January is an exciting month for sports fans. The NBA and NHL seasons are in full swing, NFL playoffs heat up, and college bowl games take center stage. College basketball tournaments also grab attention. Major events like the Australian Open, UFC Fight Nights, Formula E races, and PGA Tour tournaments add to the thrill.
January 20 has seen many memorable moments in sports history. Here are some highlights:
– 1910: The Ottawa Senators defeated Edmonton HC, 13-7, completing a 2-0 sweep in the challenge series.
– 1919: Gerald Patterson retained the International Lawn Tennis Challenge title by beating Algernon Kingscote.
– 1937: Baseball legends Cy Young, Tris Speaker, and Nap Lajoie were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
– 1950: The Detroit Lions selected Leon Hart first overall in the NFL Draft.
– 1952: George Mikan scored a career-high 61 points, leading the Lakers to a double-overtime win over the Royals.
– 1967: Wilt Chamberlain made all 15 of his field goal attempts in an NBA game.
– 1980: The Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl XIV against the Los Angeles Rams, with Terry Bradshaw named MVP.
– 1985: The San Francisco 49ers beat the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX, with Joe Montana as MVP.
– 2007: Utah coach Jerry Sloan surpassed Larry Brown for fourth place in NBA wins with 1,010 victories.
– 2017: Henrik Sedin scored his 1,000th career point for the Vancouver Canucks.
Three standout athletes from January 20 are Patty Berg, George Mikan, and Henrik Sedin. Berg is known for her 15 major championships and for helping start the LPGA. Mikan was the NBA’s first dominant big man, changing the game for centers.
