The year in sports

A British Airways plane flies past on its way to Heathrow Airport as Johan Gaume of France competes in the snowboarding heats at Battersea Power Station during a practice day for Freeze, the UK's biggest winter sport and music festival in London...more

Olga Kaniskina of Russia leads the field during the 20km walk of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 21, 2008. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia breaks the world record during the women's pole vault final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 18, 2008. Isinbayeva cleared 5.05 meters, beating the previous mark...more

Players compete during the exhibition ice hockey game EHC Visp vs. EV Zug in the ice cave at the Kleine Matterhorn Glacier (3,883 meters above sea level) in the resort of Zermatt in Southern Switzerland August 11, 2008. REUTERS/Valentin Flauraud more

Philadelphia Phillies' Cole Hamels winds up as he pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 1 of Major League Baseball's World Series in St. Petersburg, Florida, October 22, 2008. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes

Members of the Ferrari team practise pit stops on the car of Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Brazil, in Singapore September 24, 2008. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash

Calgary Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris holds the Grey Cup after his team defeated the Montreal Alouettes to win CFL's 96th Grey Cup game in Montreal, November 23, 2008. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger

Spain's team throws captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario during celebrations after winning their World Group Davis Cup final tennis match against Argentina in Mar del Plata November 23, 2008. REUTERS/Fabian Luchessi

Tiger Woods of the U.S. holds the trophy after winning the U.S. Open golf championship at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 16, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Michael Phelps of the U.S. stands with his eighth gold medal in swimming at the National Aquatics Center during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 17, 2008. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

Michael Phelps (C) of the U.S. swims the butterfly stroke during his team's victory in the men's 4x100 meters medley relay at the National Aquatics Center during the Beijing 2008 Olympics August 17, 2008. Picture taken with underwater camera....more

Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning the men's 200m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 20, 2008. Bolt set a new world record with a time of 19.30 seconds. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon more

Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning the men's 200m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 20, 2008. Bolt set a new world record with a time of 19.30 seconds. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez more

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning celebrates his complete pass late in the fourth quarter during play against the New England Patriots in the NFL's Super Bowl XLII game in Glendale, Arizona, February 3, 2008. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes

McLaren Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after winning the 2008 FIA Formula One Championship at the Brazilian F1 Grand Prix in Sao Paulo November 2, 2008. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates her victory over Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in the women's final match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament at Flushing Meadows in New York, September 7, 2008. REUTERS/Shaun Best

Jockey Kent Desormeaux celebrates aboard Big Brown as they win the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, May 3, 2008. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes

Firat Arslan of Germany receives treatment from his team during a pause in their WBA cruiserweight world championship boxing fight against Guillermo Jones of Panama in the northern German city of Hamburg late September 27, 2008. Jones won the fight...more

Nikita Cuffe of Australia is poked in the eye by Mercedes Stieber of Hungary (unseen) as they fight for the ball during their women's preliminary round Group B water polo match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 13, 2008. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh...more

John Zakrzewski of France has blood on his face after falling from his horse DianDian during the men's riding show jumping event of the modern pentathlon competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 21, 2008. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV

Tiger Woods reacts after missing a birdie putt on the playoff hole during the playoff round of the U.S. Open golf championship at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 16, 2008. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his men's singles final match against France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 27, 2008. REUTERS/Steve Holland

Trevor Immelman (R) of South Africa receives the green jacket from former champion Zach Johnson (L) after Immelman won the 2008 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 13, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Venus Williams of the U.S. (L) holds her winners trophy as she stands with her sister Serena, holding her runners-up trophy, after their finals match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London July 5, 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Serbia's Ana Ivanovic reacts during her women's final against Russia's Dinara Safina at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris June 7, 2008. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol

Spain's players hold up their coach Luis Aragones after defeating Germany in their Euro 2008 final soccer match at Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna, June 29, 2008. REUTERS/Stringer

Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom lifts the Stanley Cup after his team defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Pittsburgh, June 4, 2008. REUTERS/Shaun Best

Jockey Kent Desormeaux riding Big Brown head to the finish line to win the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky May 3, 2008. REUTERS/John Gress

A combination photo shows Michael Phelps of the U.S. holding each of his eight gold medals in the swimming competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Phelps won his eighth gold medal, beating Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals won at a...more

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning his finals match against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London July 6, 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

A winter swimmer dives into a river in Heihe, Heilongjiang province, China, February 7, 2008. REUTERS/China Daily

Dwight Howard (L) and Kobe Bryant of the U.S. bite their gold medals following their victory over Spain in the men's basketball finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 24, 2008. REUTERS/Sergio Perez

Padraig Harrington of Ireland holds the Claret Jug as he celebrates with supporters after winning the 2008 British Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale, Southport, northern England July 20, 2008. REUTERS/Darren Staples

Golfers in traditional dress pose for photographers during the World Hickory Golf Championships at Craigielaw golf course in Aberlady, east Scotland September 25, 2008. REUTERS/David Moir

