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, the Australian Open in tennis, UFC Fight Nights, Formula E, and PGA Tour events also keep fans entertained.
January 6 has seen some unforgettable moments in sports history. Here are a few highlights:
– 1925: Paavo Nurmi set indoor records in the mile and 5,000 meters.
– 1951: The Indianapolis Olympians defeated the Rochester Royals 75-73 in the longest game in NBA history, going six overtimes.
– 1970: Johnny Famechon knocked out Fighting Harada in the 14th round to retain his WBC featherweight title.
– 1980: The Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC Championship against the Houston Oilers, while the Los Angeles Rams beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the NFC Championship. That same year, the Philadelphia Flyers set a record with 35 straight games without a loss.
– 1981: John Tonelli scored five goals in a game for the New York Islanders against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
– 1994: Nancy Kerrigan was attacked, leading to a major scandal in figure skating.
– 1995: Atlanta Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens became the NBA’s all-time winningest coach.
– 2014: Florida State Seminoles beat Auburn Tigers 34-31 in the BCS National Championship Game.
– 2018: Jon Gruden returned to the NFL to coach the Oakland Raiders.
Three standout athletes from January 6 are John Tonelli, Nancy Kerrigan, and Jon Gruden. Tonelli won four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders. Kerrigan is a celebrated figure skater with Olympic medals. Gruden is a Super Bowl-winning NFL coach.
