Sports History Network

In 2020, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick completed what Patrick Mahomes called, 'the greatest no-look pass ever' to rally the Miami Dolphins over the Las Vegas Raiders. In 1993, Green Bay's LeRoy Butler scored after a Raiders turnover and then leaped into the awaiting arms of Packers fans. It was the first 'Lambeau Leap.' In 1977, the Minnesota Vikings beat the LA Rams 14-7 on a rain-soaked field to advance t...

The Pro Football Time Machine is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . EPISODE SUMMARY Back in the prehistoric days of professional football, a family of rugged, tough as steel brothers, the Nessers, ruled pro football gridirons throughout the Midwest. The Nesser brothers competed against celebrated pioneers of the game, notably Jim Thorpe and brought profes...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! In 1985, the New York Knicks erased a 25 point Boston Celtic lead to win in OT. Rookie Patrick Ewing scored 32. In 1986, Ewing delivered a game winning shot against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. In 2004, Shaq's Miami Heat beat Kobe's LA Lakers in their first meeting against each other after Shaq's trade to South Florida. In 1971, the Miami Dolphins and K...

The current state of the National Football League has been profoundly altered as we approach the conclusion of 2025, marked notably by the extraordinary return of quarterback Philip Rivers to the field after a five-year hiatus. At the age of 43, Rivers, now a grandfather, has rejoined the Indianapolis Colts, prompting a discussion on the unprecedented nature of such a return in the league's storie...

In 1950, the Cleveland Browns beat the Los Angeles Rams after Lou Groza kicked the go ahead field goal. In 1969, Curt Flood delivered a letter to MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn expressing his desire to sign with a team he choice. In 1967, Joe Namath threw for 343 yards to become the first QB to throw for than 4,000 hards. In 1960, the Boston Celtics set an NBA record by grabbing 112 rebounds in a gam...

Week 16 Recap: Darin's Hot Hand and Ed's Christmas Conundrum The NFL season is winding down, and the stakes for the "Big Bold Predictions" segment are higher than ever. Darin Hayes and Ed Kleese met to review a highly dramatic Week 16, which featured incredible comebacks, upsets, and holiday chaos, before gearing up for Week 17. Week 16: Darin's Strong Showing Darin had a strong performance, netti...

 For this Christmas week episode, we're re-airing Episode 177 from January 2, 2024. We had done a redux of our very first episode, telling the story of basketball's first game, and if you missed it then, this is our present to you now! From all of us here at BBH.101, we wish you a very merry Christmas! CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and pu...

Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE EPISODE SUMMARY Monday Night Football (Part 1) - Mark and Dave Relive The Early Days of Monday Night Football YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the...

In 1972, Pittsburgh running back Franco Harris caught a ricocheted ball and ran in the game winning touchdown. Many questions surround that play to this day. In 1982, NAIA school Chaminade beat top-ranked Virginia in one of the greatest upsets of all-time. In 1962, the Dallas Texans beat George Blanda and the Houston Oilers in the AFL Championship game. Back in 1972, Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Stauba...

This podcast episode delves into the historical significance of the 1921 San Diego East West Christmas Classic, an intriguing yet ephemeral football game that epitomizes the intersection of sport and holiday spirit. We engage with Timothy P. Brown from FootballArchaeology.com, who elucidates the context surrounding this unique event, which featured Center College, known as the Praying Colonels, fa...

In 1982, Wayne Gretzky got in one of only his three career fights. In 1969, Pete Maravich got 3 techs in a physical game vs. Oregon State. He shot 31 free throws and made 30 of them. In 1915, the Federal League ended its short-lived run as a competitor to the American and National Leagues. In 1996, Brett Hull scored his 500th career goal. He and his father Bobby became the only father/son duo to s...

An exploration of the illustrious history surrounding college football players who have donned the coveted number one jersey reveals a tapestry woven with remarkable talent and excellence. This discussion delves into the significance of this number across various prestigious institutions, where it is often reserved for those players who epitomize the highest standards of athletic prowess and leade...

In 1984, BYU beat a 6-5 Michigan team in the Holiday Bowl to finish the year as the only undefeated team in Division I-A. But they didn't really beat anybody and an error filled win over an average Wolverine team had many questioning if the Cougars deserved to be crowned National Champions. In 2003, the New Orleans Saints scored on a final second, lateral filled play but John Carney missed the gam...

