Tag: records

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College Basketball

You gotta choke a lotta kids to get 900 career wins

Like him or hate him, Bob Knight made history last night by upsetting the No. 9 Texas A&M Aggies 68-53, winning his 900th career game. Knight is the only Division I men’s basketball coach to reach the big 9-0-0, so we figured now is as good a time as any to relive some of the more outspoken moments in the surly old coach’s career.

Ooops, almost forgot this inspirational speech from the greatest men’s coach in the history of the game. (Considering it’s Bob Knight, we shouldn’t have to do this, but we will. Slap those earmuffs on all the youngsters out there!)

Hey, according to the big guy, those aren’t vulgar F-bombs; they’re just simple expressions of surprise, anger and dismay.

Links:

[Dallas News.com]: Knight earns 900th win in defeat of Texas A&M

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All Other Sports

12-year-old boy has one helluva whale shark of a tale


When man and wild animals cross paths, the results can often be tragic for the humans. However, sometimes the odds are simply stacked against the beasts and that’s when amazing things can happen for man, or should we say boy.

On New Year’s Day, 12-year-old Aidan Murray Medley was fishing off the coast of Florida with his family when he snagged a 551-pound bull shark. After a 45-minute battle with the nine-foot-long behemoth, Medley finally reeled in the monster that weighed a full 431 pounds more than he did.

When you have a shark on the line, it’s completely painful,” said Aidan, who said he lost feeling in his body after about 20 minutes of having the shark on his line.

The shark’s size set a new state record for the largest fish ever caught in Florida with the old record being set by a 517-pound shark that was hauled in back in 1981.

So what’s a 12-year-old to do with a shark that weighs 300 pounds more than him? Medley says he plans on having the shark stuffed and mounted on the wall of his boarding school in Greenwich.

Links:

[WCBSTV.com]: Conn. Boy, 12, Catches 551-Pound Bull Shark
[SPTimes.com]: Boy’s shark tale weighs 551 pounds

Categories
Green Bay Packers

Deanna, is there something you need to tell us?


We were watching Sunday’s game between Green Bay and St. Louis and we felt honored and privileged to watch the fourth quarter pass gently float from the rugged fingers of the NFL’s ironman and fall into Donald Driver’s hands seven yards away. At that moment, Favre became a football god, passing Dan Marino’s all-time passing record of 61,361 yards with the pass.

However, leave it to FOX to go off and ruin a perfectly memorable, feel-good moment. Heading into a commercial break following Favre’s career accomplishment, the knuckleheads in the control room started playing Pearl Jam’s “Better Man.” Sure, if you just listen to the lyrics – “Can’t find a better man” – then you’d probably think it’s a fitting tribute. But that’s why we do research people!

When the song was performed on VH1 Storytellers Eddie Vedder introduced it as a song about “abusive relationships.” It is often thought that Vedder had written it from a woman’s perspective about an abusive relationship. Before a performance of the song at Pearl Jam’s show in Atlanta, Georgia on April 3, 1994 Vedder clearly said “it’s dedicated to the bastard that married my Momma.

What, was Eminem’s “Kim” already being used for another highlight package?

Links:

[Canada.com]: Favre passes Marino

Categories
College Football

Now Darren McFadden sees the SEC single-game rushing record, now he doesn’t (sorta)


On Sunday, Adrian Peterson showed off his skillz once again to the NFL. But we’re thinking that he might have just been doing his best Darren McFadden impression. Of course, Peterson can’t afford to have the same thing happen to him that happened to McFadden if he wants to hold onto the single game all-time rushing record.

Darren McFadden had two yards subtracted from his rushing total from Saturday night, meaning he only tied the Southeastern Conference single-game record.

McFadden was initially credited with 323 yards on 35 carries in Arkansas’ 48-36 win over South Carolina, but Razorbacks spokesman Kevin Trainor said Sunday that a review of the film showed the star tailback was given too many yards. A 3-yard run by Felix Jones was mistakenly credited to McFadden, and McFadden was shortchanged a yard on one of his carries.

McFadden is now credited with 321 yards on 34 carries. Jones’ updated totals for Saturday night: 13 carries for 166 yards.

Vanderbilt’s Frank Mordica rushed for 321 yards in a 1978 game.

Sure, it’s a total bummer that McFadden lost sole possession of the record, but we’re not going to be shedding any tears for him just yet. According to SportingNews.com, McFadden moved from No. 10 to No. 5 on the SEC career rushing list. In the game, he jumped Carnell Williams, Sonny Collins, Emmitt Smith, Charles Alexander and Dalton Hilliard by racking up 4,076 4,074 yards on the ground for his career.

