NEW YORK -- The Boston Marathon bombing was selected the sports story of the year Friday in an annual vote conducted by The Associated Press. Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. Authorities say brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, ethnic Chechens from Russia who emigrated to the United States as children, planned and carried out the bombings in retaliation for U.S. involvement in Muslim countries. Ninety-six ballots were submitted from U.S. editors and news directors. Voters were asked to rank the top 10 sports stories of the year, with the first-place story receiving 10 points, the second-place story nine points and so on. The marathon attack received 761 points and 67 first-place votes. It was also second in APs national/international story of the year poll. The No. 2 sports story, Lance Armstrongs admission of doping, had five first-place votes and 517 points. The top five stories were grim: terrorism, performance-enhancing drug use, legal settlements, murder charges. The first on-field action came in at No. 6 -- the Boston Red Soxs worst-to-first World Series title, though even that was tinged by the citys heartache less than seven months earlier. Here are 2013s top 10 stories: 1. BOSTON MARATHON BOMBINGS: The throngs of spectators lining the streets at a storied big-city marathon were once a wholesome scene of civic pride and friendly support. Aprils attack came as a haunting reminder that the crowds at a high-profile event are also a vulnerable target. Bag searches and metal detectors were a common sight at games the rest of the year. As victims persevere on prosthetic limbs, the 118th edition of the worlds oldest marathon is set for the spring, with security undoubtedly heightened but runners determined to take part. 2. LANCE ARMSTRONG: The disgraced cyclist was also the No. 2 sports story last year. In 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency stripped him of his record seven Tour de France titles, releasing mounds of evidence that he used PEDs to win them. In January, after years of defiant denials, Armstrong finally admitted it, telling Oprah Winfrey: "Its this myth, this perfect story, and it wasnt true." 3. NFL CONCUSSION SETTLEMENT: The NFLs settlement of lawsuits brought by thousands of former players will cost the league $765 million but wont end the turmoil over head injuries in football -- or the litigation. The retirees, who had accused the NFL of concealing the long-term dangers of concussions, will be eligible for compensation for certain neurological ailments. The league did not admit to any wrongdoing after mediation resulted in a settlement in August. 4. BASEBALL DRUG BANS: Alex Rodriguezs 211-game suspension was the longest of the 13 announced in August for players connected to a Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned PEDs. The Yankees slugger was the only one to contest the penalty, and the year ends with an arbitrator yet to rule. In July, Ryan Braun, the 2011 NL MVP who had previously denied using banned substances, accepted a 65-game suspension. 5. HERNANDEZ ARREST: On Jan. 20, New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez had nine catches for 83 yards in an AFC championship game loss to Baltimore. Just more than five months later, he was charged with murder. Prosecutors accuse him of shooting a friend to death on a secluded gravel road for talking to the wrong people at a nightclub. Hernandez awaits trial amid revelations of a history of violence by the player. 6. RED SOX WIN: Bostons 2011 season ended with a collapse and tales of fried chicken and beer in the clubhouse; 2012 ended with a last-place finish and 93 losses. New manager John Farrell and his bearded sluggers embraced "Boston Strong" and tied for the best record in the majors in a turnaround few predicted. With timely hits up and down the lineup throughout the playoffs, the Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals in six games for their third World Series title in a decade. 7. RAVENS SUPER: The power came back on, and Baltimore held on. Ravens coach John Harbaugh beat younger brother Jims San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in the Super Bowl in an unprecedented sibling showdown. But the game will be remembered most for the 34-minute outage at the Superdome in New Orleans. Baltimore star linebacker Ray Lewis rode into retirement with a ring. 8. AWESOME AUBURN: The Tigers turnaround from a 3-9 record to the national title game was stunning enough. Even more shocking was how they did it. A deflected 73-yard touchdown pass with 25 seconds left gave Auburn a 43-38 win over Georgia on Nov. 16. The play that ended their next game will go down as one of the most memorable in college football history: Chris Davis return of a missed field goal attempt more than 100 yards to beat No. 1 Alabama 34-28. 