2011’s biggest moments in sports

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

5 Seconds

00:00

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

A protestor in a Guy Fawkes mask walks past razor wire outside a security perimeter of the G-8 summit in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland on Monday, June 17, 2013. The summit is taking place under heavy security, with some 7,000 police lining roads and checking vehicles. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Photos of the day

G-8 summit, massive protests rock Brazil, Britain’s Royal Ascot and more.

Two-year old male rat named Dyatlik wears a costume during a rodent exhibition in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, June 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Animal views

Rodent exhibition, swimming with elephants, Mexico’s feline mayoral candidate and more.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Johnathon Carrington, valedictorian at Dunbar High School, laughs with family and friends after his school's graduation ceremony at Howard University on Friday, June 14, 2013, in Washington, DC. Carrington, who grew up in Tyler House public-housing apartments and is graduating from one of DC's low-performing high schoolsy, where academic expectations are high. (Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Johnathon’s journey

Johnathon Carrington graduated Friday as the valedictorian of his neighborhood school, Dunbar High, and is headed to Georgetown University. But Carrington, 17, is nervous, and so are...

U.S. actress Sandra Bullock poses for the media during a photocall to promote her latest move 'The Heat' in Berlin June 18, 2013. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

Eye on entertainment

Sandra Bullock, Jessica Sanchez, Snooki, Billy Porter, Billy Crystal, Sean Hayes, Gwen Stefani and other celebrities.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 16: Reenactors dressed as knights stage a medieval jousting competition at Eltham Palace on June 16, 2013 in Eltham, England. The 'Grand Medieval Joust' event at Eltham Palace, an English Heritage property which was the childhood home of King Henry VIII, aims to give a great insight into life at the palace during the medieval period. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

The Grand Medieval Joust

The Grand Medieval Joust at Eltham Palace, an English Heritage property that was the childhood home of King Henry VIII, aims to lend insight through reenactment into life at the palace...

In this June 8, 2013 photo, youth compete in the Sao Carlos slum local soccer tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The pitch is just dirt and the incandescent lights aren't so bright. But when the boys' feet strike the football in the Sao Carlos slum as night falls every Saturday, big league dreams glow, inflated by the hope of escaping the shantytown with sporting skills. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Brazil’s other soccer fields

With the Confederations Cup opening this week and the World Cup one year away, all eyes are on Brazil, where soccer is arguably played with more passion and art than anywhere else....

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 16: John F. Tatum Sr. hugs his grandson John F. Tatum III during his annual Father's Day block party on Sunday, June 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Amanda Voisard/For the Washington Post)

Father’s Day picnic in Northeast D.C.

A decades-old backyard barbecue in Northeast Washington draws hundreds in honor of dads everywhere. “It’s off-the-chain fun,” says Butch McNair, who has worked one...

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 16: Miss Connecticut USA Erin Brady reacts after being crowned Miss USA during the 2013 Miss USA pageant at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on June 16, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Miss USA 2013

Miss Connecticut USA Erin Brady is crowned Miss USA 2013 in Las Vegas.

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.