And since we brought up Peterson who broke Jamal Lewis’ single game rushing record by one yard on Sunday, why not compare what could possibly be the greatest one-two punch in a single weekend between a pro and college back.

Adrian Peterson vs. San Diego: 30 carries, 296 yards, 9.9 yard average, 3 TDs; 1 catch, 19 yards

Darren McFadden vs. South Carolina: 34 carries, 321 yards, 9.4 yard average, 1 TD; 1 catch, 4 yards; 1/1 passing, 23 yards, 1 TD; 2 kick returns, 30 yards

Links:

[SportingNews.com]: McFadden emerges again with performance for the ages
[CBSSports.com]: After further review, McFadden only tied SEC record

Categories
Minnesota Vikings

All hail the new king of rushing! All hail King AD!


Maurice Jones-Drew was probably feeling pretty darn good about himself after he ran a kickoff back for 100 yards, tying his game at 14 as time expired in the first quarter. Unfortunately, the good feeling was short lived as the Jaguars proceeded to get blasted by the Saints over the final three quarters and lost 41-24.

But we’re guessing that MJD still had a smile on his face as he entered the locker room; after all, it’s not very often that someone goes the length of the field for a score. Of course, it couldn’t have taken too long for word of Antonio Cromartie’s 109-yard return of a missed field goal attempt for San Diego to reach the sophomore. Yup, that’s the longest scoring play in NFL history and one major buzzkill for Jones-Drew.

But don’t fret too much Maurice, your fellow running back made sure that nobody would even care about the return by the time he was finished on the field.

Adrian Peterson has become rookie gold for the Minnesota Vikings with his incredible combination of speed and strength. And now, just eight games into his ‘rookie of the year’ campaign, this kid holds the record for most rushing yards in a single game!

Peterson lived up to his nickname of A.D. or All Day against the Chargers as he scampered for 296 yards (30 carries) and three touchdowns on the ground. He scored like clockwork in first, third and fourth quarters with TD runs of 1, 64 and 46 yards respectively. Peterson now has 1,036 rushing yards which is on pace to surpass Eric Dickerson’s 1983 rookie record of 1,808 yards and possibly his all-time record of 2,105 yards which was set in 1984.

We’re thinking that it’s pretty safe to say the ROY race is all wrapped up. In fact, the Peyton Mannings, Tom Bradys and LaDanian Tomlinsons of the league might want to start looking over their shoulders because there’s a 22-year-old who’s nipping at their heels for league MVP credentials.

A battle of undefeateds, a 100-yard kickoff return, the longest play in league history, TO’s return to Philly; sorry, but none of it compares to the performance of the Vikings young stud.

Links:

[MSNBC.com]: Yo Adrian! Vikings ride Peterson’s record day
[The Sports Network]: Saints Brees past Jaguars

Categories
Philadelphia Eagles

Hideous uniforms disorient Lions, allowing Kevin Curtis to go bananas


The Eagles uniforms might be the ugliest duds ever donned, but Donovan McNabb and Kevin Curtis sure did like the way they fit.

The duo hooked up for a league record tying 205 yards on nine catches in the first half of Philly’s annihilation of the Lions. With touchdowns of 68, 12 and 43 yards under his belt before halftime, fantasy owners were loving life and already writing up their smack for the upcoming week before the second half kickoff.

And if the NFL mirrors the college game, then Detroit’s defensive coordinator might want to start packing his desk a little early.

After Texas Tech gave up 610 yards of offense to Oklahoma State in a 49-45 loss, Lyle Setencich stepped down from his job as defensive coordinator with the Red Raiders. It might not go down in the books as a firing, but after hearing what `pirate master’ Mike Leach had to say about his club, we have a feeling it wasn’t solely for the “personal reasons” Setencich claims.

After the game, Leach was critical of his players and coaching staff, saying “defensively, in the entire first half, we got hit in the mouth and acted like somebody took our lunch money, and all we wanted to do was have pouty expressions on our face until somebody daubed our little tears and made us feel better.

But to make sure there were no hard feelings, Leach threw in the obligatory line of BS that every fired coach receives:

We appreciate Lyle and the work he did for our program,” Leach said. “We wish him and his family the best.

Geez, thanks coach.

Links:

[KSL.com]: Curtis ties NFL record with 205 yards in first half
[Chron.com]: Texas Tech coordinator resigns as defense struggles

Categories
Miami Dolphins

Dec 18 in Sports History: Dolphins go undefeated


In 1972: With a 16-0 shutout of the Baltimore Colts, the Miami Dolphins (14-0) clinched the first-ever undefeated, untied regular season in NFL history. The ’72 Dolphins are not considered by many to be the most dominant team in history, although they did lead the league in scoring (385 pts) and gave up the fewest (171) behind the “No-Name Defense.” They won despite the fact that starting quarterback Bob Griese went down in the fifth game with an injury and did not return until the AFC Championship game. Earl Morrall, who was 38 years old by then, quietly took the reins and led the league in passing efficiency. Running backs Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris became the first teammates to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Of course, the Dolphins won three straight in the postseason to finish 17-0; and now it’s just annoying when they annually pop the champagne when the last undefeated team in the NFL loses a game.

