Top stories that got you talking in 2014

It’s been quite a year. There have been a lot of stories getting people talking over 2014. The video says it all.

One of the biggest changes for El Paso came with the opening of the Downtown Ballpark and the first season of the El Paso chihuahuas. It ended in a wash of 72 wins and 72 losses, but the team got national attention for some of their antics. They included the distinctive jerseys for the “Bark in the Park” promotion, even getting worn by Keith Olberman. The promotion raised over $20,000 for the Humane Society of El Paso.

Player Cody Decker also became known for the pranks he pulled against teammate Jeff Francour, including locking him in a bathroom for hours and posting the video online.

We also said hello and quickly goodbye to the “taco dog” this year. Served to students in the Socorro Independent School District, it almost immediately drew outrage on social media. An SISD spokesperson said it had been tested earlier, but that it would be pulled from the menu.

And who could forget the great tailgate fight! The video from the brawl before the UTEP-Texas Tech game in September went viral, and spawned endless memes of one old man taking a fighting stance in the melee.

From fighting to fighters, we saw a couple of local boxers see consequences from drinking and driving. Antonio Escalante plead guilty to two counts of DWI and awaits trial on another.

Another local boxer was charged with intoxicated manslaughter. Police said 24-year-old Joel Garcia was drunk and caused the deaths of three people after a Christmas Eve wreck. Hundreds of you weighed in on a thoughtful discussion about DWIs and personal responsibility.

There were good things this year too, with tens of thousands of people doing the ice bucket challenge. People here in the Borderland like UTEP football coach Sean Kugler and KVIA staff helped to raise over $100 million for the ALS foundation.

And back in September, more than 50,000 fans filled the Sun Bowl for the One Direction concert, making it the largest crowd in the Sun Bowl ever.

Then there was one of the biggest outpourings of community support we’ve seen, all summed up with one phrase: #GoCanutillo! The Borderland came together as Canutillo reached the state final four in the high school football playoffs. The historic run for the team came to an end as the Eagles fell to Ennis 41-13 in Lubbock. But the Eagles earned a place in El Paso sports history as the best team to ever step on the field in the Borderland.

2014 was definitely a year to remember. So what were your favorite moments? You can sound off on our Facebook page right now!