22 Most Talked-About Sports Stories Of 2015
What a year in sports 2015 was. From Twitter trolls to massive football players to epic knockouts, this past year had a little bit of everything. CBS Los Angeles has compiled a list of the top sports stories of 2015. The stories below are not placed in any particular order. Here is our list of the 22 most talked-about sports stories of 2015:
By: David Rosenthal
Kobe Bryant Announces Retirement In Emotional Article For Players Tribune
After two decades, two Olympic gold medals, five championship rings, 17 All-Star selections, an 81-point game that ranks as the second-best in NBA history and more than 32,000 points, Bryant's career will officially end at the conclusion of this season. READ MORE
Girls Basketball Coach Suspended After Defeating Opponent 161-2
A high school girls basketball coach served a two-game suspension after he was accused of running up the score on an opponent. Coach Michael Anderson, who coaches both the junior varsity and varsity squads of Arroyo Valley High School's girls basketball, was handed the suspension after defeating Bloomington High School 161-2. READ MORE
Local High School Football Rivalry Turns Violent
A high school football game in Lakewood went from rough to violent. Now, the family of one player is being criticized for allegedly attacking several opposing players last Friday night. Lakewood High school played against Miliken High School in Long Beach on Sept. 25. A video shows a Milliken player kicking a Lakewood player, Victor Bates, in the head after his helmet was knocked off during the game. READ MORE
Meet The World's Biggest Football Player
Standing 7 feet tall and weighing over 400 pounds, John Krahn, also known as "Junior," is taller than any player in the NFL. Krahn plays for Martin Luther King High School in Riverside. READ MORE
Kings' Jarret Stoll Arrested In Las Vegas On Suspicion Of Drug Possession
Stoll, 32, was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine and Ecstasy at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand hotel, Las Vegas Metro police confirmed to a CBSLA sister station in Las Vegas. READ MORE
No Arm Bar Needed: Rousey KOs Correia In 34 Seconds
It didn't take long for the defending champion to keep her title belt by defeating challenger Bethe Correia in Brazil. Rousey needed just 34 seconds to knock out Correia after landing a devastating punch to the right temple of Correia. It's safe to say she backed up her claim weeks before the fight when she guaranteed her own victory. Watch the knockout here.
Holly Holm Stuns Ronda Rousey With Second-Round Knockout
Holly Holm shocked the world with her second-round knockout of defending champion and previously unbeated UFC fighter Ronda Rousey. Rousey had previously destroyed all of her competition. Holm used a devastating kick to the face to knock out Rousey and become UFC's new champion. Watch the knockout here.
Ronda Rousey Keeps Promise, Attends Marine Corps Ball
Ronda Rousey was all smiles for the first time since her devastating defeat at the hands of Holly Holm. Rousey kept her promise to attend the Marine Corps Ball in South Carolina with Lance Cpl. Jarrod Haschert. It was one of the first occasions where Rousey was seen in public since suffering her first loss of her UFC career. READ MORE
Don Mattingly, Dodgers Decide To Part Ways
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Manager Don Mattingly "mutually agreed" that Mattingly will not return to the club in 2016. Los Angeles was 446-363 under Mattingly, finishing with a winning record in every season and winning the past three NL West titles. But the Dodgers have not reached the World Series since winning the title in 1988. READ MORE
Los Angeles Dodgers Tab Dave Roberts As New Manager
The 43-year-old has spent the past five years as a San Diego Padres coach. Roberts has no previous major league managerial experience. He is the first minority to serve as the Dodgers manager and only one of three minorities to manage in the major leagues. Don Mattingly managed the Dodgers for the past five seasons. He parted ways with the team at the end of this season and has been hired as manager of the Miami Marlins. READ MORE
DeAndre Jordan Spurns Mavericks, Re-Signs With Clippers
DeAndre Jordan redefined the term "handshake agreement" this summer. The Clippers center had all but signed his contract to become a member of the Dallas Mavericks before he decided to go back on his word and re-sign with the Clippers. The saga was filled with drama and the first-ever-documented emoji war. READ MORE
Mark Cuban, ESPN's Chris Broussard Battle On Twitter After DeAndre Jordan Saga
After DeAndre Jordan spurned the Dallas Mavericks and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and ESPN reporter Chris Broussard had a very heated exchange on Twitter. READ MORE
Ex-NBA 'Sixth Man Of The Year' Lamar Odom On Life Support In Las Vegas Hospital
The former Lakers & Clippers player was found unconcious at "The Love Ranch" brothel in Nevada before being taken to a Las Vegas Area hospital for treatment. Odom survived the ordeal but still suffers many serious health complications from the incident. READ MORE
USC Head Football Coach Steve Sarkisian Fired In Wake Of Alcohol Rumors
Steve Sarkisian was fired as USC's head football coach, one day after he was placed on indefinite leave by the university. Even after his inappropriate behavior at an official event, multiple reports surfaced that Sarkisian attended practices and team meetings under the influence of alcohol as well. READ MORE
Fan Ejected After Trying To Pry Foul Ball Away From Dodgers First Baseman
One fan in a Red Sox cap had to be escorted out of Dodger Stadium after he attempted to pry a foul boul away from Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. I mean, what did he think was going to happen? WATCH AND READ MORE
Oscar De La Hoya Trolls Floyd Mayweather Jr. On Twitter
Oscar De La Hoya is clearly not a fan of Floyd Mayweather Jr. The Mexican American born in Los Angeles took to the twittersphere to troll Mayweather during his fight with Andre Berto. Mayweather ended up winning his final fight, but De La Hoya made sure that fans knew it wasn't without some kind of asterisk. READ MORE
High School Football Player Leaves Game After Opponent Smears Icy-Hot In His Face
A Salesian High School student is accused of smearing Icy-Hot on an opposing player's face during a high school football game. "Our player came to the sidelines, and he was covered in Icy-Hot. Covered all in his face," said La Canada Principal Ian McFeat. The incident was caught on video as well when the La Canada team took on Salesian High School. Watch the video and read the full story here
Vin Scully Announces He Will Return For 67th Season
"I talked it over with my wife, Sandi, and my family and we've decided to do it again in 2016," Scully said. "There's no place like home and Dodger Stadium, and we look forward to being a part of it with all of our friends." What a relief for Dodgers fans across the nation. READ MORE
Dodgers Broadcaster Vin Scully Sets Guinness World Record
Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully was officially authenticated by Guinness World Records as the longest-serving sports broadcaster for any team. Scully started working for the Dodgers in 1950 and will enter his 67th season next year. READ MORE
Matt Barnes, Derek Fisher Get Into 'Violent' Scuffle Over Barnes' Ex-Wife
Matt Barnes was not a happy camper after finding out that Derek Fisher was hanging out at his ex-wife's house with Barnes' kids. Allegedly, Barnes drove all the way from Santa Barbara to the Los Angeles area home to confront Fisher. READ MORE
Lorenzo Cain's Stolen Base Earns America Free Taco Bell Breakfast
Taco Bell ran a promotional campaign before the World Series began stating that if a player were to steal a base in either Game 1 or Game 2 of the World Series, the company would offer free A.M. Crunchwraps between 7-11 a.m. Nov. 5. Well, America, Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain bought you breakfast. READ MORE
Serena Williams Chases Down Phone Thief At Restaurant
Do not mess with Serena Williams or she will hunt you down. Literally. The tennis superstar fell victim to an apparent phone thief while dining at a New York restaurant. However, Williams wasn't about to just let the assailant get away. READ MORE