A look at the top names in the news in '14:
Former NBA player DENNIS RODMAN led a team of former NBA players to participate in an exhibition basketball game in Pyongyang against a top North Korean Senior National team for North Korean leader KIM JONG UN's birthday.
Twenty-nine-year-old
ABIRAMI NAIDU became Singapore's first female referee to be accredited by FIFA.
Former BBC Sport commentator JOHN BARRETT was inducted into the Int'l Tennis Hall of Fame. He joined the BBC in '71 and became the corporation's "Voice of Tennis" until his retirement in '06. Cambridge graduate Barrett is only the eighth journalist to be honored by the organization in its 60-year history.
Brazilian footballer RIVALDO decided to retire at the age of 41.
Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal STEFANO DOMENICALI resigned from his position after the team's poor start to the F1 season. Domenicali was replaced by Ferrari North America President MARCO MATTIACCI.
JOHAN BRUYNEEL, the man in charge of LANCE ARMSTRONG's racing team, was banned for 10 years for his involvement in doping. The 49-year-old Belgian team director received the ban after a decision by the American Arbitration Association and was one of three people who worked for Armstrong’s US Postal Service team, to be punished.
Arsenal Manager ARSENE WENGER signed a contract to stay at Arsenal until '17. He is the longest-serving manager in the football league, having joined Arsenal in '96.
Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars World Cup winning captain JODIE FIELDS announced her retirement from int'l cricket. She is the seventh most-capped Australian women's int'l.
Supermodel GISELE BUNDCHEN presented the World Cup to the winners in Brazil.
Australian hockey player NATHAN WALKER, 20, became the first Australian selected in the NHL draft. The Washington Capitals chose him at No. 89 after trading their two fourth-round choices with the New York Rangers for the penultimate pick in the third round.
Barcelona's LIONEL MESSI was announced as the global cover star for FIFA 15.
World Cup-winning captain PHILIPP LAHM retired from int'l football.
CORINNE DIACRE, the only female coach of a men's professional team in a major European country, took charge of Ligue 1 Clermont Foot. Diacre, 40, was appointed in June on a two-year deal.
Barcelona and Spain midfielder XAVI HERNANDEZ announced his retirement from int'l football. The 34-year-old won the World Cup and two European Championships with his country. He was capped 133 times.
IOC member PRINCESS HAYA of Jordan cited her relief work for Gaza as a reason not to seek re-election as Int'l Equestrian Federation president.
LUIS SUAREZ promised Barcelona fans he will never bite another player again and revealed he sought professional help to prevent it happening for a fourth time.
Italian GIANLUCA BRAMBILLA and Russia's IVAN ROVNY were disqualified from the Vuelta a Espana after coming to blows during the 16th stage from San Martin del Rey Aurelio to La Farrapona.
Russia's Channel One Dir General KONSTANTIN ERNST, who directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sochi Olympic Games, was named "Person of the Year" by the country's GQ magazine.
F1 team Marussia driver JULES BIANCHI suffered a severe head injury in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. The Frenchman was rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state after an accident that prematurely ended the Suzuka race. The incident happened after Bianchi's car crashed into a recovery vehicle that was on track attending to Sauber driver ADRIAN SUTIL.
Famous German fashion designer KARL LAGERFELD designed a punching bag and a pair of gloves for Louis Vuitton to celebrate 118 years of the company’s logo. The set was selling for $175,000.
The Int'l Paralympic Committee ruled that Olympic and Paralympic sprinter OSCAR PISTORIUS will not be allowed to return to competition until '19 after he was sentenced to five years in prison for shooting his girlfriend REEVA STEENKAMP.
Bayern Munich gave POPE FRANCIS a signed football along with a €1M ($1.3M) donation to a charity or cause of his choice.
Inter Milan President ERICK THOHIR was referred to as "that Filipino" by Serie A side Sampdoria President MASSIMO FERRERO and attacked in a Huffington Post column as a "fat Indonesian" by former 2006 Turin Olympics Organizing Committee President EVELINA CHRISTILLIN.
Violinist VANESSA MAE, who made her Olympic debut in Sochi this year at the age of 35, was banned from competitive skiing for four years for fixing races.
NBA Dallas Mavericks player DIRK NOWITZKI became the NBA's top int'l scorer of all time.
SEBASTIAN VETTEL announced his move from Red Bull to Ferrari for the 2015 Formula One season.
