Conference 7.286::sports_91

    1. The Long jump record broken....
    2. Nolan Ryan's No-hitter
    3. World Series
    4. USA WOmen's Soccer team winning the world Championship
    5. Baseball free agent signings
    6. Super Bowl
    7. NBA finals
    8. Stanly Cup finals
    9. Magic Johnson
    10. Maradonna cocaine problem....

While there have only been two replies, I think it shows a trend that
personally makes me very happy.

Everyone remembers Nolan Ryan's 7th No-Hitter.  No one has mentioned
that Ricky Henderson set a new SB record that same day.  Perhaps it's
the humble, quiet nature of Nolan Ryan that sits well in our memories,
while the flashy, egotistical Henderson, who promptly proclaimed himself
the "greatest of all time" fades like a 4th of July firecracker - all 
bluster, but very little lasting value.


It was almost a full year ago, the Super Bowl XXV must also be mentioned.
The closest Super Bowl of all, it came at a time when our nation was
on the brink of war, yet allowed us all to escape for a just a short
while, with one of the most well-contested football games I've ever seen.


The Stanley Cup for the Pittsburgh Penguins, special in so many ways.
For Mario, who they said couldn't win the big one, for Ronnie Francis,
treated like scum by the Whalers management and packed off to Pittsburgh
like so much meat on the hoof, for the other former Whalers who all
breathed a collective sigh of relief for being out of Hartford, and finally
wearing a Stanley Cup ring, and finally, for the late Badger Bob Johnson.
For a man so vibrant and full of life, who had such a short time left,
to realize his life's dream is a special thing indeed.


England winning the Five Nations, a victory that propelled them into
the Rugby World Cup and ultimately a spot in the Finals.

Australia taking the second Rugby World Cup.  Words cannot describe the
accomplishment.


On a smaller, more personal note, the Hartford Wanderers winning the
New England Rugby tournament, on a weekend when it seemed the entire
focus of our being was hosting the USA-Scotland game.  To remember that
we indeed had a tournament to play in, and to pull out two very close,
last second 9-6 victories to propell us into the final against Boston,
that is special.  The 25-12 victory over Boston was not to be denied.



'Saw

    There were some amazing comebacks in '91 also:

    George Foreman who put up a helluva fight and was only done away by a
    rock solid champion.

    Mario Lemieux who had back surgery, came back for the last several
    weeks of the hockey season and lifted his team to a division title. 
    Then, during the Stanley Cup series, hurt his back while bending over
    to tie his skates...and came out in game six to lead an unstoppable
    attack on the North Stars and eventually hoist the beautiful prize over
    his head at the end of the night.

    The New England Patriots and (yes, I must say it) the Cleveland Browns
    who have been injected with new life by two fine coaches.

    Larry Bird...love him, hate him, or simply admire him...the man was
    laying down during games last season his back hurt him so much...this
    year he's still Larry, one of the greatest.

    Jim McMahon.  When Randall Cunningham got hurt in the first game,
    everyone thought the Eagles' season was over.  Somebody forgot to tell
    McMahon who, behind a Darth Vadar mask, made Philidelphia play as well
    as they had at any point since Jaworksi left the helm.

    And lets not forget the not-so-great comebacks:

    Jim Palmer who had the right mind set, but just couldn't convince his
    body of the same.

    Mark Spitz who should have just stayed out of the water completely. 
    Swimming is one sport you can never make a comeback in and he should
    have been smarter...although he did make several thousand dollars while
    trying.  Can't blame him for that.

    
    C'mon REK, two soccer items in your top 10?  The USA women's thing is
    passable because soccer is a girl's game, but you cain't have two of
    them in there.
    
    BOSS

    Reading about the East German women's swimming team whose collective
    first names could all be "Ernst". 6' and 180. And poor Shirley
    Babashoff, who has the right attitude, surmising that her life might
    have been different had she won those gold medals, shrugging it off
    and continuing her work as a letter carrier.
    
    MikeL
    

    	Dale Earnhardt winning his 5th Championship ring! 
    	Richard Petty announcing his retirement!
    	J.D.McDuffie Losing his life!
	Harry Gant winning 6 straight races!
    		
    
    B.A.

    Clearly the most convulsive thigh-shudders of all emanated during
    that scene when Dean Smif' went haywire when the clutch went down
    in the Final Four game.  Dazed and confused, he went into that sad-
    sack mantra "How much time do I have?  How much time do I have?  How
    much time do I have?   How much time do I have?..." and got tossed
    from the game with 35 seconds to go by a ref (who either 1) pitied
    Smif' and wanted to put him out a his misery, and/or 2) was so
    disgusted by his 93 substitutions that he couldn't stomach his presence
    any more) and then staggered down the sideline to congratulate the
    Jayhawks because "the game was over anyway" with a frozen smile on his
    face so very very geeky that somewhere even John Candy flushed with 
    discomfort and then walked, robot-like, into the runway where his asst.
    coach of this sqeaky-clean program attacked the referee and the Star
    Hell scholar-athletes then rumbled with the Indianapolis Police Department.
    
