Indiana Hoosiers Win NCAA Championship

On March 30, 1981, Indiana beats North Carolina 63-50 for the NCAA tournament championship.

Indiana, coached by Bob Knight, won the national title in the final game over North Carolina, coached by Dean Smith. Isiah Thomas of Indiana was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

A young Bobby Knight riding on the shoulders of his 1981 NCAA Champion Indiana Hoosiers team.

This was the last year the NCAA tournament in which the national third-place game would be played. The final third place game pitted up Virginia and LSU. Virginia would win in their first Final Four appearance.

The Indiana Hoosiers have amassed five NCAA Tournament Championships in 1940, 1953, 1976, 1981 and 1987. The Hoosiers have also finished NCAA Tournament runner-up once, in 2002. Indiana has reached the Final Four a total of eight times including once from every decade starting in the 70s through the 2000s. The Hoosiers have made the Elite Eight a total of 11 times, including back-to-back appearances in 1975-1976 and 1992-1993. Indiana has been to the Sweet 16 a total of 21 times, including four consecutive appearances from 1991-1994, and now back-to-back appearances from 2012 and 2013. The Hoosiers have been invited to 37 NCAA Tournaments, including 18-straight appearances from 1986-2003.

The Indiana Hoosiers have appeared in 95 NCAA Tournament games, good enough for seventh all-time behind only Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, UCLA, Duke and Louisville. Their record of 64-31 is the ninth best winning percentage, .673, of all time. But it is seventh among all teams with more than 13 NCAA Tournament games played. Their 64-wins in the NCAA Tournament is also tied for seventh all-time behind Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, UCLA, Duke and Louisville

Indiana missed out on the NCAA Tournament this year and will look to next season to add onto their historic legacy.

The North Carolina Tar Heels have amassed five NCAA Tournament Championships in 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005 and 2009. The Tar Heels were the runner-up four times in 1946, 1968, 1977 and 1981. North Carolina has been in the Final Four a total of 18 times, including three consecutive appearances from 1967-1969. The Tar Heels have reached the Elite Eight 26 times, including three-consecutive times twice, in 1967-1969 and 2007-2009. North Carolina has played in the Sweet 16 a total of 31 times, including 13-straight years from 1981-1993. The Tar Heels have been invited to the NCAA Tournament a total of 45 times, including 27-consecutive years from 1975-2001.

The North Carolina Tar Heels have appeared in 153 NCAA Tournament games, well enough for second all-time behind only Kentucky. Their record of 110-43 is good enough for fourth all-time in winning percentage, .718, behind only Florida Gulf Coast, Duke and UCLA. However, they are third all-time with teams playing with more than three games. Their 110-wins in the NCAA Tournament is good enough for second most all-time behind only Kentucky’s 114.

North Carolina had to give up their dream of adding onto their five NCAA Tournament championships when they lost to Iowa State in the third round.

Duke Blue Devils Win NCAA Championship

On March 28, 1992, the Duke Blue Devils edge out the Kentucky Wildcats. With two seconds left the Blue Devils completed a three-quarter court inbounds pass from Grant Hill to Christian Laettener, who would then put in a basket to win the game in overtime 104-103.

The 1992 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions, the Duke Blue Devils.

The win over Kentucky put Duke into the Final Four and eventually they would be crowned NCAA Tournament Champions with a win over Indiana in the Final Four and Michigan in the Finals.

Duke’s Laettener would be the games leading scorer with 31 points in the win. Kentucky’s Jamal Mashburn would lead the Wildcats in scoring with 28 points.

Eight players from this game, including Grant Hill, Christian Laettener, Jamal Mashburn, Bobby Hurley, Brian Davis, Thomas Hill, Antonio Lang and Cherokee Parks were drafted into the NBA.

Grant Hill, Laettener and Mashburn would have successful careers in the NBA while several of the others drafted would not play in the NBA after being drafted, but play overseas.

The NCAA Championship for Duke was the schools second, and second of a back-to-back with their first win coming in 1991. Since 1992, Duke has won two more NCAA Tournament Finals in 2001 and 2010. Duke was the NCAA Tournament runner up six times, including 1964, 1978, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1999.

Duke made the Final Four 15 times including five straight appearances from 1988-1992. They reached the Elite Eight 18 times, including five straight appearances from 1988-1992. Duke has played in the Sweet 16 a total of 27 times, including seven straight from 1986-1992 and nine straight from 1998-2006. The Blue Devils have played in the NCAA Tournament a total of 37 times, and have been in the NCAA Tournament every year since 1996, marking 18 straight appearances in tournament play.

