Sports

You’ll Never Guess The AP’s Top Sports Story Of 2017

REUTERS/Stephen Lam/File Photo

Jena Greene Reporter
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The year of 2017 was a wild one for the sports world.

The Patriots came back from a 25 point deficit to win the Super Bowl, the selection committee stacked the College Football Playoff with SEC teams (controversial, albeit predictable), Kyrie Irving pulled off a shocking trade to the Celtics, and the Philadelphia Eagles wowed fans everywhere by finishing with the best record in the NFC.

But when the AP looked back at 2017 to determine the top sports story 2017, none of these bombshells made the top spot.

Instead, they named NFL players protesting the National Anthem as the most memorable sports moment of 2017.

They AP wrote:

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.

College basketball corruption investigations, the Astros’ World Series win, and Tom Brady’s electric post-deflategate comeback made number two, three, and four, respectfully.

Sure, NFL players kneeling for the anthem is a big story. It may or may not have absolutely tanked this season’s ratings and sparked massive debate after President Trump got involved and called for every protesting player to be fired. Lots of people – including those outside the sports world – were talking about it.

But over half the players still protesting the anthem are on the same team. Colin Kaepernick – the player associated with starting the protest – doesn’t even play in the NFL anymore. So naming it the top story of 2017 might just be a little overeager.