An ode to 2014

A year in golf: Tales from the Tour

Harbaugh gets big reception as he returns to Michigan

Falcons fire Mike Smith after 2nd straight losing season

ATLANTA - Mike Smith was fired as the Atlanta Falcons' coach Monday, one day after the end of his second straight losing season and a 34-3 rout by the Carolina Panthers before booing fans at the Georgia Dome.

Bowls: Penn State wins 1st bowl since scandal

NEW YORK - Christian Hackenberg hit Kyle Carter for a 10-yard touchdown pass in overtime and Penn State kicked the extra point that Boston College could not, lifting the Nittany Lions to a 31-30 win in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night.

Rutland knocks off Blue Devils at Gentlemen's Classic

Two seasons ago, Statesboro shattered the dreams of Rutland by barging into the Hurricanes' home gym and scoring in the final seconds to claim a state quarterfinal win.

Bowls: Louisiana Tech hammers Illinois

DALLAS - Kenneth Dixon scored one of his two touchdowns on an 80-yard reception and Xavier Woods scored on a 69-yard interception return to help Louisiana Tech beat Illinois 35-18 in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Friday.

Games to Remember from 2014

They kept us on the edge of our seats and brought us to our feet.

Former TE Utecht has musical message

Concussions drove Ben Utecht out of pro football five years ago.

Denver places nine on Pro Bowl roster

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - First-timer Chris Harris Jr. is among the Denver Broncos' league-leading nine Pro Bowlers, including Peyton Manning, whose 14th selection is tied for the most ever among NFL players.

Inspirational moments of 2014

BOSTON - Meb Keflezighi strode alone down Boylston Street, past the patched-up sidewalks and re-opened restaurants that line the path to the Boston Marathon finish line. On his race bib he had the names of those killed there by a pair of homemade bombs, and on his shoulders he would soon drape an American flag.

Tackling: a lost art

Masters trying to keep field size under 100

By DOUG FERGUSON

Do the math: Playoff scenarios heading into Week 17

Marshall cruises in Boca Raton Bowl

Litke: First question of Super Bowl: 'You mad, bro?'

The final "Jeopardy!" category is Super Bowl XLIX, and the clue is: "You mad, bro?"

New controversy surrounds Patriots

The NFL is investigating whether the New England Patriots deflated footballs that were used in their AFC championship game victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Hawks get 13th straight win

ATLANTA - The NBA's best defense kept the Atlanta Hawks' winning streak intact.

Super matchup: Seahawks face Patriots for NFL championship

For Russell Wilson's Seattle Seahawks to become the first team in a decade to win consecutive Super Bowls, they'll have to beat the most recent group to do it, Tom Brady's New England Patriots.

Walker shoots 62, takes lead

HONOLULU - Defending champion Jimmy Walker one-putted his last 11 holes Saturday on his way to an 8-under 62 and a two-shot lead in the Sony Open.

Kuchar, Simpson tied for lead at Sony Open

HONOLULU - Webb Simpson and Matt Kuchar made enough birdies on the back nine Friday to build a little separation and share the lead in the Sony Open.

NCAA agrees to restore wins, title to Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The NCAA agreed Friday to restore 112 football wins it had stripped from Penn State and Joe Paterno in the Jerry Sandusky child-molestation scandal and to reinstate the venerated late coach as the winningest in major college football history.

Selig gets emotional in final meeting as commissioner

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. - Bud Selig concluded his final baseball owners meeting as commissioner after two days of basking in praise for the job he's done during more than 22 years in charge of the game.

Belichick proves he has new tricks up his sleeve

When Bill Belichick pulled something new from his bag of tricks last week, some wondered if the three-time Super Bowl champion coach had found another way to bend the rules.

Early tie at Sony Open

HONOLULU - Webb Simpson made his debut with a conventional putter Thursday at the Sony Open and might have wished he had used one sooner.

Emmert addresses NCAA

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - NCAA President Mark Emmert says giving the five wealthiest conferences in Division I the ability to make some of their own rules will allow revenue sports such as football and men's basketball to co-exist with the many nonrevenue programs that make up college sports.

Golfer Charles Howell all about fast start to new year

HONOLULU - The sun is shining and spirits are soaring at the Sony Open, the first full-field event of the year on the PGA Tour that seems to bring equal measures of optimism no matter how long a player has been around.

'Old guys' having an impact in playoffs

Julius Peppers has his birthday coming up real soon.

NFL Playoff Picks: Sorry, still not buying in to Indy

Very nice job, Colts. Sorry we are not more impressed.

Big Ten rising

Ohio State's thrashing of Oregon in the title game was more than just an ego boost for the Big Ten.