2011’s biggest moments in sports

A wrap-up of the year’s most memorable sports moments.

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Dec. 26, 2011

New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees leaps to hug offensive guard Carl Nicks after throwing a touchdown pass and breaking the league record for single-season passing yardage, held by Dan Marino, in the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons in New Orleans.

Rusty Costanza / AP

Dec. 25, 2011

Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul goes up for a shot as Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry guards during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif. Paul, the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2006, was just traded to the Clippers from the New Orleans Hornets, after a deal to trade him to the Los Angeles Lakers was squashed by NBA Comissioner David Stern. He had 20 points and nine assists in his heavily hyped debut.

George Nikitin / AP

Dec. 10, 2011

Los Angeles Angels' Albert Pujols puts on his new jersey as his wife, Deidre Pujols, left, and his son, Alberto Pujols Jr., look on during a news conference in Anaheim, Calif. Pujols and the Angels agreed to a landmark 10-year, $254 million deal.

Alex Gallardo / AP

Dec. 24, 2011

Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receiver Jerome Simpson flips over Arizona Cardinals’ linebacker Daryl Washington for a touchdown.Cincinnati. Simpson landed on both of his feet simultaneously inside the end zone, football in hand, helping the Bengals beat the Cardinals 23-16 and keeping the team’s playoff hopes alive.

Darron Cummings / AP

Sept. 5, 2011

Maryland Terrapins’ quarterback Danny O'Brien has possession of the ball during a football game at Byrd Stadium. The team debuted a new uniform design this year, one that’s considerably louder than their past gear.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

Nov. 5, 2011

Former Penn State football defensive coordinator Gerald "Jerry" Sandusky, center, arrives in handcuffs at the office of Centre County Magisterial District Judge Leslie A. Dutchcot while being escorted by Pennsylvania State Police and Attorney General's Office officials in State College, Pa. Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing eight boys. The scandal led to legendary football coach Joe Paterno’s resignation as well as the resignation of the university’s president Graham Spanier. Two other Penn State officials — Athletic Director Tim Curley and Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz — were charged with perjury and failure to report child abuse.

Andy Colwell / AP

June 15, 2011

A Vancouver Canucks fan waves a Canadian and British Columbian flag in front of an overturned burning pickup truck during riots in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, after the Canucks lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs to the Boston Bruins. The crowd of more than 100,000 Canadian hockey fans turned violent after the game.

Anthony Bolante / Reuters

Aug, 18, 2011

Players from Georgetown University men's basketball team and China's Bayi Rockets men's basketball team fight during a game at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena in China. The Hoyas were hit with garbage from fans as they were leaving the stadium.

Feng Yongbin / China Daily

July 17, 2011

Abby Wambach, for the United States, scores her side's second goal during the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women’s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany. Japan defeated the team in overtime.

Michael Sohn / AP

Feb. 6, 2011

Green Bay Packers' safety Nick Collins, front, celebrates with teammate Clay Matthews after returning an interception for a touchdown during the first quarter of the NFL’s Super Bowl XLV game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Arlington, Tex. The Packers won 31-25.

Paul Sancya / AP

Nov. 27, 2011

Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, right, waves to fans as she is presented a check during halftime of an NCAA college basketball game. Summitt, the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball — among both men’s and women’s teams — announced in August that she was diagnosed with early-onset dementia.

Wade Payne / AP

Oct. 16, 2011

Drivers, including Dan Wheldon, in air at left, crash during a wreck that involved 15 cars during the IndyCar Series' Las Vegas Indy 300 auto race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas. Wheldon, 33, died in the crash.

Jessica Ebelhar / AP

April 2, 2011

Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar waves a flag while celebrating victory during the final of ICC Cricket World Cup match between India and Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Prakash Singh / AFP/Getty Images

March 8, 1971

Boxer Joe Frazier is directed to the ropes by referee Arthur Marcante after knocking down Muhammad Ali during the 15th round of the title bout at Madison Square Garden in New York. Frazier died Nov. 7, 2011, after a short fight with liver cancer. He was 67.

/ AP

Nov. 12, 2011

Washington Nationals’ catcher Wilson Ramos, right, arrives at his home after being rescued in Valencia, Venezuela. He was kidnapped in Venezuela, where he was playing in a winter baseball league.

/ AFP/Getty Images

Nov. 17, 2011

Caddie Steve Williams, center, talks to Adam Scott of the International Team as U.S. Team member Tiger Woods, left, waits on the first tee before their first-round foursomes match of the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Black Rock, Australia. Williams, who now carries International player Adam Scott's bag after Woods fired him in July, sparked a global controversy in the lead-up to the biennial tournament by making a racist remark about Woods in China.

Brandon Malone / Reuters

Oct. 27, 2011

St. Louis Cardinals' David Freese reacts after hitting a solo home run off a pitch by Texas Rangers' Mark Lowe in the 11th inning of Game 6 of baseball's World Series in St. Louis. The Cardinals came back from behind to win 10-9, advancing the team to Game 7, where they defeated the Rangers and won the World Series.

Jeff Roberson / AP

Featured Photo Galleries

Novelist Toni Morrison laughs with U.S. President Barack Obama before being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. The Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Toni Morrison; Barack Obama

Obama Honors Medal of Freedom Recipients

President Obama honored a diverse group of political and cultural icons.

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 29: Serena Williams of USA stretches to plays a forehand in her women's singles first round match between Serena Williams of USA and Virginie Razzano of France during day three of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2012 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

French Open results: Serena Williams loses, Maria Sharapova cruises

The American tennis star lost in the first round of a Grand Slam event.

Winnie Pajcic, 9, holds on to a railing as she leans back in the wind during a visit to Stockton Park in Ortega, Fla., in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Beryl on Monday May 28, 2012. Beryl came ashore early Monday near Jacksonville Beach with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Kelly Jordan)

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more in the day in photos

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more.

Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more in animal views

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more.

ANNAPOLIS, MD- MAY 29: Graduates cheer as the Blue Angels fly over during the 100th anniversary of the United States Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremonies in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. U.S Sec. of Defense Leon Edward Panetta gave the graduation address. (Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

U.S. Naval Academy graduation

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave the commencement address at the ceremony.

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 26: Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez (C) performs with dancers during the Q'Viva! The Chosen Live show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 26, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Lil Jon, Eddie Van Halen, Mariah Carey and other celebrities.

Doc Watson, bluegrass and folk legend, dies at 89

The blind singer and guitarist was a Grammy winner, known for his flat-picking style of guitar playing.

Henry, a calf, sustained a head wound and required stitches after being slashed over the weekend.

Farm animals attacked in Fairfax

A calf, two goats and a chicken were slashed over the weekend at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon.

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