On This Day -Tom Dempsey Boots One From 63 Yards Away

Flashing it way back this Friday to November 8th, 1970 when New Orleans Saints Kicker Tom Dempsey kicked an NFL record 63 yard field goal. Tom was born without toes on his right foot, so he was forced to wear a modified square looking kicking shoe. The boot at the end of regulation gave the Saints a 19-17 victory over the Detroit Lions. A few dudes were able to match this feat over the years, but it wouldn’t be surpassed until 2013 when Matt Prater hit a 64 yarder. Happy Friday!!

View fullsize

View fullsize

On This Day - Dominique Reaches 20,000 Points

View fullsize

On November 5th, 1992 Dominique Wilkins poured in 30 points in an Opening Night 106-94 loss to the New York Knicks. For his efforts ‘The Human Highlight Reel’ became the 17th player in NBA History to reach the 20,000 point plateau. He would finish his playing days with 26,668 career points. Happy Friday Everybody!!

View fullsize

View fullsize

David Robinson NBA Debut - November 4th, 1989

After completing his two year Naval Commitment, 24 year old rookie David Robinson made his debut for the San Antonio Spurs on this day in 1989. The 1987 # 1 overall pick wouldn’t disappoint during a Spurs 106-98 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. ‘The Admiral’ led San Antonio with 32 points, while corralling 17 rebounds. It was just the 1st game in a phenomenal Rookie of The Year season for David. One in which he would average 24 points, 12 rebounds, & 4 blocks while helping the Spurs make a 35 win improvement over the previous season.

View fullsize

View fullsize

November 2nd, 1990 - Largest scoring game in NBA History

Thirty years ago today the Golden State Warriors out ran the Denver Nuggets in the largest scoring regulation game in NBA History, earning a 162-158 win . Chris Mullin led all scorers with 38, while is ‘Run TMC’ teammates Tim Hardaway & Mitch Richmond dropped in 32 & 29 respectively. Orlando Woolridge led the Nuggets with 37 , with our guy Walter Davis delivering a smooth 33 off the bench. Twelve players in the game scored in double figures. The 320 points combined is 4th most in an NBA Game in history, but the most in regulation. We’ll have more insight on those Wacky 1990-91 Denver Nuggets in a future Blaze Issue.

View fullsize

Most Blocked Shots In A Game - Elmore Smith

Who has the most blocked shots in a single NBA Game? Thats our dude Elmore Smith, who on October 28th 1973 blocked 17 shots against the Portland Trailblazers! Elmore led the league that season with 4.9 blocks per game. Did you know that blocked shots weren’t an official statistical category until the ‘73-’74 season?

View fullsize

View fullsize

Webster Slaughter Was The Coolest!

Webster was another childhood favorite growing up. I can remember writing a # 84 on the inside collar of my Dolphins jacket that I got for X-Mas back in 1989. That happened to be his best year too as he hauled in 65 passes for 1236 yards with 6 TD’s including a 97 yard bomb from Bernie..

View fullsize

View fullsize

Happy Birthday Jerry Rice!

View fullsize

View fullsize

I have such clear memories of sitting in Mrs. Wiltse’s 3rd grade class back in 1990 with Jerry Rice clippings placed in the front cover of my new Trapper Keeper while she drilled us on those multiplication tables. Happy Birthday FLASH 80 !!

View fullsize

On This Day - Walter Payton Becomes All-Time NFL Rushing Leader

On October 7th, 1984 Walter Payton passes the great Jim Brown to become the NFL’s All-Time Rushing Yards Leader. Sweetness bulled his way to 154 yards on 32 carries in a Chicago 20-7 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Interestingly, Payton’s effort on that grey day in the Windy City, helped him earn his 59th career 100 yard game, tying him with one Jim Brown. Walter would finish his career with 77 100 yard games.

Who holds the record for most 100 yard rushing games?

Iron Man - A. C. Green

Happy Birthday to the ‘Iron Man’ Mr. A.C. Green !! A.C. holds the NBA record for most consecutive games played with 1,192. He played in 1,278 out of 1,281 games during his career. Those three missed games came during his 2nd season.

View fullsize

View fullsize

1st African American Head Coach in NFL History

It was back on October 3rd, 1989 after a 1-3 start to the season that the Los Angeles Raiders named Offensive Line Coach Art Shell their new head coach, replacing the fired Mike Shannahan . With the promotion Art became the 1st African American Head Coach in modern NFL History.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Warren Moon Sacked 12 Times!!

