Auerbach Gets Win 1,000

On Jan. 12, 1966, legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach won the 1,000^th game of this coaching career. This total counts playoff games. Auerbach is often credited with building the NBA dynasty in Boston. He won nine championships with the team. Which is the second most for a head coach all time only behind Phil Jackson who won 12 with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

Auerbach also emphasized the need for role players like Frank Ramsey and John Havlicek, who became one of the first legitimate sixth men in NBA history, a role later succeeded in by Don Nelson.

Auerbach's recipe proved devastating to the opposition.

From 1957 to 1966, the Celtics won nine of ten NBA championships.

This included eight consecutive championships—which is the longest championship streak in North American sports—and beat the Los Angeles Lakers of Hall-of-Famers Elgin Baylor and Jerry West six times in the NBA Finals. Perhaps most notably, this also included denying perennial scoring and rebounding champion Wilt Chamberlain a title during Auerbach's coaching reign.

Auerbach is remembered as a pioneer of modern basketball, redefining basketball as a game dominated by team play and defense and for introducing the fast break as a potent offensive weapon.

He groomed many players who went on to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Additionally, Auerbach was vital in breaking down color barriers in the NBA. He made history by drafting the first African-American NBA player, Chuck Cooper in 1950, and introduced the first African-American starting five in 1964.

Famous for his polarizing nature, he was well known for smoking a cigar when he thought a victory was assured, a habit that became, for many, "the ultimate symbol of victory" during his Boston tenure.

In 1967, the NBA Coach of the Year award, which he had won in 1965, was named the "Red Auerbach Trophy," and Auerbach was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969.

In 1980, he was named the greatest coach in the history of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America, and was NBA executive of the year in 1981.

In addition, Auerbach was voted one of the NBA 10 Greatest Coaches in history, was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and is honored with a retired number 2 jersey in the TD Garden, the home of the Boston Celtics.

Miami Dolphins Hire Jimmy Johnson

On Jan. 10, 1996, the Miami Dolphins announced Jimmy Johnson as their new head coach. 

Johnson replaced legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula, who’s tenure lasted 26 years with the Miami organization.

Before accepting the job with the Dolphins, Johnson led the Dallas Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 1992 and 1993.  Despite all of his accomplishments with the Cowboys, Johnson and team owner Jerry Jones did not see eye to eye on many things, which ultimately led to coach Johnson’s departure. 

Jimmy Johnson also enjoyed success at the collegiate level, coaching the Miami Hurricanes to the 1987 NCAA Division I National Championship. 

At the start of his head coaching days in college he led Oklahoma State to a 29-26-2 record over five seasons and two bowl appearances. Most notably the 24-14 win over Baylor in the Bluebonnet Bowl in 1983.

He left Oklahoma State after rebuilding the program for the Hurricanes of the University of Miami.

In just a few short years Johnson led the Hurricanes to an NCAA National Championship victory in 1987 over Oklahoma.

Johnson left Miami in 1989 for the NFL and the Cowboys, but left Miami with an amazing record of 52-9, and 44-4 record over his final four seasons.

His entire NCAA record as a head coach was 81-34-3.

However, Johnson would not share similar success with the Dolphins, as he went 36-28 in the regular season and just 2-3 in the playoffs during his four-year stay in Miami.

Jimmy Johnson is currently working in television as an analyst for FOX NFL Sunday’s pregame show.  Although there are quite a few coaching opportunities available in the NFL this off-season, do not expect the 69-year-old Johnson to be filling any of those spots.

San Francisco 49ers' Clark Makes "The Catch"

On Jan. 10, 1982, Dwight Clark of the San Francisco 49ers made the play now referred to as "The Catch" in the NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys.

With less than five minutes to go in the game and the 49ers trailing 27-21, Joe Montana led a strong drive to put the 49ers in position. He found Clark on a short touchdown pass and Clark hauled in the catch with 50 seconds left. After the extra point, the 49ers took a 28-27 lead.

