This Day in Sports History

In 2018, the UMBC Retrievers beat top-seed Virginia.

In 1980, Louisville's Dr. Dunkenstein and the Doctors of Dunk destroyed LSU to advance to the Final Four.

In 1958, Cincinnati Royals player Maurice Stokes collapsed on the airline ride home from a game. The seizure he suffered left him incapacitated, ending his career. Most figured he would have been compared with the likes of Bill Russell and Elvin Hayes.

In 1974, the Oakland A's signed Herb Washington who holds the distinction of being the only non-pitcher in MLB to appear in 100+ games without an official at-bat.

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In 1985, 16th-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson came within a whisker of beating #1 seeded Michigan. It was the first year the tournament expanded to 64 teams.

In 1989, Michigan Head Basketball coach Bill Frieder was fired two days before he was to coach his #3 seeded Wolverines in the NCAA Tournament. 'A Michigan man will coach Michigan!' said, Bo Schembechler.

In 1963, the all-white Mississippi State Bulldogs played Loyola-Chicago in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs had to sneak out of Starkville to play it. The pre-game handshake between a white and black player contributed to integration of universities in the south. <...

On March 10th, 2001, current Louisville Head Football Coach and former XFL QB with the Orlando Rage started a game just six days after getting literally 'knocked out' of a game.

On March 10th, 1976, the origin of 'Ain't over 'til the fat lady sings' can be tracked back to an article written in that days' Dallas Morning News.

On March 9th, 1946, baseball’s Ted Williams turned down a $500,000 contract to play in Mexico.

On March 11th, 1974, MLB commissioner Bowie Kuhn ordered Hank Aaron to play to start the season.

On March 14th, 1980, tr...

In 1937, Howie Morenz, known by some as 'the Babe Ruth of hockey' died as a direct result of an injury suffered in a hockey game a month earlier.

In 1971, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier met at Madison Square Garden in the 'Fight of the Century.'

In 1930, Babe Ruth signed a two-year contract paying him $80,000 a season and was asked after why he deserved more money than the President of the US to which he answered, 'I had a better year than he did.'

In 1936, the first Daytona race was run. It...

In 1964, Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali.

In 1967, Ali was ordered to report to military service.

In 1954, the ACC crowned its first men's basketball champ, sending that team to the NCAA tournament.

In 2015, the NCAA penalized Syracuse men's basketball and head coach Jim Boeheim after an investigation found misconduct and impermissible booster activity.

In 2000, Laker Shaquille O'Neal celebrated his 28th birthday taking out some frustration on the crosstown rival Clippers.

Mentioned in this episode:

Stirling Roastery - This DiSH

In 1922, Babe Ruth won a coin flip that gave him a bigger contract and a bonus for every home run he hit.

In 1973, Yankees teammates Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson traded wives.

In 1931, Fort Wayne’s WGL Radio broadcast the first game of the American Basketball League’s championship series between the Brooklyn Visitations and the Fort Wayne Hoosiers.

In 1985, New York Islander Mike Bossy scored his 50th goal of the year, becoming the first NHL player to score 50 goals in 8 straight seasons.

In 2006, the North Carolina Tar Heels spoiled JJ Redick's final game at Cameron Indoor.

In 1990, Loyola Marymount's Hank Gathers collapsed during a game and later died at a hospital.

In 1891, MLB pitcher Dazzy Vance was born.

In 1991, golfer Rocco Mediate became the first player to win on the PGA tour with an anchored putter.

In 1974, North Carolina's Walter Davis hit a 30-footer as time expired to complete an 8-point comeback in 17 seconds against Duke.

In 2023, Detroit Mercy's Antoine Davis came up 3 points shy of equaling LSU's Pete Maravich as the NCAA All-Time Leading scorer.

In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a 169-147 win over the New York Knicks.

In 2024, LeBron James scored his 40,000th point.

In 2012, New Orleans' bounty program was revealed.

In 1986, the Barkley ultramarathon raced for the first time.

In 1993, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was reinstated by Faye Vincent after serving 2 1/2 years of a lifetime ban.

In 1969, New York Yankee Mickey Mantle retired after 18 years in MLB.

In 1971, Spencer Haywood won his court case against the NBA, allowing players less than four years removed from high school to play.

In 1998, Tiger Woods lost his first and only playoff in his PGA career.

In 1997, Hector 'Macho' Camacho knocked out Sugar Ray Leonard, ending Leonard's career.

In 2001, a last lap crash at the Daytona 500 claimed the life of Dale Earnhardt.

In 1979, a last lap crash between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison and subsequent fight made NASCAR more popular across the country.

In 1944, the Cincinnati Reds signed 15 year old Joe Nuxhall.

In 2005, the mom of Detroit Tigers pitcher Ugueth Urbina was rescued after being kidnapped and held for 4 months.

