Made us look: Sports news that got our attention in 2011

Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested Nov. 5 on charges that he sexually abused young boys, and two high-ranking Penn State administrators have been charged with lying about their knowledge of the crimes. On Nov. 9, Penn State trustees fired legendary head coach Joe Paterno, Sandusky’s former boss, and ousted the school’s president Graham Spanier. Students were outraged with Paterno’s dismissal and caused a mini-riot at the school.  (Paul Vathis / Associated Press)

According to World Peace’s publicist, Courtney Barnes, the Lakers forward had been contemplating the switch for years but “it took years of research and soul-searching to find a first name that was both personally meaningful and inspirational.” Metta is a Buddhist term that means loving kindness and friendliness toward others.

Artest -- er, World Peace -- had hoped to adopt the new moniker in August but was rebuffed because of an outstanding traffic ticket. Ticket paid, World Peace can now reign.  (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Serena Williams was fined $2,000 for her verbal outburst against chair umpire Eva Asderaki during a U.S. Open women’s final on Sept. 11.

In a statement, U.S. Open tournament referee Brian Earley said the fine was for the code violation of verbal abuse. Williams launched into a verbal tirade and was heard to say, “What a loser,” “You’re a hater,” “A code violation because I expressed who I am? Really. Don’t even look at me. I promise you, don’t look at me. ... Don’t look my way.” And, in a comment that could be interpreted as threatening, she said, “If you ever see me walking down the hall, walk the other way.”  (Matt Slocum / Associated Press)

On Oct. 31, Oscar De La Hoya revealed to the public that he struggled with cocaine, alcohol and infidelity -- and has even contemplated suicide.

“Rock bottom was recently,” the boxing great said in an interview with Spanish-language broadcaster Univision, according to an English-language transcript it provided. “Within a couple of years, just thinking if my life was even worth it. I don’t have the strength, I don’t have the courage to take my own life but I was thinking about it.”

De La Hoya, who retired in 2009 after winning 10 world titles in six divisions, said he had been sober for three months.  (Patrick McDermott / Getty Images)

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who many thought wasn’t ready to succeed Brett Favre, completed 24 of 39 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-25 wire-to-wire win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images)

NASCAR driver Kurt Busch ended his relationship with the Penske Racing team after he was fined $50,000 for an off-track incident. During the Sprint Cup series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Busch was caught on video using an obscene gesture and launching into a profanity-laced tirade toward ESPN reporter Dr. Jerry Punch. The incident was posted on YouTube.  (Jeff Zelevansky / Getty Images for NASCAR)

The Angels made the biggest free-agent splash in their team history Dec. 8 when they reached an agreement with slugger Albert Pujols on a 10-year deal for at least $250 million. His bat provides a significant boost to an Angels lineup that ranked 10th in the American League with 667 runs last season.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Floyd Mayweather knocked out Victor Ortiz in stunning fashion in the fourth round of their welterweight title fight on Sept. 17, but the finish probably cemented his reputation as a villain in the eyes of most boxing fans.

Late in the fourth round, Ortiz head-butted Mayweather and was given a warning by referee Joe Cortez. Ortiz apologized to Mayweather, and leaned in to him as if to give him a hug while Cortez seemingly gave a weak signal for the fight to resume. Mayweather used the opening to throw a hard right that knocked Ortiz out.  (John Gurzinski / AFP / Getty Images)

UCLA football coach Rick Neuheisel was fired Nov. 28 after a four-year run in which the Bruins had a 21-28 record. The day before the firing, the Bruins had just come off a 50-0 loss to USC, the worst conference loss in school history.

Neuheisel, a former UCLA quarterback, was greeted with much fanfare when he replaced Karl Dorrell in 2007, but managed to get the Bruins to a bowl game only once in the three previous seasons.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

In a game not befitting the long and successful career of Coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers were embarrassed by the Dallas Mavericks, 122-86, and swept out of the Western Conference semifinals, four game to none.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

While parts of the city were crumbling around them after a riot broke out after the Vancouver Canucks’ loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, one couple decided it was time to show some affection, or so it seemed.. It turns out that the couple had been knocked down by police and that the boyfriend was trying to comfort his distraught girlfriend. The result? The above picture.  (Richard Lam / Getty Images)

A hard handshake, a dismissive shove and a shoulder bump is all it took to reduce a couple of spectacular coaches to a spectacle.

