Thrills. Chills. Spills. Red Sox. What a year it was.

Denis Odintsov BASE jumps from almost 1,000 feet up off of Kuala Lumpur Tower in Malaysia.

Mohd Rasfan / AFP / Getty

Steve Horgan, the most famous stadium cop in history, raises his arms in exaltation as Detroit's Torii Hunter flips into the bullpen and David Ortiz's eighth-inning home run in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series ties a critical game the Red Sox would later win.

Stan Grossfeld / Boston Globe / Getty

Though Michigan's Trey Burke defied physics, Louisville would still go on to win the NCAA title game, its third championship in school history.

AP Photo / Charlie Neibergall

Everyone says Jonny Gomes is safe at home in Game 6 of the World Series, but umpire Jim Joyce is the only one who counts.

Elise Amendola / AP

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“It tells you a lot about [IOC] President Bach and the IOC’s commitment to human rights that they believe this issue should be easily compartmentalized into a protest zone,” one LGBT advocate says.

A runner carries the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch along a bridge across Yenisei River.

Ilya Naymushin / Reuters / Reuters

WASHINGTON — The International Olympic Committee announced Tuesday concerted efforts to control protests at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, both from attendees at the games and from athletes themselves.

The moves reflect continued negative attention the games are receiving due to Russia's anti-LGBT laws and other treatment of dissidents — actions that have led the German president and a European Union official to announce that they will not attend.

The IOC announced that there will be a "protest zone" during the Sochi Olympics and that it will be reminding athletes before the Olympics begin on Feb. 7, 2014, of the Olympics' ban on "propaganda" at the games.

Human Rights Campaign Vice President Fred Sainz criticized the decision sharply in a statement to BuzzFeed.

"Given the Russian government's history of strong-arm authoritarian tactics, the existence of a protest zone is ironically rich," Sainz said. "Olympic athletes should be free to speak their minds about the heinous nature of these laws. You don't stop being human when you become an Olympian."

The announcements Tuesday followed the IOC's first meeting under President Thomas Bach's leadership, held in Lausanne, Switzerland.

According to the IOC:

The Executive Board also received news that, after discussions with the Organising Committee, the authorities plan to set up a protest zone in the city of Sochi.

Speaking after the meeting, President Bach welcomed the development and the fact that people will now have an opportunity to express their views and freely demonstrate their opinions in Sochi.

"It tells you a lot about President Bach and the IOC's commitment to human rights that they believe this issue should be easily compartmentalized into a protest zone," Sainz said. "The fact that these laws exist is an outrage. The fact that the IOC believes they should be the subject of a protest zone is an even bigger outrage."

The IOC also relayed more — although still incomplete — information about how it would be enforcing Rule 50 of the IOC charter, which bans political propaganda at Olympic sites:

In the context of the Sochi Games, the Executive Board also discussed rules 40 and 50 of the Olympic Charter and the information that will be made available to athletes and National Olympic Committees about how those rules will be implemented. As with previous Games where similar guidelines were produced, the EB noted that the rules are put in place to protect athletes and the special atmosphere of the Olympic Village and venues.

Rule 40 relates to eligibility for the Olympics and has not been much discussed in the run-up to the games. Rule 50, however, has been a repeated topic of discussion in light of the questions about responses to Russia's anti-LGBT laws and other human rights questions.

Under Rule 50, "No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas."

IOC spokespeople did not respond to a request for comment about what information was being given to athletes about the rule and how the rule — and potential violations of it — would be implemented. A U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman said he had no further information at this time beyond the information provided by the IOC.

Other LGBT advocates, who have been pushing for the IOC to speak out regarding its own nondiscrimination principles, described in "Principle 6" of the IOC Charter, found the focus on Rule 50 to be misplaced.

"If IOC President Thomas Bach truly cares about principles, he should speak out against the discriminatory Russian laws that clearly violate Principle 6 of the IOC's Charter," said Andre Banks, executive director of the advocacy group All Out.

Of the campaign in favor of action and discussion surrounding Principle 6, Hudson Taylor, the executive director of Athlete Ally, noted, "The 34 Olympians who have joined our campaign feel it is their duty to uphold the Olympic Charter and act in the face of any form of discrimination. Equality is not about politics, it's about principles."

“We have thirty minutes for the rest of our lives!”

Jon Gruden: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When: The Buccaneers were underdogs coming into the game, but were able to completely shut down the electric Michael Vick and hold the Falcons offense to only 10 points, giving the Bucs a 34-10 victory in Week 14.

Memorable Line: "How you gonna stop Michael Vick? How you gonna stop him? NOT ONE WORD WAS SAID ABOUT HOW SOMEBODY'S GONNA STOP THIS DEFENSE!"

