By Staff
In yesterday's column I started talking about the top stoies of 2005. I covered the Mother Nature explosion, the faces of the court room and Danger in Paradise.
Here's a look at more stories that shaped 2005.
It's about time
The Chicago White Sox won their first World Series in 88 years.
The White Sox joined the 1997 Florida Marlins as the only teams to win a world title without a 20-game winner or .300 batter. Yet manager Ozzie Guillen and his team were dominant when it mattered most, going 11-1 in the postseason, capped by a sweep of the Astros.
The deaths of 2005
Around the same time that the maiden voyage of the world's largest passenger plane hit the skys, Pope John Paul II died.
Tens of thousands of people traveled to the Vatican to pay their respects.
Also passing in 2005 were:
James Dungy, the son of NFL coach Tony Dungy, of an apparent suicide at age 18.
Darrell Russell, former NFL player for the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, of a car accident.
Richard Pryor, comedian and actor, of heart attack and complications of multiple sclerosis.
 Rosa Parks, African-American civil rights pioneer; "founding symbol of the civil rights movement".
Christopher Bauman, Jr.,, professional wrestler Chri$ Ca$h.
 Peter Jennings, foreign correspondent, news anchor of ABC News, lung cancer.
 Bob Denver, actor best known as Gilligan, died Sept. 2 at the age of 70.
 Luther Vandross, musician, died July 1 at the age of 54.
 Johnnie Cochran, lawyer best known for his work on the O.J. defense, died March 29 at the age of 67.
There were so many more deaths in 2005 that should have been mentioned, I just don't have the room for all of them.
The year of the break-ups
Sometimes in Hollywood it seems that today's "I do's" are tomorrow's "I Don'ts"! And 2005 was no different.
Here are the celeb break-ups that put the world at a stand still.
While most peope were planning their Thanksgiving get-togethers, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey were planning their divorce. Adios Newlyweds!
After six years together, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston announced news of their separation in January, with Aniston filing for divorce in March, citing irreconcilable differences.
Pitt has now entered daddy mode and should be happy that he has finally got the family he wanted.
Jen on the other hand is supposidly getting steamy with Vince Vaughn.
Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney made their romance public in May and married in the Virgin Islands.
They announced their split in September.
Funnyman Mike Myers called off his marriage after 12-years with wife Robin Ruzan.
And, no surpirse here, Paris Hilton is not marrying her name….I mean her ex-man Paris Latsis.
She now has some other man who she will probably get engaged to and dump by spring.
This year was filled with so many stories and leaves us with so many memories, good and bad.
Lets hope 2006 will shed more light on some of our darkest moments and that everyone can move on and enjoy a new year.
I wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year. See ya in ‘06!
May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions. 
-Joey Adams
Erika Pickles is sports editor of the Niles Daily Star. She can be reached at erika.pickles@leaderpub.com.