21 Top News Stories of the Year

 8. The F Word Isn’t Cool Anymore
A sea change in the culture of professional sports started early in the year when Lakers star Kobe Bryant was fined for using an antigay slur against a referee. Then came Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Braves coach Roger McDowell, and a tough call in hockey as the NHL examined footage to see if a player used a gay slur against straight ally Sean Avery.

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