Dwight Clark was a hand picked player for Bill Walsh during his tenure as the 49ers head coach. Bill Walsh drafted Dwight Clark as the first pick of the 10th round of the 1979 NFL draft.

Clark embarked on a stellar career for 49ers in which he had 506 catches for 6750 yards and 48 touchdowns, along with 50 rushing yards. He led the NFL in receptions (60) during the strike-shortened 1982 season, and made the Pro Bowl twice in 1981 and 1982 in his nine NFL seasons.

After Walsh drafted Clark, he made Clark and quarterback Joe Montana practice a certain 20-yard rollout "Hail Mary" pass into the end zone at the end of every practice. Walsh wanted to make sure that they could complete that certain pass in the red zone.

That play that Montana and Clark practiced ended up being “The Catch,” smart thinking by Clark to practice that play, which put them in the 1982 Super Bowl.

After nine successful seasons with San Francisco 49ers, Dwight Clark retired after 1987 NFL season.

Clark was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams in 1982 and 1985.

To honor Clark's contribution to 49ers, the club retired his number 87.

After retirement, he has served as a team executive for the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns as well as starring in the lead role in the 1994 direct-to-video comedy Kindergarten Ninja.

Clark has also appeared in the video game, All-Pro Football 2K8.

Clark joined Comcast SportsNet Bay Area in 2011 as a 49ers analyst for "49ers Postgame Live."

NFL Wildcard Playoffs recap + Divisional Round Predictions + San Francisco 49ers Top 5 Playoff Moments

The NFL Wildcard round is over and the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers are moving on to face the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers respectively.

I recap the games with a former co-host, Ryan Hilton, from "The Sporting Hangover," as well go over the Top 5 49ers Playoff Moments and then touch on the NFL Divisional Round Playoff matchups.

Youtube video link to Scratch Hit Sports Podcast on NFL Wildcard Round

Podbean audio link to Scratch Hit Sports Podcast on NFL Wildcard Round

Jordan Scores 20,000

On Jan. 8, 1993, Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls picked up the 20,000^th point of his NBA career. The historic point came during a big win over the Milwaukee Bucks. It was the 620^th game of his career. Only Wilt Chamberlain had reached the milestone faster than Jordan.

Jordan finished his career 32,292 points, and is the third highest scorer all-time behind only Los Angeles Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabar with 38,387 points and Utah Jazz great Karl Malone who scored 36,928 in his career.

Despite not being the leagues All-Time leading scorer, Jordan is recognized as the best, or one of the best players to play the game.

“His Airness” as Jordan has been refereed to has won six NBA Championships, with three-peats in 1991-1993 and 1996-1998. He was the NBA Finals MVP in each of the NBA Championships they won. Jordan won the leagues NBA MVP in 1988, 1991-1992, 1996 and 1998.

Jordan was named an All-Star 14 times, and three times he was named the NBA All-Star game MVP in those games. He was also the NBA defensive player of the year in 1988, and the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1985. He was a 10-time NBA scoring champion and a three-time NBA steals champion.

Jordan was named to the All-NBA First Team 10-times, and ALL-NBA Second Team once, his rookie year. He was nine-times named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Showing off his high-flying skills Jordan won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in back-to-back years in 1987-1988 beating out Dominique Wilkins and Spud Webb for the honors.

On Nov. 1, 1994 the Chicago Bulls retired Michael Jordan’s no. 23 jersey, while he was on his first pseudo-retirement leave from the league

Jordan was named to the NBA’s 50^th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996, while he was still playing for the Bulls.

In 2009 Jordan was inducted into the NBA’s Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

NCAA Allows Freshmen To Play

On Jan. 8, 1972, the NCAA announced that freshmen would be eligible to play on varsity teams.

Prior to this, freshmen were ineligible to play on varsity as they had their own league of play, freshman league.

