Top Sports Stories of 2017: Kneeling During the Anthem, ‘Deflategate' and More
The president's feud with the NFL is the runaway winner for top sports story of 2017 in balloting by AP members and editors
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AP reporters counted more than 200 NFL players who did not stand during the national anthem before their games on Sunday.
Colin Kaepernick didn't take a snap in the NFL in 2017, yet he was a big part of the biggest story of the year.
NFL players kneeling during the national anthem, something Kaepernick started a year earlier to bring attention to social injustices, set off a national debate that erupted once President Donald Trump chimed in.
His call for owners to fire players who protested during "The Star-Spangled Banner" led to a massive show of defiance in the days that followed.
The president's feud with the NFL is the runaway winner for top sports story of 2017 in balloting by AP members and editors, easily outdistancing the corruption scandal engulfing college basketball and the Houston Astros winning their first World Series and lifting the spirits of a city devastated by Hurricane Harvey.
AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
The Dallas Cowboys stand during the national anthem prior to an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz.
AP Photo/Matt York
The Dallas Cowboys, led by owner Jerry Jones, center, take a knee before the national anthem prior to an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz.
AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
From left; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, president Michael Bidwill, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and head coach Bruce Arians stand during the national anthem prior to an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Some members of the Oakland Raiders kneel during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Maryland, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Some members of the Oakland Raiders sit on the bench during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Maryland, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017.
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
Member of the Washington Redskins stand arm-in-arm during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Landover, Maryland, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017.
AP Photo/Mark Zaleski
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) and center Justin Britt (68) walk to the field with arms linked after the national anthem had been played before an NFL football game between the Seahawks and the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Nashville, Tennessee. Neither team was present on the field for the playing of the anthem.
AP Photo/James Kenney
Tennessee Titans players walk to the field with arms linked after the national anthem had been played before an NFL football game between the Titans and the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Nashville, Tennessee. Neither team stood on the field for the anthem. From left are Delanie Walker (82), Marcus Mariota (8), Wesley Woodyard (59), Jurrell Casey (99) and Brian Orakpo (98).
AP Photo/Steven Senne
Several New England Patriots players kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass.
AP Photo/Steven Senne
Several New England Patriots players kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass.
AP Photo/Steven Senne
Several New England Patriots players kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass.
AP/Matt Dunham
Baltimore Ravens players kneel down during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017.
AP Photo/Matt Dunham
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace, from left, former player Ray Lewis and inside linebacker C.J. Mosley lock arms and kneel down during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017.
Tim Ireland/AP
Jacksonville Jaguars players kneel down during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017.
AP Photo/Matt Dunham
Baltimore Ravens players, including former player Ray Lewis, second from right, kneel down during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017.
AP Photo/Matt Dunham
Baltimore Ravens players, including former player Ray Lewis, second from right, kneel down during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017.
AP Photo/Tim Ireland
Jacksonville Jaguars players lock arms and kneel down during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017.
AP
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (67), Maurice Smith (27), Jarvis Landry (14) lock hands with teammates during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J.
AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes
Denver Broncos players, including Jamaal Charles (28) kneel during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Orchard Park, N.Y.
AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills players take a knee during the playing of the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Kneeling during the national anthem before the Denver Broncos play the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, at New Era Stadium, Orchard Park, NY.
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Members of the Cleveland Browns take a knee during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017.
AP Photo/Bob Leverone
New Orleans Saints players sit on the bench during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017.
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (97) and Atlanta Falcons tackle Dontari Poe (92) kneel during the playing of the national anthem prior to the start of the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Detroit Lions on Sept. 24, 2017 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.
Here is a list of the biggest sports stories in 2017:
1. NFL players who knelt during the national anthem said they were exercising their free-speech rights and trying to bring attention to social injustices. Critics, including the president, said they were disrespecting the flag, the country and the military. Kaepernick sued the league when no team signed him.
3. Houston Astros win their first World Series, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 to lift the spirits of a city devastated by Hurricane Harvey.
4. In a season that included his four-game suspension for "Deflategate," Tom Brady engineers a record-breaking comeback as the Patriots defeat the Falcons in first-ever Super Bowl overtime.
