How ’bout them Rangers
On Nov.13, 1979 Metta World Peace was born; too bad that’s not his birth name
Sports History 101C
Colton Hordichuk
Contributor
Break out the garden hose, it’s time to make a hockey rink in the backyard. The snow has finally arrived and snowboarders, skiers, and winter sports fans are rejoicing everywhere. But the winter fans aren’t the only ones celebrating.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ season has now come to an end with a 23-20 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos on Nov. 4, which means it’s time to look forward to next year – something the New York Rangers were probably saying to themselves after their atrocious 1943-44 campaign.
A 24-year-old knockout, Metta World Peace, and at the time, a surprising Grey Cup appearance, are bundled up into this weeks Sports History 101.
Nov. 10, 1957 –Los Angeles sets an NFL crowd-size record when 102,368 fans show up to watch the Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers .The Rams end up winning the contest by a final score of 37-24. The record remains unbroken until 2005, when the 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals face off with 103,467 fans in attendance at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
Nov. 11, 1944 – The New York Rangers go 6-39-5 and finish with 17 points during the 1943-44 NHL regular season, thus setting a record for the fewest points obtained by any NHL team in a single season. The Ranger’s losses aren’t pretty, either – an 11-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, a 13-3 loss to the Boston Bruins, and a 15-point shutout by the Detroit Red Wings. Ken McAuley, New York’s starting goaltender, posts a goals-against average of 6.24.
Nov. 12, 2010 – The University of Regina Cougars women’s basketball team improve their record to 5-0 after defeating Trinity Western 72-51. The next day, the Cougars play Trinity Western again, defeating them 74-47 and improving their record to 6-0 to start the regular season.
Nov. 13, 1979 – NBA forward and rapper Metta World Peace – né Ron Artest – is born. Drafted by the Chicago Bulls with their 16th pick overall in the 1999 NBA Draft, World Peace go on to become 2010 NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and was an NBA all-star in 2004 with the Indiana Pacers.
Nov. 14, 1966 – Heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali TKOs Cleveland Williams after three rounds of action at the age of 24. Ali’s knockout allows him to maintain the Ring and the WBC World Heavyweight titles.
Nov. 15, 1991 – Seattle Supersonics shooting guard Ricky Pierce begins his streak of throwing 75 consecutive free throws. Although the streak ends Dec. 13, 1991, during the 1991-1992 season, Pierce’s is the second longest consecutive shooting streak in the NBA behind Mark Price, who made 77 consecutive free throws.
Nov. 16, 1997 – The Toronto Argonauts defeat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 47-23 in the 85th CFL Grey Cup, which is played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alta. Toronto quarterback Doug Flutie, who throws for over 350 yards, wins outstanding player honours and a Dodge Dakota. Flutie gives his Dakota away to outstanding Canadian Paul Massoti. The Riders finished the regular season 8-10, while the Argonauts finished 15-3.
Honourable Mention
Nov. 12, 1979 – It seems that no matter what happens in football, a long-distance field goal always seems to add excitement to any game. Field goals have been known to go as far as 69 yards, but to come even close to that in an athlete’s rookie year is unheard of.
On this day, NFL kicker Tony Franklin, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1979 NFL entry draft, kicks a 59-yard field goal against the Dallas Cowboys during his rookie year.
Prior to this milestone, Franklin was known as a successful kicker during his college career at Texas A & M. While playing against Baylor University, Franklin kicked a 65-yard field goal and a 64-yard field goal in the same game. Franklin remains the only kicker in college football history to do so.