The Blue Devils and Wildcats are tied for third all-time with 15 Final Four appearances, trailing only North Carolina and UCLA.

The Blue Devils 10 NCAA Tournament Finals appearances ranks third all-time behind Kentucky and UCLA, and their four victories in the NCAA Tournament Finals ranks fifth all-time, behind North Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky and UCLA. Despite not having the most NCAA Championships, Duke is the proud owner of the highest winning percentage in NCAA Tournament play with .750 winning percentage.

The Duke Blue Devils have appeared in 133 NCAA Tournaments, fifth all time behind only UCLA, Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky. Their combined record is 96-33.

With Duke still in the NCAA Tournament this year they have a chance to add onto their schools already historic basketball legacy.

While the Kentucky Wildcats would miss out on the Final Four and their chance win the NCAA Tournament Finals in 1992, but the school has had some good seasons since. The Wildcats have amassed eight NCAA Tournament Champions, including three since 1992, in 1996, 1998 and 2012. The Wildcats were the NCAA Tournament runner-ups in 1966, 1975 and 1997.

Kentucky made the Final Four 15 times, including back-to-back appearances in 1948-1949, 1996-1997 and 2011-2012. The Wildcats reached the Elite Eight 34 times, including four straight years from 1996-1999. They had reached the Sweet 16 a total of 39 times, including six consecutive years from 1968-1973. The Wildcats have played in the NCAA Tournament a total of 52 times, including 17 straight appearances from 1992-2007.

The Wildcats 11 NCAA Tournament Finals appearances rank second all-time, only behind UCLA, and their eight victories in the NCAA Tournament Finals also ranks second all-time, again behind only UCLA.

Kentucky also leads all schools with 57 20-win seasons, 13 30-win seasons, and is the only school with five different NCAA Championship coaches Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Rick Pitino, Orlando “Tubby” Smith and John Calipari.

The Kentucky Wildcats have appeared in 158 NCAA Tournaments, the most of any school. Their combined record is 113-46.

Marquette Golden Eagles Win The NCAA Championship

On March 28, 1977, the Marquette Golden Eagles won the NCAA Men’s Division I Tournament.  They would defeat Dean Smith’s North Carolina Tar Heels by a score of 67-59 in the finals, which was held in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Marquette Golden Eagles head coach Al McGuire (left) with NCAA Men's Player of the Year Butch Lee (right).

The win gave the Golden Eagles their first ever men’s basketball title, and till this day it remains their only championship.  At the time, the tournament consisted of only 32 teams.  Marquette began the tournament in the Midwest Region and beat out Cincinnati, Kansas State and Wake Forest on their way to the Final Four.  They would then beat Charlotte in their semi-final match-up to earn a date with UNC in the finals.  Their point guard, Butch Lee, would be named the tournament’s MVP.

The 1977 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions, the Marquette Golden Eagles.

The NCAA Tournament Championship for the Marquette Golden Eagles was the schools only NCAA Tournament Championship. Although the school also has one tournament runner up in 1974.

The Golden Eagles reached the Final Four three times including 1974, 1977 and most recently 2003. They have reached the Elite Eight a total of six times, including back-to-back appearances in 1976 and 1977. The Golden Eagles reached the Sweet 16 a total of 16 times, including four straight appearances from 1971-1974, and are currently on a three-year streak with appearances in the Sweet 16 from 2011-2013. The Golden Eagles have reached NCAA Tournament play 31 times, including 10 consecutive trips from 1971-1980 and are currently on their second longest streak of eight consecutive appearances make the NCAA Tournament every year from 2006-2013.

The Golden Eagles have appeared in 30 NCAA Tournaments. Their combined tournament record is 38–31.

Marquette is the only university to spurn an NCAA invite and did so due to an unjustified low seeding and having to travel. They were ranked 8th in the country at the time and were one of the favorites to win the NCAA championship. They were invited to the NIT, which they won. Then NCAA was so incensed at being spurn by Marquette that they instituted an NCAA rule which forbid an NCAA Division I level men's basketball team from spurning an NCAA bid for an 1970 National Invitation Tournament bid. An antitrust case by the NIT ensued over this issue, and the NCAA caved and settled out of court. The basis of the case was an antitrust issue against the NCAA for forcing an NCAA Division I men's basketball team to accept an NCAA bid over a better NIT bid (home court advantage, opportunity to play more games, and finally an opportunity to win a National Invitation Tournament Championship.

