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SI Staff

SPORTS YEAR IN REVIEW

Did that really happen? Are you ready to relive the most mind-blowing, earth-shattering, mystifying, serious and seriously sublime sports moments of the past year? This week SI.com takes a look back at the wild and woolly year in sports and ranks the best of the best from 2012. Also included are Richard Deitsch's 2012 Media Awards; sport-by-sport picks for favorite story of the year, as chosen by SI.com writers; and photo galleries featuring the breakout athletes of 2012, games of the year and photos of the year.

2012

USAIN BOLT becomes first to win back-to-back 100m and 200m Olympic titles

MICHAEL PHELPS becomes most decorated Olympian ever

LEBRON'S HISTORIC YEAR NBA Title, MVP, Olympic Gold, SI Sportsman

The overnight rise of LINSANITY

NOTRE DAME returns to glory (for real this time)

REPLACEMENT REFS' GAFFES Golden Tate's controversial touchdown

ELI MANNING-MARIO MANNINGHAM Super Bowl XLVI's dynamic duo

MAN CITY wins Premier League in stoppage time

JOHNNY MANZIEL becomes first freshman to win the Heisman

GABBY DOUGLAS wins all-around gold

SEC TITLE GAME CLASSIC Alabama holds off Georgia

MIGUEL CABRERA wins first Triple Crown since '67

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SI DIGITAL BONUS

The Oklahoma Kid

From the SI Vault: Oct. 11, 2004

The Sooners were suddenly running wild thanks to true freshman Adrian Peterson, the best tailback prospect in a generation.

BY AUSTIN MURPHY

SI TWITTER

Seth Davis

@SethDavisHoops

4 yrs watching [Florida's] Kenny Boynton and I still can't decide if he's the best bad shooter I've ever seen or the worst good shooter I've ever seen.

Jim Trotter

@SI_JimTrotter

Chargers down 21--0 to the Panthers. What will Dean Spanos give Norv Turner after this one? (Supply your own punch line.)

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SI COMMENTARY

Peter King On ...

James Jones

The Packers have the most underrated wide receiver in football with Jones. When I watch him play, I think of a guy who shuts out all outside distractions and focuses on one thing—catching the ball. Jones has a league-leading 12 touchdown receptions. That's the number of touchdowns Calvin Johnson, Wes Welker and Steve Smith have combined.