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LeBron, Ronda Rousey, Ray Rice lead Yahoo Sports' most popular posts

LeBron, Ronda Rousey, Ray Rice lead Yahoo Sports' most popular posts

Millions of you visited Yahoo Sports this year, and we thank you for that. LeBron James, Ronda Rousey and Ray Rice were among the most notable athletes in 2014, but the overriding lesson might be: careful what you do at baseball games. Here are the most popular stories on the Yahoo Sports Blogs for 2014:

1. LeBron James violates royal protocol, puts arm around Kate Middleton during a photo (Dec. 9) Weeks before "The Interview" kicked off an international crisis, LeBron James nearly started one of his own when he (gasp!) put his arm around the British royal family's beloved Kate.

2. Ravens cut running back Ray Rice after domestic violence video is released (Sept. 8) The story that rocked the NFL to its core hit its peak here. What did the NFL know about former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice's February act of domestic violence, and when did it know? Those questions would dominate the first half of the NFL season.

3. Fan who fell asleep during Yankees-Red Sox game suing for $10 million (July 7) Look, we get it: midsummer baseball can be boring. But if you do happen to drift off, don't blame the team or the networks for showing you catching some Zs.

4. Broncos Eric Decker and pregnant wife Jessie James take provocative pictures for GQ Magazine (Jan. 16) Shots of attractive women with athletes, or attractive women who are athletes, ranked high across the board. Go figure.

5. Ronda Rousey gets put on the spot after quick win (July 6) The UFC's prime attraction caused a bit of a stir when she announced she'd be ready to fight soon after winning, much to the dismay of UFC brass.

6. Giancarlo Stanton hit in face with pitch, suffers fractures and dental damage (Sept. 11) This story featured another staple of the Internet: grim imagery. But although Stanton got his face rearranged by a fastball, he later signed baseball's largest contract, so everything worked out just fine.

7. Ranking the bowls 1-38 (excluding the national championship) (Dec. 7) Need to know which bowls to watch and which to skip? We've got you covered right here.

8. Dodgers-Giants couple pour beer over each other's head during 'kiss cam' (Sept. 24) This may or may not have been a setup, but it was fun nonetheless: a couple pouring beers over each other's heads when the "Kiss Cam" came their way.

9. Redskins PR guy embarrasses self, team by dragging Colt McCoy off field (Oct. 28) The Redskins had very few high points this season, and in true Redskins fashion, they managed to screw one up. Colt McCoy had just won the biggest game of his career, yet the Redskins' PR chief decided it was a good idea to drag him away from an interview and bark at the interviewer, all on-camera.

10. TMZ releases footage of Ray Rice punching wife (Sept. 8) The graphic footage of Ray Rice knocking his then-fiance unconscious in an Atlantic City elevator was some of the most startling imagery of the year.

And here are the next 10:

11. MetLife Stadium hit by snow storm two weeks before Super Bowl (Jan. 22)
12. Kate Upton says Yankees wouldn't let her wear Tigers' gear  (Aug. 10)
13. Charles Barkley: 'Every black parent in the South' whips their children (Sept. 14)
14. Diamondbacks play revenge game, drill Andrew McCutchen with fastball (Aug. 3)
15. Classy Saints fan steals football meant for female Bengals fan (Nov. 16)
16. Jeff Gordon goes after Brad Keselowski following contact at Texas (Nov. 2)
17. Snow waits until after Super Bowl XLVIII to finish to hit MetLife Stadium (Feb. 3)
18. Nebraska lineman falls on his behind in hilarious false start (Oct. 4)
19. Report: Minnesota Vikings do not foresee Adrian Peterson in their future (Sept. 21)
20. Kate Upton persuades Justin Verlander to toss her a baseball (Aug. 4)

Other notable stories from all the Yahoo Sports Blogs included:
Lacey Holsworth, friend of Michigan State's Adreian Payne, has died (College basketball, April 9)
Lexi Thompson's newest photo shoot will catch your attention (Golf, Sept. 16)
Paulina Gretzky Golf Digest cover has upset the LPGA (Hockey, April 4)
Racy photos of Olympic skier Jackie Chamoun cause a stir in her native Lebanon (Olympics, Feb. 12)

Want to see what the top stories were in each sport? Here you go:

Ball Don't Lie (NBA) • Big League Stew (MLB) • Cagewriter (MMA) • The Dagger (NCAAB) • Devil Ball Golf • Dr. Saturday (NCAAF) • Fourth Place Medal (Olympics) • From The Marbles (NASCAR) • Puck Daddy (NHL) • Shutdown Corner (NFL)

 

Thanks for stopping by throughout the year. Best wishes for the holiday season, and we'll see you all through 2015.

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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.

And keep up with Jay over on Facebook, too.