    Right there, in MrT's home town, in Mecca itself, a_object lesson cast
    in the sharpest possible relief, for all the world to see, how a super 
    recruiter cain actually go 1-for-30 and Fred Brown to boot.
    
    We Antis couldn't have written a better script if we'd tried, but we
    called the whole damn thing down to a gnat's ass.
    
    Big10 Tom

    Some images I will remember from 1991:
    
    Joe Montana being knocked into lala land by the New York Giants...that
    hit on Montana just may go down as the beginning of the end of the
    49ers dynasty.

    Scott Norwood hanging his head as the Giants celebrated around him in
    the warm Tampa night.

    Dean Smith getting tossed from the Kansas game and then showboating his
    handshakes to the Jayhawks on his way out.
    
    A celebrating Duke team after knocking off UNLV.  Though they all said,
    "We've still got one more to go" you could tell this was going to be
    bigger than any Grant Hill sky slam two nights later.

    Barry Bonds mouthing off to the Pittsburgh coaching staff.  Jim Leyland
    stepping in...enough said.

    Even Jimmy Paek, the only oriental in the NHL, scoring in the 8-0
    Penguins Stanley Cup victory over the NorthStars.

    Micheal Jordan hugging and kissing that trophy.
    
    1 out, bottom of the 11th, St. Louis leads by two runs, Barry Bonds
    comes up to the plate with two men on, hits a home run and just stands
    there with his arms in the air in victory.

    The smile on George Shinn's face as Charlotte is chosen to be one of
    only two cities to get a new AAA baseball team.
    
    Any catch made by Andy VanSlyke.

    Ted, Jane, Rosalynn, and Jimmy doing the Tomahawk Chop.

    Lonnie Smith crunching the Minnesota catcher.  Got tired of seeing the
    replay.

    Kent Hrbek doing a ballet lift on Dave Justice at firstbase and getting the
    out call.
    
    Kirby's hit and Kirby's catch.

    Jack Morris running in victory from the dugout and Charlie Leibrant
    walking from the mound.
    
    Desmond Howard and a rough and tumble Michigan team beating Notre Dame.

    Christian Okoye running over, around, and through any Bills defender on
    that Monday night.
    
    Florida State's kick that went inches wide that would have lifted them
    above Miami.

    Warren Moon and his receivers in the run and shoot...like Larry Bird,
    love it, hate it, or simply admire it...when it's working, it's
    beautiful to watch.

    Barry Sanders.
    
    The smile on Chuck Noll's face as he said good bye.

      My biggest memory is all the high $$$$$$$$  contracts signed for
    wimpy baseball and manly football!  Mainly Marino for the fish.
    
      I can't and don't want to keep up with all the baseball contracts
    that are not deserved!   It kills the value of what the sports really
    mean IMO!  Now for kids wanting to be a pro-player and win a ring, 
    its, I want to be a pro-player to make $5mil a year...Truely SAD!
    
    	Tim

    
>    We Antis couldn't have written a better script if we'd tried, but we
>    called the whole damn thing down to a gnat's ass.
    
  no truer words have been spoken. The enivatable loss was super, getting
  tossed was the icing on the cake and then acting like the born looser
  that he is congratulating the other team when the game was still in doubt
  was like a fourth of July Finale........

  Kudos to the Dukies for beating the unbeatable Rebels.....

>  no truer words have been spoken. The enivatable loss was super, getting
>  tossed was the icing on the cake and then acting like the born looser
>  that he is congratulating the other team when the game was still in doubt
>  was like a fourth of July Finale........
>
>  Kudos to the Dukies for beating the unbeatable Rebels.....
    
    Ahhhh yes, what a night.  Watched the games with Bob Hunt and friends. 
    
    Sharing the "Dean Getting Tossed" event with the antiest of anti-Deans
    was just too much.
    
    During the Duke UNLV game, they flashed Larry Johnson's stats on the
    screen.  I looked at Bob, Bob looked at me and we both shook our heads
    in amazement...then Johnson hits a three pointer.  I looked at Bob, Bob
    looked at me and we both said, "He's the man."
    
    Several months later, he was in Teal and Purple. 
    
