2012 – This Year in Sports

NFL Replacement Refs

Just one year after a near disastrous work stoppage, the NFL found itself a new fire to stoke. With the league’s labor agreement with the referee's union expiring, the NFL’s front office saw another opportunity to flex their muscles.

This time, however, the outcome wasn’t so pretty. The NFL pieced together a team of referees from D-1AA conferences, upper echelon high school conferences and what seemed like middle school playground leagues. The term “Replacement Refs” became a household curse word (especially in Wisconsin), and the NFL was forced to bring back the real officials in week 4 after a Monday Night debacle in Seattle cost the Packers a victory. This wasn’t Roger Goodell’s first blunder as the commissioner and you can bet it won’t be his last.

London Olympics

The summer Olympics in London captured the attention of patriotic Americans across the country for a solid two weeks in August. The United States dominated the events, bringing home a total of 104 medals, 44 of which were Gold.

Most notably, the U.S. won Gold in Women’s Gymnastics (all-around), Men’s Basketball, and Women’s Beach Volleyball. Standout individual performances came from Gabby Douglas, who won Gold in Women’s Individual all-around Gymnastics. Ryan Lochte brought home 2 individual Gold medals in Men’s Swimming. Missy Franklin won 2 individual Gold medals as well as 2 relay Gold medals in Women's Swimming. And Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, tallying 6 more medals (4 Gold, 2 Silver) to bring his lifetime total to 22.

Peyton Manning Free Agency

After 4 neck surgeries and missing the entire 2011 season, the Indianapolis Colts released Peyton Manning in March of 2012. Immediately, Manning became the most sought after free agent in NFL history and seemingly every NFL team was knocking at his door. After a week of media chaos and several trips across the country, Manning announced he would sign with the Denver Broncos, much to the chagrin of the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and Seattle Seahawks.

Manning signed a 5-year, $96 million dollar contract with the Broncos on March 20th and speculation quickly increased as to weather Manning could ever play at the same level again. Through week 15, Manning ranks in the top 5 in all major categories for QB stats, including 31 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards passing, not to mention an 11-3 record.

Saints Bounty Scandal

The New Orleans Saints got caught using a bounty system, rewarding players for hurting opponents during the game. The fact that there was a system is about all we know. Who was most responsible and exactly who took part in it are questions we will probably never have answered. Irregardless, Roger Goodell handed out hefty suspensions to several Saints players, coaches and executives.

After months of appeals and scrutiny, Commissioner Goodell handed the case over to former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to review the case. Tagliabue elected to vacate all player discipline as it relates to the Saints' structuring of a bounty program. Tagliabue's decision essentially freed Scott Fujita from all punishment and concluded that the penalties for Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith and Anthony Hargrove were too harsh. Although he did not proclaim the last three players were innocent, he did say any existing evidence had been tainted and did not warrant suspensions. Suspensions for Sean Peyton, Mickey Loomis, Joe Vitt and Greg Williams were all upheld.

Lance Armstrong Stripped of Titles

It took about a dozen years, but Lance Armstrong was inevitably stripped of his 7 Tour de France titles. The United States Anti-Doping Agency claims to have found evidence of blood doping in Armstrong’s blood samples somewhere between 1998 and 2010. Armstrong lost all 7 of his titles and received a lifetime ban from cycling.

Armstrong maintains his innocence, but has chosen not to appeal the USADA sanctions. Armstrong called the USADA’s investigation "an unconstitutional witch hunt" based on "outlandish and heinous claims.”

NHL Lockout

The NHL and the NHLPA were unable to come to terms on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement in the offseason and the 2012-13 NHL season seems to be all but lost. On December 21st, the league publicly cancelled games through January 14th (most likely reassuring diehard hockey fans that the world would indeed end).

Both parties have publicly ridiculed each other for one reason or another over the past few months. By the sounds of it their meetings in "undisclosed locations" are more of the same slap-fighting they do in the media. Regardless, the so-called imminent deal has yet to happen and hockey fans are left to suffer. This is the 4th work stoppage the league has gone through since 1992.

Sandusky Scandal

In November 2012, Penn State Assistant Football Coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested and charged with sexually abusing children over a period of about twenty years. Many of these allegations included confrontations that took place on the campus of Penn State. Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno was supposedly notified of Sandusky’s recklessness and passed the information on the school’s Athletic Director.

As the case unfolded, Paterno announced he would retire at the end of the 2011 season only to be relieved of his duties the next day. Shortly after, it was reported that Paterno had been diagnosed with lung cancer. In January, Paterno lost his battle with cancer and was laid rest on January 25th as the winningest coach in college football history.

Starting on June 11, 2011, Jerry Sandusky went on trial for 48 counts of sexual abuse. After eleven days and emotional testimony from several victims the jury found Sandusky guilty of 45 of the 48 counts against him. Sandusky was sentenced to 60 years in prison and will not eligible for parole until 2042.