Sports Rewind: The Top Sports Stories of 2012

BET.com recaps 2012's biggest sports stories.

Take a Look Back - From the amazing Williams sisters epic year to Gabby Douglas' gold-medal performance to the Jovan Belcher murder-suicide, BET.com recaps the biggest sports stories of 2012. — Britt Middleton

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Take a Look Back - From the amazing Williams sisters epic year to Gabby Douglas' gold-medal performance to the Jovan Belcher murder-suicide, BET.com recaps the biggest sports stories of 2012. — Britt Middleton

Top Picks at the 2012 NFL Draft - Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck was drafted as the No. 1 pick to the Indianapolis Colts at the NFL Draft in April. Quarterback Robert Griffin III of Baylor University followed as the No. 2 pick of the Washington Redskins. (Photos left to right: Sean O'Kane/BET)

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Top Picks at the 2012 NFL Draft - Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck was drafted as the No. 1 pick to the Indianapolis Colts at the NFL Draft in April. Quarterback Robert Griffin III of Baylor University followed as the No. 2 pick of the Washington Redskins. (Photos left to right: Sean O'Kane/BET)

Two-Time Super Bowl MVP - Giants quarterback Eli Manning reprised his duel with Tom Brady from 2008; both times, Manning piloted his team from behind to victory.(Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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Eli Manning Clinches Second Super Bowl Title - The long rivalry between the New York Giants and New England Patriots was settled — for one season, at least — when the Giants bested the Pats 21-17 in Super Bowl XLV in February. (Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Sean Payton Blackballed - New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton won’t be allowed to communicate with members of the team or anyone in the NFL during his season-long suspension for his role in the Saints bounty program, a source told ESPN. Payton’s suspension officially began Monday. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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New Orleans Saints Bounty Scandal - In March, the NFL released findings proving the New Orleans Saints had engaged in an illegal pay-per-hit program targeting their opponents between the 2009 and 2011 seasons, spurring the suspensions of head coach Sean Payton, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and several players. Payton is still negotiating his contract to return next season. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Kentucky Gets the White House Treatment - 2012 NCAA basketball champions, University of Kentucky, were honored for their win in a special White House ceremony. The team presented President Obama with Darius Miller’s No. 1 jersey, a signed ball and a championship ring.(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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University of Kentucky Wins NCAA Championship - The University of Kentucky were crowned NCAA Champions in March after besting the University of Kansas 67-59. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Junior Seau Suicide - It was a sad day for the NFL on May 2 when San Diego Chargers great Junior Seau was found dead from an apparent suicide at his Oceanside, California, home. The former lineman was 43 years old. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Miami Heat Clinch NBA Championship - LeBron James got his long-awaited NBA championship ring in June when the Miami Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106. (Photo: Lynne Sladky/AP PHOTO)

Photo By Photo: Lynne Sladky/AP PHOTO

Tony Parker Suffers Eye Injury in Club Brawl - San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker was one of a number of bystanders injured in a New York City club brawl involving the entourages of Chris Brown and Drake in June. Parker suffered a laceration to his cornea from a shard of flying glass. (Photos from left: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images, John Ricard / BET, PacificCoastNews.com)

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Tony Parker Suffers Eye Injury in Club Brawl - San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker was one of a number of bystanders injured in a New York City club brawl involving the entourages of Chris Brown and Drake in June. Parker suffered a laceration to his cornea from a shard of flying glass. (Photos from left: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images, John Ricard / BET, PacificCoastNews.com)

Photo By Photos from left: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

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Amar’e Stoudemire Tweets Gay Slur at Fan - New York Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire came under fire in June after tweeting a gay slur at a fan who criticized his performance. He was quick to offer remorse over the incident, telling TMZ, "I am a huge supporter of civil rights for all people." (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

 True Legends - Pictured in 2010 while being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, the players are (front row, from left to right): John Stockton, Clyde Drexler, Chris Mullen; (middle row, L-R) Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone; (back row, L-R) Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson and Christian Laettner. (Photo: REUTERS/Brian Snyder /Landov)

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Dream Team Celebrates 20th Anniversary - In June, the 1992 U.S. men's Olympic basketball team — dubbed the Dream Team — rang in its 20th anniversary of its gold-winning performance at the Olympic Games in Barcelona. The star-studded squad included legends Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Charles Barkley. (Photo: Brian Snyder /Landov/REUTERS)

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Mike Tyson - Mike Tyson became the poster child for reinvention in 2012. The former heavyweight champion became a vegan, and supported by wife Kiki, created the confessional one-man Spike Lee-directed Broadway Show: Mike Tyson: The Undisputed Truth. The critically acclaimed show is hitting the road in 2013.  (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

