The 1990 New York Knicks Throw A Sweet Garden Party
The 1990 New York Knicks were a team that seemed on the verge of humiliation before coming up with an under-the-radar signature moment in a franchise history that has been long short of them.
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1990 UConn Basketball: Where A Modern Dynasty Began
There was a time when UConn couldn’t even swim to the surface without being devoured by the sharks of the Big East. When ESPN’s 30-for-30 documentary “Requiem for the Big East ran on March 16, the focus was on the schools that helped build the conference—Syracuse, Georgetown, St. John’s and Villanova. It wasn’t until later that UConn arrived on the scene.
The 1988 Los Angeles Rams: A Roller-Coaster Ride That Ends Up In The Middle
In the course of one season, the Rams took their fans on a wild roller coaster ride that ended up in the middle. Read the game-by-game narrative.
USC-UCLA Football Rivalry: The 1988 War Of The Roses
The USC-UCLA football rivalry is the most storied in the West, and one of the most historic college football rivalries in the country. It would be overdoing it to say 1988 was the high point, the 1988 USC-UCLA rivalry had plenty of color, some great storylines and added significant juice to what was a very good college football season.
The 1988 Los Angeles Lakers: Backing Up A Guarantee
The 1988 Los Angeles Lakers were playing basketball under a self-imposed burden as the regular season wound down. The previous June they had won their fourth championship since Magic Johnson was drafted in 1980. In the aftermath of beating the Celtics, Coach Pat Riley made a public guarantee—they would win it again in 1988 and become the first NBA team in 19 years to capture back-to-back titles.
The 1985 Georgetown Hoyas: A Basket Short Of A Dynasty
The 1985 Georgetown Hoyas were coming off a national championship and with future #1 NBA draft pick Patrick Ewing back for his senior season, a repeat title looked like destiny. Ewing’s shotblocking skills were without peer in college basketball, his offensive game was solid, and head coach John Thompson had the big man surrounded with a deep team that attacked defensively and could score enough to win.
The 1984 Georgetown Hoyas: Patrick Ewing Leads The Way To A Title
The 1984 Georgetown Hoyas were an intimidating force and physically manhandled opponents en route to a national title. Patrick Ewing, the 7’0” center, whose defense defined every game, was in his junior year, and the team looked like it had in 1982, with a very deep team surrounding him. They played defense, hit the boards and were the #1 seed in the West by NCAA Tournament time.
The 1982 Georgetown Hoyas & The Arrival Of Patrick Ewing
The 1982 Georgetown Hoyas were a program steadily on the rise in a Big East Conference that was much the same. With big John Thompson, the 6’10” head coach, patrolling the sidelines, the Hoyas made a regional final in the 1980 NCAA Tournament before losing by one point to Iowa. Then Thompson made a huge splash when he signed stud freshman center, 7’0” Patrick Ewing, the nation’s most coveted recruit. The stage was set for great things.
The Explosive 1983 Washington Redskins Come Up Just One Win Short
Quarterback Joe Theisman led an explosive offense. The Redskin run under Joe Gibbs from 1982-91 would be ultimately defined by “The Hogs”, the big offensive line, and in the early 1980s, the work of power running back John Riggins. But Theisman was always instrumental in leading the passing game and he had the best year of his career in 1983, en route to an MVP award.
The 1982 Washington Redskins Win A Proud Fan Base Its First Super Bowl
The NFL season of 1982 was overshadowed by labor difficulties and after two games, the season was temporarily shut down with a players’ strike. Play would not resume until November 21 with plans for a truncated nine-game schedule and divisional distinctions abandoned for playoff purposes. Nothing—not the strike, not broken momentum, not anyone in the NFL could stop the 1982 Washington Redskins, as they won the franchise’s first Super Bow
1989 San Francisco 49ers: A Championship In Transition
The 1989 San Francisco 49ers came into the NFL season as a rare breed—a defending champion in a transitional state. Under the leadership of Bill Walsh and the quarterbacking of Joe Montana, they won the Super Bowl in 1981, 1984 and again in 1988. Even though Walsh had retired after the come-from-behind win over the Cincinnati Bengals to cap the previous year’s title run, the expectations at Candlestick Park were the same—to repeat. George Seifert had been elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach.
1989 San Francisco Giants: The First Pennant In 27 Years
The 1989 San Francisco Giants lineup was anchored by first baseman Will Clark and leftfielder Kevin Mitchell. Clark was one the really good pure hitters of this time, able to hit for contact without compromising his power stroke. His productive years ended prematurely, as his upper body wasn’t built to last, and there’s no evidence he used steroids at the time everyone else was trying out the new fad. Mitchell had been a part of the Mets’ 1986 championship team and was one of the game’s top power hitters, as his 47 home runs, .635 slugging percentage and NL MVP award in ’89 would attest.