December is an exciting month for sports fans. The NBA and NHL seasons are in full swing, NFL teams are fighting for playoff spots, and college football wraps up. We also see F1 racing, UFC Fight Nights, and college basketball tournaments. December 22 has seen many memorable moments in sports history. Here are some highlights:
– 1924: Babe Dye scored five goals for the NHL’s Toronto St. Patricks in a 10-2 win over the Boston Bruins.
– 1941: The Pittsburgh Steelers picked Bill Dudley first in the NFL Draft.
– 1962: A player scored the 1,000,000th point in NBA history during a game.
– 1964: Denis Law of Manchester United won the Ballon d’Or.
– 1969: Pete Maravich set an NCAA record by making 30 of 31 foul shots.
– 1974: Phil Esposito became the sixth NHL player to score 500 career goals.
– 1983: The Indiana Pacers ended a 28-game road losing streak.
– 1987: Michael Jordan scored 52 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
– 1990: Paul Coffey became the second NHL defenseman to reach 1,000 points.
– 2013: Peyton Manning threw his 51st touchdown pass, breaking the single-season record.
– 2019: Michael Thomas set an NFL record with 144 catches in a season.
– 2020: Lionel Messi scored his 644th goal for FC Barcelona, setting a record for most goals with one club.
Three standout athletes from December 22 are Paul Coffey, Marco van Basten, and Michael Thomas. Coffey changed the game for defensemen, van Basten is a legendary striker, and Thomas earned the nickname “Can’t Guard Mike.” December 22 is a day filled with unforgettable sports moments!
