Friday Flashbacks: Wilt the Stilt Coaches (Sort of) in the ABA

Tom Landry, the only coach the Dallas Cowboys had ever had, dumped by new owner Jerry Jones (1989) . . . Al Michaels joins ABC Sports full-time (1977) . . . Riddick Bowe’s brief stint in the Marines (1997) . . . Calls for suspension of Bobby Knight after the chair-throwing game (1985) . . . Browns seek to evict Cardinals from Sportsman’s Park (1949) . . . Team Canada wins the much-anticipated gold medal match with Team USA in Salt Lake City (2002) . . . Koufax and Drysdale are holding out together for longer than 1-year deals (1966) . . . Tim McCarver’s turn as Winter Olympic Host received some criticism (1992) . . .

Kentucky goes to the NCAA tournament because Mississippi State refuses to play teams with black players (1959) . . . Mickey Mantle retires (1969) . . . A Big Three of Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb, and Daunte Culpepper has emerged (1999) . . . College football not exempt from rules requiring equal expenditure on men’s and women’s programs (1979) . . .  Ray Meyer thinks basketball needs to slow down (1946) . . .A sixth grader is suspended for bringing Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue to school (2004) . . . Sugar Ray Robinson avenges earlier loss to Jake LaMotta (1943) . . . Eddie the Eagle (1988) . . .

Wayne Gretzky breaks Phil Esposito’s season goal scoring record (1982) . . . Steve Carlton traded to the Phillies for Rick Wise (1972) . . . The day the Southwest Conference died (1994) . . . Drexler, Olajuwon, Micheaux, Young and company get ready for showdown between #1 Houston and #4 Arkansas (1983) . . . Russians dominate first ever Winter Olympics appearance (1956) . . . Six killed in Bluffton University team bus accident (2007) . . . Hispanic group wants ouster of Orioles’ scout who made remarks about Mexican players having rhythm (1993) . . . Angry Lakers fans attack referee after loss to Celtics (1963) . . . SMU football gets the death penalty (1987).

[photo via Getty]