There were some exceptions, most notably the waiver that was granted to the Marshall football team after their 1970 plane crash. But after this announcement, all schools could use freshmen on their football and basketball teams.

In August of 1973 the NCAA announced the creation of three separate divisions, which is the current three-division setup of Division I, Division II, and Division III.

Under NCAA rules, Division I and Division II schools can offer scholarships to athletes for playing a sport. Division III schools may not offer any athletic scholarships. Generally, larger schools compete in Division I and smaller schools in II and III.

Division I football was further divided into I-A and I-AA in 1978.

Subsequently the NCAA no longer officially uses the term “Division I-AAA” was briefly added to delineate Division I schools, which do not field a football program at all, but that term.

In 2006, Divisions I-A and I-AA were respectively renamed the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

Until the 1980s, the association did not offer women's athletics. Instead an organization named the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) governed women's collegiate sports in the United States. By 1982, however, all divisions of the NCAA offered national championship events for women's athletics and most members of the AIAW joined the NCAA.

As of 2008 if a freshman wants to play on an NCAA team the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) states that students must meet three requirements; graduate from high school, complete the minimum required academic courses, and have qualifying grade-point average (GPA) and SAT or ACT scores.

The 16 academic credits are four courses in English, two courses in math, two classes in social science, two in natural or physical science, and one additional course in English, math, natural or physical science, or another academic course such as foreign language.

To meet the requirements for grade point average and SAT scores students the lowest possible GPA a student may be eligible with is a 1.700 with an SAT score of 1400. The lowest SAT score a student may be eligible with is 700 with a GPA of 2.500.

As of 2011, a high school student may sign a letter of intent to enter and play football for a college only after the first Wednesday in February.

In August 2011, the NCAA announced plans to raise academic requirements for postseason competition, including its two most prominent competitions, football's Bowl Championship Series and the Men's Division I Basketball Championship; the new requirement, which are based on an "academic progress rate" that measures retention and graduation rates, and is calculated on a four-year, rolling basis. The changes raise the rate from 900 to 930, which represents a 50 percent graduation rate.

In 2009, Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada became the NCAA's first non-US member institution. 

In 2012 a freshman, Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, won the Heisman Trophy. It was the first time in the history of the award that a freshman was given the honors.

In 2013 the trend continued with freshman winning the Heisman Trophy, as Jameis Winston of Florida State won the honors.

Sabres Win Streak Ends Against Flyers

On Jan. 6, 1980, the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 to stretch their unbeaten streak to a record 35 games. The streak would end the following night against the Minnesota North Stars.

After losing their second game of the season on October 13, the Flyers went nearly three full months before losing again. The Flyers were strong for the entire regular season but fell short of winning the Stanley Cup.

The longest unbeaten streak in the four major North American sports between the MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL is the Flyers record of 35. 

The second longest streak comes from the NBA as the Los Angeles Lakers won 33 consecutive games through the end of the 1971 season to the start of the 1972 season. 

Their 33 consecutive wins marks the longest win streak in the big four American sports.

The third best record comes from the MLB as the New York Baseball Giants, who won 26 consecutive games in the 1916 season from Sept. 7 through Sept. 30.

The longest streak in the NFL for a team going unbeaten is the New England Patriots who won 21 consecutive contests from Oct. 2003 through Oct. 2004.

Weather Impacting Sports

On Jan. 5, 1986, a game between the Seattle SuperSonics and Phoenix Suns was suspended early in the second quarter as a result of rain. The heavy rain outside began to leak through the roof of the arena in Seattle, leading to the first time an NBA game would be delayed because of rain.

This would also become the first time an NBA game would be suspended and resume on another day. The following day, the two teams returned and the Suns completed a win.

In Dec. 2010 the Metrodome then home of the Minnesota Vikings and Twins inflatable Teflon roof collapsed just hours before the Vikings would host the New York football Giants. The game was moved to Ford Field in Detroit and played on Monday instead of Sunday.