San Francisco 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh had every right to be excited Oct. 16 after his team knocked off previously unbeaten Detroit. Likewise, Lions Coach Jim Schwartz had every right to be upset after his team’s first loss of the season.

But maybe Harbaugh was a bit unprofessional when he didn’t stop celebrating during the coaches’ postgame handshake, basically slapping Schwartz’s hand and back as if he was congratulating one of his own players (Schwartz later claimed there also was an obscenity involved, although he did not offer any further details). And perhaps Schwartz overreacted when he pursued Harbaugh across the field and had to be physically prevented from trying to do who knows what to the opposing coach.  (Leon Halip / Getty Images)

Tiger Woods won his first golf tournament in two years Dec. 4 when he sank a birdie putt on the 18th hole to edge Zach Johnson by one shot and capture the Chevron World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks.

It was Woods’ first win since the world’s former No. 1 golfer was engulfed in a personal scandal that erupted Thanksgiving weekend in 2009.  (Scott Halleran / Getty Images)

Ndamukong Suh, the Detroit Lions defensive tackle, was suspended by the NFL for two games after an ugly incident on Thanksgiving Day.

During the third quarter of the Lions’ 27-15 loss to Green Bay, Suh shoved the helmet of the Packers’ Evan Dietrich-Smith into the turf and stomped on his arm. Suh was ejected from the game for kicking.   (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

On Nov. 1, Frank McCourt agreed to sell the Dodgers, surrendering the team he fought to retain for two years and in two courts.

McCourt and Major League Baseball agreed to seek approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for an auction of the Dodgers. The sale is expected to include the team, Dodger Stadium and the surrounding parking lots, a package bought by McCourt for $421 million in 2004 and likely to sell now for two to three times as much.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Wes Leonard of Fennville (Mich.) High sealed his team’s undefeated season with a game-winning layup with 30 seconds remaining in overtime March 3. Then tragedy struck. After teammates and fans rushed the court to celebrate the victory, Leonard collapsed to the ground and later died.

Paramedics performed CPR on the 16-year-old junior, but he was pronounced dead at Holland Hospital, spokeswoman Deb Patterson said.

Wes, who was also quarterback of the school’s football team, had scored more than 1,000 points in his basketball career at Fennville. He was “by far the best player on that basketball team — outstanding athlete,” said Bridgman (Mich.) Coach Mike Miller.  (Dennis Geppert / Associated Press)

In the last game of the season for USC, the Bruins had no answer for Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley. He finished the game having completed 35 of 42 passes for 423 yards and a school-record-tying six touchdowns. USC Coach Lane Kiffin said, “It’s a great day for the Trojans.”  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Clippers rookie power forward Blake Griffin won the Slam Dunk contest by leaping over a compact car while catching a pass from teammate Baron Davis through the sunroof and then slamming the ball through the rim with two hands Feb. 19 at Staples Center.

The final round was scored by fans nationwide.

Griffin defeated Wizards center JaVale McGee, who did a one-handed catch and dunk in his final attempt.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The Cardinals rallied from deficits five times before winning the game on David Freese‘s two-strike home run leading off the 11th inning against the Texas Rangers.

Despite making three errors, managing just three hits through the first seven innings, stranding 11 men on base and going 3 for 12 with runners in scoring position, St. Louis won, staving off elimination.  (Whitney Curtis / EPA)

The Lakers’ deal for New Orleans guard Chris Paul was killed Dec. 8 by the NBA, which owns the Hornets franchise.

“It is not true that owners killed the deal,” said NBA spokesman Tim Frank. “It wasn’t even discussed at the Board [of Governors] meeting. The league office declined to make the trade for basketball reasons.”

NBA commisioner David Stern later explained in a statement, “In the case of the trade proposal that was made to the Hornets for Chris Paul, we decided, free from the influence of other NBA owners, that the team was better served with Chris in a Hornets uniform than by the outcome of the terms of that trade.”  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)