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Mike Tyson's Broadway Run - Mike Tyson has turned his tumultuous life experiences into an one-man show this summer. Originally opening in Las Vegas, Undisputed Truth earned a short run on Broadway, with Spike Lee signing on to direct. (Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Joe Paterno - Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno allegedly knew about Sandusky’s decades of sexual abuse with players, including Sandusky's shower with a 10-year-old boy. However Paterno failed to report the abuse. He was fired as a result of his inaction. Paterno died in 2012.(Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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Penn State Sanctioned in Wake of Sandusky Scandal - Penn State University was hit with $60 million in fines and sanctions on football scholarships and bowl game appearances in July in connection with former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky's child-sex abuse scandal. Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts of child sex abuse and sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison. (Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images

Soaring - (Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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Gabby Douglas' Golden Moment - At 16, U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas, at the London Olympics in August, became the first African-American to win gold in the all-around competition. (Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images for Kelloggs)

Photo By Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Michael Phelps Goes Out on a Bang - In his final Olympics before retirement, U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps racked up an impressive four gold and two silver medals in London, adding to his 22 overall medals and becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time. (Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Michael Phelps Goes Out on a Bang - In his final Olympics before retirement, U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps racked up an impressive four gold and two silver medals in London, adding to his 22 overall medals and becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time. (Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)

Lightning Bolt - After winning the men's 100m final, Usain Bolt struck his trademark lightning bolt pose. (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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Usain Bolt Is Still the Fastest Man in the World - "I'm now a legend. I'm also the greatest athlete to live," Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt proclaimed at the London Games, having won gold in the 100 and 200-meter races and the 4x100 relay race. (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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Venus and Serena Williams - Teaming up at the 2012 London Olympics, the Williams sisters took home their third gold medal in the women's doubles competition. Separately, Venus won Olympic gold in women's singles in 2000, while Serena took the honor in 2012.  (Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

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Williams Sisters Sweep Doubles Competition - Teaming up with her sister Venus, the Williams sisters, at the London Olympics in August, took home their third gold medal in the women's doubles competition.   (Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Go Hard or Go Home - Serena Williams of the USA lifts the winners trophy and celebrates after her Ladies’ Singles final match against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland on day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London.   (Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

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The Summer of Serena Williams - After winning Wimbledon in July, Serena Williams punctuated her Olympic gold medal in the women's singles competition with a truly memorable victory dance. She went on to win her fourth U.S. Open title in September. (Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

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Chad Johnson Convicted of Domestic Abuse - Former NFL star Chad “no longer Ochocinco”  Johnson was arrested for head-butting his wife Evelyn Lozada and pled "no contest" a domestic battery charge on Sept.  21, just days after the couple finalized their divorce. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Photo By Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Crying Foul - Monday's match between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks came down to a 24-yard catch made by Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate — or was it an interception by a Green Bay defender? The incident is newest in this season's string of contested calls made by replacement referees, who are filling in because the NFL locked out its official refs in June after their contract expired. While two refs disagreed on the touchdown last night, the Seahawks were ultimately awarded the 14-12 win, a decision also upheld by the NFL on Tuesday, spurring the ire of NFL players and fans on Twitter. —Britt Middleton   (Photo: AP Photo/seattlepi.com, Joshua Trujillo)

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The Call Seen Around the World - The months-long NFL referee lockout was resolved in September after replacement refs botched a game-deciding call in a match up between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks in September. Fueled by public outcry, the official refs were back on the field days later. (Photo: Joshua Trujillo/AP PHOTO/seattlepi.com)

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"The Greatest" Awarded Liberty Medal - In September, boxing legend Muhammad Ali added another accomplishment to his exhaustive record when he was honored with the Liberty Medal, an award recognizing his contributions to civil rights and religious freedom. (Photo: Tim Shaffer/REUTERS)

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Mayweather and Pacquiao Settle Lawsuit  - Boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao have appear to have buried the hatchet, at least in the courtroom. Last week, both sides settled a federal defamation lawsuit Pacquiao launched against Mayweather in 2009 for allegedly accusing the Filipino fighter of using performance-enhancing drugs. (Photos from left: Chris McKay/Getty Images for BET, Jeoffrey Maitem/Getty Images)

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Mayweather and Pacquiao Make Nice  - Is it a sign that the two will soon meet in the ring? Boxing adversaries Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao settled a defamation lawsuit in September. Pacquiao waged the lawsuit in 2009 after Mayweather suggested he used performance-enhancing drugs. (Photos from left: Chris McKay/Getty Images for BET, Jeoffrey Maitem/Getty Images)

