Andrew Zuckerman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Top 'Only in Jersey' stories of 2014

A look back on the oddest, strangest, most bizarre stories of 2014 that can only leave you shaking your head and saying: "Only in Jersey."

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Feb. 2: A record number of people took mass transit to the first Super Bowl played in New Jersey, but it didn't go so well.

First it was before the game, when overcrowding, delays and climate issues caused angry train riders to curse NJ Transit. Then, it was after the game ended, when transit woes plagued the ride home. As the game ended, announcers instructed fans not to leave MetLife Stadium due to crowding on the train platforms.

The pictures and videos of enormous crowds waiting to board NJ Transit trains were stunning.

(Video by Andre Malok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

NJ Transit a disaster on Super Bowl Sunday

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9/11 truther sneaks into Super Bowl in N.J. and hijacks postgame show

Feb. 3: A Brooklyn man was arrested in East Rutherford after he grabbed the microphone at the beginning of the news conference for Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith and spouted off a conspiracy theor about Sept. 11.

Matthew Mills, a 30-year-old independent journalist, said his aim was just to get close to MetLife Stadium -- which had layers of security in what's supposed to be the most secure sporting event in the United States -- so he could conduct fan interviews. Then the self-described 9/11 truther saw an employee bus at Secaucus Junction and hopped aboard.

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March 2: Rachel Canning, a high school senior from Lincoln Park, sued her parents after claiming they threw her out of their home when she turned 18.

The story received national attention, especially once Canning's parents claimed she left home on her own because she didn't want to abide by reasonable household rules, such as being respectful, keeping a curfew and doing some chores.

A judge sided with Canning's parents, and the teenager returned home about a week-and-a-half later after agreeing to dismiss the lawsuit.

John O'Boyle | The Star-Ledger

18-year-old sues parents for throwing her out of home

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May 1: More than 60 Teaneck High School students were arrested after a senior prank where the teens sprayed silly string on floors, taped hot dogs to lockers, flipped desks, urinated in the hallways and smeared Vaseline on doors around the school in the middle of the night, authorities said.

A day later, Teaneck superintendent Barbara Pinsak said reports of the senior prank were overblown and the district custodial supervisor found no indication of urine.

(Myles Ma | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

More than 60 students arrested in Teaneck High School prank

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A photo posted by Michael (@mjg381) on Jun 6, 2014 at 2:54pm PDT

Sea Isle City Police arrest Philly couple for sex in the surf

June 8: Two people in their 20s were arrested in Sea Isle City after being allegedly spotted having sex in the surf. A crowd gathered to watch before the cops placed the couple under arrest for lewdness.

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July 10-24: In one of the most bizarre stories of the year, State Police received a report of a huge boa constrictor in Lake Hopatcong in Jefferson. But the snake reportedly evaded capture, and a reptile specialist then claimed it was a green anaconda and he'd been "sworn to secrecy" to not tell anyone to avoid causing a panic.

Residents estimated the snake anywhere between 12 and 20 feet, but local and state officials were hesitant to believe it even existed without first-hand sightings or photo/video evidence.

Was the whole thing one big hoax?

Finally, two weeks later, the state gave up the search, saying there is no proof a snake exists.

(Video courtesy of Tony Colantonio)

Giant snake loose in Lake Hopatcong ... or one big hoax?

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Sept. 18: Joe Sorrentino, a South Plainfield borough council candidate and special education teacher at the Rahway School District, bowed out of his race after revelations he allegedly shouted racist slurs while mooning patrons of a local diner.

In a statement, Sorrentino admitted to "a stupid mistake" in 2007 but didn't specify what it was.

Politician drops out of race after alleged past revelations of mooning patrons, shouting racial slurs

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Sept. 24: Kyle DeMattia, 20, of Clifton, had been on an offroading trip and said he had been stuck in traffic for two hours before arriving at the local Red Robin. There, he found a brand-new Corvette stretched like a lounge singer on a piano across two parking spaces right by the door.

So DeMattia pulled his mud-covered Jeep in next to the Corvette, perfectly parallel, albeit on the sidewalk, and had his meal.

Oh, and he took video from his restaurant booth, which went viral.

(Photo courtesy of Kyle DeMattia)

Corvette driver parks like jerk, Clifton man's revenge goes viral

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Is this for real?!?!? You have to be kidding... http://t.co/914JhW6ym6 — Bobby Daddis (@BobbyDaddis) October 1, 2014

Oct. 1: For reasons still unknown, a story from March 1, 2013 about a possible large snowstorm began circulating the morning of Oct. 1, 2014. And New Jersey began freaking out, treating the 18-month-old story as if it were real-time news.

By mid-afternoon, the March 2013 story had gone viral, exploding on Twitter and Facebook, with more than 12,000 shares. There was no snow forecasted at any point in early October 2014, yet tons of N.J. residents thought otherwise.

N.J. freaks out over snowstorm from 18 months ago

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Oct. 18: Despite raising ticket prices, adding securtiy and banning the general admisison from bringing alcohol, the Far Hills Race still had plenty of public urination, disorderly conduct and arrests.

The annual spectacle has been described as a "drunkfest", and drunk shenanigans once again ruled the event.

Basically, anyone who came to see the horses also saw plenty of other animals parading around Moorland Farms. There was a little of everything for everyone: Trash, more trash, stupid pranks, kissing, kegs and injuries.

Aristide Economopoulos

Public urination, disorderly conduct again rule the Far Hills Race

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Epic bear brawl on N.J. street captured on video

Oct. 29: A massive bear brawl (that may have just been playing around) happened in August, but once it was posted online, well ... it was pretty epic and jaw-dropping to watch.

For more than six minutes, two bears wrestle and strike each another with massive blows. Several cars show N.J. license plates, and it was reportedly in Rockaway.

There's not much more we can say other than watch the video -- it's truly memorable.

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Andrew Zuckerman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

More N.J. Year in Review

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See our entire Year in Review.