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The Top Sports Stories Of 2014

From Derek Jeter's retirement to scandal in the NFL, 2014 was filled with many on and off-the-field headlines.

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It’s been a wild year in sports and we here at Newsy are here to wrap it all up for you. Here are the Top 5 sports stories of the year.

At No. 5 is No. 2 —

“Today was my last day playing shortstop,” Yankees SS Derek Jeter said.

The retirement of Yankees’ SS Derek Jeter. After 20 season, the captain finally called it quits, playing his last game in pinstripes Sep. 28. And he went out in total Jeter fashion — drilling a base hit to knock in the game-winning run in his last game at Yankee Stadium.

Coming in fourth, is LeBron James — four years later.

“I’m going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat,” James said on ESPN in 2010.

After a stint with the Heat, ‘The King’ is back in Cleveland, smoothing things over.

This time, he made the announcement in print via Sports Illustrated on July 11.

Clevelanders, for the most part, seem to be welcoming him back with open arms, choosing to forget those jersey-burning images from just a few years ago. (Video via Nike)

Next up — “I am banning Mr. Sterling for life,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a press conference.

The fallout from comments made by then-LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

“You’re associating with black people. Do you have to,” Sterling purportedly said in a taped conversation.

That audio conversation purportedly between Sterling and his girlfriend was leaked to TMZ.

“I am not a racist,” Sterling said on CNN.

It quickly led to Sterling losing the team and plenty of public backlash.

Ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer later bought the Clippers for $2 billion.

In second place — Michael Sam. Sam publicly announced his sexuality Feb. 9 to a handful of media outlets.

“I’m Michael Sam. I’m a football player and I’m gay.”

Fast forward three months to May 10 and Sam became the first openly-gay athlete to be drafted into the NFL, selected in the 7th round by the St. Louis Rams.

While the former SEC co-defensive player of the year performed well in the preseason, he was later cut by the team, picked up for the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, and later cut again.

Topping our list is scandal in the NFL.

The NFL brought the issue of domestic abuse front and center this year even though it likely didn’t want to. (Video via TMZ | ABC | WCBS)

“I got it wrong in regards to the Ray Rice matter,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

From the infamous Ray Rice elevator video —

To Adrian Peterson being charged with child abuse —

And to all the arrests in between. (Via KNXV | Sacramento Bee | Charlotte Observer)

The NFL, including commissioner Roger Goodell, took a hit from a PR standpoint —

— leading to a revision of NFL policies on domestic abuse.

And campaigns airing during NFL games featuring players speaking out against domestic violence.

“No more bystanding.”

“No more ignorance.”

“No more excuses.”