Ed Reed: Miami Hurricanes

When: In 2001, the number one ranked Miami Hurricanes led FSU 21-13 at halftime, but senior safety Ed Reed felt his team's effort wasn't up to par, so he delivered this heartfelt speech before the team ran out of the tunnel. Miami went undefeated that year and won the National Championship.

Memorable Line: "I'm hurt, dog. Don't ask me if I'm all right. Hell naw!"

youtube.com

Ray Lewis: Baltimore Ravens

When: Ray Lewis has this kind of pep talk before every game.

Memorable Line: "Let's see if they can play physical football today. Let's see if they can run without nobody touching 'em. You know what I'm talking about? Let's become great."

Via youtube.com

Brian Dawkins: Denver Broncos

When: These kind of pregame chants became Brian Dawkins' specialty in Philadelphia. When he was signed by the Denver Broncos, he brought that enthusiasm with him.

Memorable Line: "This is our house! This is our house! THIS.IS.OUR.HOUSE!"

Via youtube.com

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And the crowd goes wild!

During a recent William Byrd High School game, Marvey'o Otey made the luckiest shot of his life.

As the ball was bouncing down the court, Otey sprinted towards it and whipped the ball around his back to save it from going out of bounds. And it just so happened to go right into the basket. In fact, he didn't even see the ball go in. By the time it fell through the hoop, Otey's momentum had carried him straight out of the gym.

And that, kids, is why you always hustle.

Watch the video here:

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The 6’3” All-Pro Santa surprises kids at Houston’s Child Protective Services Program every holiday season.

Andre Johnson is unquestionably one of the best players in the NFL, and in his tenth year with the Houston Texans, he's finally being recognized as one of the most generous.

Scott Halleran / Getty Images

Here's Johnson holding $17,352 worth of receipts at Houston's Toys R' Us yesterday.

Every year since Johnson's rookie season in 2003, the Andre Johnson Foundation has brought 8-16 year-olds on all-out shopping sprees at Toys R' Us.

The charitable event hadn't received world wide attention until this photo hit the internet in 2012.

Last year, Johnson spent $19,000 on the shopping spree. Johnson has said the he hopes the event's publicity will bring awareness to issues orphaned children and single parents face.

instagram.com

I mean, can you imagine an 80-second free-for-all at Toys R' Us at the expense of an NFL player?

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Coping with the death of your season can be a trying time.

It's critical that you know every playoff scenario that might save your team from elimination, no matter how insane.

It's impressive how far fans will go to come up with a variety of scenarios that are all so unique and complex in their hopelessness. "OK, so if the Broncos lose all their remaining games..."

Alex Grimm / Getty Images

No matter what you said two months ago, your franchise player is now the worst human being who has ever lived.

This situation is obviously his fault, his fault alone and definitely not a combination of complicated factors ranging from management to the roster to simple bad luck.

Because otherwise, that would mean that there are several terrible people at fault, and it's much easier to believe your team can be saved next year if it only needs to chuck one specific terrible person overboard.

AP Photo/Tom Uhlman

Your coach is definitely getting fired*, for real this time.

Yes, you know that there have been many close calls in the past, but he is definitely, for real, absolutely without question going to get fired after this season. There is just no way he won't. For serious.

To you, this is either a tragedy, because you actually blame your team's failings on your franchise player (see above) or it's an exorcism, as you're spending so much time rehashing the coach's failures in your head that you are starting to forget the names of co-workers, friends, and your spouse.

*Or the NFL version of "fired," which is more like a large game of White Elephant, in which everyone brings a member of their coaching staff they don't want, and at the end, everyone has someone else's retread coach who they also probably don't want.

Eric Francis / Getty Images Sport

Next year's rookies are now as important, if not more important, than your 401k, or your children.

Because if there is one healthy coping mechanism, it's placing all your hopes and fears on the shoulders of 18-22 year olds.

Mark Blinch / Reuters

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The year in “Only In America.”

Andy Lyons / Getty

@SpikeAlbrecht

How Ryan Lochte tore his M.C.L.

No one beats their chest while chanting "U-S-A" when a iconic Olympian like Ryan Lochte goes down with a torn M.C.L.. But when you find out the circumstances surrounding his injury — a.k.a. he was enthusiastically greeting a female fan who impulsively jumped into his arms — all you can say is, "the American dream."

s3-ec.buzzfed.com

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Alabama kicker Cade Foster missed three field goal attempts during last month’s shocking Iron Bowl loss to Auburn, shouldering much of the blame from fans.