Michigan State Spartans Wins NCAA Championship

On March 26, 1979, Michigan State would play Indiana State for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.  Michigan would defeat Indiana 75-64, led by point guard Magic Johnson who was also named as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

To this day, the 1979 championship game remains as the highest-rated college basketball game in history.  Much hype was given to this game by the media because each team had a superstar, with Michigan State having Magic Johnson on their roster, while Larry Bird was playing for Indiana State. 

Both players led their respective teams in scoring in the game, but it was Magic’s 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists that ultimately took home the title for the Spartans.

Michigan State has compiled two NCAA Tournament championships in 1979 and 2000. They were the Tournament runner-up in 2009. The Spartans have reached the Final Four eight times including back-to-back-back appearances in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Their last appearance in the Final Four came in 2010. The Spartans have also reached the Elite Eight 11 times, the Sweet Sixteen 16 times, including four straight years from 1998-2001. Overall the Spartans have reached the NCAA Tournament 27 times, and is on their 17th consecutive appearance this year dating back to 1998.

While Michigan State won the NCAA Tournament in 1979, and again in 2000, Indiana State had never won the NCAA Tournament. Their highest finish ever was in 1979 when Bird’s team lost to Michigan State. The Sycamores have only reached the Final Four, Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen once, in 1979.

They Sycamores have reached the NCAA Tournament four times though in 1979, 2001, 2001 and 2011.

The Michigan State Spartans have another chance to add onto their legacy of basketball excellence this year as they are now in the Sweet 16 and set to play the Virginia Cavaliers on Friday, March 28 at 6:57 p.m. on TBS.

UCLA Bruins Win NCAA Championship

On March 26, 1973, the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship is decided as UCLA beats Memphis 81-76.

The win over Memphis in the NCAA Tournament marked the seventh straight National Championship the Bruins had won dating back to 1967, and the end of back-to-back perfect seasons.

The 1973 Championship also marked another highlight in the dynasty that John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins had amassed.

The win also came during UCLA’s record breaking winning streak, which started in 1971 and went through 1974 where the Bruins won 88 consecutive games.

Since the 1973 Championship, UCLA has gone on to win two more NCAA Championships in 1975 and 1995.

They were the NCAA Tournament runner up in 1980 and 2006. They reached the Final Four 18 times, including a 10-year span where they went every year; 1967-1976. Their last appearance came in 2008, when they were making their third consecutive appearance from 2006-2008.

The Bruins have reached the NCAA Tournament 45 times from 1950, including 20 straight years from 1962-1981.

The Bruins made the NCAA Tournament this year adding onto their historic legacy of basketball excellence in Westwood, and are facing the No. 1 overall seed Florida Gators at 6:40 p.m. on CBS.

Oakland Athletics 2014 Season Preview

Coming off of back-to-back American League West Divisional Titles is nothing to scoff at, but the Oakland Athletics are looking for more going into the 2014 season.

Oakland Athletics gold glove outfielder Josh Reddick. // Courtesy Neville Guard

Just a few days away from Opening Day, then the green and gold host the Cleveland Indians the A’s are still trying to finalize their 25-man roster. While the same core of players will be returning to the field for what the Oakland franchise hopes in their third consecutive season with a postseason berth, injuries are already taking their toll on what was supposed to be a very deep team.

The most notable injury comes to that of Jarrod Parker, who was lined up to be the ace of the staff this year. Parker’s injury requires tommy john surgery, so he will be out for the season, meaning the depth of the starting rotation has already been compromised. But there is more bad news for the pitching staff.

Other starters AJ Griffin, and off season acquisition Scott Kazmir are also expected to be sidelined for Opening Day, although their estimated returns are expected be come as their spots in the rotation are called on once the regular season starts.

Reliever Ryan Cook, who was going to be an integral part of the “strongest bullpen in the MLB” as many have noted, will start the season sidelined with should inflammation, though he is expected to return on April 4.

The injuries were not just localized to the pitching staff of the reigning AL West champs, it also hit the position players, as off-season acquisition Craig Gentry, who looked to fill in for the departed Chris Young and Seth Smith, will also start the season sidelined due to lower back strain he suffered in February.

