the mad sports man

in 1981, Terrance Stanley Fox passes away due to pneumona and a chest infection after cancer had spread to his lungs a few months before.  he had originally lost his right leg after osteosarcoma was found in his knee.  Fox thought it came from a car accident in which he came out with a sore knee.  doctors said otherwise.  the knee started hurting again when he had it looked at and discovered the osteosarcoma.  on April 12, 1980.  he started the Marathon of Hope in St. Johns Newfoundland.  he started it after dipping his right leg into the Atlantic before starting his run.  on September 1 outside of Thunder Bay, he was forced to abandon his run when he suffered an intense coughing fin and suffered congestion in his chest.  he asked to be taken to the hospital.  he announced that cancer had come and spread to his lungs and was forced to abandon his cross country journey.  he had gone 143 days, 5373km (3339 miles) and had raised $1.7 m...

a rather unusual - um - no hitter.  Babe Ruth (with the Red Sox and a pitcher at the time) started the first game of a double header against the Washington Senators.  he walked Ray Morgan.  he then proceeded to get into a heated exchange with home plate umpire Brick Owens (both apparantly with short tempers), with Owens ejecting Ruth.  Ruth then proceeded to punch Owens.  Boston's catcher Pinch Thomas was also ejected.  in come Ernie Shore to take over, with Sam Agnew taking over the catching duties.  Morgan was thrown out trying to steal second.  Shore then proceeded to get the next 26 batters in a row as the Red Sox won 4-0.  it is officially scored as a no-hitter shared by two batters, but for many years it was listed as a perfect game.  Shore had also struck out two.

on this day in 1894 the Olympic movement was founded.  the movement was created by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, inspired to create the games after attending the Olympian Games, held by the Wenlock Olympian Society, in 1890.  at meeting of the first Olympic Congress (June 16-23 under the newly created IOC) de Coubertin brought ideas and work created by Evangelos Zappas (held an Olympic games precursor in Athens in 1859) and William Penny Brookes (Wenlock Olympian Society). on the last day of the Congress, it was decided that the first Olympic Games would be held in 1896 in Athens. (de Coubertin wanted the first games in Paris in 1900 and was convinced to hold them in Athens in 1896.  Paris still got the 1900 games)  Demetrius Vikelas was named first president until the first games were held.  Pierre de Coubertin then became president until 1925 when Henri de Bailet-Latour.  de Coubertin had stepped down after the Paris games in 1924.  today every nation h...

1.  in 1964 Jim Bunning tosses the 7th perfect game in Major League history as the Phillies beat the Mets 6-0 in the first game of a double header at Shea Stadium.  he only threw 90 pitches and struck out 10 - which includes 6 of the last 9 batters he faced.  this perfect game happened to fall on Fathers day and his wife and one of his daughters.  he had become the second pitcher after Cy Young (Cleveland Spiders, Boston Americans/Red Sox) to throw at least a no hitter in the A.L. and N.L.  he threw a no hitter with Detroit against Boston in 1958 (Nolan Ryan - California Angels, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers, Hideo Nomo - Dodgers and Red Sox,  and Randy Johnson  - Seattle and Arizona).  side stat: Gus Triandos had become the first catcher to catch at least a no hitter in both leagues.  he caught this perfect game and Hoyt Wilhelm's no hitter with the Baltimore Orioles in 1958. 2. at the FIFA World Cup in 1986 in Mexico, Diego Maradona sc...

on this day in 1970, Brazil became the first nation to win three FIFA World Cups after beating Italy 4-1 in the Championship game at Aztec Stadium in Mexico City.  Pele, Gerson, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto scored for Brazil while Roberto Boninsegna scored for Italy.  Brazil had won all 6 games in the tournament (3 round robin, quarter final, semi final and Championship game) plus all six of their qualification games.

the official start of summer is at 10:24pm Edmonton time tonight.  it's felt like it the last few days as well.  although there is a severe thunderstorm watch out for tonight.  figures for summer weather.  enjoy the day.

Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies hit for the cycle (single, double, triple and home run in the same game) as the Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 7-5 at Coors Field.  the most astounding stat of the day - after this cycle, there have been 17 cycles hit at Coors Field since it opened in 1995. that ties for the most cycles at one ball park with Fenway Park.  Fenway Park opened in 1912.  WTH!?  that is a crazy stat.

today in 1994: 1.  the New York Rangers - fresh off their Stanley Cup win - holds their victory parade.  it was held hours before the N.Y. Knicks and Houston Rockets played game 5.  both teams were at the parade. 2.  the Knicks beat the Rockets in game 5 to go up 3 games to 2 in the series.  Houston eventually wins the last two games to win the Championship. 3. the World Cup begins in the U.S. with Germany beating Bolivia 1-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago while Spain and South Korea played to a 2-2 tie at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.  Brazil won the tournament in penalty kicks over Italy. 4.  the most famous (or infamous) slow speed car chase with Al Cowlings driving the white Ford Bronco which also held O.J. Simpson.  the chase ends at Simpson's Brentwood mansion where he surrenders and ultimately charged for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

in 1974, Nolan Ryan throws 235 pitches, walked 10 and struck out 19 in 13 innings of work, while Luis Tiant went 14 1/3 innings as the California Angels beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 in Anaheim. Barry Raziano pitched the last two innings and got the win, while Tiant took the loss.  wow.

Russia had already qualified, being host nation.  Brazil was the second one on March 28.  yesterday Iran joined them, claiming one of the two top spots in their group in their confederation pool.  who will be the 4th?  stay tuned.  it will happen eventually.

the Pittsburgh Penguins have defended their Stanley Cup with a 2-0 win in game six  and the series four games to two.  the Nashville Predators gave it a hell of a run.  first back to back Stanley Cups since Detroit in 1997 and 1998.  wow.  Mike Sullivan became the first head coach to win back to back Stanley Cups in his first two seasons since Toe Blake in 1956 and 1957.  Sidney Crosby was named Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP.  that's it for another hockey season until October.

Tapwrit passes Irish War Cry down the final front stretch and wins the final jewel of the triple Crown - the Belmont Stakes.  Patch finished third in this.  three different winners in the three races.  winning time was 2:30.02, winning jockey was Jose Ortiz and Todd Pletcher was winning trainer for the third time at Belmont and won Kentucky Derby this year.  so that is it for another triple crown - until next year.

Scooter Gennett of the Cincinnati Reds has a 4 homer game, plus 10 RBI's in a 5 for 5 night as the Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 13-1.  the 5th hit was a single.  quite the night.

Albert Pujols has become the 9th player to his his 600th career home run. he hit it in the 4th inning of of Ervin Santana with the bases loaded.  welcome to the 600 HR club Albert.

Edinson Volquez of the Miami Marlins.  he no hit the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Marlins won 3-0 on what would of been friend and former teammates Yordano Ventura's birthday.  excellent job to Mr. Volquez and congrats.

Nolan Ryan throws his 4th career no hitter and also picked up his 100th career win as the California Angels beat the Baltimore Orioles 1-0. he tied Sandy Koufax with most hitters (at that time).  Ryan would pick up three more - his last one in 1991 at home against Toronto.