In 1988: In a move that shocked the hockey world, Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers (where he had just recently won his fourth Stanley Cup), to the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky, along with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski, came to L.A. in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first-round draft picks and cash (it was rumored that Edmonton was in serious financial trouble). It was arguably the biggest trade in sports history. Gretzky’s arrival in Tinseltown signified an increase (albeit temporarily) in the NHL’s popularity, as teams began popping up in non-traditional markets such as Anaheim, San Jose, Florida and Nashville. Two years after the trade, however, the Oilers got the last laugh by winning the Cup without the Great One in 1990. Gretzky’s Kings reached the Finals in 1993, but lost to the Montreal Canadiens. He retired in 1999 as the NHL’s all-time leading scorer by more than 1,000 points.
In 1975: Almost 30 years to the day it was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Saints played their first-ever game in the Louisiana Superdome. The Saints lost the exhibition game to the Houston Oilers, 13-7. After not playing there the entire 2005 season because of the damage, the Saints plan on returning in 2006.