Coco Crisp (center) will look to provide the Oakland Athletics a spark from the lead off spot again this year. // Courtesy Neville Guard

With the injuries suddenly riddling the Oakland clubhouse, one wonders if the A’s made enough moves in the off-season to stay ahead of their divisional competition. But one thing is certain, that if the A’s look to contend again in 2014 they will need some serious contributions from major figures in the dugout.

The players I look at to have an impact season for the green and gold offensively are Josh Donaldson, who hit .301 with 24 home runs and 93 RBIs last season, Yoenis Cespedes, who hit .240 with 26 home runs and 80 RBIs last season and Coco Crisp, the A’s leadoff man who hit .261 with 22 home runs and 66 RBIs last season. If these guys get their bats going early, the A’s should have no problems getting runs on the board early and often.

Oakland Athletics first baseman Brandon Moss (left) hit 30 home runs in 145 games last year will look to have repeat success this year. // Courtesy Neville Guard.

But the entire load shouldn’t be shouldered by these three, as Brandon Moss will look to continue his success and Josh Reddick will look to have a bounce back season, to that of 2012 when he hit .242 with 32 home runs and 85 RBIs in 156 games.

Oakland Athletics 2014 Opening Day starter Sonny Gray. // Courtesy Neville Guard

As for the pitching staff, Sonny Gray, who came up last season and provided a much needed spark for the A’s, will have to anchor the pitching staff. Gray who started 10 games last year went 5-3 with a 3.35 ERA in 64 innings pitched. Gray will have to prove his can post those numbers over the whole season. Along side of Gray is Kazmir, who is looking to resurrect his career much in the same way Bartolo Colon did the past two seasons. Kazmir is expected to face his former club the Indians on April 1, the second game of the season for both squads.

The Oakland Athletics will look to have the same type of success they had the past two seasons with Bob Melvin at the helm as they look for their third consecutive AL West title. The “Green Collar” Opening Day comes on March 31 where the A’s will look to win their first Opening Day since 2004 when they beat the Texas Rangers 5-4. Overall the Oakland Athletics are 53-60 in Opening Day contests since 1901.

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Go Toe-To-Toe

On March 24, 1979,  Magic Johnson and Larry Bird lead their respective teams to the 1979 NCAA finals.  Magic’s Michigan State team would destroy Penn State by a score of 101-67, while Bird’s Indiana State would beat out DePaul 76-74.

Larry Bird (back left) watches Magic Johnson (right) take free throws in their 1979 NCAA tournament game.

Both Magic and Larry would have outstanding games in their respective semi-final games.  Magic registered a triple-double, with 29 points to go along with his 10 rebounds and 10 assists, as he was nearly perfect that day going 9-for-10 from the field and 11-for-12 from the free throw line.  As for Bird, he would narrowly miss a triple-double of his own with 35 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists.

Michigan State and Indiana State would go on to face each other in the NCAA championship game, as this would mark the beginning of one of sports’ biggest rivalries.

Magic Johnson (left) and Larry Bird (right) wait for a free throw shot in their 1979 NCAA tournament game.

Michigan State has a chance to add onto their NCAA Tournament resume this year, while Indiana State missed the cut.

Michigan State has compiled two NCAA Tournament championships in 1979 and 2000. They were the Tournament runner-up in 2009. The Spartans have reached the Final Four eight times including back-to-back-back appearances in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Their last appearance in the Final Four came in 2010. The Spartans have also reached the Elite Eight 11 times, the Sweet Sixteen 17 times, including four straight years from 1998-2001. Overall the Spartans have reached the NCAA Tournament 28 times, and is on their 17 consecutive appearance this year dating back to 1998.

While Michigan State won the NCAA Tournament in 1979, and again in 2000, Indiana State had never won the NCAA Tournament. Their highest finish ever was in 1979 when Bird’s team lost to Michigan State. The Sycamores have only reached the Final Four, Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen once, in 1979.

They Sycamores have reached the NCAA Tournament four times though in 1979, 2001, 2001 and 2011.

Wayne Gretzky Sets NHL Record

On March 23, 1994, NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky scored his record-breaking 802nd career NHL goal.  Gretzky surpassed his childhood hero Gordie Howe, whose record stood for almost 15 years.

The iconic photo from Wayne Gretzky's 802nd goal.