Following Alabama's dramatic loss, former President George W. Bush sent Foster this note.

"Dear Cade (#43), Life has its setbacks. I know! However, you will be a stronger human with time. I wish you all the best – Sincerely – another 43 George Bush,” the note reads.

"Framing this," Foster wrote on his Instagram page.

instagram.com

The 34-28 defeat at the Iron Bowl ended then-No. 1 Crimson Tide's undefeated season and knocked them out of the BCS and SEC championships. Following the game, fans angrily blamed Foster for the loss, threatening to hurt him and his family.

LINK: Auburn Upsets Alabama In A Finish You Won’t Soon Forget

From the company’s Year In Twitter feature. Looks like one of the best ways for players to get attention online is talking smack.

(Context.)

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Hire this man!

Thanks to The Grand Forks Herald, we now know who the best college coach in the world may be. Christopher "Chuck the Pigskin" McComas, a regular guy with no coaching experience, applied for the open head coaching job at the University of North Dakota with one of the most impressive cover letters we've ever seen.

Here is the letter he sent UND athletic director Brian Faison:

"Mr. Faison,

I would like to express to you my interest in your now open position for head coach of football at the University of North Dakota

Currently, I work in IT at a college in West Virginia, but I have many years of experience with football, starting with attending my first Marshall University football game when I was 3 years old. In the past 30 years I've only missed a handful of Marshall's home games, attended many road games, and all of their bowl games.

All the while I played various football games including Madden on Sega Genesis where I completely dominated with the Bills and Thurman Thomas. Seriously, was he a beast on the game or was he a beast because I was a football genius controlling him? I then moved on to a Playstation gaming system and purchased NCAA Football every year and put together several programs that completely dominated the recruiting scene and college football winning several national titles with Marshall University. I took them from a decent Mid-American Conference School on the game to a perennial national power that makes Nick Saban look like a chump. One year my third string quarterback left school early to enter the NFL Draft, he was a first round pick. Boom.

My football philosophy is basically an attacking one. We're going to give AIR RAID a whole new definition. Theoretically how many times do you think a team can pass in a game? Challenge accepted. We're going 5 wide, chucking the pigskin all over the place. Never punt. Onside every time. Chip Kelly will be calling me to learn my offense. We will put on an exciting brand of football, we will pack them into the Alerus Center night in and night out, go ahead and blow the roof off the place and add about 35,000 seats to that place.

I would love to speak with you further regarding this opening and what I can bring to UND, putting UND back on the national map and making NDSU our (b****).

Attached to this email you will find a PowerPoint with more information.

Thanks,

Christopher McComas

PS - I prefer Coke to Pepsi, so go ahead and fill the fridge up in the head coach's office with Coke."

In addition to the letter, McComas also included a nine-page PowerPoint presentation which suggests that the football stadium should install an air raid siren, for obvious reasons, that there's no need to worry about graduation rate because "They'll all be leaving early for the NFL," while also tying in a few of his own personal coaching mantras.

Regarding his game plan: "Chuck the pigskin. Fourth down? Chuck the pigskin."

His step-by-step guide to success: "1. Recruit great players. 2. Win a lot of games. 3. Recruit more great players. 4. Win more games."

Bravo, sir.

Via gifs-for-the-masses.tumblr.com

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And boom goes the dynamite.

In most countries, soccer goalies practice by having actual soccer players kick soccer balls at them in order to stay sharp for competition. This is reasonable. This is how practice works. In Slovenia they do things a little differently — they use cannons.

Yes, cannons. The type of cannons that require a large torch to light and are utterly unpredictable when it comes to accuracy and speed.

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This is absolutely great.

Before Sunday night's San Jose-Minnesota game, Wild forward Charlie Coyle waved to a young fan during warmups. And they boy simply could not stop smiling.

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The wave:

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The reaction:

Aaaaaand right in the feelings.

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LGBT activists accuse out skater Johnny Weir and NBC Sports of a conflict of interest, saying he has worked with the Russian Consulate.

Queer Nation protest in front of NBC's Today show holiday party Dec. 12.

Courtesy Queer Nation NY

Retired figure skater Johnny Weir, an out gay man and NBC Sports Sochi Olympics commentator, does not work for the Russian government, his publicist told BuzzFeed on Thursday.

Weir and NBC Sports are the subjects of a series of protests staged by LGBT activists in New York City, who allege the skater "works for the Russian Consulate" here, which they say would be a conflict of interest as a network correspondent at the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, early next year. They plan to stage a protest outside the NBC Sports holiday party Dec. 12 in Manhattan.