9. TEO HOAX: Heisman Trophy runner-up Manti Teo struggled in Notre Dames lopsided loss to Alabama in the national title game Jan. 7. Nine days later, his name became forever linked to a most bizarre sports story. That tragic tale about his girlfriends death told over and over as the linebacker starred for an undefeated team? She didnt exist. Teo insisted he was duped into believing the woman he never met in person was real. 10. HEAT TITLE: One more free throw or one more defensive rebound, and the San Antonio Spurs prevent Miami from repeating as champion. Instead, Ray Allen made one of the biggest shots in NBA Finals history, knocking down a second-chance 3-pointer with 5 seconds left to send Game 6 to overtime. The Heat won in the extra period and again in Game 7 to give LeBron James another title. . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. [url=http://www.nflbearsusjerseys.com/Womens-Walter-Payton-Authentic-Jersey/]Wal... Payton Womens Jersey . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. [url=http://www.nflbearsusjerseys.com/Womens-Matt-Forte-Authentic-Jersey/]Matt Forte Bears Jersey . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville.TORONTO -- Ryan Nelsen is left to improvise once more. A week ago, the rookie Toronto FC head coach welcomed Argentine Maximiliano Urruti to the club. The long-coveted youngster and his fellow countryman, Matias Laba, were to spend the rest of this disappointing season playing together with other newcomers expected to be key members of the Reds of the future, offering Nelsen and supporters a glimpse of a side poised to take a run at respectability. But with Laba now out of the line-up for up to six weeks after breaking his big toe in a 2-0 loss in Columbus last Saturday, Nelsens plan to finally see his core group in action is also on the shelf. "Whether youre at the top of league or the bottom of the league, these things happen," a philosophical Nelsen said Friday before the Reds flew to Washington and a date with D.C. United on Saturday night. "Its just life." So, instead of testing the chemistry between Laba, 21, and Urruti, 22, Nelsen said he will use the injury to give others an opportunity to audition for a more regular role in the side. "Weve got to the stage now where well be putting people into the firing line," Nelsen said. "Theyve got to play well or well change the team and see what other guys can do." Jeremy Hall, 24, is expected to be the first to get the opportunity to fill Labas shoes in the defensive midfield position. its a spot he patrolled regularly earlier in the season, having made 18 starts in 2013. "Its a tough loss for the team but at the same time guys are going to have to step up and show their worth to the coach and prove that they can still contribute to the team," said Hall, who has one goal in 22 appearances after moving from defender to midfield. "Im comfortable in there, so Im just going to have to do what Ive been doing at the beginning of the season and hopefully I can continue to do well." Toronto (4-12-8) goes into D.C. having lost two straight matches, which came after the club posted its first two-game win streak in more than a year. The Reds won 2-1 in Washington on June 115.dddddddddddd While very little has gone right in 2013 for D.C. (3-17-4), the leagues worst team has been given a spark by Luis Silva, 24. The California-born midfielder has scored three goals and added an assist in four appearances for United since being traded from Toronto for allocation money on July 9. "Its sad for us that hes not going to be on our team this weekend, but hes a good player, hes done well for D.C. and were going to have to keep an eye on him," Hall said of Silva, who leads his new club in scoring. "Im sure Luis is going to want to have a good one against us." Same goes for Toronto native and former Toronto captain Dwayne De Rosario. The 35-year-old has battled injuries this season but the veteran has always been a handful for the Reds when they travel to D.C. He has six goals in three matches between the teams at RFK Stadium since he left Toronto early in the 2011 season, including a hat trick in his first match against his former side. Saturdays match also has special significance for Toronto striker Jeremy Brockie, 25. The New Zealand native will be play his final game of a loan deal from the Wellington Phoenix of Australias A-League. Though he said Friday has was "disappointed" to have only scored once in his first 14 matches with the Reds after an A-League season in which he scored 16 times in 24 games, Brockie said hes enjoyed MLS and Toronto and would be happy to return as a loan after the upcoming A-League campaign. "Its a very well-run club and all its missing really is the playoff contention so if the possibility was to come back one day then Id definitely be open to that," said Brockie, a New Zealand international who has two years remaining on his contract with Wellington. Nelsen, a former teammate of Brockies with New Zealand, said although the striker didnt find the back of the net as much as many had hoped, "hes helped out in so many ways on and off the field." "His professionalism day-in and day-out shows the younger players what its all about," Nelsen said. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '