetty%20Images%29

Nov.%2026%3A%20The%20fourth%20lockout%20in%20the%20NBA%26%238217%3Bs%20history%20ended%20after%20a%20contentious%20149%20days.%20The%20regular%20season%20will%20begin%20Christmas%20Day.%20%28credit%3A%20Patrick%20McDermott%2FGetty%20Images%29%20