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Marshall football plane crash
A plane carrying 37 players and eight members of the coaching staff of the Marshall football team went down. All 75 people on board were killed. Despite the tragedy, the team was rebuilt and managed to win two games the following season, including their home opener against Xavier, 15-13. -
The Munich Massacre
The Olympics are supposed to be the most peaceful event in sports, but one event in 1972 changed everything. Eight Palestinian terrorists from the group Black September kidnapped 11 Israeli Olympic team members before demanding the release of 234 prisoners being kept in Israeli jails. Two were killed initially, leaving nine hostages. In a failed rescue attempt, all nine were killed along with five of the terrorists. -
Mark Spitz Wins 7 Gold Medals At The 1972 Summer Olympics
Before Michael Phelps' record-breaking Olympic performance in 2008, Mark Spitz was the symbol of Olympic dominance in the 1972 Olympic Games. Spitz won seven gold medals in seven different events and also set world records in all of his events. -
The 1972 Miami Dolphins Complete Their Undefeated Season In Super Bowl VII
The 1972 Miami Dolphins completed the NFL's most recent perfect season in an imperfect manner with their 17th victory in Super Bowl VII. Heavily favored against the Washington Redskins, the Dolphins' defense dominated the Redskins, holding them without an offensive touchdown. The Dolphins won 14-7 and only Garo Yepremian's gaffe cost the team a shutout victory. -
Secretariat Completes Dominant Triple Crown Run
In one of the most dominant performances in horse racing history, Secretariat, who had previously won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 1973, won the Belmont Stakes by a record 31 horse lengths. Secretariat became just the ninth Triple Crown winner and set race records in all three events that year. -
Billie Jean King Defeats Bobbie Riggs In The Battle Of The Sexes
After beating Margaret Court 6-2, 6-1 in an exhibition match, Bobby Riggs faced Billie Jean King in The Battle of the Sexes. This match was also one-sided, but with Riggs coming out on the losing end. Jean King easily defeated Riggs in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 and scored a victory for women everywhere. -
Hank Aaron Breaks All-Time Home Run Record
Before a crowd of 53,775 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Braves outfielder Hank Aaron made history with one swing of the bat. Facing Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Al Downing, Aaron hit his 715th career home run, surpassing Babe Ruth's all-time mark. Aaron's mark would eventually be surpassed by Barry Bonds 30 years later, but some still view Aaron as the true home run king. -
Junko Tabei of Japan is the first woman to climb Mt. Everest.
She has climbed Mount Fuji as well as the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps, among others. By 1972, Tabei was a recognized mountain climber in Japan -
The Thrilla In Manila
The pinnacle of the Ali vs. Frazier rivalry, the Thrilla in Manila was the third and final bout between two legendary boxers. The two beat the hell out of each other for 14 rounds before Frazier's corner threw in the towel in the 14th round. One of the greatest man-on-man rivalries ended with Ali holding a 2-1 advantage over Frazier. -
Pelé played the final game of his storied caree
widely regarded as the greatest player of all time. In 1999, he was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS). The same year, France Football asked their former Ballon d'Or winners to choose the Football Player of the Century; they selected Pelé. In 1999, Pelé was elected Athlete of the Century by the IOC, and Time named him in their list of 100 most influential people of the 20th century. In 2013 he received the FIFA Ballon d'Or P -
ESPN is launched for the first time
ESPN was founded by Bill Rasmussen, his son Scott Rasmussen and Aetna insurance agent Ed Eagan.[1] Bill, who had an affinity with sports for much of his life, was fired from his position as the communications manager for the New England Whalers in 1978.[1] During his tenure with the hockey team, Rasmussen had met Eagan, who displayed an interest in building a career in television. Eagan approached Bill with the idea of creating a monthly cable television program covering Connecticut sports and w -
USA Upsets Vaunted Soviets in 1980 Winter Olympics
After being destroyed by the Soviets in an exhibition game 10-3 leading up to the Olympics, the Americans were not expected to be contenders for the gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics. The Americans made it to the medal round as they faced the Soviets. Trailing 3-2 in the third quarter, the U.S. scored two goals in a span of 90 seconds as the Americans won 4-3. Days later, Team USA defeated Finland to win the gold. -
Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe opened the decade with a classic Wimbledon final.
Björn Borg was the four-time defending champion, and successfully defended his title, defeating his rival John McEnroe in the final. The final of this tournament has been often called one of the greatest matches of all time -
Kathy Whitworth is inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame with 88 victories—more than any other player in the PGA or LPGA
Throughout her playing career she won 88 LPGA Tour tournaments, more than anyone else has won on either the LPGA Tour or the PGA Tour. In 1981 she became the first woman to reach career earnings of $1 million on the LPGA Tour.[1] She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. -
North Carolina State Upsets Houston in 1983 NCAA Final
A No. 6 seed in the 1983 NCAA Tournament, the North Carolina State Wolfpack had a miraculous run that culminated in an improbable national championship. Facing Houston in the championship game, the Wolfpack hung tough with the favored Cougars and the game was tied at 52 with seconds remaining. Lorenzo Charles sealed N.C. State's victory with a last-second dunk, giving coach Jim Valvano his only national championship. -
Georgeann Wells-Blackwell is the first woman to dunk in a collegiate basketball game.
Wells's feat occurred on December 21, 1984, against the University of Charleston (WV) with 11:18 remaining in the game. WVU won the game 110-82. It was played at the Randolph County Armory in Elkins, West Virginia, during the Mountaineer Christmas Classic basketball tournament. The accomplishment was covered extensively in the national media, including Sports Illustrated. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame featured Wells's accomplishment in a dedicated exhibit, and Wells was honored at an NCAA -
Bill Buckner's Error Completes Boston's Collapse in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series
Leading 5-3 in the 10th inning of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, the Boston Red Sox were on their way to capturing the team's first World Series Championship since 1918, but fate intervened. The Mets rallied to tie the game at five in the bottom half of the inning and won 6-5 after Bill Buckner misplayed a Mookie Wilson grounder. The Mets would win the series in seven. Boston finally won the World Series in 2004. -
Jackie Joyner-Kersee is the first woman athlete on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine.
ranked among the all-time greatest athletes in the women's heptathlon as well as in the women's long jump. She won three gold, one silver, and two bronze Olympic medals, in those two events at four different Olympic Games. Sports Illustrated for Women magazine voted Joyner-Kersee the Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th century, just ahead of Babe Didrikson Zaharias. -
Joe Montana to John Taylor Caps Super Bowl XXIII Winning Drive
In one of the greatest Super Bowls ever, the San Francisco 49ers, three-time Super Bowl champions, met the Cincinnati Bengals, who made just their second trip to the Super Bowl, in Super Bowl XXIII. Trailing 16-13 late in the game, Montana hit John Taylor in the back of the end zone with 34 second remaining, giving the 49ers a 20-16 victory. This game cemented the 49ers as the team of the decade. -
Bo Knows ad campaign begins
The first Bo knows ad aired in the 1989 MLB all-star game after bo Jackson hit a lead-off homerun.
