This Day in Sports History

In 1973, George Steinbrenner and 11 others bought the New York Yankees from CBS. In 1946, jockey George Wolff fell off his mount in a horse race and died the following day. In 1983, Dallas Cowboy Tony Dorsett scored the longest rushing touchdown in NFL history. In 1987, the Cleveland Browns beat the New York Jets in the 'Marathon by the Lake.' In 1993, (though not mentioned during this edition of...

In 2000, the Oakland Raiders denied the Kansas City Chiefs a playoff spot with impressive win at Arrowhead. Raiders coach Jon Gruden said it was a game he'd gladly watch on an endless loop. In 1982, the San Diego Chargers beat the Miami Dolphins in OT in the 'Epic in Miami.' In 1994, Houston Oilers DC Buddy Ryan punched Houston Oilers OC on the sideline during a game. In 1984, Nebraska Cornhuskers...

In 1902, the first Rose Bowl, or what would become known as The Rose Bowl was played. Michigan beat Stanford 49-0. In 1979, Charlie White's 'Phantom Touchdown' helped USC beat Michigan 17-10 in the Rose Bowl. In 1991, a questionable 'block in the back' call brought back Rocket Ismael's 90-yard punt return that would have won the game for Notre Dame. Instead Colorado won 10-9 and was named co-champ...

This is a replay of the Jan. 1, 2025 edition. In 1954, Alabama's Tommy Lewis came off the bench to tackle Rice running back Dickie Maegle. In 1985, the drivers of the Boomer Sooner Schooner came onto the field a bit early and got bogged down. A 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty was called and it cost Oklahoma points in their Orange Bowl game against Washington. In 2007, Boise State beat Oklahoma in...

In 1967, the Green Bay Packers beat the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 to win the NFL Championship. It was the coldest game in NFL history and became known as 'The Ice Bowl.' In 1988, the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles in a dense fog at Soldier Field. In 1972, the plane carrying Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente to Nicaragua crashed, killing all on board. In 1935, Notre Dame and Northwestern en...

In 1968, LA Laker center Wilt Chamberlain gave HS Junior Bill Walton a little encouragement. In 1978, the NHL swallowed up four WHA teams. In 1990, Orlando's Scott Skiles dished out 30 assists to set a new NBA record. In 1988, Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders capped the greatest season in collegiate football with a 5 TD, 222-yard performance against Wyoming and win in the Holiday Bowl. In 1907, a co...

In 1978, Ohio State's Woody Hayes punched Clemson linebacker Charlie Bauman after a turnover. It led to Hayes' firing a few days later. In 1982, Alabama's Paul 'Bear' Bryant coached his final game. In 1963, the Chicago Bears beat the New York Giants to win the NFL Championship. YA Tittle had five interceptions.

In 1958, the Baltimore Colts beat the New York Giants to win the NFL Championship. In 1975, the Dallas Cowboys beat the Minnesota Vikings with a dramatic TD in the final minute of the game. In 1902, Syracuse and the New York Knickerbockers played the first indoor football game at Madison Square Garden. Syracuse won 6-0. In 2000, Boston's Milt Palacio stole the ball and the show, sinking a buzzer b...

In 1953, a Bobby Layne to Jimmy Doran pass and catch with under 2 minutes to play won the Championship for the Detroit Lions over Cleveland. In 1998, Emmit Smith ran for two touchdowns to pass Marcus Allen to become the all-time leader in rushing touchdowns. In 1974, Ohio State's Archie Griffin won the first of his two Heisman trophies. Did he deserve the second one? In 1991, Tim Hardaway Sr. set...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

In 1973, #1 and seven-time National Champion UCLA played #2 NC State in a made for TV event in St. Louis. On that same day, Temple traveled to Knoxville to play Tennessee in what turned out to be one of the worst games played in the 20th century. In 1968, Philadelphia Eagles fans booed Santa Claus and pelted him with snow balls. In 2019, the Raiders played their final home game in Oakland.

In 1980, the Minnesota Vikings pulled off a 'Hail Mary' to beat the Cleveland Browns. In 2023, the Las Vegas Raiders went from famine to feast in a week against the Los Angeles Chargers. In 1997, Marshall's Keith Veney hit 15 three-pointers in a game against Morehead State to set the NCAA record for treys in a game. In 2021, Golden State's Steph Curry passed Ray Allen to become the NBA's three-poi...

In 2016, a former Wake Forest player and assistant coach was revealed to be a mole, giving proprietary game info to opposing teams in 2014 and 2016. In 1983, the Detroit Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets 186-184 in 3OTs. It's the highest scoring game in NBA history. In 1971, future NFL Head Coach Andy Reid participated in a televised halftime Punt, Pass, and Kick competition during Monday Night Foot...

In 1925, the Pottsville Maroons played and beat a group of Notre Dame All-Stars, featuring the famed 'Four Horsemen.' The Maroons were stripped of their recently won NFL Title, fined, and banished from the league. Music used under a Creative Commons license. Available at Free Music Archive: Lobo Loco - Streetlife

In 1982, Mark Henderson drove his John Deere out onto the turf to clear a spot for New England kicker John Smith to kick the game winning field goal. In 2002, high school phenom LeBron James made his TV debut as ESPN2 broadcast his high school game. In 1978, Boston Celtics player/coach Dave Cowens first fouled out as a player and then was ejected as the coach. In 1965, Chicago Bears rookie Gale Sa...

In 1938, the New York Giants became the first franchise to win multiple championships. In 1977, the Tampa Bay Buccaneerrs won their first ever game. In 1985, the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks combined to score 21 goals. In 1981, Muhammad Ali fought his fight, losing in a decision to Trevor Berbick. In 1951, Joe DiMaggio retired.

In 2002, Michael Jordan playing for the Washington Wizards played against Scottie Pippen and the Portland Trailblazers. In 1971, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 55 and pulled 17 boards in a win against Boston. It was highest point output in a game in his career. In 1971, the New York Mets traded pitcher Nolan Ryan to the California Angels for shortstop Jim Fregosi. In 2002, the Texas Rangers signed Ale...