Top 10 Photos of 2008 Taken Totally Out of Context

It's been one hell of a ride over the past year. From the excitement of a historical presidential election, to the paralyzing effects of an economic recession, 2008 has given us its fair share of ups and downs.

And let us not forget the sports world. The timeless battle between the thrill of victory and bitterness of defeat was waged more violently than ever in 2008.

Luckily, we have the pictures to prove it—sort of.

Sox Lose Game, Ellsbury As Ball Takes Rare Bounce

Red Sox left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury braces for the inevitability of a brutal shot to the junk during a game in July at Fenway Park.

After the ball struck Ellsbury, it caromed into the corner, allowing all three Orioles runners to score for an eventual 6-5 Baltimore victory.

Nadal's Post-Tourney Behavior Raises Eyebrows

Shortly after his epic five-set Wimbledon victory over Roger Federer in July, an euphoric Rafael Nadal attempts to proposition match onlooker Letizia, Princess of Spain, as her husband, Felipe, the Crown Prince, vehemently interjects.

Scandal the Theme for Asian Bodybuilding Competition

In a desperate attempt to boost popularity, the governing body of professional bodybuilding has recently gone to great lengths to equate its sport with those considered mainstream all over the world, particularly baseball.

In this photo taken at the Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships in July, IFBB officials used a tactic known to those who use it as "shopping."

Using the popular picture retouching program PhotoShop, this particular perpetrator has taken the liberty of using what appears to be the head of Houston Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui to accentuate the well-oiled body of female bodybuilder Lo Kit Ming.

"Monkey" Business Leads to Braun's Early Derby Ouster

Maurice, the genetically enhanced Chilean rain forest monkey who recently escaped from the Bronx Zoo, disguises himself as Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun at Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium in July.

Zookeepers quickly intervened soon after the derby's opening round, effectively ending Braun's shot at becoming the first Brewer to win the contest.

Awkward Moment Between Jackson and Odom Not Enough to Derail Dominant Lakers

Flamboyant Lakers forward Lamar Odom tries to rub a bit of his boyish charm off on head coach Phil Jackson during Los Angeles' Game One victory over the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the NBA playoffs in April.

Despite Jackson's opposition, Odom managed to watch the entire fourth quarter of the Lakers' 128-114 win from his coach's lap.

Mejia Wastes Little Time in Laying Down for Soto

Super lightweight fighter Gustavo Mejia, 30, goes through his pre-match ritual of doing ring angels moments before he was knocked out cold just 58 seconds into his bout with Demetrio Soto in Atlantic City in June.

Referee Mills Lane, background, told reporters after the fight that he wanted to personally thank Mejia for "an easy night that will allow for more drinking."

Gaggle of Cameron Crazies Arrested for Sexual Abuse of BC Player

Boston College guard Biko Paris flashes a look of horror as he awaits an intrusive probing from countless Duke fans in the first half of the Eagles' 90-80 loss in Durham, N.C., in February.

Following the game, Paris shared his horrific recollection of the now infamous inbounds pass: "It makes me fear going to sleep tonight. I'm afraid of feeling all those little, blue fingers crawling all over me."

Stoops Has Mixed Feelings About Bradford's Aerial Tactics

With his team up by just four points on the road at Oklahoma State, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford risks injury—and a costly turnover—by performing a double back-flip somersault at the goal line in the third quarter of the Sooners' 61-41 win in Stillwater, Okla., on Nov. 29.

"It was probably one of the most amazing plays I've ever seen," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said later. "But if he ever tries that [expletive] again, I'll paralyze him from the waist down with a lead pipe."

Utely's Speed the Difference in Phils' Game One Win

Philadelphia's Chase Utley may not have won the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in 2008—but nobody can say it was because of his lack of speed.

The Phillies' star second baseman showed off his wheels while chasing down a ground ball in Game One of the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Oct. 22.

"Dubya" Esctatic About New Part-Time Job

U.S. Olympic sand volleyball player Misty May-Treanor pops, locks, and drops it for President Bush during a break in the action in August at the Beijing Games.

The outgoing Commander-in-Chief seemed to have his hands full as he gently prevented any granules of sand from entering Treanor's "under carriage."

Meanwhile, Treanor's teammate, Kerri Walsh, plays the part of innocent bystander, awaiting her opportunity to jump in to make this awkward situation an Olympic-sized threesome.