In the second period of a game against the Vancouver Canucks, Gretzky received a cross-ice feed from Marty McSorley and buried it into a yawning cage for the record-breaking goal.  “The Great One” would record an additional 92 goals in his career, finishing with a total of 894 regular season goals.  At the time of his retirement many considered this record to be untouchable.

Gretzky’s 20-year NHL career between the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers would see him play in 1,487 regular season games, scoring 894 goals, 1,963 assists for 2,857 points. He would score 204 power play goals, and 73 shootout goals, 91 of those were game winning goals.

Wayne Gretzky on the Los Angeles Kings in 1994.

Gretzky would make the playoffs in all but four seasons, as he played in 208 games, scoring 122 goals, 260 assists for 382 points.

Gretzky would be a star in International play as well, earning three Gold medals (1984, 1987, 1991) and one Silver (1981) in Canada Cup play. He would earn a Bronze in both 1978 World Junior Championship and the 1982 World Championships, as well Silver in the 1996 World Cup. Gretzky would also play for team Canada in the 1998 Winter Olympics, but would not medal.

Gretzky would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Nov. 22, 1999, becoming the tenth player to bypass the three-year waiting period. The Hall of Fame announced he would be the last player to do so. He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2000.

In addition, Gretzky's jersey number 99 was retired league-wide at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game. Gretzky's jersey number 99 is only the second number ever to be retired league-wide by a major North American sports league, the other being Jackie Robinson's number 42, which was retired by Major League Baseball in 1997.

After his playing career ended Gretzky would go on to coach in the NHL with the Phoenix Coyotes. He would coach them for four years, never making the playoffs and only once posting more wins than losses in regulation, 2007-2008 season the Coyotes were 38-37-7.

Magic Johnson To Coach Los Angeles Lakers

On March 22, 1994, the Los Angeles Lakers announce that Magic Johnson will replace head coach Randy Pfund, who was fired after compiling a 66-80 record in less than two seasons. Johnson, only 34, had retired in 1991 when he learned he was HIV-positive.

Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson (right) talking with James Worthy (left) after he was appointed to the head coaching position during the 1993-1994 season.

Johnson discovered immediately that coaching wasn’t in his heart. Things got off to a solid start, as the Lakers won five of their fist six games under their new coach. But the Lakers closed out the season with 10 consecutive losses, the longest losing streak in franchise history, finishing the season with a 33-49 record – missing the playoffs for the first time since 1976.

Not even a month after taking the job, Johnson announced in the middle of April that he wouldn’t be returning for the 1994-1995 season.

Magic’s brief coaching stint ended with a 5-11 record, however, Johnson became a part owner of the Lakers that summer.

Buffalo Sabers Clint Malarchuk Suffers Near Fatal Injury

On March 22, 1989, Clint Malarchuk of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres suffered a near fatal throat injury in a game against the St. Louis Blues. Malarchuk had his interior carotid artery severed when teamed Uwe Krupp and Blues forward Steve Tuttle crashed into him at high speeds.

Clint Malarchuk of the Buffalo Sabres after having his throat hit with a skate.

Malarchuk came dangerously close to losing his life that night, but the quick thinking of athletic trainer Jim Pizzutelli save his life. Pizzutelli, a former army medic who served in Vietnam, reached into Malarchuk’s neck and pinched off the bleeding until doctors arrived.

It took doctors 90 minutes and over 300 stitches to close the wound. Suprisingly, Malarchuk spent only one night in the hospital and was back at practice just four days later.

President Carter Announces United States To Boycot Moscow Olympics

On March 21, 1980, the President of the United States of America, Jimmy Carter announces that the United States will boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia.

 

Led by the United States, 65 countries boycotted the games because of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, though some athletes from some of the boycotting countries participated in the games, under the Olympic Flag.

This prompted the Soviet-led boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics that were held in Los Angeles, Calif.

Some of the later events of the games were also nearly marred by the death and unauthorized mass funeral of the immensely popular and beloved singer-songwriter Vladimir Vysotsky.

Although approximately half of the 24 countries that boycotted the 1976 Summer Olympics (in protest of apartheid in South Africa) participated in these games, the 1980 Summer Olympics were disrupted by another, even larger, boycott led by the United States in protest of the 1979 Soviet war in Afghanistan. Many of the boycotting nations participated instead in the Liberty Bell Classic (also known as the "Olympic Boycott Games") in Philadelphia.

