2012: The Year in Sports (84 images)

Artemis Racing of Sweden sails in a fleet race in the America's Cup World Series in San Francisco Bay on August 24, 2012. Eleven 45-foot catamarans representing eight teams are competing in the sailing series as a prelude to next year's America's Cup to be held in San Francisco. UPI/Terry Schmitt

San Francisco Giants reliever Javier Lopez looks to the plate in a driving rain in the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game seven of the National League Championship Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco on October 22, 2012. The Giants beat the Cards 9-0 to take the National League crown UPI/Terry Schmitt

America's Serena Williams celebrates winning the Women's final against Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska on the twelfth day of the 2012 Wimbledon championships in London, July 7, 2012. UPI/Hugo Philpott

Flowers, signs, and other mementos adorn the area of a statue of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno as fans pay respects to the winningest football coach in college football history, on January 23, 2012 on the Penn State campus in State College, Pennsylvania. Paterno, who died on January 22nd, won 409 games for Penn State as their head coach for 46 years. 'UPI/George Powers