• FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2017, file photo, San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers' Eli Harold (57), Eric Reid (35) and Marquise Goodwin (11) kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, in Houston. President Donald Trump's feud with the NFL about players kneeling during the national anthem is the runaway winner for the top sports story of 2017 in balloting by AP members and editors. Photo: David J. Phillip, AP / Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Photo: David J. Phillip, AP
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FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2017, file photo, San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers' Eli Harold (57), Eric Reid (35) and Marquise Goodwin (11) kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, in Houston. President Donald Trump's feud with the NFL about players kneeling during the national anthem is the runaway winner for the top sports story of 2017 in balloting by AP members and editors. less
FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2017, file photo, San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers' Eli Harold (57), Eric Reid (35) and Marquise Goodwin (11) kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against ... more
Photo: David J. Phillip, AP
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FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2017, file photo, Detroit Lions players take a knee during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Detroit. President Donald Trump's feud with the NFL about players kneeling during the national anthem is the runaway winner for the top sports story of 2017 in balloting by AP members and editors. less
FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2017, file photo, Detroit Lions players take a knee during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Detroit. President Donald Trump's feud with the ... more
Photo: Paul Sancya, AP
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FILE - In this Nov. 1, 2017, file photo, the Houston Astros celebrate after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles. The Astros winning their first World Series was one of the biggest sports stories in 2017 for the AP. less
FILE - In this Nov. 1, 2017, file photo, the Houston Astros celebrate after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles. The Astros winning their first World Series was one ... more
Photo: Matt Slocum, AP
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FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots' Tom Brady raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime at the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game in Houston. In a season that included his suspension for "Deflategate," Tom Brady engineers record-breaking comeback as Patriots defeat Falcons in first-ever Super Bowl overtime as one of the biggest sports stories in 2017 for the AP. less
FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots' Tom Brady raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime at the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game in Houston. In a ... more
Photo: Darron Cummings, AP
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FILE - In this June 12, 2017, file photo, Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, from left, guard Stephen Curry and forward Kevin Durant celebrate after Game 5 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Oakland, Calif. Durant leading the Golden State Warriors to the NBA championship over the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers was one of the biggest sports stories in 2017. less
FILE - In this June 12, 2017, file photo, Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, from left, guard Stephen Curry and forward Kevin Durant celebrate after Game 5 of basketball's NBA Finals against the ... more
Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP
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FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, file photo, Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, and Conor McGregor face off during a weigh-in in Las Vegas. McGregor stepping into the boxing ring to face undefeated champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. was one of the biggest sports stories in 2017. less
FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, file photo, Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, and Conor McGregor face off during a weigh-in in Las Vegas. McGregor stepping into the boxing ring to face undefeated champ Floyd ... more
Photo: John Locher, AP
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Colin Kaepernick didn't take a snap in the NFL in 2017, yet he was a big part of the biggest story of the year.

NFL players kneeling during the national anthem, something Kaepernick started a year earlier to bring attention to social injustices, set off a national debate that erupted once President Donald Trump chimed in.

His call for owners to fire players who protested during "The Star-Spangled Banner" led to a massive show of defiance in the days that followed.

The president's feud with the NFL is the runaway winner for top sports story of 2017 in balloting by AP members and editors, easily outdistancing the corruption scandal engulfing college basketball and the Houston Astros winning their first World Series and lifting the spirits of a city devastated by Hurricane Harvey.

Here is a list of the biggest sports stories in 2017:

1. NFL players who knelt during the national anthem said they were exercising their free-speech rights and trying to bring attention to social injustices. Critics, including the president, said they were disrespecting the flag, the country and the military. Kaepernick sued the league when no team signed him.

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2. College basketball comes under the microscope after a federal investigation reveals corruption involving recruiting practices.

3. Houston Astros win their first World Series, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 to lift the spirits of a city devastated by Hurricane Harvey.

4. In a season that included his four-game suspension for "Deflategate," Tom Brady engineers a record-breaking comeback as the Patriots defeat the Falcons in first-ever Super Bowl overtime.

5. The president of USA Gymnastics resigns amid a sexual abuse scandal that includes revelations by some of the sport's biggest stars that they were victims.

6. Russia is banned from the Winter Olympics for a massive doping scheme at the 2014 Sochi Games.

7. Clemson mounts a last-second comeback to beat Alabama for college football's national championship.

8. The United States fails to qualify for soccer's World Cup for the first time since 1986. Three-time champion Italy also fails to qualify.

9. New acquisition Kevin Durant leads the Golden State Warriors to the NBA championship over the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

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