Jonathan Warner, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Please cue the theme from “Cops,” because it was a year filled with bad boys in sports.
The sports news cycle in 2011 has been bad news, followed by disturbing news, followed by distasteful news, followed by head-scratching news.
Whether it’s the Penn State or Syracuse child sex abuse scandals, Barry Bonds getting slap on the wrist for misleading a grand jury, the , Chicago Bears receiver Sam Hurd charged with setting up a drug ring, or former NHL GM Mike Milbury assaulting a 12 year-old at a youth hockey game.
On top of all their injuries, the Redskins lost Tight End Fred Davis and tackle Trent Williams
The bad news didn’t stop at the crime report.
Pat Summitt announced she had Alzheimer’s and Peyton Manning .
There was the NFL and NBA lockout, and don’t forget the Georgetown brawl in China that almost became an international incident.
It was weird when Jim Riggleman walked out in the middle of the Nationals’ most successful season since 2005. It was disappointing when Bruce Boudreau was fired after elevating Capitals hockey to the most exciting game on ice.
Did anything good happen in sports this year?
Well, yes. Rory McIlroy had a “record-breaking U.S. Open at Congressional, Stephen Strasburg successfully returned from Tommy John surgery, Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA title, Mike Kryzyewski set the all-time college coaching win record and the U.S. Women’s National Team almost won the World Cup.
Unfortunately, those bright spots have been overshadowed by the off-the-field events in sports.
Let’s hope the focus returns to the games in 2012.
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