Eighty nations participated – the smallest number since 1956. However, the nations that did compete had won 71% of the medals, including 71% of the gold medals, at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.

Of the 80 nations represented at the Moscow Games, six nations made their first Olympic appearance in 1980: Angola, Botswana, Jordan, Laos, Mozambique, and Seychelles. Cyprus made its debut at the Summer Olympics, but had appeared earlier at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Sri Lanka competed for the first time under its new name (previously as Ceylon), Benin had competed previously as Dahomey and Zimbabwe competed for the first time under that name (previously as Rhodesia).

As a form of protest against the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, 15 countries marched in the Opening Ceremony with the Olympic Flag instead of with their national flags, and the Olympic Flag and Olympic Hymn were used at Medal Ceremonies when athletes from these countries won medals. Competitors from three countries New Zealand, Portugal and Spain; competed under the flag of their respective National Olympic Committees. Some of the teams who marched under other than their national flags were depleted by boycotts by individual athletes, and others did not march.

The Soviet Union took home the most medals with 195 total medals, including the most Gold medals of any country with 80. They also won 69 Silver medals and 46 Bronze medals.

The East Germans took home the second most medals with 126, including 47 Gold medals, 37 Silver medals and 42 Bronze medals.

The Bulgarians took home the third most medals with 41, including eight Gold medals, 16 Silver medals and 17 Bronze medals.

UCLA Bruins End Perfect Season

On March 21, 1964, the UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team beat Duke by a score of 98-83 to win the NCAA Division I championship, and complete their perfect 30-0 season.

John Wooden (center) with the 1964 NCAA Champions UCLA Bruins.

At the time, the Bruins became only the forth team in NCAA men’s basketball history to record a perfect season.  The other three were the 1953-54 Kentucky Wildcats, the 1955-56 San Francisco Dons and the 1956-57 North Carolina Tar Heels.  The win was just the start of head coach John Wooden’s wonderful run at UCLA that would see him win 10 NCAA championships over the next 12 years, and earn the nickname as “The Wizard at Westwood.”

Since the Bruins’ perfect 1963-64 season, five more teams have record undefeated seasons, however, three of those were UCLA teams from Wooden’s era.  The other two were recorded by North Carolina State in 1972-73 and Indiana in 1975-76.

UCLA has since gone on to win 10 more NCAA Tournaments including eight straight from 1967-1973, with their last win coming in 1995.

They were the NCAA Tournament runner up in 1980 and 2006. They reached the Final Four 18 times, including a 10-year span where they went every year; 1967-1976. Their last appearance came in 2011, when they were making their first appearance since consecutive appearances from 2006-2008. However, the UCLA Bruins are in the back in the mix again this year as they take on Tulsa tonight.

The Bruins have reached the NCAA Tournament 46 times since 1950, including 20 straight years from 1962-1981.

MLB Investigates Pete Rose

On March 20, 1989, Major League Baseball’s Pete Rose, who was then the manager of the Cincinnati Reds, announced by the MLB will be under investigation for gambling on baseball.

Pete Rose as a manager of the Cincinnati Red in 1989.

A few months later on, May 9, 1989, Special Investigator John Dowd delivers his report to Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti. A few months after that on August 24, 1989, Pete Rose voluntarily agrees to a lifetime ban from baseball. The agreement Rose signs with Giamatti contains no formal findings, but Giamatti states he believes Rose bet on baseball. Later that same day, Rose denies the claim.

Eight years later in September, of 1997, Rose applies for reinstatement to baseball.

Seven years after his application for reinstatement, as baseball is set to announce the election of Paul Molitar and Dennis Eckersley into the Hall of Fame, Rose admits he bet on baseball.

Rose, most likely the best hitter of his time, and maybe of all time accumulated 4,256 hits in his career, which still marks first all-time. He played in 3,562, the most all-time. Rose also racked up the most at-bats for any player all-time with 14,053, singles with 3,215 and times on base with 5,929.

Pete Rose doing one of his iconic head first dives as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1975.

Some of Rose’s other accomplishments include, 1963 NL Rookie of the Year award, 1973 NL MVP, 1975 World Series MVP, two gold gloves, one silver slugger award and 17 All-Star Game nominations.

Rose, who will most likely never be elected into the Hall of Fame, has earned his place in the Hall of Fame statistically, but because of his gambling issues, their might be a chance he will never dawn the tan jacket.