The Metrodome’s roof had collapsed before 2010 too. In the 1980s, the first years of the Metrodome the roof was damaged and deflated.

On November 19, 1981, a rapid accumulation of over a foot of snow caused the roof to collapse, requiring it to be re-inflated.

It deflated the following winter on December 30, 1982, again because of a tear caused by heavy snow. This was four days before the Vikings played the Dallas Cowboys in the last regular-season game of the 1982 NFL season.

 In the spring following that same winter, on April 14, 1983, the Metrodome roof deflated because of a tear caused by a late-season heavy snow, and the scheduled Twins' game with the California Angels was postponed.

On April 26, 1986, the Metrodome roof suffered a slight tear because of high winds, causing a nine-minute delay in the bottom of the seventh inning versus the Angels; however the roof did not deflate.

Other events to be cancelled or delayed because of weather related issues were the 1976 Daytona 500, it was called after 102 laps, making it the shortest official Indianapolis 500 in history.

The Daytona 500 would be hit again with rain in 2012, but this time postponing the race for the first time ever, 30 hours from Sunday afternoon to Monday night.

At the Formula One's 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix, a rainstorm was predicted to hit the half of the race, of 56 laps; however, at the start of the race the weather was sunny with large black clouds in the distance.

By lap 19 it began to rain as some drivers entered pit road for wet tires as the rain was falling hard. By lap 28, the rain was torrential to the point officials called a caution, deploying the Safety Car, but still several cars were out due to spins or crash.

The rain became worse and the race was red-flagged on lap 33. Once the rain had ceased, it was deemed too late and dark to continue and the race was stopped. Some drivers and spectators protested the race organizer's decision but no action was taken.

The 2009 season was the first year that the FIA started the Asia and Australia races as late-afternoon starts where the sun would be setting during the race finish in order to maximize European television broadcasts.

The 2009 Petit Le Mans in Braselton, Georgia, was an example of a rainout under the FIA Code, where only three completed laps are needed for an official race and less than half the race (184 of 394 laps).

The red flag waved after 184 laps at the 4:52 point of the race. In endurance racing, the clock does not stop for red flags. IMSA waited until 8 PM to declare the race official.

While the race was 13 laps from official (500 miles), the clock had passed the five-hour mark when the race was called at 8 PM.

In the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix of Formula One, rain before the race wet the circuit. 30 minutes into the race, a heavy rainstorm hit the circuit and the race was red-flagged, the rain didn't stop and the event was delayed for more than 2 hours, the race was finished for its 70 laps and was the longest race in Formula One history.

To prevent a repeat, FIA rules were changed so that a four-hour race clock starts when the cars start their warm-up lap. The clock will not be stopped for any situation, effectively ending a race four hours after cars roll off—regardless of how far the race has finished.

History of the "Winter Classic"

On Jan. 1 2009, Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill. hosts and outdoor hockey game in part of the “NHL Winter Classic” as the Detroit Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4.

The “Winter Classic” would continue to be played on New Years day through 2012 as the Boston Bruins beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in Over time at Fenway Park, the home of the Red Sox in Boston, Mass in 2010. The Washington Capitals would beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 at Heinz Field, the home of the Steelers in Pittsburgh, Penn.

In 2012 the New York Rangers would beat the Phialdelphia Flyers 3-2 at Citizen Banks Park, the home of the Phillies in Philadelphia, Penn.

An official announcement from the NHL was made on February 9, 2012, in Detroit that the game would be played in prime time on the evening of January 1, 2013.

It was to be the first time a Canadian team would be involved in the Winter Classic, as well as the first time two teams from different conferences will play each other during this event. However, the 2012–13 NHL lockout disrupted the season, leading to the game's cancellation on November 2, 2012.

The Winter Classic in 2014, was held at Michigan Stadium (as consolation for the canceled 2013 game) and again feature the Red Wings hosting the Maple Leafs. This time the Maples Leafs beat the Red Wings in the shootout (2-1) after being tied through overtime 2-2.

