Remember that one time Dwight Howard said he wanted a trade? (Oh, wait — he asked for that more than once?)
Remember when you first heard of Jeremy Lin, or first saw Tim Tebow pull off a come-from-behind win?
What was the sports world like before the never-ending drag of Bountygate? Were you there when Penn State was a model institution? What about when Lance Armstrong was the undisputed king of cycling?
Oh, how much can change in a year.
While every new year brings a chance for new heroes and record-breakers all across sports, each year also has its share of captivating storylines that become a game in themselves. Where would 2012 be without the likes of Bobby Valentine, Jungle Bird and a Fidel Castro-complimenting Ozzie Guillen?
We’ve picked some of the best from a jam-packed 2012. Some stories may surprise you, while others will make you wonder whether all that could have happened in just one year. This much is for sure: We could be primed for an even more intriguing 2013.
