By Veronica An Boxer Mike Tyson scored a technical knockout during the seventh round of a 1987 boxing match against Tyrell Biggs during the last heavyweight title fight to be scheduled for 15 rounds. Biggs, won the gold medal in the super heavyweight division at the 1984 Olympics. Sports critics say Tyson resented Biggs since…
Today in Sports History: October 15
By Veronica An In 1966, Bill Russell became the first black head coach when the Boston Celtics made him player-coach. Previous to his appointment as head coach, Russell played for the Celtics and was known for his skill as a defensive player and was also a member of the 1956 U.S. Olympic basketball team, which…
Today in Sports History: October 14
By Veronica An Wayne Gretzky, nicknamed The Great One, scored his first goal against the Vancouver Canucks in 1979. Of the 1,487 games he played, Gretzky scored 894 goals and won 2,875 points. He scored 50 goals in just 39 games during the 1981-82 season when he played for the Edmonton Oilers, breaking the 1945…
Today in Sports History: October 13
By Veronica An The NBA announced the that the first two weeks of games would be cancelled through November 16 due to ongoing collective bargaining with the National Basketball Players Association. Prior to 1998, the NBA was the only major sports league in the United States that had never lost a game because of a…
Today in Sports History: October 12
By Veronica An In 1999, Wilt Chamberlain passed away at the age of 63 in his home in Bel-Air, Calif. Chamberlain first joined the NBA in 1959 when he debuted with the Harlem Globetrotters. During his rookie season, he averaged 37.6 points and 27.0 rebounds; winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He was…
Today in Sports History: October 11
By Veronica An Major League Baseball (MLB) gave its first-ever MVP award to Ty Cobb in 1911 – a full ten years after the National League and American League merged. Although this award was different than the current MVP accolade, this was the start of individual player recognition. According to Bleacher Report, the 1911 MVP…
Today in Sports History: October 10
By Veronica An The New York Giants retired linebacker Lawrence Taylor’s #54 jersey in 1994. Taylor was the first-round NFL draft pick in 1981 and spent 13 years with the Giants. Taylor, nicknamed L.T, was known for his aggressive style of play as well as his strength and speed. Taylor ended his rookie season with…
Today in Sports History: October 9
By Veronica An In 1989, Art Shell made history as the first African American head coach of the NFL since the 1920s. During his tenure as head coach, Shell is credited with leading the Raiders to a near-perfect performance in Raiders Super Bowl Xl with a 32-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to his…
Today in Sports History: October 8
By Veronica An Just three years after the Wang Zhizhi became the first Chinese player to be drafted by the National Basketball Association (NBA), the the NBA opened its first official office in Beijing, China. NBA games have been broadcast live in China since 1994 and, according to the league, more than 300 million people…
Today in Sports History: October 7
By Veronica An Although it occurred 21 years before college football games were officially recorded and five years before the first NCAA championship game took place, the 1916 game between Georgia Tech and Cumberland College still lives on in history. Fan favorites, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defeated the Cumberland Bulldogs 222-0. The Yellow Jackets…