Bston Celtics' Havlicek Sets NBA Record

On March 20, 1976, John Havlicek of the Boston Celtics became the first NBA player to score more than 1,000 points per season for 14 consecutive seasons.

Boston Celtics guard John Havlicek (right) drives to the lane against the New York Knicks in a game in 1976.

Havlicek, the 8-time NBA Champion and 13-time NBA Al-Star was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984, six years after his retirement in 1978. The Celtics in Boston Garden retired Havlicek’s jersey, no.17 immediately after his retirement.

In 1997 Havlicek was selected and one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. In SLAM Magazine’s Top 50 NBA Players list in 2009, Havlicek was ranked no.17, like his jersey. He was also named the 13^th best player of all-time in Bill Simmons, Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy.

Havlicek scored 26,395 points in his career, an average of 20.8 per game. He also recorded 8,007 rebounds, an average of 6.3 per game, and 6,114 assists, an average of 4.8 per game.

Michael Jordan Returns

On March 19, 1995, Michael Jordan returns to the Chicago Bulls to beat the Indiana Pacers. The return from Jordan to the NBA came after a 17-month retirement, in which he played baseball for the Chicago White Sox minor league team the Birmingham Barons.

Michael Jordan with the Chicago White Sox in Spring Training of 1994.

On March 18, Jordan announced his return to the NBA through a two-word press release: "I'm back." The next day, Jordan donned jersey number 45 (his number with the Barons), as his familiar 23 had been retired in his honor following his first retirement. He took to the court with the Bulls to face the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, scoring 19 points.

The game had the highest Nielsen rating of a regular season NBA game since 1975.

Michael Jordan wearing the jersey No. 45 upon his return to the Chicago Bulls ii the March 19, 1995 game against the Indiana Pacers.

Although he hadn't played an NBA game in a year and a half, Jordan played well upon his return, making a game-winning jump shot against Atlanta in his fourth game back. He then scored 55 points in the next game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 28, 1995 (his first appearance at Madison Square Garden since retiring). Boosted by Jordan's comeback, the Bulls went 13–4 to make the playoffs and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Orlando Magic.

Though at the end of Game 1, Orlando's Nick Anderson stripped Jordan from behind, leading to the game-winning basket for the Magic; he would later comment that Jordan "didn't look like the old Michael Jordan", after which Jordan returned to wearing his old number. Jordan averaged 31 points per game in the series, but Orlando prevailed in six games.

The return of the Jordan to the NBA was good for television and the league, but even greater for the Bulls. His “Airness” would lead the Bulls to their second three-peat championships from 1996-1998.

Jordan is talked about as one of the best players of all-time, and with good reason he won six NBA Championships, earning the NBA Finals MVP each time. He was named the NBA’s MVP five times, an All-Star 14 times, and the MVP of the All-Star game three times. He was a 10 time NBA scoring champion, and three times the NBA steals champ, he was also a two time NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1988.

He was nominated to the All-NBA First Team 10 times, Second Team once, All-Defensive First Team nine times, the All-Rookie First Team as well being named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1985.

The Miami Heat has retired twice by the Bulls and Jordan/s no. 23 jersey once. He was named to the NBA’s 50 Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996.

In his career Jordan scored 32,292 points for an average of 30.1 points per game. Only he and Wilt Chamberlain have averaged 30 or more points per game over their entire career. He also pulled in 6,672 rebounds and 5.633 assists. Jordan still ranks third all-time in steals with 2,514 trailing John Stockton and Jason Kiss.

In August 2009, the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, opened a Michael Jordan exhibit containing items from his college and NBA careers, as well as from the 1992 "Dream Team".

Jordan also won two Gold medals with Team USA at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics and the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics.

After Jordan received word of his being accepted into the Hall of Fame, he selected Class of 1996 member David Thompson to present him. As Jordan would later explain during his induction speech in September 2009, growing up in North Carolina, he was not a fan of the Tar Heels, and greatly admired Thompson, who played at rival North Carolina State.

He was inducted into the Hall in September, with several former Bulls teammates in attendance, including Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Charles Oakley, Ron Harper, Steve Kerr, and Toni Kukoc.  Former coaches of Jordan's, Dean Smith and Doug Collins, were also among those present.

