The Boston Bruins celebrate a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Winter Classic at Fenway Park on New Year's Day.

Coach Nick Saban and running back Mark Ingram celebrate after Alabama beat Texas on Jan. 7 to win the college football national championship, the Crimson Tide's first title since 1992.
 

Brett Favre looks relaxed before his Vikings face the Saints in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 24.
 

Drew Brees celebrates with his son Baylen after the Saints defeated the Colts 31-17 in the Super Bowl in February.

Danica Patrick was one of the most-sought interviews on media day at Daytona.

Tiger Woods kisses his mother, Kultida, on Feb. 19 after making his first public statement regarding his sex scandal. It was a long, difficult year for the world's most famous golfer as he also became the most infamous golfer.

It often was a circus when Tiger was in town. These women, put up to the stunt by a radio show, played to the cameras outside the TPC Sawgrass course where Woods made his statement.

Nodar Kumaritashvili, a 21-year-old Georgian luger, died Feb. 12 at a nearby hospital after an accident during a practice run the day of the opening ceremonies at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. IOC president Jacques Rogge said the death "clearly casts a shadow over these games."

A snowboarder jumps through the Olympic rings during the Feb. 12 opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Nate Robinson propels his 5-foot-9 frame at the hoop Feb. 13 while becoming the first three-time winner of the NBA's Slam Dunk contest during All-Star weekend.

Two players from the Canada women's hockey team celebrate winning the gold medal Feb. 25 at the Winter Olympics. The team was criticized for its behavior after the game, which included drinking and smoking cigars on the ice after the victory over the United States.

Drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) and Greg Biffle crash during the NASCAR DRIVE4COPD 300 Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 13.
 

U.S. figure skater Evan Lysacek won Olympic gold with solid and artistic short and long programs. It was the first gold for an American in men's figure skating since Brian Boitano in 1988. The silver medalist was Russia's Evgeni Plushenko, left. After the medal ceremony Feb. 18, Plushenko embarked on a campaign of criticism, implying the results were tainted because Lysacek had not performed a quad jump. The Russian even had a picture of himself temporarily on his website stating that he had won "Platinum of Vancouver." Lysacek refused to be drawn into the controversy.

Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette competed through unimaginable pain, capturing hearts all over the world. On Feb. 21, Rochette's mother died suddenly of a heart attack. Rochette chose to compete in honor of her mother, who, the skater said, had shared her Olympic dreams. Just two days after her loss, a composed and stoic Rochette skated one of the best short programs in her life. With cheers raining down on her from the appreciative crowd, an overwhelmed Rochette finally allowed herself to give in to her grief, melting into tears in the center of the ice. It was one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in Olympic history. Rochette went on to win the bronze medal.

Shaun White so dominated Olympic snowboarding that he had the halfpipe event won before he even took his final run. With the score moot at that point, White pulled out all the stops, throwing a spectacular trick called the Double McTwist 1260, which he recently had invented. The affable daredevil was elated with his win, whipping the awed crowd into a frenzy.

The first memorable moment of the NCAA Tournament was provided by Murray State forward Danero Thomas, who hit this fadeaway 16-footer as time expired to give 13th-seeded Murray State a stunning first-round victory over fourth-seeded Vanderbilt. It was a bitterly familiar finish for Vandy, which was upset as the fourth seed by Siena in 2008.

Despite the lofty No. 1 seed and a 33-2 record, Kansas couldn't stop Northern Iowa in the second round of the NCAA tournament, losing to the ninth-seeded Panthers 69-67 in the biggest upset of the Big Dance.

Duke's Jon Scheyer celebrates the Blue Devils' national title while Butler's Matt Howard falls to the floor after Gordon Hayward's final shot hit off the rim. The win gave Duke its fourth national title, all of which have come in the past 20 years.

Phil Mickelson's Masters win meant even more because he shared it with his wife 11 months after she was diagnosed with cancer. “I don’t know if we said anything; we just hugged,” he said. “We just hugged.”

Despite the sloppy track conditions, Calvin Borel rides Super Saver to victory in the 136th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1 at Louisville, Ky.