    	--dan'l

    I'd like to make an addendum to my "Images" note.  There's one that
    I've forgotten and it's oh so memorable.  No, it's not Magic's
    farewell.  Nor is it the minor leaguer running through the outfield
    fence.  Nor is it Sam Wyche's scuffle with his assitant coach.  
    
    All of these are memorable, but none so much as...
    
    
    
    ACChris on stage at the Paper Doll Lounge, pants around his ankles, and
    a wiggly-jiggly hot little firecracker named Pepper making him
    understand why Charlotte is an "up and coming" city.
    

Scott Norwoods Kick sailing wide

Jimmy Connors at the US open....

Michael with tongue hanging out driving for the championship...

The world series...'nuf said.

Carl Lewis having his long jump streak broken with a world record leap


On a personal note....

The M's in deep financial trouble in spite of 2 Million fans
My friend Jeff Devlin coming in 3rd in the Iron Man in Hawaii
Enjoying co-ed soccer and getting my wife on the field...

Metz

    Metz, seems you got your wife on the field to long!!!!!!
    
    REK

 
 >   During the Duke UNLV game, they flashed Larry Johnson's stats on the
 >   screen.  I looked at Bob, Bob looked at me and we both shook our heads
 >   in amazement...then Johnson hits a three pointer.  I looked at Bob, Bob
 >   looked at me and we both said, "He's the man."
  
   and wasn't it that same Larry Johnson who stop at the three point line
   with 4 seconds left wide open with a chance to win the game passing up
   the shot to a well covered Anderson Hunt?

  ;^) 

 but even still Don they wouldn't have covered which is all that really mattered.
 they could have tanked the championship game and still made a bundle for their
 alumni????

    The 1991 Breeder's Cup Juvenille, with Arazi passing the field
    like they were standing still.  
    
    and for once, the simile was appropriate.
    
    
    
    
    

    Arazi's sprint was one a the most mind-blowing performances I've
    ever witnessed by anything on two or four legs.  Sent cheels up my 
    spine.
    
    On the negative side:
    
    - Seeing the cupcake-munching and wholly untested and undeserving
      Tech Bellow Flack-its being illegitimately named "co-Champions."
    
    - Slasher, the once-proud-noter, sagging his spine like a fly-bitten
      worn out sway back old nag and, in a fit a desperation, signing on
      as a mere deck hand with Crockmeister's sinking S.S. Smithna.
    
    - Al Cote's surprising death.
    
    MrT

    Tennesee's come-back victory over Notre Dame under the watchful eyes of
    touch-down Jesus.
    
    Ryan's 7th
    
    Miami-Florida St. (inches wide right)
    
    Magic
    
    Series'
    
    The mythical championship game? (Miami-Washington)
    
    Rodney McCray's "Wall-banger"
    
    Desmond Howard
    
    Alabama's "Pocket-rocket"
    
    Steve Atwater
    
    And how about those University of Houston Cougars? (Heh Heh!)
    
    

    
     The one memorable sports moment of 1991 that no one has mentioned yet
    is career "opponent" Bert Cooper coming within seconds of KO'ing heavy-
    weight champ Evander Holyfield.

    	Most memorable moment was the Tigermania game when Dennis Lamp
    trotted out of the bullpen only to be sent back by Morgan.  That
    was the first time all year Lamp got a standing ovation.
    
    				/Don

    
    Quite a year:
    
    Segei Bubka pole vaulting over 20', and continuing dominance in his
    specialty.
    
    The greatest 100M dash ever - with Carl Lewis proving the 'old' man can
    still do it, and Leroy Burrell proving his consistency.
    
    The greatest long jump ever - not only Mike Powell's magnificent jump
    to better bob Beamon, but Carl Lewis' sequence in the same meet - the
    best jumping sequence ever - including one jump that bettered Beamon's.
    THis followed a great duel between Lewis and Powell in the TAC
    Championships...
    
    Nolan Ryan.
    
    The Super Bowl - the unstoppable object (the Bills offense) meets the
    irrisistible force (Jints defense).. Great game.  Followed the Giants
    last second win over the Threepeatwannabe's the week before.  Most
    enjoyable.
    
    The World Series.  Simply the best.  Only drawback was the HumptyDome.
    
    The NHL PLayoffs - first for Don Cherry on Hockey Night in Canada, and
    second for the Minnesota NoStars road to the finals.  SImply amazing.
    
    The NBA - The Lakers surprise, but the NBA, Nike, Gatorade, and Madison
    Ave. finally get Mike his ring (with help...)
    
    The Deansters 'How Much Time' fiasco...
    
    Miami-FLorida State.  Great Game.
    
    Desmond Howard.
    
    Michael Johnson's total dominance in the 200M and 400M events - and the
    total stupidity of the US Coaches at the World's for not running him in
    the 4 x 400 (and losing the title to the Brits!)
    