In 2008, Houston pitcher Hunter Pence was involved in a freak accident.

In 1998, the US Women's Olympic Hockey beat the Canadian women to win the first Women's Hockey Olympic Gold Medal.

In 1968, Frenchman Jean-Claude Killy won his third alpine gold medal.

In 2003, Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler collapsed and later died. His death was attributed to ephedra.

In 2001, Charlotte Hornet Baron Davis hit an 89-foot shot to set the NBA record for the longest shot in NBA history.

In 1924, Olympian Johnny Weissmuller set a new world record that would stand for another 10 years and mostly due to technological advances.

In 1984, Bill Johnson became the first American to win an Olympic downhill race.

In 1953, Boston's Ted Williams crash-landed his fighter plane in Korea and survived.

In 1926. France's Suzanne Lenglen defeated American Helen Wills in what was deemed the 'Match of the Century'.

In 2005, the NHL became the first major professional league to cancel an entire season.

In 2024, Jordan Spieth signed an incorrect scorecard and was disqualified from a PGA Tournament. It led to a rules adjustment.

In 1998, Dale Earnhardt, Sr won the Daytona 500 on his 20th try.

In 2004, Dale Earnhardt, Jr won his firt Daytona 500 in his 5th try.

In 1976, David Pearson won his first Daytona 500 in the slowest finish.

In 1994, the Kentucky Wildcats erased a 31-point second half deficit to beat LSU in the greatest comeback in College Basketball History.

In 2018, Denver's Nikola Jokic notched the fastest triple-double in NBA history.

In 2017, Duke freshman Jason Tatum got some interesting motivation from Coach K at halftime. It motivated him to finish with his college best 28...

In 1951, Sugar Ray Robinson fought Jake LaMotta for the sixth and final time. The fight went 13 rounds with Robinson pounding LaMotta for the final four.

In 1992, Great Britain's Eddie the Eagle competed in the Calgary Winter Olympics.

In 1992, Bobby Allison nipped his son Davey to win the Daytona 500.

In 1986, Boston Celtic Larry Bird played a game shooting with his left hand.

In 1991, Michael Jordan wore #12 for the only time in his career after his jersey was stolen from the visiting team locker room in Orlando.

In 1960, 37 cars were involved in a first lap crash during a 250 mile race at Daytona International Speedway.

In 1977, three years before he won 5 gold medals at Lake Placid, Eric Heiden became the first American to win the World Championships in Speed Skating.

In 1984, American skier Debbie Armstrong shocked everybody by winning gold in the Women's Giant Slalom.

In 1968, the East German women's lugers finished first, second, and fourth but were disqualified for apparently heating up their runners. Documents revealed in 2006 suggests their DQ was a setup after a bribe.

In 1964, Chicago...

In 2005, UNLV erased a 10-point deficit with less than 20 seconds left to win in OT.

In 1972, the US Hockey team beat Poland 6-1 and won the Silver medal in a miracle that you've never heard of.

In 2018, Dutch skater Ireen Wüst won gold in the 1500m speed skating event for her fourth gold medal in four consecutive Winter Olympics. She would win another four years later to become the only woman to win gold in five consecutive Olympic games.

In 1940, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson played an 18-hole playoff at the Texas O...

In 1994, NASCAR driver Neil Bonnett died during a practice run at Daytona International Speedway.

In 2024, marathoner Kelvin Kiptum died after the car he was driving went off the road and flipped in a ditch.

In 2002, controversy marred the Pairs Figure Skating competition.

In 1990, James 'Buster' Douglas pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history by beating Mike Tyson.

In 1988, Dave 'Tiger' Williams was released by the Hartford Whalers, essentially ending his career. He holds the NHL record for the most penalty minutes of any player to ever skate in...

In 1968, American Peggy Fleming won the only Gold Medal for the US during the '68 Olympics.

In 1992, American Bonnie Blair won her second Gold Medal in the 500m Speed Skating event.

In 1962, American Jim Beatty became the first human to run a sub-4 minute mile indoors.

In 1949, Jumpin' Joe Fulks dropped 63 points to set the record for most points scored in an NBA game. His record stood for a decade until Elgin Baylor scored 64 in 1959.

In 2012, New York Knick Jeremy Lin scored 38 in a 92-85 win against Kobe and the Lakers.<...

In 1992, Magic Johnson returned to play in the NBA All-Star game three months after his retirement from the league due to his HIV diagnosis.

In 1991, Terrible Terry Norris pummeled Sugar Ray Leonard, forcing him to retire once again.

In 2006, Al Michaels was traded to NBC for the rights to Walt Disney's first creation, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

In 1986, golfer Charlie Owens won a Senior PGA tour event. It was the PGA sanctioned event won with an anchored putter.

