Top sports stories of 2009

— As selected by members of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports department. To be eligible, stories must involve athletes who made news in the state or athletes from the state who made news nationally.

1. ARKANSAS-BRED PITCHERS

Cliff Lee and A.J. Burnett square off in Game 5 of the 2009 World Series.

2. ARKANSAS FOOTBALL

returns to relevance in Coach Bobby Petrino’s second season.

3. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

get crazy. Private schools nearly voted into their own playoffs before season; Lamar gets injunction to re-enter Class 3A playoffs, delaying playoffs a week.

4. OAKLAWN-RACED RACHEL ALEXANDRA

wins Kentucky Oaks by 20 lengths, beats boys in the Preakness, Haskell and Woodward and could be horse of the year.

5. ARKANSAS BASKETBALL

loses players to suspension almost as often as it loses games.

6. MARK MARTIN, 50, finishes second in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings for a record-tying fifth time.

7. ARKANSAS BASEBALL

makes dramatic run to College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

8. BERNIE COX

retires after 271 victories in 35 seasons as Little Rock Central’s football coach.

9. JERMAIN TAYLOR’

s career hits canvas when the former middleweight champion suffers two knockout losses in the 12th round.

10. FAYETTEVILLE BOYS AND GIRLS

go undefeated, win Class 7A state basketball titles.

11. MICHAEL DYER

of Little Rock Christian sets Arkansas’ high school career rushing record.

12. FORMER ARKANSAS QB MATT JONES

fades into oblivion after being cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Articles, 8C-9C.

Sports, Pages 25 on 12/27/2009

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