September 29th, 1985 - Our man Warren Moon had quite a rough day in an early afternoon shootout against cross state rivals, the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys put Warren on the turf a record 12 times, and forced the future Hall of Famer to throw 4 interceptions. The Cowboys would pull out the 17-10 victory late in the fourth quarter on a Danny White Touchdown Pass to TE Fred Cornwell. It was the 2nd and final TD catch of Fred’s career.

View fullsize

On This Day - Our Main Man Mike Schmidt

We have another ‘On This Day’ for you guys celebrating this Friday April 17th. All the way back in 1976 every Phillies fan’s Main Man Mike Schmidt hit four home runs in quite the abnormal afternoon affair at Wrigley Field. The Phillies found themselves down 13-2 to the Cubs in the top of the 5th Inning when Mighty Mike stepped in & hit a two run homer off Cubs pitcher Rick Reuschel to ignite a Phillies Comeback. In each of his next three at-bats Mike went deep, including the go ahead two run shot off Rick’s older brother Paul in the top of the 10th inning. The Phils added another run & held on for an 18-16 victory. More from the Reuschel Boys in a future post! Have a nice weekend dudes!

View fullsize

View fullsize

On This Day - Manon Rhéaume

September 23rd, 1992 - Goaltender Manon Rhéaume became the first woman to play in one of North America’s four major Men’s professional leagues when she tended goal for one period during an exhibition game between the expansion Tampa Bay Lightning & St. Louis Blues. She never played in the pros again, but played six seasons of minor league hockey, and won a Silver Medal in the 1998 Olympics for team Canada.

View fullsize

View fullsize

Nolan Ryan's Final Appearance

On September 22nd, 1993 Pitcher Nolan Ryan made the final appearance of his storied career. Ryan’s elbow finally called in quits in the 1st Inning of a 7-4 Rangers loss to the Seattle Mariners. The 46 year old finished his 27 year career with 5,714 strikeouts, 324 Wins, and 7 No-Hitters!

Any Baseball Nerds out there who can tell the class the last batter that Nolan faced?

View fullsize

Happy Anniversary Monday Night Football !!

Happy Anniversary to Monday Night Football. On September 21st, 1970 the Cleveland Browns held off the New York Jets 31-21 to win the Inaugural Monday Matchup.

View fullsize

Indiana Pacers Flo Jo Uniforms

Did you know Olympic Gold Medalist & Fashionista Florence Griffith Joyner designed the Indiana Pacers Uniforms worn from 1991-1997? During the ‘Flo Jo’ jersey years the Pacers made six playoff appearances including two Eastern Conference Finals. R.I.P.

View fullsize

View fullsize

Ryne Sandberg Saves The Day

Ryne Sandberg sure did get the crowd at Wrigley Field going crazy back on June 23rd, 1984 in an afternoon matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals. Ryno went 5 for 6 that day with 2 HR’S & 7 RBI’S. His solo shot in the bottom of the 9th off master closer Bruce Sutter sent the game to extra innings. When Ryne came up again in the bottom of the 10th, with the Cubs trailing 11-9, he went ahead & sent another delivery from Sutter into the left field bleachers to tie the game at 11! Teammate Dave Owen would single in the winning run the next inning. Happy Birthday Ryno!!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Hometown Hero - Anthony Carter

During the Minnesota Vikings playoff run to the NFC Championship in 1987, Hometown Hero Anthony Carter, set the record for the most all-purpose yards in a single post season with 642. Happy Birthday A.C.!

View fullsize

View fullsize

Nicknames - Bambi

Did you know that WR Lane Alworth was the 1st AFL Player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Head on over to the Blaze Files & cue up the array of Bambi Highlight Video Links. Enjoy!!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Deion's First Game

On This Day 1989 - In his 1st game as an Atlanta Falcon ‘Neon Deion’ returned a first quarter LA Rams punt 68 yards for a touchdown. After initially bobbling the ball in the dusty baseball infield of Fulton County Stadium, Deion bounced off would-be tacklers, and weaved his way to the end zone. Did you know that just 5 days earlier Deion hit a home run as a member of the New York Yankees? He became the 1st person to ever score a NFL TD & hit a homer in the Majors during the same week.

Free Issue of The Amazing Blaze Zine going to the 1st person who can name both the Punter & The Pitcher who gave up Deion’s Scores.

View fullsize