In 1920, Major League Baseball outlawed the 'spitball' but grandfathered in 17 pitchers to continue...

In 1992, Duke's Christian Laettner went head-to-head with LSU's Shaquille O'Neal.

In 1986, 5'7" Spud Webb won the NBA's Dunk Contest.

In 1996, the NFL and the city of Cleveland reached an agreement to keep the name, colors and history of the Browns franchise in Cleveland.

In 1964, the US won its first Alpine skiing medals in the Winter Olympics.

In 1998, women’s hockey premiered at the Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

In 2023, LeBron James became the all-time scoring leader in the NBA.

In 1970, Pete Maravich set an NCAA single game record by scoring 69 against Alabama.

In 1985, Marshall's Bruce Morris hit the longest shot in NCAA basketball history.

In 2015, legendary college basketball coach Dean Smith passed away. He gifted every one of his former players $200 to have a dinner out on him.

In 1994, Michael Jordan signed with the Chicago White Sox to play baseball.

In 1993, NBA rookie Shaquille O’Neal collapsed the entire basket with one of his power dunks.

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In 1958, a plane carrying the Manchester United English football club crashed in a takeoff attempt in Munich, Germany. Twenty people died at the scene, including 8 players, 3 staff members and eight journalists. One person died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and two others died days later due to their injuries.

In 2017, the Atlanta Falcons built up a 25 point lead over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 51 only to lose it in overtime.

In 1943, Jake LaMotta beat Sugar Ray Robinson. It was Robinson's first lost as an amateur or pro.

In 1984, golfer Hale Irwin hit a ball that was heading for trouble but caromed off a rock, leading to a tournament win.

In 1960, Boston Celtic Bill Russell grabbed 51 rebounds in a game.

In 2002, the New England Patriots were 14 point underdogs to the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI but shocked a lot of people with the 20-17 win for their first in franchise in history.

In 2008, the Patriots were trying to become the first team since the '72 Dolphins to go through the entire season undefeated but the New York Giants spoiled that with their 17-14 win that included the incredible helmet catch by David Tyree.

In 1992, Chicago Bull Michael Jordan was ejected for the first and only time in his NBA career.

In 1993...

In 2019, NC State scored only 24 points. It's the worst performance by a ranked team in the shot clock era.

In 1954, Clarence 'Bevo' Francis scored 113 points against to set a collegiate basketball record.

In 1968, Wilt Chamberlain put together a double triple double with 22 points, grabbed 25 rebounds, and dished 21 assists. It was the only 20-20-20 triple double in the NBA until Russell Westbrook did it in 2019.

In 1997, 'Frisk Me Now’ won a race at Hialeah’s Gulfstream Park as a 106-1 long shot in the $100,000 Hutcheson Stakes.

This is a special episode telling the story of Ben and Valerie Hogan's harrowing day In 1949, when they were nearly killed in a collision with a Greyhound bus.

in 2004, New England beat the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII in a thriller.

In 2009, Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes' catch in the final minute gave the Steelers the win over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

In 1969, Richard Petty's unhappiness with Chrysler led him to switch to Ford for a season. He won his first race behind the blue oval emblem.

In 1984, New York Knick Bernard King scored 50 points for the second consecutive time.

In 1967, the American Basketball Association launched.

In 1988, Washington's Doug Williams became the first black QB to start a Super Bowl and after throwing 4 TDs in the second quarter, leading the Redskins to a 42-10 win over Denver, he also became the first black QB to win the MVP.

In 1993, the Dallas Cowboys beat Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVII 52-17. The game is remembered for one play involving Leon Lett and Don Beebe.

In 2013, Phil Mickelson lipped out a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole. Instead of a career defining 59, it was an impressive but oh-so-close 60 instead.

In 1970, LSU's...

In 1983, John Riggins ran for a then Super Bowl record 166 yards and a key touchdown as Washington beat Miami to win SB XVII.

In 2000, Kevin Dyson's stretch for the endzone came up just a little short thanks to a game saving tackle by Mike Jones, preserving the win for St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXIV.

In 1996, Magic Johnson returned to the NBA after a four-year hiatus following his announcement he had HIV.

And in 2018, James Harden scored 60 points in the first 60-point triple double in the NBA. Luka Doncic equaled it in 2022.

In 1995, Steve Young threw a Super Bowl record 6 TDs in a rout of San Diego in Super Bowl XXIX. Jerry Rice had flu like symptoms but still caught three TDs to become the all-time Super Bowl leader in TD catches.

In 2012, Brandt Snedeker's post-tourney press conference was interrupted because he had more golf to play. Leader Kyle Stanley's triple bogey on the final hole plunged him into a tie with Snedeker. Brandt won on the second playoff hole.

In 1980, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers played a marathon 4 overtime game with the Cavs...