Lance Armstrong bleeds badly from a cut below his left eye after suffering a crash during the fifth stage of the Tour of California.

On May 29, Kendry Morales landed awkwardly during the celebration of his walk-off grand slam vs. the Mariners and broke his left ankle, ending his season.
 

Mike Conway crashes into the fence above the third-turn wall during the closing laps of the Indianapolis 500 on May 30.

A spotlight highlights the Nell & John Wooden Court during a memorial for John Wooden at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. Wooden, who coached the Bruins men's basketball team for 27 years and won 10 NCAA championships, died on June 4 at age 99.

Dennis Setzer's No. 92 Dodge catches fire after bouncing off the catch fence as others slide around the track in a multi-car crash during the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on April 25.
 

LeBron James won his second straight MVP award with a dominant regular season.


 

Serena Williams celebrates after winning championship point against Vera Zvonareva in July at Wimbledon. The victory gave Serena her fourth career Wimbledon title.

Ron Artest waves to the fans while riding in the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA championship parade June 21.

Tim Tebow getting selected in the first round by the Denver Broncos was the biggest surprise of the NFL draft in April. The former University of Florida star needs a lot of seasoning before he becomes a starting pro quarterback.

Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners retired from baseball on June 2.

Umpire Jim Joyce, left, shakes hands with Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga on June 3. The previous night, Galarraga lost his bid for a perfect game with two outs in the ninth inning on an erroneous call at first base by Joyce.

Mexico goalkeeper Oscar Perez, right, fails to block the opening goal by South Africa's Siphiwe Tshabalala, second from left, during the World Cup Group A match at Johannesburg, South Africa on June 11.

Landon Donovan celebrates scoring the winning goal against Algeria to send the the U.S. through to the second round during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Joey Chestnut wins the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest for the fourth straight year by devouring 54 dogs July 4 at Coney Island in New York.

Spain's Andres Iniesta, right, scores the winning goal past Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, left, during the FIFA World Cup final July 11 at Johannesburg, South Africa.

Staff Sgt. Mikki Skinner, a bugler with the West Point Band, salutes after playing "Taps" during a tribute to New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who died July 13.

"I'm taking my talents to South Beach," LeBron James said in his one-hour special on ESPN, "The Decision." He's now one of the most hated players in the NBA, especially in Cleveland.

Vera Zvonareva was a bit of a wreck after her blowout loss to Kim Clijsters in the U.S. Open women's final Sept. 11 at New York.

Chael Sonnen walks to his corner after the fourth round during a middleweight championship UFC mixed martial arts match against Anderson Silva on Aug. 7 in Oakland, Calif. Silva won by submission in the fifth round.

Florida's Robert Clark loses his helmet after being hit by Tennessee's Jacques Smith and Nick Reveiz during the first half of their game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 18.

Graeme McDowell, left, and Ian Poulter show how much more the Europeans wanted the Ryder Cup after holding off the United States on Oct. 3.
 

Garrett Gomez. riding Blame, beats Mike Smith, riding Zenyatta, by a nose in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. It was Zenyatta's first loss following 19 victories to open her career.

Buster Posey, left, hugs Aubrey Huff as the San Francisco Giants celebrate beating the Texas Rangers in Game 5 to capture the World Series title at Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 1. Check out more of the best of 2010

Cain Velasquez, left, celebrates after defeating Brock Lesnar with a first-round TKO in UFC 121 on Oct. 23 at Anaheim.

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick celebrates after scoring a rushing touchdown on Monday Night Football in Week 10 against the Washington Redskins.

Manny Pacquiao, right, scores on another big right against Antonio Margarito during the fifth round Nov. 13 at Dallas. Check out more of the best of 2010

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, celebrates after finishing second in the Ford 400 to clinch his fifth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 21. Check out more of the best of 2010

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman John Scott trades punches with Los Angeles Kings right wing Kevin Westgarth in LA on Nov. 27.

Amid the roughest year of his life, Tiger Woods endured the first winless season of his career, as he never regained his winning ways following his sex scandal. Check out more of the best of 2010