The Top 25 Sports Stories of the Decade (2000-2009)

Tyler ThompsonCorrespondent IAugust 21, 2009

The Top 25 Sports Stories of the Decade (2000-2009)

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    BERLIN - AUGUST 20:  Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning the gold medal in the men's 200 Metres Final during day six of the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium on August 20, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.  Bolt set a new World Re

25. The Headbutt (2006)

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    BERLIN - JULY 09:  Zinedine Zidane of France is shown a red card by Referee Horacio Elizondo of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Final match between Italy and France at the Olympic Stadium on July 9, 2006 in Berlin, Germany.  (Photo by Sha

24. The Kobe Bryant Sexual Assault Scandal (2003)

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    DENVER - MAY 25:  Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Denver Nuggets in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center on May 25, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly ac

23. The Texas v. USC Rose Bowl (2006)

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    PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 04:  Vince Young #10 of the Texas Longhorns runs past Frostee Rucker #90 of the USC Trojans to score a touchdown and put the Longhorns up by one in the final moments of the BCS National Championship Rose Bowl Game at the Rose Bowl o

22. Manny Being Manny (1999-Present)

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    BOSTON - JULY 26:  Manny Ramirez #24 of the Boston Red Sox laughs during batting practice before a game with the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on July 26, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts.  (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

21. The Boston Celtics Incredible Turnaround (2007-2008)

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    BOSTON - JUNE 17:  Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics celebrates as the Celtics lead the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth quarter of Game Six of the 2008 NBA Finals on June 17, 2008 at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated

20. Danica Patrick Takes On Masculinity Everywhere And Wins (2005)

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    TORONTO, ON - JULY 10:  Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Boost Mobile/Motorola Dallara Honda in the pits prior to practice for the Indycar Series Honda Indy Toronto on July 10, 2009 in Toronto, Canada.  (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

19. A-Rod Outted (2009)

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    OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 18:  Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees reacts after being hit by a pitch thrown by Vin Mazzaro #54 of the Oakland Athletics during their game at the Oakland Colisuem on August 18, 2009 in Oakland, California.  (Photo by Ezra

18. The BCS Consistently Fails To Works Properly (1998 – Present)

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    MIAMI - JANUARY 08:  Brandon Spikes #51 of the Florida Gators holds up the winning trophy after the FedEx BCS National Championship Game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Dolphin Stadium on January 8, 2009 in Miami, Florida.  (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Ge

17. The Yankees Dynasty Ends in Tragedy (2001)

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    4 Nov 2001:  Co-MVP winners Curt Schilling #38 and Randy Johnson #51 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate before being presented the MVP trophy by commissioner Bud Selig after winning the World Series over the New York Yankees at Bank One Ballpark in Pho

16. Pat Tillman Passes up NFL Career for Military, Dies in Action (2004)

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    GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 12:  Pat Tillman, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 after quitting the NFL's Arizona Cardinals to join the U.S. Army Rangers,  was honored with a statue outside the University of Phoenix Stadium before the game between the Ariz

15. Sydney Crosby Helps Save Hockey (2005 – Present)

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    DETROIT - JUNE 12: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with the Stanley Cup following the Penguins victory over the Detroit Red Wings in Game Seven of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 12, 2009 in Detroit, Mich

14. The NHL Lockout Ruins Hockey (2004-2005)

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    NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 20: Fans show their feelings regarding the NHL lockout as the Florida Gators take on the Villanova Wildcats in the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at the Gaylord Entertainment Center on March 20, 200

13. The Melee in Detroit (2004)

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12. Tim Donaghy Tries to Ruin Basketball (2007)

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    MIAMI - APRIL 8:  Eddie Jones #6 of the Miami Heat questions a foul call by official Tim Donaghy while taking on the Charlotte Bobcats at American Airlines Arena April 8, 2007 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, b

11. The Shaq & Kobe Three-Peat (2000 – 2002)

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    8 Jun 2001:  Kobe Bryant #8 and Shaquille O''Neal #34 of the Los Angeles Lakers in game two of the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.  The Lakers won 98-89.  DIGITAL IMAGE.  Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobs

10a. King James Knocks on Door of Immortality (2003 – Present)

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    CLEVELAND - MAY 28:  LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on between plays against the Orlando Magic in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 28, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USE

10b. Brett Favre becomes the greatest QB in History then refuses to leave (2007-Present)

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    EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - AUGUST 18:  Brett Favre #4 participates in a passing drill during a Minnesota Vikings practice session on August 18, 2009 at Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Favre has reportedly agreed to play for the Vikings, a reversal of his

9. Michael Phelps Achieves Perfection at Beijing Olympics (2008)

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    ROME - AUGUST 01:  Michael Phelps of the United States receives the gold medal during the medal ceremony for the Men's 100m Butterfly Final during the 13th FINA World Championships at the Stadio del Nuoto on August 1, 2009 in Rome, Italy.  (Photo by Clive

8. Usain Bolt Destroys 100m & 200m World Records Twice (2008-2009)

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    BERLIN - AUGUST 16:  Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning the gold medal in the men's 100 Metres Final during day two of the 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium on August 16, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Bolt set a new World Rec

7. The Dale Earnhardt Tragedy (2001)

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    28 Apr 2000:  A close up of Dale Earnhardt Sr. as he looks on during the NAPA Auto Parts 500, Part of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, at the California Speedway in Fontana, California. Mandatory Credit: Jon Ferrey  /Allsport

6. Almost Perfect, The Patriots Finish 18-1 (2007)

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    GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03:  Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots walks off the field during Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.  (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Im

5. Tiger Being Tiger (1996-Present)

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    SAN DIEGO - JUNE 16:  Tiger Woods celebrates with the trophy after winning on the first sudden death playoff hole during the playoff round of the 108th U.S. Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 16, 2008 in San Diego, California.  (P

4. Barry Bonds, Home Runs & Steroids (2001-2004)

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    20 Oct 2001:  Barry Bonds #25 of the San Francisco Giants looks on during the game against the Houston Astros at Pac Bell Park in San Francisco, California. The Astros defeated the Giants 5-4.Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck  /Allsport

3. The Broken Curse (2004)

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    NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20:  Boston Red Sox fan Zalman Abranchik (L) celebrates while a Yankees fan stands stunned in the Amsterdam Inn in the Upper West Side October 20, 2004 in New York City.  (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

2. Lance Armstrong Beats Cancer, Dominates Cycling for Seven Years (1999-2005)

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    PARIS - JULY 24:  Lance Armstrong of the USA riding for the Discovery Channel team has a glass of champange on his way to winning a seventh consecutive Tour de France during Stage 21 of the Tour de France between Montereau and The Champs Elysees on July 2

1. Steroids in Baseball (Unknown-Present)

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    WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 13:  Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens testifies about allegations of steroid use by professional ball players before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Capitol Hill February 13, 2008 in Washington,
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