In 1973: Exactly 21 years, six months and 12 days before his ex-wife and her friend were found murdered, OJ Simpson ran a sweep left against the New York Jets for a short gain. That run on the cold, muddy Shea Stadium turf helped Simpson become the first ever NFL player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season. He finished with 2,003 yards, won the league MVP and led the usually moribund Buffalo Bills to a winning record and almost a playoff berth. Other than that, nothing else ever happened in Simpson’s life and he plays golf all the time now.

Categories
Texas Rangers

Dec 12 in Sports History: A-Rod’s big payday



Broke the bank

In 2000: Free agent shortstop Alex Rodriguez cashed in big time, with a 10-year, $252 million dollar contract from the Texas Rangers. Of course, it broke every conceivable record for amount of money paid to any athlete in any sport. In 2004, he was traded to the Yankees, and A-Rod is still waiting for his first World Series ring. According to our sources, the money never bought him a hug, either.

In 1981: Wayne Gretzky set another of his untouchable records, this one the fastest to reach 50 goals. The Great One’s goal going into the year was to score 50 in 50 games, but he was way off. It only took him 39, and he accomplished it at the old Auditorium in Buffalo. Gretzky went on to smash Phil Esposito’s mark of 76 goals in a season and ended up with a mind-boggling 92.

In 1965: While everyone is talking about Bears’ rookie Devin Hester’s performance last night against the Rams with two kick returns for touchdowns, his performance doesn’t quite match the great Gale Sayers. The Kansas rookie set a record with six touchdowns in a game against the San Francisco 49ers. Played on a muddy Wrigley Field surface, Sayers’ scores included an 80 yard reception, a 50 yard run and an 65 yard punt return. His 22 touchdowns in 1965 are an NFL rookie record.

Categories
College Football

Nov 29 in Sports History: the first Army-Navy game



They didn’t even have photos!

In 1890: The first Army-Navy game was played at West Point, NY, with Navy winning 24-0. Considered by many as one of the greatest traditions in sports, it is annually played on the last weekend of the college football season and has been played at numerous sites, including the Polo Grounds, Yankee Stadium and even the Rose Bowl (in 1983). The last four (including this year) were played in Philadelphia. The most significant games of the rivalry were the 1944-45 matchups, when they were the top-ranked teams in the country (Army won both games). Navy has won the last four and holds a slight 50-49 edge with seven ties.

In 1992: New York Jets defensive tackle Dennis Byrd was paralyzed when he collided with a teammate attempting to make a tackle in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Byrd’s career was cut short after only four years in the NFL. He has since made a full recovery from the injury.

In 1987: Joe Montana set an NFL record when he completed 22 consecutive passes in a 38-24 victory over the Cleveland Browns at Candlestick Park. Montana, coming off an injury-plagued 1986 season, rebounded to lead the league in touchdown passes and a 102.1 rating in 1987. The completion record was tied this season by the Washington Redskins’ Mark Brunell. (We’ll give Joe Cool the props, however, as he shredded a very good Browns defense while Brunell did it to the Houston Texans, which should carry some type of asterisk.) Donovan McNabb once completed 24 straight passes, but that was over two games.

Categories
Chicago Bears

Nov 20 in Sports History: Sweetness breaks the killer’s single game rushing record


In 1977: Walter Payton broke O.J. Simpson’s single-game NFL rushing record with 275 yards on 40 carries in a 10-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Simpson had set the record a year earlier with 273. “Sweetness’” performance sparked a run to the playoffs for the struggling Bears, who made the postseason for the first time in 14 years. Payton’s record stood for 23 years, until it was broken by Corey Dillon of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2000 and again by Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens in 2003. Payton also set a record for most rushing attempts that season with 339 (which he broke a few years later). (The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia)

In 1962: Mickey Mantle tied an American League record by winning his third AL MVP award. Mantle shares the record with fellow Yankee greats Joe Dimaggio and Yogi Berra. Mantle won the award despite playing in only 123 games due to nagging injuries, hitting .321 with 30 homers and 89 RBI. Along with the three Yankees, only three other players have won three MVP awards (Roy Campanella, Stan Musial and Mike Schmidt). Barry Bonds (unfortunately) has won the award seven times. (baseball library.com)