Frank Deford says parity didn't reign in 2003 -- it poured. Kick off your journey through SI.com's Year in Sports by reading Deford's take on a year in which we saw a variety of champions as well as scandals, curses, young phenoms and old favorites. Then be sure to check out the top stories and most memorable moments of the past 12 months, salute the year's champions and say goodbye to those we lost. Plus, who does Peter King name as the most underrated player in the NFL? What does Tom Verducci find most annoying about baseball? Sports Illustrated's writers weigh in with an abundance of picks for the year's Ups and Downs.