However, Laina Cohn, Weir's manager, said he does not work for the Russian government and has never been involved in the consulate, telling BuzzFeed via email, "He is NOT involved with or under contract with the Russian Consulate in any way! Never has been. If you want clarification you can go to Johnny's personal [website] and click on his charities section."

When contacted Thursday, an NBC Sports spokesperson, too, confirmed that Weir has not worked with the Russian government, nor its consulate.

The LGBT activists with Queer Nation NY point to Weir's biography posted by the Premiere Speakers Bureau ahead of a Dec. 2 talk at Barnard College, which reads, "[Weir] has recently begun working as a Goodwill Sports Ambassador to Japan and also works with the Russian Children's Welfare Society and Russian Consulate in New York City." Additionally, a post appeared on Americablog, an LGBT activist site, accusing Weir and NBC Sports of the conflict, referencing the biography.

That bio has since been revised to remove the information, but a similar version is still available on a Columbia University webpage about the event.

Cohn said the line about working with the Russian Consulate was a "typo" and that Weir "has always maintained that he supports the people of Russia (among people around the world) and his attendance at the Russian Children's Welfare Society Gala in September of 2010 is one of those examples."

Cohn said neither she nor anyone at her firm are responsible for the biography's revision, and added, "I didn't write it. I don't know who wrote it, it was written years ago."

Queer Nation activists are not buying the explanation.

"That's one hell of a typo," Ken Kidd, a member of Queer Nation, told BuzzFeed. "Johnny Weir's bio from the forum at Barnard, which specifically states he works for the Russian Consulate, has been on the website of Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs for weeks."

Kidd accused Weir of downplaying the scope and effects of the anti-LGBT laws enacted this summer in Russia and the degree of violence perpetrated against LGBT people there.

"If the Russian government isn't paying him, they should be — he might as well make some money from his collaboration," Kidd said. "If he is such a Russophile, Weir ought to put the Russian LGBT community before his new career at NBC and speak out about the LGBT Russians who are being arrested, jailed, beaten, raped, tortured, and murdered by their own government."

Under the nation's "gay propaganda ban," people can be fined for displaying LGBT pride banners and signs. For example, a leading Russian LGBT rights activist recently became the first to be convicted under the law for staging a protest outside a library in northern Russia. Kidd and other activists demand Weir and NBC take a stand to pressure Russia into abolishing the policies.

During the Dec. 2 speaking event at Barnard, Weir called the Queer Nation activists protesting outside the college "idiots" and characterized the Russian law as "no anal sex in front of libraries." He apologized the next day.

A representative from the Russian Consulate in New York could not be reached for comment Thursday.

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Not exactly how they drew ‘em up.

Tony Romo learns that sidelines officials are not eligible receivers.

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Ed Reed inexplicably drifts out of position, makes the Ravens feel OK about letting him go.

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Leonard Johnson does his best to self-concuss.

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Joe Flacco airs it out.

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“No investigation was conducted to speak of into the suspect in this case.”

Steve Nesius / Reuters

The attorney who represents Jameis Winston's accuser today called on the Florida attorney general's office to reopen the sexual assault investigation, saying "no investigation was conducted to speak of into the suspect in this case."

Patricia Carroll blasted the handling of the investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the state attorney's office at a press conference today in Zephryhills, Fla. Carroll said local authorities seemed to focus most of the investigation on the alleged victim and not Winston, now a star freshman quarterback for Florida State University.

"It appears to me to be a complete failure of an investigation of a rape case," Carroll said. "If victims are subjected on an ongoing basis to what this victim was, there is a serious problem in the state of Florida and certainly the Tallahassee area."

On the eve of a Heisman Trophy ceremony where Winston is the heavy favorite among six candidates, Carroll suggested local police and prosecutors failed to thoroughly look into the case because of Winston's football fame. Carroll previously accused a Tallahassee detective, Scott Angulo, of attempting to discourage the victim's family from pursuing the case. Tallahassee police have denied this accusation.

Last week, State Attorney Willie Meggs announced no charges would be filed against Winston in connection with the sexual assault investigation dating back to December 2012. Meggs said there wasn't enough evidence to win a conviction against Winston, in part because of the accuser's spotty memory.

In the news conference today, Carroll highlighted several issues she had with the investigation, including differences between medical records released to the media and records held by the accuser's family. Carroll said the records released to the public omitted specifics on the accuser's injuries, a "clinical impression" note made by an examiner suggesting the accuser was sexually assaulted, and references to a prescription for pain medication.

She also pointed out that her client's actions on the night of the alleged assault — Dec. 7, 2012 — were consistent with someone who was drugged, possibly explaining her memory problems. But because the accuser's urine wasn't sent to the lab until January, Carroll said, "I don't have confidence in the validity" of the toxicology reports.