In 1971, Tennessee benefitted from two controversial calls made by an SEC ref to beat Arkansas (then in the SWC) in the Liberty Bowl. A rule change followed this game to prevent officials from calling a post-season bowl game with an affiliated league team. In 1980, NBC experimented with showing an NFL game with no announcers. In 2003, Joe Namath expressed his desire to kiss ESPN's Suzy Kolber duri...

EPISODE SUMMARY On their first episode of The Mixtape, Scott and Derek look back at the historic Mike Tyson vs Buster Douglas fight in February 1990, one of the biggest upsets in '90s sports history. They discuss the wheels-off HBO broadcast, what made the 9th round one of the best 3 minutes ever in boxing, and come away with a newfound appreciation for Buster’s historic achievement. THE MIXTAPE B...

In 1980, BYU overcame a 20-point deficit in the final four minutes to beat SMU 46-45. In 2010, Philadelphia overcame a 21-point deficit with eight minutes to play to beat the New York Giants. In 1948, Philadelphia beat the Chicago Cardinals to win their first NFL Championship. In 1992, Marshall won the I-AA National Championship using a guy who'd never kicked in college field goal. In 2002, Marsha...

Total Sports Recall (TSR) is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . TOTAL SPORTS RECALL HOMEPAGE TOTAL SPORTS RECALL BACKGROUND The Sports History Network welcomes back the Total Sports Recall podcast. Host Harv Aronson brings you an array of sports history topics recalling great moments and athletes from sports yesteryear. No sport is left alone with an emph...

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . WHEN FOOTBALL WAS FOOTBALL HOME PAGE EPISODE SUMMARY Throughout the history of professional football, every so often you might notice a club roster that is so strong, so impressive, and so very talented, that you just could not anticipate anything less than total success for that specific tea...

In our latest installment of the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch, we embark on a compelling journey through the current NFL landscape, contemplating the implications of Week 16 predictions as the season approaches its conclusion. Early Observations After NFL Week 15 (2025 Season) Based on the discussion between Darin Hayes and Ed Kleese, the primary observations after Week 15 revolved around two ma...

 Basketball’s first professional game was played in New Jersey in 1896, just five years after the game was invented. That is an incredibly short window. And the fouls were rough. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher   MUSIC "The Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa "Horizons" by Roa   SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK spor...

Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . EPISODE SUMMARY The Atlanta Falcons joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1966. Like most expansion teams, they struggled during their first five seasons, winning only 16 of 70 games. They recorded their first winning season in 1971, finishing 7–6–1, and followed that with a 7–7 record in 1972. The...

Gridiron Greats Magazine podcast is part of the  Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear . EPISODE SUMMARY With Special Guest Football Author Mike Cobern. Author of Wards of the League: The Untold Story of the First NFL Team in Dallas. A book on the NFL's 1952 Dallas Texans GRIDIRON GREATS MAGAZINE BACKGROUND Gridiron Greats covers 140+ years of North American football...

In 1999, Oliver Stone's movie about professional football, 'Any Given Sunday,' was released in theaters. The NFL tried to stop the movie from being made, released, and promoted. In 2001, fans protested refs bad calls and decisions by throwing beer bottles on the field. In 1945, a pass off the goalpost resulted in 2 points and a rule change. In 1973, Buffalo Bills running back OJ Simpson became the...

The Coach Who Vanished: A Bizarre Christmas Football Mystery from 1917 Before the era of 12-team playoffs and million-dollar bowl games, the 1917 football season was pure chaos, defined by World War I restrictions and a lack of organized post-season play. Amidst this turmoil, an impromptu Christmas Day tiebreaker game was scheduled in San Diego, pitting the Utah Artillerymen (Camp Kearney) against...

Before the dynasties, before the banners, before Brady, before Belichick, even before Bledsoe, there was the 1985 New England Patriots. A team built on grit, not glamour. History often remembers the champions, yet the 1985 New England Patriots didn't win a championship. Yet in this case, they are remembered for the journey, a journey that was one of the most memorable in NFL History. In this episo...