Looking back: this week in sports history January 14 – 20


January 14, 1973: On January 14, 1973, the Miami Dolphins made history. Miami beat the Washington Redskins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII, officially becoming the first, at so far the only, team to complete a perfect season.

January 15, 1967: The first official “Super Bowl.” Super Bowl I was played on January 15, 1967, a matchup between the NFL’S Green Bay Packers and AFL’S Kansas City Chiefs in Los Angeles. The Packers, led by head coach Vince Lombardi, were the heavy favorites. It was a close first half, and the Packers took a 14-10 lead to the locker room. But the Chiefs wouldn’t score again, and Green Bay went on to win 35-10.
January 15, 1990: Three year after making his comeback to boxing, 41- year-old George Foreman met Gerry Cooney in the ring in Atlantic City, NJ for what was billed as “The Preacher and The Puncher.” It was the 20th fight since his return, and seen as the real test for those who doubted him. Cooney couldn’t keep up with the preacher, and Foreman won with a KO in the second round.

January 15, 1997: On this day 21 years ago, the Chicago Bull Dennis Rodman famously kicked cameraman Eugene Amosin in the groin during a game in Minnesota. Rodman landed on the ground near Amosin after chasing a rebound, and when Amosin turned the camera toward him, Rodman delivered a hard blow. He was fined $25,000 and suspended without pay for 11 games.
January 17, 1988: A year after John Elway and the Broncos defeated the Cleveland Browns in the AFC Championship Game with “The Drive,” came the game known simply as “The Fumble.” The Browns and Broncos met for a rematch in the AFC Championship Game, and Cleveland found themselves trailing 28-10 early in the third quarter. But the Browns scored 28 points in just over 15 minutes, tying the game at 31. Elway then gave the Broncos the lead. Then, on what was supposed to be the game tying drive, the Browns Earnest Byner was stripped of the ball, and the Broncos recovered, smashing Cleveland’s dreams of payback.
January 18, 2013: On January 18, 2013, cyclist Lance Armstrong sat face-to-face with Oprah and finally admitted to doping in all seven of his Tour de Frances victories. He had denied the allegations for years, but finally came forward and told Oprah it would not have been possible to win any of those titles without cheating.

January 19, 2002: Need we say more than just the “Tuck Rule Game”? On January 19, 2002, the New England Patriots met the Oakland Raiders in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game, which some see as the start of the Patriots dynasty. With less than 2 minutes left to play – and the Patriots trailing 13-10 – Brady led the Pats downfield in a snowstorm. Brady was sacked on a play and appeared to fumble the ball which was recovered by the Raiders. Officials then reviewed the play and determined that Brady was in the middle of a passing motion and was trying to “tuck” the ball to his body and ruled the play an incomplete pass, overturning the original ruling on the field that it was a fumble. The Pats would go on to score a field goal, tying the game at 13 and eventually win in overtime.
 

Notable birthdays

January 15, 1979 New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was born in Austin, TX
January 17, 1929 Canadian hockey goalie Jacques Plante, who was the first to wear a goalie mask, was born in Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, Canada
January 17, 1942 Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Clay, was born in Louisville, KY
January 17, 1982 Three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade was born in Chicago, IL
January 18, 1961 Canadian hockey star Mark Messier was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
January 19, 1969 Former NFL linebacker Junior Seau was born in Oceanside, CA
January 19, 1992 American gymnast and gold medalist Shawn Johnson was born in Des Moines, Iowa

We bid farewell to…

January 19, 2013 MLB Hall of Famer Stan Musial died of natural causes, but had been suffering Alzheimer’s disease for several years, he was 92 years old

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