Safety Eric Turner was the 2nd overall pick of the 1991 draft by the Cleveland Browns. The UCLA Bruin is the highest selected Defensive Back in Draft history. Turner earned the first of his two Pro Bowl selections in 1994 when he tied for the league lead with 9 Interceptions, including a huge pick in the ‘94 AFC Wildcard game against New England where Cleveland pulled out their last playoff win, 20-13. Sadly E-Rock passed away in 2000 at age 31 from cancer. Happy Birthday! R.I.P.
Hey, Man, That's My Heisman!
Did you know that Bo Jackson’s Heisman Victory in 1985 was by the 2nd closest margin in Heisman history? Can you name the Hawkeye hurler who he topped by just 45 votes? For a bonus point. Which winner won by the closest margin?
Bummer Bake!
in Baseball
Bake McBride stepped up to the plate 3,853 times and got 1,153 hits over his 10 year career for a .299 average. If Bake had just gotten one more hit, just one more measly hit, he would be able to put a .300 average on his resume instead of .299. Bummer Bake.
Did You Know? - Johnnie 'Boo' LeMaster
in Baseball
Hey Dudes! Did you know that former San Francisco Giants shortstop Johnnie LeMaster is one of only two players in MLB history to hit an Inside the Park Homer in their 1st at-bat?
The Dodgers 30 Homer Club
in Baseball
Happy Birthday Dusty Baker. In the last game of the 1977 regular season, Dusty hit his 30th Homer of the year off Houston Astros pitcher J.R. Richard. It marked the first time that 4 teammates (Baker,Cey,Smith & Garvey) all hit 30 or more home runs in a season. It also became such an iconic moment because after he touched home plate, Baker was greeted by teammate Glenn Burke with his arm high in the air. Dusty reached up and slapped it, thus commemorating the 1st High Five in baseball history. Did you know that Glenn was up next and he too hit a home run? Dusty was there to greet him with the 2nd High Five.
Happy Birthday Ronnie Lott !!
in Football
Happy Birthday Ronnie Lott!! In his Rookie Season of 1981, Ronnie became just the second rookie to return 3 INT’s for Touchdowns. He had 7 picks that year and was voted 1st Team All-Pro while helping the 49ers win Super Bowl XVI. He placed 2nd in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Lawrence Taylor.
'Middle Infield's' - Trammell & Whitaker
in Baseball
Elliott Perry
in Basketball
Elliot ‘Socks’ Perry. Another high socks legend of my childhood. Elliot was the 37th pick in the 1991 Draft by the L.A. Clippers. He would only appear in 10 games for the Clippers before he was traded to the Hornets. After spending a couple of years in the CBA, Perry scrapped his way back into the NBA in 1993. With the Phoenix Suns in 1994-95 he was runner up in the voting for the NBA’s Most-Improved Player.
George Bell
in Baseball
April 4th 1988 (11) George Bell becomes the first player in MLB History to hit 3 homers on opening day. He walloped all three round trippers off Royals all star Brett Saberhagen.
1st Quadruple Double - Nate 'The Great' Thurmond
in Basketball
Nate ‘The Great’ Thurmond has his # 42 retired by two NBA Franchises. His jersey hangs from the rafters of both the Golden State Warriors & Cleveland Cavaliers. Though, it’s in his very first game with another team, the Chicago Bulls, that Nate became the first player in NBA History to record a Quadruple-Double. (Block Shots were not recorded prior to 1973-74 season) Nate’s stat line that October night in 1974 went a little like this : 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocked shots.
Valentine's Day 1990- aka The Game Michael Jordan Wore the Number 12
in Basketball
The always superstitious Michael Jordan is forced to wear the number 12 for the Bulls during a road game in Orlando. His customary 23 was stolen from the Chicago locker room before the game. They even searched the crowd for any fan wearing a Jordan jersey that might fit the 6'6" guard. Despite the random no name jersey, MJ still scored a game high 49 points. The expansion Magic would pull off a double digit comeback in the 2nd half forcing OT, where they would eventually prevail 135-129 over the Bulls.
The 23 jersey would be found a few days later stashed up in the ceiling tiles of the visitors locker room.
Randy Moss & His Cat In The Hat Socks
Who remembers Randy Moss rocking the ‘Cat in the Hat’ Socks back in 1996? That day Randy hauled in 8 passes for 288 yards and 3 touchdowns in a Marshall University 59-14 victory over Delaware in the Division I-AA Playoffs. Happy Birthday Randy!
Blaze Birthday Crew!
In your face this week are # 6 of your favorite early 90’s NCAA Basketball stars with Birthdays in February.
Shawn Respert - February 6th, 1972
Juwan Howard - February 7th, 1973
Steve Nash - February 7th, 1974
John Wallace - February 9th, 1974
Scot Pollard - February 12th, 1975
Tyus Edney - February 14th, 1975
Random Backup Quarterback with Mark Vlasic
in Football
In the 1987 NFL Draft, Mark Vlasic was a 4th round selection out of Iowa by the San Diego Chargers, he had 4 career Touchdown passes.
11/20/1988 San Diego Chargers W 38-24 over LA Rams - 4 yd to Quinn Early
9/9/1990 San Diego Chargers L 17-14 vs Dallas Cowboys - 14yd to Craig McEwan
11/17/1991 KC Chiefs L 24-20 vs Denver Broncos - 8 yd to Tim Burnett
12/8/1991 KC Chiefs W 20-17 over San Diego Chargers -16 yd to Harvey Williams
Happy Birthday Hank Aaron
in Baseball
Jerry Rice Passing
in Football
Jerry Rice was just 3 of 10 passing for his career. He had 1 Touchdown & 1 Interception. Who caught that TD? Who Picked off Jerry? Free Blaze goes to the Football Gumshoe who can tell us both players names. (Hint: Both occurred in games against the same NFC West Foe)
Happy Birthday Ottis Anderson
Wishing a Happy Birthday to a Blaze Hometown Hero, Mr. Ottis Anderson. #561 In his very 1st game in the NFL, the rookie Running Back from Miami rushed for 193 yards on 21 carries, including a 76 yard touchdown run. It is the 2nd highest rushing total for a player in their very 1st game. Any guesses on who rushed for 194?
Hint: (It happened in the same year that lightning struck the Clock Tower in Hill Valley, CA. This RB also won Rookie of Year honors, just like Ottis did.
Happy Birthday Champ!
in Boxing
The Mad Bomber - Celtic Chris Ford Buries The First Three Pointer in NBA History
in Basketball
It was back on October 12th, 1979 that Boston Celtics guard Chris Ford sunk the first official 3-pointer in NBA History. The man they called ‘The Mad Bomber’ finished his playing days in 1982 for the guys in green, but continued as an assistant coach, and eventually became Boston’s head man from 1990-95. The 114-106 Celtics victory over the Houston Rockets that night was also the debut game for a youngster out of Indiana State named Larry.
Bill Cartwright & his Funky Free Throw Style
in Basketball
Despite having maybe the funkiest free throw style in NBA history, Bill Cartwright, once went a perfect 19 for 19 from the charity stripe during a 124-110 NY Knicks loss to the Kansas City Kings back in November of 1981. Bill was actually a 77% free throw shooter over his 15 year career.