    Terry Dehere's NCAA Tourney.  Great stuff.
    
    The Africans - mainly the Kenyans and Moroccons - dominance in every
    event over 800M - simply wonderful.
    
    New Zealand's all-blacks losing!
    
    Some darn good tennis.
    
    Watching the Houston-Giants game on a lounge chair in Florida with
    waitresses wearing thong bikini's serving me beers....
    
    JD
    

    <<< Note 227.25 by RIPPLE::DEVLIN_JO "Sherman,Himmler,Sheridan,Goebels,Custer" >>>
    
    
    
    >Watching the Houston-Giants game on a lounge chair wearing a thong 
    >bikini in Florida with waitresses serving me beers....
    
    Oh my!  Say it ain't so, JD.
    
    Mark.

    HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
    
    Too funny Mark.
    
    
    JD

    Watching Kev do his DD imitation at Tigermania
    

    U.S. Eagles win first ever Women's Rugby World Cup.

    The crowd at Wimbledon on the Sunday they opened it to those willing to
    wait on line for tix.
    
    
    On a personal note, finding my way to the sidelines of rugby games
    again.
    
    
    A&W

    The Orange Bowl capping a marvelous season highlighted by the FSU game.
    
    Mark.

>    The Orange Bowl capping a marvelous season highlighted by the FSU game.
    
    Sorry, Mark, but you'll have to wait until next December to enter
    anything about the 1992 Orange Bowl.  
    
    	--dan'l

    Dave Barry's view of Sports in 1991
    
From: [email protected] (Dave Barry)
Newsgroups: clari.feature.dave_barry
Message-id: <[email protected]>
Subject: THE YEAR IN REVIEW (full version)
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 91 0:00:34 PST
ACategory: lifestyle
Slugword: barry
Priority: regular
ANPA: Wc: 721; Id: z1270; Sel: sb--l; Adate: 12/29-1aed
Approved: [email protected]

	JANUARY
    	1 -- In college football, the University of Colorado Buffaloes
    become national champions by employing what will later become known as
    the ``Clarence Thomas strategy,'' in which they throw their opponents
    off-stride by refusing to take a position on the coin toss.
	13 -- Bo Jackson is injured in a football game and returns home to
Krypton for medical treatment.
	27 -- In Super Bowl XVCVILXVII, the New York Giants and the Buffalo
Bills display their support for the Persian Gulf troops by playing the
entire game wearing full Army combat uniforms, including backpacks. The
game ends on a thrilling note when, with eight seconds to go and the
Giants ahead 20-19, Bills placekicker Scott Norwood, attempting a 47-
yard field goal, is felled by a grenade heaved by MVP Lawrence Taylor.
	28 -- President Bush's economic advisers predict that the recession
will ``definitely'' end by March. ``Also,'' they note, ``we like the
Bills in the Super Bowl.''
	MARCH
	22 -- The National Football League, in its continuing effort to make
games more boring, bans post-touchdown celebrating. Also under
consideration is a move to eliminate the players altogether and instead
have the referees compete to see who can throw a penalty flag the
farthest. 
	23 -- True Item: Hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky pays $451,000 for a
Honus Wagner baseball card.
	APRIL
	12 -- Wayne Gretzky pays $784,000 for a jar containing two ounces of 
    Ty Cobb's spit.
	MAY
	16 -- Wayne Gretzky pays $1.2 million for Babe Ruth's corpse.
	JULY
	18 -- True Item: A Canadian psychiatrist releases a report, based on
autopsies, stating that as men get older, their brains shrink a lot,
while women's brains don't. This is believed to be the first scientific
explanation of golf.
	AUGUST
	28 -- In sports, some teen-ager wins some tennis match.
	OCTOBER
    	11 -- In the ongoing Thomas nomination hearings, Mike Tyson
    testifies that on a number of occasions Anita Hill had fantasies about
    him.
	12 -- The Senate Judiciary Committee goes into its fourth day of
hearings, highlighted by Geraldo Rivera's testimony that both Anita Hill
and Mike Tyson had fantasies about him. 
	18 -- The World Series gets under way, with the Atlanta Braves taking
on the Minnesota Twins, and President Bush's economic advisers
predicting a four-game sweep by the Toronto Blue Jays.
	NOVEMBER
	7 -- Magic Johnson fast-breaks a lot of hearts.
	DECEMBER
	1 -- Sales of Old Milwaukee beer plummet when the public learns that
the Swedish Bikini Team, prior to group surgery, was the Norwegian ice-
hockey team.
	
	(C) 1991 THE MIAMI HERALD
	DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.