U.S. Ryder Cup players including J.B. Holmes (lower right) celebrate on the 17th green after they defeated the European team to win the Ryder Cup in singles play in the 37th Ryder Cup Championship at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky...more

Roger Federer of Switzerland kisses the trophy after beating Andy Murray of Britain for his fifth straight U.S. Open tennis title at Flushing Meadows in New York September 8, 2008. REUTERS/Shaun Best

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brad Lidge (54), catcher Carlos Ruiz (bottom) and first baseman Ryan Howard (6) are mobbed by teammates as they celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of Major League Baseball's World Series in...more

Kansas Jayhawks Mario Chalmers celebrates after tying the game against Memphis Tigers at the end of second half of their NCAA Men's Final Four championship game in San Antonio, Texas, April 7, 2008. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes

Paula Radcliffe of England holds the Union Jack after winning the Women's division of the 2008 New York City Marathon in New York November 2, 2008. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning the men's 200m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 20, 2008. Bolt set a new world record with a time of 19.30 seconds. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich more

Bedouin children ride their camels during a camel race in Ain Musa, near the town of Suez, 140km (88 miles) northwest of Cairo November 4, 2008 . REUTERS/Amr Dalsh

Freestyle skiing Olympian Nicolas Fontaine of Canada puts on a display of his talents while promoting the upcoming Freestyle World Cup Grand Prix in Vancouver, British Columbia February 5, 2008. The two-day Freestyle World Cup will be held at Cypress...more

Padraig Harrington of Ireland celebrates as he holds the Claret Jug after winning the 2008 British Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale, Southport, northern England July 20, 2008. REUTERS/Darren Staples

Spain's Fernando Torres and Sergio Ramos hold up the trophy after defeating Germany in their Euro 2008 final soccer match at Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna, June 29, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Jockey Kent J. Desormeaux reins in Big Brown before the finish line during the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, June 7, 2008. Big Brown failed in his bid to become horse racing's 12th Triple Crown...more

Tiger Woods celebrates after making birdie on the 18th hole to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate during the fourth round of the U.S. Open golf championship at Torrey Pines in San Diego June 15, 2008. REUTERS/Matt Sullivan

Spain's Rafael Nadal poses with his trophy after winning the men's final against Switzerland's Roger Federer at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris June 8, 2008. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

Serena Williams of the U.S. holds up the trophy after her victory over Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in the women's final match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament at Flushing Meadows in New York, September 7, 2008. REUTERS/Shaun Best

McLaren Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after winning the Chinese F1 Grand Prix in Shanghai October 19, 2008. REUTERS/Aly Song

Jockey Lanfranco Dettori jumps off his horse Donativum in the winner's circle after winning first place in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf race at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, October 25, 2008. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Philadelphia Phillies Cole Hamels holds up the MVP trophy after his team defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win Major League Baseball's World Series in Philadelphia, October 29, 2008 REUTERS/Mike Segar

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning hoists the Vince Lombardi trophy into the air with Giants head coach Tom Coughlin after defeating the New England Patriots in the NFL's Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona February 3, 2008. REUTERS/Shaun Best...more

New York Giants receiver David Tyree (R) hauls in a Eli Manning pass late in the fourth quarter for a first down during the NFL's Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona February 3, 2008. Patriots' defender Rodney Harrison is at left. REUTERS/Lucy...more

Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge celebrates with catcher Carlos Ruiz (R) after their team defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win Major League Baseball's World Series after game 5 in Philadelphia, October 29, 2008 REUTERS/Mike Segar

Usain Bolt (R) of Jamaica wins the men's 100m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 16, 2008. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Horse Raven's Pass with jockey Lanfranco Dettori in the irons celebrates his first place win in the Breeders' Cup Classic race in front of photographers at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, October 25, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Blake

The U.S. team poses with the Ryder Cup after they defeated the European team to win the 37th Ryder Cup Championship at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky September 21, 2008. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger (C, with hands raised) celebrates with his team after they defeated the European team to win the 37th Ryder Cup Championship at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky September 21, 2008. REUTERS/Shaun Best...more

Horse Raven's Pass with jockey Lanfranco Dettori (8) in the irons leads the pack past horse Curlin with jockey Robby Albarado (9) to win first place in the Breeders' Cup Classic race at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, October 25, 2008....more

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates match point beating Andy Murray of Britain for his fifth straight U.S. Open title during the men's final match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament at Flushing Meadows in New York September 8, 2008. REUTERS/Shaun...more

Roy Jones Jr. of the U.S. bleeds from a cut above his left eye as he fights Joe Calzaghe of Britain during the eighth round of their Light Heavyweight boxing match at New York's Madison Square Garden, November 8, 2008. Calzaghe won the match in a...more

Michal Michalik of Czech Republic fails a jump on horse YangYang during the men's riding show jumping event of the modern pentathlon competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 21, 2008. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan