In late December, it’s time to start thinking about the biggest sports stories of the previous 11½ months for what ultimately becomes our Top 20 Sports Stories of the Year. Typically, the top few positions are figured out in a hurry. But once we get past the top five or six, the crapshoot begins.

Many factors go into the selections on this list, but the biggest factor is simple: It’s just a great story or several great stories combined – according to us, anyway.