More

Penn State Scandal Voted 2011 AP Sports Story Of Year (PHOTOS)

AP     First Posted: 12/19/11 12:52 PM ET   Updated: 12/19/11 12:52 PM ET

By RACHEL COHEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK -- The ouster of one of America's most revered coaches, Penn State's Joe Paterno, after shocking child sex abuse charges against his former assistant was overwhelmingly voted the sports story of the year by members of The Associated Press.

On the morning of Nov. 5, Paterno's Nittany Lions were undefeated in the Big Ten and ranked No. 16 in the country, and the 84-year-old Hall of Famer was renowned as the winningest coach in Division I football, a leader who preached and practiced "Success with Honor." Then came the staggering revelations: the indictment of longtime defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky for allegedly sexually assaulting eight boys over a 15-year span, perjury charges against two high-ranking school administrators -- and a grand jury report that suggested Paterno knew of accusations against Sandusky and did not do enough to pursue them.

Within four days, Penn State's board of trustees had done the once-unthinkable, firing JoePa after 46 seasons as head coach.

There were 214 ballots submitted from U.S. news organizations that make up the AP's membership. The voters were asked to rank the top 10 sports stories of the year, with the first-place story getting 10 points, the second-place story receiving nine points, and so on.

The Penn State saga received 2,044 points and 172 first-place votes. It was also voted the No. 6 news story for 2011 in the AP's annual poll of U.S. editors and news directors.

The No. 2 sports story -- labor strife in the NFL and NBA -- had 15 first-place votes and 1,345 points.

The turmoil that at times seemed to rock college sports on a weekly basis this year was evident in the voting beyond the Penn State selection. Three more of the top 10 stories involved upheaval in the NCAA: conference realignment (No. 4); the Ohio State infractions that cost Jim Tressel his job (No. 6); and more sex abuse accusations, these involving Syracuse basketball (No. 9).

Tiger Woods' humbling return to the public eye was the top story last year.

Here are 2011's top 10 stories:

1. PENN STATE
1  of  11
PLAY
FULLSCREEN
ZOOM
SHARE THIS SLIDE 
Paterno said in a statement Nov. 9, "It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more," and that he would retire at the end of the season. It wasn't enough to quell the rising outrage that he didn't go to the police after then-graduate assistant Mike McQueary told him in 2002 about witnessing an apparent assault. By the night of Nov. 9, Paterno was out, and so was Penn State President Graham Spanier. As 2011 comes to a close, athletic director Tim Curley, who was placed on leave, and since-retired university vice president Gary Schultz await trial, and Sandusky faces additional charges. Paterno revealed Nov. 18 he had been diagnosed with a treatable form of lung cancer. The Nittany Lions play Houston in the TicketCity Bowl on Jan. 2.
MORE SLIDESHOWS NEXT >   |   < PREV
RATE IT!   |  
VOTE
Already Forgotten
Unforgettable
CURRENT TOP 5 PICK YOUR OWN TOP 5
USERS WHO VOTED
NEW! CREATE YOUR OWN SLIDESHOW

FOLLOW HUFFPOST SPORTS

By RACHEL COHEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK -- The ouster of one of America's most revered coaches, Penn State's Joe Paterno, after shocking child sex abuse charges against his former assistant was ...
By RACHEL COHEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK -- The ouster of one of America's most revered coaches, Penn State's Joe Paterno, after shocking child sex abuse charges against his former assistant was ...
Filed by Michael Klopman  | 
What's Your Reaction?
Inspiring
 Funny
 Typical
 Scary
 Outrageous
 Amazing
 Infuriating
 Extreme

More in Sports...


 
 
  • Comments
  • 8
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Post Comment Preview Comment
To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
mellinsean
8 Fans
10:28 AM on 12/20/2011
If you were wondering who or why I even care tell him it's 'the sausage king of Chicago', and I have work to do, and other people have work to do, so here's to a cup of what the !?#@*% at Lori's Diner, how could you?
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
mellinsean
8 Fans
10:05 AM on 12/20/2011
If you were wonder who I think I am you can tell em it's 'the sausage king of Chicago', and this is my house, and I got work to do, and other people they got work to do, you know here's to a cup what the !?#@!k at Lori's Diner, can you believe it?
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
mellinsean
8 Fans
09:44 AM on 12/20/2011
Enter the labyrinth, God what a nightmare, what could possess a man to do such a thing, in consideration of all what the institution(s) represents, this/that and the other, we can't ignore these things or problems, they tend to get out of hand and hide something bigger than the face card showing.
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
paddles
"pro" not "re" gressive
1916 Fans
09:38 AM on 12/20/2011
Once again hockey is ignored-after one of the most exciting playoffs in which a team wins after 39 frustrating years and yet not a peep. Can't take this seriously.
Permalink  |
photo
HockeyGirl74
3093 Fans
12:05 PM on 12/20/2011
You took the words right out of my mouth. It is beyond annoying!!!
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
time2talk
An eye for an eye and we'll all be blind
2272 Fans
01:16 AM on 12/20/2011
The shock that Joe Paterno's name would ever be associated with this type of scandal was almost impossible to believe. He was the shining example of the values you hoped your children would emulate. That is why this is the number one sports story of 2011. He didn't do it, but he was a part of the coverup. Such a sad ending for such a great career and someone so well thought of.
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
Bolkonsky
209 Fans
02:06 PM on 12/19/2011
The Sam Hurd story ought to qualify for top 10 2011, even though it's still developing.

His book of customers could be quite a scandal, even by NFL standards.
Permalink  |
myopinion2
540 Fans
01:22 PM on 12/19/2011
Not a sports story. No more than OJ was a sports story. The so-called mainstrean media is no different than supermarket rags.
Permalink  |