The Wreck & Brawl That Put NASCAR On The Map

Forty years ago, tires were screeching, fists were flying, and millions of Americans were buried deep in snow. Against all expectations, it was the perfect confluence of events for the 1979 Daytona 500, a race that would catapult NASCAR from a southeast regional sport to a national powerhouse.
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Blocking Shots & Standing Tall For Human Rights
Looking like a gangly mythical creature, Manute Bol was the tallest player to join the NBA. The 7-foot, 7-inch (2.31m) native of Sudan …
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An Iconic Photo That Belies The Real Story
On the night of May 25th, 1965, photographers John Rooney of the Associated Press and Neil Leifer of Sports illustrated snapped similar pictures of Muhammad Ali …
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Mosconi & Fats, The Great Pool Shoot-Out
Twenty million Americans tuned in to ABC’s Wide World of Sports on Valentine’s Day, 1978 to watch a champ and a hustler …
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Two Brothers, Two Sneakers, And A Global Battle For Footwear
A little more than seventy years ago, German brothers Adolf Dassler and Rudolf Dassler parted ways in a bitter sibling quarrel. …
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Celebrating Virginia McCaskey, The NFL's Grand Dame
Virginia Halas McCaskey didn’t get her birthday wish following the Chicago Bears’ dramatic loss at the wild card game... …
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Looking Back With Australian Tennis Great, Ken Rosewall
It is now some years ago, but I had an enjoyable time writing a book together with Ken Rosewall. That was mainly because once I had convinced him …
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A City, A College, And A Soccer Dynasty
St Louis University ("SLU") ruled college soccer from the late 1950's through the early 1970's, winning ten Division I …
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“City of Champions”, a storybook tale of leather helmets and iron wills
In 1939, two high school football teams representing Garfield, New Jersey and Miami, Florida, faced off in the Orange Bowl to decide …
Read moreTHIS WEEK
BASKETBALL February 15, 2009 The NBA holds its 58th annual All-Star game in Phoenix, Arizona. The Western Conference defeats the East 149-119 with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal sharing the MVP Award. The former received his 15th and final All-Star selection, the second highest in NBA history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 19.
FOOTBALL February 16, 1999 O.J. Simpson’s Heisman Trophy is sold for $230,000 to help settle a civil judgement against him for the deaths of his ex-wife and friend. O.J. won the Trophy in 1968 as a running back for USC; he later played for the Buffalo Bills and SF 49ers. His life began to spiral downward in 1994 following murder charges against him.
BASEBALL February 16, 1989 Pitcher Roger Clemens signs a record $7.5 Million, 3-year contract to extend his tenure with the Boston Red Sox. The 11x career All-Star would win the Cy Young Award 7 times, more than any other pitcher, and the World Series twice, in 1999 and 2000 with the NY Yankees. He retired in 2007 with a W/L record of 354/184.
AUTO RACING February 18, 1979 In a race for the ages, Rich Petty wins the Daytona 500 at the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Trailing in 3rd place towards the end of the chase, the North Carolina native cleared the finish line after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison, driving 1st and 2nd place cars, collided in the final lap and opened up the win for Petty.