Brett Hull Scores 80

On March 19, 1991, Brett Hull becomes only the second player in NHL history to score 80 goals in a season.  Hull finished the year with 86 goals, the third most all-time, behind only Wayne Gretzky’s 92 in 1981-82 and Gretzky’s 87 in 1983-84. Brett also became only the fifth player to score 50 goals in his teams first 50 games.

Brett Hull in 1991 with the St. Louis Blues.

Hull was the game’s premier goal scorer in the early ’90′s, scoring an incredible 339 goals from 1989-1994 for an average of almost 68 goals per season.  “The Golden Brett” was paired with Adam Oates to make up one of the NHL’s most feared duos. Oates was a great playmaker who consistently setup Hull for his trademark one-time slap shot.

Hull’s NHL career would feature 1,269 games played, in which he scored 741 goals and tallied 650 assists for a total of 1,391 points over 20 seasons. Hull would make the playoffs 20 times with the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings, playing in 202 games. He would score 103 goals and record 87 assists for a total of 190 points in the playoffs.

Known as one of the game's greatest snipers, Hull was an elite scorer at all levels of the game. He played college hockey for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, where he scored 52 goals in 1985–86. He scored 50 the following year with the Moncton Golden Flames of the American Hockey League (AHL) and had five consecutive NHL seasons of at least 50 goals.

Hull would win NHL First Team All-Star nominations from 1989-1992, and would play in the All-Star game from 1989-1994, 1996-1997 and 2001. He would win the NHL All-Star Game MVP in 1992. Hull would win the NHL’s MVP award the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1991 as well the Lester B. Pearson Award the MVP voted on by the players the same year. He would win the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1990, a trophy awarded for Sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct. He would win the Stanley Cup in 1999 with the Dallas Stars and in 2002 with the Detroit Red Wings.

Hull would also win a Silver medal with Team USA at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. He would also earn a Silver medal at the 1991 Canada Cup, and a Gold medal at the World Cup of Hockey in Canada in 1996.

Lenny Wilkens Sets NBA Record

On March 17, 1999, Hall of Fame basketball coach Lenny Wilkens coaches game number 2,051 setting a new NBA record.

Lenny Wilkens after receiving his Coach of the Year award from 1994.

Before Wilkens was a coach he was a player in the NBA, the St. Louis Hawks drafted him in the first round sixth overall.

He played in the NBA from 1960-1975, with the Hawks, Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trailblazers and scored 17,772 points, had 5,030 rebounds and 7,211 assists.

As a player he was a nine time All-Star, and the All-Star Game MVP in 1971. He was named to the NBA’s 50 Anniversary All-Time Team and his no. 19 jersey were retired by the SuperSonics.

Wilkens started coaching in 1969 with the SuperSonics, and coached with them until 1972 as a player coach, and in his one season as a player with Portland, he was a player-coach.

Wilkens retired from playing in 1975 and was the full-time coach of the Trail Blazers for one more season.

After a season off from coaching, he again became coach of the SuperSonics when he replaced Bob Hopkins who was fired 22 games into the 1977–1978 season after a dismal 5-17 start.

The SuperSonics won 11 of their first 12 games under Wilkens, made the playoffs, and ultimately reached the 1978 NBA Finals before losing in seven games to the Washington Bullets.

He coached in Seattle for eight seasons (1977–1985), winning his and Seattle's only NBA Championship in 1979.

He would go on to coach Cleveland (1986–1993), Atlanta (1993–2000), with Atlanta he won the NBA Coach of the Year in 1994, Toronto (2000–2003) and New York (2004–2005).

The Hall of Famer was named head coach of the New York Knicks on Jan. 15, 2004. After the Knicks' slow start to the 2004–2005 season, Wilkens resigned from the team on Jan. 22, 2005.

 

During the 1994-95 season Wilkens won career game 939, surpassing Boston Celtics legendary head coach Red Auerbach's record. He was the first coach to record 1,000 career victories and retired with a 1,332-1,155 won-loss record. He had the most wins all-time in the NBA until Golden State Warriors Coach Don Nelson surpassed the record in the 2009-2010 season.

Wilkens is in the Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach, and is only one of three players to earn that honor; the other two are John Wooden and Bill Sharman. He was inducted as a player in 1989 and a coach in 1996.

Wilkens won a Gold medal coaching the USA basketball team at the 1996 Olympics and was named one of the Top 50 Players and Top 10 Coaches in NBA History in 1996, and is the only player on both lists.