Best of 2008: Sports photography

Gabriel Mercedes of the Dominican Republic tries a flying kick against Shu-Chun Yang of Taiwan in the 58kg quarterfinals of taekwondo at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Best of 2008 Photography >>> Best of 2008 Main >>>

Gabriel Mercedes of the Dominican Republic tries a flying kick against Shu-Chun Yang of Taiwan in the 58kg quarterfinals of taekwondo at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Best of 2008 Photography >>> Best of 2008 Main >>>  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Sports had its share of memorable moments in 2008, with the world’s athletes coming together for the Beijing Olympics. The Dodgers enjoyed some rare postseason success, sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the National League division series. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers mixed it up once again with the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals and Shane Mosley knocked the sweat off Ricardo Mayorga in a boxing match at the Home Depot Center.

Pau yell

Pau Gasol of the Lakers lets out a yell after scoring in the first period over Boston’s Paul Pierce in Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Staples Center.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Boxing

Shane Mosley knocks the sweat off of Ricardo Mayorga in a boxing match at Home Depot Center in September.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Kobe dunk

Kobe Bryant of the Lakers dunks after a steal in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Finals.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

smash mouth

UCLA running back Kahlil Bell knocks the helmet off of Fresno State linebacker Chris Carter in the first half of a September college football game at the Rose Bowl.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

dodger champagne

Delwyn Young of the Dodgers, left, celebrates with James Loney after sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the National League division series.  (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)

Volleyball

China’s Yimei Wang towers over U.S. defenders as she spikes the ball during a women’s volleyball match at the Beijing Summer Olympics. The U.S. won the match.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers loose ball

Lamar Odom of the Lakers gets held by Robert Horry of the San Antonio Spurs as Manu Ginobili dives for the loose ball in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals in May.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

sno-cone

Angels left fielder Gary Matthews Jr. holds on to a pop fly by Oakland A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki during a game in August.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Football flip

Crespi running back Brad Lattanzio is upended by the St. Bonaventure defense in the second quarter of Crespi’s 31-14 loss in a high school football game in September.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Lamar and Phil

Lamar Odom of the Lakers falls into the lap of Coach Phil Jackson while trying to retrieve a loose ball during an April playoff game against the Denver Nuggets.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Olympic Kobe

Kobe Bryant of the Lakers is photographed after a U.S. men’s basketball team practice in July. Best of 2008 Photography >>> Best of 2008 Main >>>  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)