A Season Cursed

From baseball's 'roid rage to hockey's non-season, a year of sports disappointments

For Boston Red Sox fans, both living and dead, the baseball season was a historic high: a come-from-behind victory over the hated Yankees in the play-offs, followed by the team's first World Series triumph in 86 years. But for the rest of the U.S., the sports year was one to forget. And we're not just talking about Kobe Bryant's rape case. A rundown of the swings and misses of 2004. --By Sean Gregory

BASEBALL The steroid scandal widened and moved inexorably closer to Barry Bonds. Fans wonder: Did the slugger really think his trainer was just giving him flaxseed oil?

FOOTBALL...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!