TOP 10 NATIONAL STORIES
1. Terror attack at Boston Marathon by the Tsarnaev brothers who were identified and brought to justice less than a week later.
2. Biogenesis suspensions: Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees (211 games) and Jhonny Peralta (50 games) of the Detroit Tigers among those suspended by baseball commissioner Bud Selig although A-Rod appeals his sentence.
3. American Lance Armstrong admits he used drugs while winning the Tour de France international cycling event a (then) record seven consecutive times.
4. Baltimore Ravens win the Super Bowl but New Orleans has egg on its face as the big game suffers a partial blackout that put a halt to the game for more than 30 minutes. 34-31 Ravens over Forty-Niners was the final.
5. Boston Red Sox take the 2014 World Series defeating the St. Louis Cardinals, 4 games to 2. The Bosox had finished in last place in the AL East one year earlier. “Boston Strong” was the team’s theme.
6. Members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America denied entry to everyone eligible for Cooperstown in the annual Baseball Hall of Fame voting.
7. New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez is arrested and charged with murder in the death of a semi-pro football player in Boston.
8. Miami Heat again take the NBA World Championship led by MVP LeBron James. It took seven games over the San Antonio Spurs for the Heat to repeat.
9. Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in a work-stoppage-shorted season, 4 games to 2 over the Boston Bruins.
(tie) Alabama wins the BCS Championship Game on January 7th, 42-14 over Notre Dame. Bama is shocked by the Auburn Tigers in a late-season game that knocks Alabama out of the BCS 2014 title game and puts Auburn in.
(tie) Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Jonathan Martin departed the club in late October due to alleged bullying by teammate Richie Incognito n the Dolphins’ locker room
OTHER TOP STORIES: NFL reaches concussion lawsuit settlement; Tiger Woods has been named the PGA Tour Player of the Year for the 11th time. Jordan Spieth was named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year; Jimmie Johnson wins another NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship; Baseball says goodbye to Yankees relief ace Mariano Rivera in a stirring All-Star Game tribute at the home of the Mets; Heisman Trophy runner-up Manti Te’o of Notre Dame makes up tragic tale about his girlfriend’s death; Tony Kanaan of Brazil takes the Indianapolis 500; Orb wins the Kentucky Derby but no Triple Crown; Serena Williams wins the U.S. and French Open women’s singles championship while Rafael Nadal wins the same two on the men’s side.
REST IN PEACE 2013: Bud Adams, Miller Barber, Zelmo Beaty, Walt Bellamy, Wally Bell, Paul Blair, Gates Brown, Shawn Burr, Jerry Buss, Frank Castillo, Todd Christensen, Charlie Coles, Maria de Villota, Connie Dierking, Art Donovan, Pete Elliott, Chuck Fairbanks, Cullen Finnerty, Ron Fraser, Andy Granateli, L. C. Greenwood, Emile Griffith, Billy Hardwick, Mike Hegan, Don James, Deacon Jones, Jason Leffler, Stan Lopata, Don Lund, Erroll Mann, Bill Mazer, Darris McCord, Mike McCormack, Dean Meminger, Vern Mikkelsen, Caleb Moore, Tommy Morrison, Chuck Muncie, Stan Musial, Ken Norton, Johnny Orr, Andy Pafko, Jack Pardee, Ace Parker, Bum Phillips, Frank Pulli, Reggie Rogers, George Sauer, George Scott, Jerry Seeman, Bill Sharman, Glen Skov, Allan Stanley, Pat Summerall, Dick Trickle, Frank Tripucka, Virgil Trucks, Ken Venturi, Earl Weaver, Michael Weiner, Fred White, Shelby Whitfield, Greg Willard, Esther Williams, Ray Williams, Sam Williams and Phil Woosnam.
Reach George Eichorn at [email protected]
