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A Look Back at the Year in Sports

Here is a look back at some of the highs and lows of 2007: January 2 On the day of his first game against the 76ers, Allen Iverson told reporters: "I still feel bitter. ... I think I deserved a lot more respect than I got," regarding his trade to Denver on Dec. 19. That night, the Sixers beat the host Nuggets, and Iverson got ejected with 1 minute, 44 seconds to play.

The Rutgers women's basketball team prepares to respond to disparaging remarks made by radio personality Don Imus.
The Rutgers women's basketball team prepares to respond to disparaging remarks made by radio personality Don Imus.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Inquirer Staff Photographer

Here is a look back at some of the highs and lows of 2007:

January

2

On the day of his first game against the 76ers, Allen Iverson told reporters: "I still feel bitter. ... I think I deserved a lot more respect than I got," regarding his trade to Denver on Dec. 19. That night, the Sixers beat the host Nuggets, and Iverson got ejected with 1 minute, 44 seconds to play.

11

The Sixers bought out the contract of veteran forward Chris Webber for about $36 million and placed him on waivers.

29

Barbaro, the champion racehorse more famous for his battle to live than for his feats on the track, was euthanized with his owners and surgeon at his stall.

February

4

The Colts beat the Bears, 29-17, to win Super Bowl XLI.

15

Peter Forsberg was traded to the Predators as the Flyers began their rebuilding push.

24

The Sixers reached a season-high 20 games below .500 (18-38) with a road loss to the Bucks in a game in which they once trailed by 30.

28

The Sixers never trailed at home in a 99-94 victory over Phoenix. It was the Suns' only loss on the road to an Eastern Conference team all season.

March

10

Despite a 4-1 win over the Bruins, the Flyers were officially eliminated from the NHL playoffs because Toronto defeated Ottawa. It was the earliest playoff elimination for the team in decades.

18

The Sixers were blown out at home, 124-74, by the Rockets, marking the worst home loss in Philadelphia/Syracuse franchise history.

April

3

The Rutgers women's basketball team lost to Tennessee in the NCAA title game.

8

The Flyers beat the Sabres, 4-3, to end the season with the worst record in their 40-year franchise history.

10

In a nationally televised news conference, Rutgers gave its response to remarks made by well-known radio talk show host Don Imus, who had disparaged the team after watching the NCAA title game.

21

The Phillies beat the Reds, 4-1. Manager Charlie Manuel called a meeting before the game to try to turn around a team that had opened the season 4-11. It worked, as Cole Hamels struck out 15 and the Phils turned a triple play.

May

5

Floyd Mayweather Jr. beat Oscar De La Hoya in one of the richest fights ever.

19

Curlin, ridden by Robby Albarado, nipped Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense to win the Preakness Stakes.

27

Dario Franchitti won the Indianpolis 500.

June

18

The Flyers made a deal with Nashville to get defenseman Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell.

July

1

The Flyers signed center Danny Briere in the first hours of free agency.

25

Temple women's basketball coach Dawn Staley, an assistant on the Olympic squad, coached the United States to its first gold medal since 1987 in the Pan American Games.

August

7

Barry Bonds, the 43-year-old slugger, became Major League Baseball's all-time home-run king, passing the legendary Hank Aaron, when he belted No. 756.

16

Disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy, a Cardinal O'Hara High graduate, pleaded guilty to gambling charges.

28

Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty to running a dogfighting ring and killing some of the losers.

30

The Phillies beat the Mets, 11-10, as Jayson Werth's two stolen bases on consecutive pitches in the bottom of the ninth inning ignited a comeback victory after the Phils had blown 5-0 and 8-5 leads.

September

16

The Phillies beat the Mets, 10-6, and completed their third sweep of New York for the season.

17

The Phillies beat the Cardinals, 13-11, in one of the most incredible games in recent memory. The Phils almost blew an 11-0 lead in the sixth inning but held on to win.

21

Floyd Landis was formally stripped of his yellow jersey and 2006 Tour de France victory for doping.

28

The Phillies beat the Nationals, 6-0, as Manuel turned Hamels loose for the first time since he returned to the mound after an injured elbow. Hamels threw eight shutout innings, striking out 13, to move the Phils into sole possession of first place in the National League East with just two games to play.

29

The Flyers' Steve Downie was suspended for 20 games for a dangerous hit on the Senators' Dean McAmmond. It is the first of five suspensions for the club.

30

The Phillies beat the Nationals, 6-1, to clinch their first playoff berth since 1993.

October

6

The Phillies were eliminated, three games to none, by the Rockies in the NL division series.

12

The Flyers' Jesse Boulerice was suspended for 25 games, then an NHL record, for a cross-check to the throat of the Canucks' Ryan Kesler.

28

The Red Sox steamrolled the Rockies in four games to win their second World Series in four seasons, both under former Phillies manager Terry Francona, who is 8-0 in World Series games.

November

3

Navy football snapped an NCAA-record 43-game losing streak to Notre Dame with a 46-44 victory in triple overtime.

20

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins was named the NL MVP.

27

Redskins safety Sean Taylor, 24, died from injuries sustained when he was shot in the leg a day earlier in his home by an intruder.

December

8

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy.

10

Michael Vick was sentenced to up to 23 months in prison for running a dogfighting operation.

13

Sprinter Marion Jones was formally stripped of her five Olympic medals for doping. . . . The Mitchell Report, the long-awaited scorecard on baseball's steroid era, was made public and listed the names of more than 80 players, including seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, who allegedly used or obtained performance-enhancing drugs. . . . Alex Rodriguez signed a 10-year, $275 million contract with the Yankees.

16

The Patriots became the second team in NFL history to go 14-0.

17

One day after beating the Cowboys, the Eagles were eliminated from the playoffs when Minnesota beat Chicago.

23

The Patriots set an NFL record with their 15th victory, the best start in league history.

29

The Patriots beat the Giants to go 16-0 in the NFL regular season. . . . Penn State coach Joe Paterno coached his 500th college football game in the Alamo Bowl.

Some local notables who died in 2007

Shag Crawford

, 90, umpire from Philadelphia

Eddie Griffin, 25, Roman Catholic High basketball star

Dick Humbert, 88, two-way end on the Eagles' 1948 and '49 championship teams

Francis "Bucko" Kilroy, 86, all-pro lineman on the Eagles' 1948 and '49 teams

Clarence Peaks, 71, running back on the Eagles' 1960 championship team

Howard Porter, 58, Villanova basketball great who led the Wildcats to the 1971 NCAA championship game.

Jim Ricca, 79, Eagles lineman

Jim Ringo, 75, Eagles Hall of Fame center

Bill Robinson, 64, Phillies outfielder

Jack "The Saint" St. Clair, 79, Temple track coach

John Vukovich, 59, Phillies infielder for the 1980 world champions and later a coach.