Biggest Stories of 2014

SI Staff | Apr 29, 2014

Biggest Stories of 2014 /

Biggest Stories of 2014

Donald Sterling banned for life

Erick W. Rasco/SI, Mark J. Terrill/AP (inset)

After the public release of an audio recording between Clippers owner Donald Sterling expressing racist views to his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, NBA commissioner Adam Silver moved swiftly on a league ruling. After an investigation, Silver and the NBA banned Sterling from the league for life, also fining him $2.5 million with a plan to have owners vote to remove him from ownership of the team.

UConn women go undefeated, win title, April 8

UConn's women's team and head coach Geno Auriemma made it a championship double dip in Storrs, knocking off Notre Dame 79-58 for their ninth title and completing a perfect 40-0 season. UConn took advantage of its size and overpowered the Irish in the paint, with Stefanie Dolson and Breanna Stewart leading the way. After a week of well-publicized anonymity between Auriemma (now 9-0 lifetime coaching in title games) and Notre Dame Coach Muffet McGraw, the Huskies let their play do the talking in dominant fashion.

UConn men win national title, April 7

Behind Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright and DeAndre Daniels, UConn defeated Kentucky in the NCAA national championship game for the school's second title in four years. It was an improbable run to the top for seventh-seeded UConn. After squeaking past St. Joe's in the first round, the Huskies reeled off wins over Villanova, Iowa State, Michigan State and Florida.

Phil Returns to New York

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

In March, the New York Knicks made a tremendous front office splash, bringing 11-time NBA champion head coach Phil Jackson on as team president. Jackson, who as a player was a member of the Knicks' only two title-winning teams in 1970 and '73, went 1,155-485 in 20 seasons coaching the Bulls and Lakers. The struggling Knicks, fighting for the East's final playoff seed, hoped he would be the man to right their ship.

Northwestern Unionizes

140404173421-northwestern-kain-colter-c-single-image-cut.jpg — Lauren Victoria Burke/AP

On March 26, a group of Northwestern University football players led by quarterback Kain Colter won a landmark case before the National Labor Relations Board and were ruled to be employees and allowed to form a union. Student-athletes at private universities were granted collective bargaining rights, rocking the model of collegiate athletics and awarding more power to the players than ever before. Northwestern would appeal the ruling shortly afterward.

Jason Collins signed by Nets

On Feb. 23, NBA veteran Jason Collins made history when he signed with the Brooklyn Nets, becoming the first openly gay athlete in North American major professional sports. Collins debuted the night of his signing against the Lakers, playing 11 minutes in a 108-102 victory for Brooklyn. Always known as a physical player, Collins lived up to his reputation in his first NBA game since April 2013: Collins collected five fouls in his short time on the floor in addition to two rebounds and a steal.

Sochi Olympics

Though concerns mounted prior to the 2014 Sochi Games about Russia's preparation as Olympic host, the home country pulled off the feat and also impressed in competition. Russia topped the final medal table with 33 total medals, including 13 golds and 11 silvers, higher than any other country. The United States finished second in the total medal count, racking up 28 even though Team USA fell short of expectations in several sports, including speedskating and men's hockey.

Michael Sam

Prior to the 2013 college football season, Michael Sam -- a Missouri Tigers defensive lineman -- told his teammates he was gay. In early February, Sam told the rest of the world, only three months prior to the NFL Draft. Sam, the SEC's defensive player of the year in 2013, is expected to become the first publicly gay player in NFL history.

Feb. 2 - Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII

Armed with the NFL's No. 1 defense and a second-year quarterback well beyond his years, the Seattle Seahawks crushed the Denver Broncos 43-8 in one of the most lopsided Super Bowls in years.

Jan. 19 - Richard Sherman interview goes viral

Tony Overman/The Olympian/MCT/Getty Images

Moments after he deflected a pass to send Seattle to the Super Bowl, Richard Sherman (right) became the most debated athlete in America for at least a full week. His boisterous interview with sideline reporter Erin Andrews caused most of the furor, but he added fuel to the fire with an ill-advised exchange with Niners receiver Michael Crabtree and choking gestures he made shortly thereafter.

Jan. 11 - Alex Rodriguez suspended for 162 games

140123155907-alex-rodriguez-080513-single-image-cut.jpg — Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

An arbitrator reduced A-Rod's suspension from 211 games to 162 games, but the final count is still the longest PED-related suspension in MLB history. The third baseman will sit out the entire 2014 season, meaning the Yankees will not pay him any of his $25 million salary due this year.

Jan. 7 ? Lindsey Vonn won't compete in Olympics

Perhaps the most high-profile American Winter Olympian, skier Lindsey Vonn announced that her injured knee would prevent her from participating in the 2014 Sochi Games. Vonn had torn an ACL and MCL in a crash at the World Championships in February 2013, but vowed to participate in the Sochi Olympics. Two subsequent crashes aggravated the injury, forcing her withdrawal.

Jan. 6 - Florida State claims national title

Led by Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, Florida State defeated Auburn 34-31 to claim the national title. In the final game of the BCS era, the Seminoles faced a 21-3 deficit during the second quarter but responded with 17 unanswered points, paving the way for a memorable fourth quarter that included three lead changes in the final five minutes. After Levonte Whitfield returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown to give Florida State the lead, Auburn responded with a 37-yard touchdown run from Tre Mason to lead 31-27 with 1:19 remaining. But Winston saved his best for last, leading his team on an 80-yard scoring drive capped by a touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin with only a few seconds remaining. Winston's late game heroics delivered a championship to Tallahassee for the first time since 1999 and sent the BCS out in remarkable fashion.

Jan. 5 - Texas names Charlie Strong new coach

After turning around Lousiville's football program the previous four years, Charlie Strong was named the new football coach at Texas, one of the most high-profile college coaching jobs in the nation. Not everyone was pleased with Mack Brown's successor: One billionaire booster called the hiring a "kick in the face," saying Strong "would make a great position coach, maybe a coordinator," but that he was not a strong enough candidate to coach what he called "one of the three most powerful university programs in the world right now.

Published Apr 29, 2014

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