History Of The Rose Bowl

On Jan. 1, 1902, the first Rose Bowl game is played as the Michigan Wolverines beat the Stanford Cardinal 49-0.

On Jan. 1, 1916, the first game is played at the Rose Bowl. The game takes place in Los Angeles, Calif. as the Washington State Cougars faced off against the Brown Bears.

The Washington State Cougars would beat the Brown Bears 14-0.

This would mark the first of the annually played games between a member of the Pac-8 (would change to Pac-10, and now Pac-12) and the Big Ten.

The Rose Bowl is always played on New Years Day unless that day is a Sunday, then it falls on Jan. 2.

The Rose Bowl is nicknamed "The Granddaddy of Them All" because it is the oldest bowl game. Since 1945, it has been the highest attended college football bowl game. It is a part of the Tournament of Roses "America's New Year Celebration", which also includes the historic Tournament of Roses Parade. Except in the years when the Rose Bowl served as the BCS National Championship Game, the Rose Bowl game has continued to be played in the afternoon.

In 1942 the Rose Bowl was moved to North Carolina.

After the United States declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941, as part of the American reaction to the attack on Pearl Harbor, there were concerns about a possible Japanese attack on the West Coast. 

Much discussion focused on the possibility of an attack where any crowds might gather. The Rose Parade, with a million watchers, and the Rose Bowl, with 90,000 spectators, were presumed to be ideal targets for the Japanese. Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt recommended that the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl festivities be canceled.

The Rose Bowl committee originally planned to cancel the game. On December 16, 1941, Duke University invited the game and Oregon State to Duke's home stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

In 2002 and 2006 (2001 and 2005 football seasons), the Rose Bowl game was also the BCS National Championship Game.

USC has appeared in and won the Rose Bowl the most times with 32 appearances and 24 wins, their last appearance was 2009. The second most appearances and wins comes from the Michigan Wolverines who have 20 appearances and eight wins, their last appearance was 2007.

The biggest point discrepancy in Rose Bowl history came in the first Rose Bowl in 1902 as the Michigan Wolverines beat the Stanford Cardinal 49-0, and in 1948 when the Wolverines beat the USC Trojans 49-0.

There have been five ties in the history of the Rose Bowl as Washington, Cal, Stanford, Alabama and Navy have all tied in the bowl game.

The most valuable player in the Rose Bowl game is given a crystal trophy that is the Rose Bowl Player of the Game Award. The award was created in 1953 and awarded retroactively for players all the way back to the 1902 Rose Bowl. 

Occasionally, the award has been shared by two players. Beginning with the 2005 Rose Bowl Game, the Rose Bowl Player of the Game Award has been given to both offensive and defensive players of the game.

USC has the most Rose Bowl Player of the Game Awards with 35 awards coming in 29 years in which USC made the Rose Bowl, including six awards from 2007-2009. Six years the Trojan had two players win trophies, and in 1963 and 1979 the Trojan split the awards with the Wisconsin badgers (‘63) and Michigan Wolverines (‘79).

The no.1 and no. 2 BCS ranked teams have faced off in the Rose Bowl three times. The first was in 1963 as no. 1 USC defeated no. 2 Wisconsin 42-37. 

The second time came in 1969 as no. 1 Ohio State defeated no. 2 USC 27-16. 

The third time was in 2006 as part of the BCS National Championship Game no. 2 Texas defeated no. 1 USC 41-38. Texas was voted national champion. (USC’s participation was later vacated as part of Reggie Bush being given money while at USC).

This years Rose Bowl Game features the Stanford Cardinal against the Michigan State Spartans. Last year the Cardinal beat the Wisconsin Badgers 20-14.

This marks the second time in school history that Stanford has played in back-to-back Rose Bowl’s.

The previous time came in 1971 and 1972, when the Cardinal beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 27-17, and the Michigan Wolverines 13-12.