Biggest Stories of 2015

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
May 4, 2015

Biggest Stories of 2015

Sepp Blatter announces resignation

FIFA president Sepp Blatter make the shocking announcement on May 2 that he would resign his position, this after 14 FIFA executives were arrested the week before for their role in a corruption scandal.

Tom Brady suspended four games

Tom Brady suspended.jpg — Jim Rogash/Getty Images

For his role in Deflategate, quarterback Tom Brady was suspended without pay for four games by the NFL on May 11 and the New England Patriots lost their first-round draft pick in 2016 as well as their fourth-round draft pick in 2017. The team was also fined $1 million.

Floyd Mayweather defeats Manny Pacquiao

The long-awaited mega fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao finally played out on May 2 with a star-studded crowd in Las Vegas that included the likes of Michael Jordan and Beyonce. Mayweather won easily via a unanimous decision, running his undefeated record to 48–0 and earning at least $100 million from the richest purse in boxing history. (Text credit: Alex Putterman/SI.com)

Josh Hamilton suffers relapse, gets traded

In late February, news broke that Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton had relapsed in his battle with substance abuse addiction. Weeks later, Major League Baseball announced Hamilton would not be suspended for violating the league's substance abuse policies, even as Angels owner Arte Moreno campaigned for discipline. On April 27, Hamilton was traded to the Texas Rangers, for whom he played from 2008 through 2012. The 33-year-old will join the team when he recovers from his shoulder injury. (Text credit: Alex Putterman/SI.com)

Aaron Hernandez convicted of first-degree murder

John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

On April 16, former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was convicted for the murder of Odin Lloyd. A jury found Hernandez guilty of first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. (Text credit: Alex Putterman/SI.com)

Jordan Spieth wins the Masters

Jordan Spieth's dominant Masters performance evoked memory of another 21-year-old American at Augusta. Spieth, like Tiger Woods in 1997, won handily, finishing 18-under, four shots ahead of runners-up Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose. Spieth became the second-youngest Masters winner ever, after Woods, and his score tied Woods for best ever at the Masters. (Text credit: Alex Putterman/SI.com)

Duke wins NCAA tournament

Behind a trio of freshman, Duke won its fifth championship in program history (all under coach Mike Krzyzewski, defeating Wisconsin 68-63 in the title game. Youngsters Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow carried the Blue Devils all season before declaring for the NBA Draft, and fellow-freshman Grayson Allen stepped up for 16 points off the bench against the Badgers. The championship moved Krzyzewski into sole possession of second place all-time, behind only John Wooden and his 10 titles. (Text credit: Alex Putterman/SI.com)

UConn women win NCAA tournament

For the third consecutive year and 10th time in 21 years, the Connecticut women, led by coach Geno Auriemma, won the NCAA title. Unlike last year's squad, this Huskies iteration lost a game — just one, to Stanford in November — but UConn ended the season on a 35-game winning streak, which culminated in a 63-53 win over Notre Dame in the championship contest. For her performance during the season, forward Breanna Stewart was named AP Player of the Year, and she won her third straight Final Four Most Outstanding Player award as well. The Huskies have now reached 10 consecutive Final Fours, 15 of the last 16 and 20 of the last 22. (Text credit: Alex Putterman/SI.com)

Kentucky loses to Wisconsin

Kentucky entered the season No. 1 and didn't relinquish that perch until March. The Wildcats finished the regular season 31-0, then swept through the SEC tournament to enter the NCAA tournament 34-0. But in the Final Four, Kentucky met Wisconsin, and the fellow-top-seeded Badgers, who pulled off the upset, 71-64, behind 20 points from consensus player of the year Frank Kaminsky. After the season, seven Wildcats players, including freshman star Karl-Anthony Towns, announced they were turning pro. (Text credit: Alex Putterman/SI.com)

Kris Bryant demoted, then called up

When the MLB season began on April 5, it did so without Cubs mega-prospect Kris Bryant. The third baseman was sent to AAA to start the season, ostensibly to work on defense but likely with service-time consideration in mind. Twelve days later, after Bryant's service clock was officially delayed, the slugger debuted in Chicago. And though Bryant struck out three times in his first game, he followed up with two hits and three walks the next day. Several days later, the Cubs called up shortstop prospect Addison Russell, accelerating the team's youth movement. (Text credit: Alex Putterman/SI.com)

Texas hires Shaka Smart

In March, Texas fired longtime basketball coach Rick Barnes, who led the program to a 402-180 record in 17 years in Austin. The Longhorns replaced Barnes with 38-year-old Shaka Smart, who led VCU to a 163-56 record over six seasons. The highlight of Smart's tenure at VCU was a surprising run to the 2011 Final Four. That season was the first of five straight in which the Rams reached the NCAA tournament. Texas has not reached the Sweet 16 since 2008 or the Final Four since 2003. (Text credit: Alex Putterman/SI.com)

Patriots win the Super Bowl

Just one yard away from a Super-Bowl-winning touchdown, the Seattle Seahawks bypassed Marshawn Lynch and opted to throw the ball on second down at the goal line. Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson with 26 seconds to play, sealing New England's first Super Bowl trophy in a decade. MVP honors went to Tom Brady, who threw for 328 yards and four touchdowns — including the game-winner — on his way to a fourth title, which tied him for most all-time for a quarterback. Brady and coach Bill Belichick faced controversy leading up to the Super Bowl amid allegations that they had deliberately deflated footballs to their advantage. (Text credit: Alex Putterman/SI.com)

Ohio State wins first College Football Playoff

Led by third-string quarterback Cardale Jones and overlooked running back Ezekiel Elliot, Ohio State crushed Wisconsin to sneak into the first ever College Football Playoff, then upset Alabama and Oregon to capture the title. The Buckeyes dispatched the Ducks 42-20 in the championship game behind Jones' 242 yards passing and Elliot's 246 yards rushing to give coach Urban Meyer his third national title and first at Ohio State. (Text credit: Alex Putterman/SI.com)