TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1857 National Association of Baseball Players founded, New York. 1927 The world’s first live radio commentary of a soccer match is broadcast. 1942 Sietze de Groot wins 8th Dutch 11-city skate (8:44:06). 1951 Fidel Castro is ejected from a Winter League game after beaning batter. 1960 Paul Pender beats Sugar Ray Robinson for middleweight boxing title. 1968 NBA announces it will expand to Milwaukee and Phoenix. 1969 Roy Campanella and Stan Musial elected to baseball Hall of Fame. 1973 George Foreman TKOs Joe Frazier in two rounds for heavyweight boxing title. 1980 PGA begins a senior golf tour. 1981 “Bum” Phillips becomes head coach of the New Orleans Saints. 1982 Free agent Reggie Jackson signs a four-year, nearly US$4-million contract with the California Angels. 1983 Björn Borg retires from tennis after winning five consecutive Wimbledon championships. 1984 Annette Kennedy of SUNY sets women’s basketball record with 70 points. 1984 NFL Super Bowl XVIII: Los Angeles Raiders beat Washington Redskins 38-9 in Tampa, Fla. MVP: Marcus Allen, running back. 1987 Blizzard in New Jersey, as 334 attend the New Jersey Devils vs. Calgary Flames NHL game, New Jersey wins 7-5. 1988 Mike Tyson TKOs Larry Holmes in four rounds for heavyweight boxing title. 1989 Super Bowl XXIII: San Francisco 49ers beat Cincinnati Bengals, 20-16 in Miami. MVP: Jerry Rice, San Francisco, wide receiver. 1990 Will Clark, National League’s Most Valuable Player signs a $15-million, four-year contract with San Francisco Giants. 1998 NHL’s Minnesota franchise selects the nickname Wild. 1998 Rickey Henderson rejoins Oakland Athletics for fourth time. 2003 Catcher Ivan Rodriguez signs a one-year deal worth $10 million to play with the Florida Marlins. 2006 Kobe Bryant scores 81 points in regulation NBA basketball play and is second only to the legendary 1960s centre Wilt Chamberlain, who had 100 points.