Carroll also accused Angulo, one of the detectives working the case and a 1998 FSU graduate (which isn't particularly unusual in a town the size of Tallahassee), of failing to return the alleged victim's calls after January.

The accuser was an FSU student during the December incident but left school after her attorney was told by police that information about the case was about to be released to the media.

Carroll said the accuser's life has "been turned upside down." Before leaving school last month, she had the tires on her car slashed and soon after left her sorority. "She's not doing well, but she's a strong girl," Carroll said.

In the days after the case became public last month, school police were called twice to the woman's on-campus sorority house. One call involved an anonymous online threat to burn down the house, and another involved an unknown male making vulgar comments to one of the sorority members. The FSPD's documentation doesn't specifically link either incident to the Winston case, and no charges were filed.

Numerous other threats and derisive comments were made about the woman on message boards and other websites.

Meanwhile, at a college football awards show near Orlando yesterday, Winston was selected as the Walter Camp player of the year and also won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback. He thanked his family, coaches, and teammates for support and added, "I know I did nothing wrong."

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Andrew McCutchen has had a great year.

This week, reigning National League MVP and King of Pittsburgh, Andrew McCutchen appeared on The Ellen Show because that's simply what cool people do. He looked very dapper in a jacket that appeared to be inspired by civil war uniforms.

Early in the interview, Ellen asked if he is single at which point he introduced his girlfriend of four years Maria Hanslovan who was sitting in the audience.

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Bellyflops. Cakes smashed into faces. Hovercrafts. This year had it all.

Tim McCarver awkwardly high-fived his way out of baseball.

Prince Fielder pulled off one of the least clutch baserunning moves of all time.

Via buzzfeed.com

This Lakers "fan" got a face full of cake.

Via Twitter: @BuzzFeedSports

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Okay, don’t get cocky, Canada, but this is pretty cool.

We all know the "Great" White North hasn't provided much to humanity with the exception of being generally pleasant, having an inflated opinion on how much they can drink and playing mediocre hockey.

upload.wikimedia.org

Unlike Americans, who invented electricity, light, fire and water, the Canadians are bit more modest with their inventions, like the paint roller...

partipirate-tn.org

Instant mashed potatoes...

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They’re the best.

Hockey players have a reputation for being tough, brutal, manly men. And for the most part, that stereotype holds up. But among the people who cover sports they're also consistently considered the most approachable and friendly athletes in any league. Here are some of the reasons why.

Because they go out of their way to make their fans happy.

Jonathan Hayward / The Canadian Press / AP

Almost as a matter of routine.

Mark Blinch / The Canadian Press / AP

All the time.

Eliot J. Schechter / Getty

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The 19-year-old freshman from Florida State wins in landslide despite legal troubles.

Adam Hunger/Usa Today Sports

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has won the Heisman Trophy, taking college football's top individual prize tonight after a record-breaking debut season. A 19-year-old redshirt freshman, Winston becomes the youngest player to ever claim the award.

Only a week ago, Winston's Heisman hopes — and season — seemed in peril as he was at the center of a sexual assault investigation. But state attorney Willie Meggs decided to not charge Winston in the Dec. 7, 2012 incident, saying there wasn't enough evidence for a conviction. That cleared the way for Winston to reclaim his status as the frontrunner for the award.

His victory speech tonight hit on the theme of "trusting the process," a clear nod to the legal troubles that had followed him in the previous month.

"Because after all of the things I've been through in the past month," Winston said, "I remember what my dad said, 'trust in the process.'"

Winston drew 668 first-place votes and 2,205 points from a panel of media members and former winners, good for the seventh-largest margin of victory in the history of the award. He managed that large margin despite being left off 115 of the 900 ballots.

In the largest field of candidates since 1994, Winston followed Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel's footsteps in becoming only the second freshman to win the award.

Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron finished a distant second, Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch was third, Boston College running back Andrew Williams was fourth, Manziel was fifth and Auburn running back Tre Mason finished sixth in the voting.

Winston is also the third quarterback from Florida State to win the Heisman, joining Charlie Ward from 1993 and Chris Weinke from 2000. He did it without much of the preseason hype that has accompanied winners in the past, not even earning the starting position for the Seminoles until a couple weeks before the start of the season.

But Winston's dazzling debut was the rare performance that exceeded the hype, hinting at the season to come.

Winston went on to set FBS freshman records for yards passing (3,820) and touchdown passes (38), leading No. 1 Florida State (13-0) into the BCS National Championship against No. 2 Auburn. His 190.6 passer efficiency rating is tops in the country and is on pace to set an NCAA record.