In 2007, Tiger Woods won the Buick Invitational for his seventh consecutive PGA Tour win.

In 1958, Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella crashed his car and was left paralyzed.

In 1990, San Francisco crushed Denver in the biggest blowout in Super Bowl history.

In 1975, St. Louis’ Freddie Lewis won the ABA All-Star MVP and was given a horse for his effort.

In 1957, American tennis player Shirley Fry won the Australian Open to win the career singles Grand Slam.

In 1934, the first ever rope tow went into operation at a ski resort.

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In 2001, Duke erased a 10-point deficit with a minute left at Maryland and then won the game in OT.

In 2024, Wyoming erased an 11-point deficit with a 1:10 left to beat Colorado State in OT.

In 1977, the Bradley Braves scored the first 28-points of the game against New Mexico State but lost. It's the largest lead given up after preventing the other team from scoring.

In 1976, Julius Erving bested David Thompson in the first ever Dunk contest. It took place during halftime of the ABA All-Star game.

In 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers won...

In 1996, Olympic Gold Medal winning wrestler Dave Schultz was murdered by John DuPont on the Foxcatcher Farm in Pennsylvania.

In 1913, Jim Thorpe was stripped of his 1912 Olympic Gold Medals for accepting $25/week to play baseball in 1910 and 1911.

In 1986, the Chicago Bears beat New England 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.

In 1993, Cheryl Miller scored 105 points in a women's high school basketball game on the same night that her brother Reggie had his best night as a high school baller.

And in 2003, the Terry Tate - Office Linebacker spot debuted during Super Bowl...

In 2010, JamesOn Curry came off the bench for the Los Angeles Clippers and played 3.9 seconds. He was subbed for and never played again.

In 1972, the Ohio State vs. Minnesota basketball game ended in a horrible brawl that sent three Buckeye players to the hospital.

In 1924, the first Winter Olympics got started in Chamonix, France.

And in 1939, Joe Louis fought his friend John Henry Lewis as a favor to his friend to provide a decent payday before retiring.

In 1981, New York Islanders' Mike Bossy scored a pair of goals in the closing minutes to score his 50th goal in the first 50 games of the season.

In 1999, David Duval carded 11 birdies and an eagle en route to the third 59 in a PGA Tour Event.

In 1982, a Super Bowl of firsts. First for both teams, first in a cold weather city, first use of the telestrator, first Super Bowl for John Madden in the broadcast booth and the first time the losing team scored more touchdowns than the winner.

And in 1981, ABA and...

In 1971, ABA commissioner Jack Dolph left his briefcase open courtside during the ABA All Star game exposing pro contracts for two college basketball players who still had eligibility. The contracts were noticed and led to an NCAA investigation. When the investigation ended, Villanova had its entire season vacated while Western Kentucky had its postseason erased.

In 1983, Swedish tennis star Bjorn Borg retired surprisingly after a 16-month absence.

In 1944, the Detroit Red Wings beat the New York Rangers 15-0 in what is still the largest margin of victory in the NHL.

And in 2015, Golden...

In 1973, the Sunshine Showdown in Jamaica between Joe Frazier and Joe Foreman. After Foreman put Frazier on the mat, Howard Cosell screamed, 'Down Goes Frazier!'

In 1989, Super Bowl XXIII in Miami between San Francisco and Cincinnati. But there was more going on in Miami that week that nearly caused the game to be relocated.

In 2006, Kobe Bryant scored 81 in the second best night for an NBA player.

In 1952, Seattle University shocked the Harlem Globetrotters 84-81.

In 1979, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII. The game is known for Jackie Smith's dropped TD pass.

In 1990, John McEnroe became the first player ever disqualified from the Australian Open for misconduct.

In 1984, Bobby Knight unloaded on Michigan head coach Bill Frieder for breaking an 'unwritten rule.'

In 1970, Muhammad Ali vs. Rocky Marciano in the 'Super Fight.' This was a movie version of a computer generated outcome between the two heavyweights.

In 1968, UCLA played Houston in the Astrodome in college basketball's 'Game of the Century.' Elvin Hayes outdueled Lew Alcindor to snap the Bruins 47-game winning streak.

In 1996, Fox Sports debuted the FoxTrax Hockey Puck Tracker.

And in 1980, the Mean Joe Greene Coke commercial became a beloved favorite when it was shown during Super Bowl XIV.

In 1974, Notre Dame beat UCLA 71-70 ending the Bruins 88-game winning streak.

In 1975, UCLA legendary big men Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played against each other for the first time in the NBA.

In 1981, Muhammad Ali talked a suicidal man off a ledge in Los Angeles.

In 1983, minor league hockey player Tom Martin was traded for a bus.

In 2002, did Tom Brady fumble or simply throw an incomplete pass? It was the genesis of the 'Tuck Rule.'