2012 - In 2012, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice became Augusta National Golf Club's first African-American female member. (Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images for Golfweek)

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Condoleezza Rice Breaks Barriers at Augusta National - Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice became the first African-American woman admitted into the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club in August. It admitted its first Black member in 1990. (Photo: Joe Songer /Landov/Birmingham News)

Photo By Jamie Squire/Getty Images for Golfweek

Amazing Music Documentaries - Brooklyn keeps on taking it. Yesterday, Dec. 4, Jay celebrated his birthday by releasing a 24-minute documentary that takes a look at his eight-show run at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, which he co-owns. He's seen performing, walking the arena, and even taking the subway to the arena before the last show. Here, in light of Hov's latest win, BET.com takes a look at some incredible music documentaries. Lights, camera, action. —Alex Gale(Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

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Brooklyn Nets Move to New Home - The Brooklyn Nets settled into their new home at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in September with the help of team part-owner Jay-Z. Hov treated fans to a series of performances with wife Beyoncé. The music mogul also had a hand in designing team uniforms. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Early Morning Bond - Morning talk show hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan run an obstacle course during a Live With Kelly and Michael taping at the ABC Lincoln Center Studios in New York City. (Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

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Michael Strahan Joins Live! With Kelly - Former New York Giants star Michael Strahan traded in his cleats for the spotlight in September when he was named morning co-host with Kelly Ripa on Live With Kelly! (Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

OJ Simpson - After losing his digs in Los Angeles and Miami, The Juice's 4000-square-foot home in Kendall, Florida will soon be up for sale by his lenders, JP Morgan Chase. Fortunately (or, rather, unfortunately), the foreclosures won't really affect the former footballer, who will be spending the next three decades in a ten-by-ten cell.(Photo: Steve Marcus-Pool/Getty Images)

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O.J. Simpson Trial Reopened - A Nevada judge agreed to re-open the armed robbery and kidnapping case against O.J. Simpson in October to determine if the embattled former athlete will be released from prison and given a new trial. Simpson is currently serving nine to 33 years in state prison. (Photo: Steve Marcus-Pool/Getty Images)

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Lance Armstrong's Doping Saga Continues - The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced last week that 11 of Lance Armstrong's former teammates provided evidence supporting charges that the cyclist used performance enhancing drugs over the course of his career. In August, the USADA stripped him of his seven Tour de France titles and banned him from the sport.  (Photo: Riccardo S. Savi/Getty Images)

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Lance Armstrong Stripped of Titles, Banned From Cycling - It was a grim year for former cycling star Lance Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles in October after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency concluded he used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career.  (Photo: Riccardo S. Savi/Getty Images)

Honey Badger Arrested - From Tyrann Mathieu's arrest to Lance Armstrong being stripped of his Tour de France wins to Gabby being honored, BET.com takes a look at some of the top sports news stories of the week. — Dorkys Ramos Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu was among four former LSU football players arrested Thursday after police found them with marijuana at Mathieu's apartment. Mathieu's drug problems led to him being kicked off the football team and a stint in rehab. (Photo: AP Photo/The Daily Reveille, Catherine Threlkeld)

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LSU's "Honey Badger's" Tough Year - Former Louisiana State University football player Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu was arrested with three others in October after police found marijuana at his apartment. The arrest was the latest in a string of drug-related incidents that got him booted from the football team as well as a stint in rehab. (Photo: Catherine Threlkeld/ The Daily Reveille/AP Photo)

John Terry Convicted in FA Racism Probe - In October, the Football Association, the governing body of football in England, found soccer player John Terry guilty of using a racial slur against a Black opponent during a 2011 match. He was cleared of criminal charges stemming from the incident.   (Photo: Bethany Clarke/Getty Images)

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John Terry Convicted in FA Racism Probe - In October, the Football Association, the governing body of football in England, found soccer player John Terry guilty of using a racial slur against a Black opponent during a 2011 match. He was cleared of criminal charges stemming from the incident.   (Photo: Bethany Clarke/Getty Images)

Evander Holyfield: October 19 - The heavyweight champ celebrates his 50th birthday.   (Photo: Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

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Evander Holyfield Still Wants the Heavyweight Title  - In October, just shy of his 50th birthday, boxing great Evander Holyfield was set to announce his retirement from competition. Days later, however, Holyfield told TMZ he had changed his mind and plans to fight again. (Photo: Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

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Jovan Belcher Murder-Suicide - The NFL players and fans were stunned by the news that Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend and then took his own life at the Chief's training facility on Dec. 1. Belcher and his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, left behind a three-month-old daughter. (Photo: KASANDRAPERKINS VIA INSTAGRAM)

Photo By KASANDRAPERKINS VIA INSTAGRAM