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Most Significant Sports History on December 23rd
Learn about December 23rd's most significant sports history including the "Immaculate Reception", a landscape changing injury, and more!
Pro Football Hall of Fame
December 23rd contains some of the most special moments to happen in a professional sports arena of all time. An absolutely unforgettable touchdown was scored in a playoff game that would forever be known as “The Immaculate Reception”. In addition, the Black Mamba achieved a major milestone that elevated him on top of an impressive record book. More events from 12/23 solidify it as an unmissable day in pro sports history.
See what happened on this day in: 2020 | 2019
YEAR: 1972
SIGNIFICANCE: Steelers defeated the Raiders for their 1st-ever playoff win on an improbable catch-and-run by Franco Harris
Prior to the 1972 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers had only made one postseason appearance in franchise history — a 21-0 “Playoff” loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1947. The team’s first winning season since 1963, fourth-year HC Chuck Noll led the Steelers to an 11-3 record and the AFC Central crown behind HOF QB Terry Bradshaw and the beginnings of the “Steel Curtain”. Hosting the Oakland Raiders in the Divisional Round on this date, Pittsburgh held a 6-0 lead late in the fourth quarter until HOF QB Ken Stabler flipped the script with a 30-yard TD scramble.
The Raiders’ defense held strong, forcing a fourth-and-ten at Pittsburgh’s 40 with only 22 seconds remaining. Noll called their “66 Circle Option” play, where rookie WR Barry Pearson was the primary target, but Bradshaw was pressured heavily and instead threw it toward backup RB John “Frenchy” Fuqua near the Oakland 35. S Jack Tatum delivered a massive hit on “Frenchy”, propelling the ball back towards the middle of the field — where RB Franco Harris was tracking from behind.
Scooping up the fluttering pass just before it hit the turf, Harris sprinted down the sideline past a stunned Raiders defense for the go-ahead TD. At the time, however, if a pass deflected off an offensive player, only they were eligible to catch it. If it hit a defender at all, regardless of when, all offensive players remained legal receivers, even if they touched it first. This created a controversial call for the officials, as only two could make a definitive call, but Fred Swearingen made the decision to rule it a TD. Fans immediately stormed the field before the PAT, and it took over 15 minutes for the Steelers’ first-ever postseason victory to be finalized.
10 years ago today, @kobebryant scored 39 points at MSG to become the youngest player to record 20,000 points at the time
— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) December 23, 2017
He played in the Nike Kobe 3 “China” pic.twitter.com/ymYnrxjPfb
YEAR: 2007
SIGNIFICANCE: Kobe Bryant became the youngest player in NBA history to record 20,000 career points
Turning back time to December 23rd, 2007, the late, great Laker SG Kobe Bryant hit yet another milestone in his ever-cascading career of accomplishments. The “Black Mamba” slithered his way past the high mark of 20,000 points mid-way through his 20 years in Los Angeles. At the prime age of 29 years, 122 days old, Bryant overtook Wilt Chamberlain as the youngest player to the summit of 20K points, tallying 39 points against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden — the Mecca of basketball.
The Lakers, spurred on by Bryant’s outburst, overcame the Knicks 95-90 with them going on to finish as runners-up to Boston 4-2 in the Finals that year. Bryant’s brilliance not only shined that day but throughout that entire year as he earned his lone MVP award. His brilliance would only be superseded by LeBron James who conquered 20K points when he was 28 years, 17 days old. Bryant ended his 2x scoring champion career with 33,643 points, currently fourth on the all-time scoring list behind none other than King James.
Spurs won 62 games in 1994-95
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) October 31, 2019
Spurs won 59 games in 1995-96
* David Robinson gets hurt and SAS tank
Spurs win 20 games in 1996-97
Spurs win Tim Duncan in 1997 lottery
Spurs win 56 games in 1997-98
Spurs win 5 titles and more games over the next 20 years than any other team https://t.co/JT2jJQLFua
YEAR: 1996
SIGNIFICANCE: David Robinson’s season ended with a broken foot, allowing them to select Tim Duncan with the No.1 overall pick
In a 1996 season that saw Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan crowned a 5x champion, the HOF low-block beast David Robinson also broke his foot in a game against the Miami Heat. The U.S. Navy man — a scoring, block, and rebound champion over seven active years — suffered this horrible injury on December 23rd, and it would promptly end his season just two weeks after Gregg Popovich took over as the new Head Coach before anyone knew he would become an all-time legendary HC.
The MVP Robinson had only played six games that season as he was dealing with a bad back to begin the season. San Antonio would muster a mere 20 regular-season wins — the third-worst record in the NBA — allowing them to draft Wake Forest PF Tim Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick. Robinson’s broken foot, which was devastating on the surface, turned out to be the event that elevated San Antonio into success.
In 1999, then again in 2003, the Spurs rose to the peak of the NBA by winning the Finals with their twin towers. After Robinson’s retirement, HOFer Duncan went on to have one of the finest careers’s ever, playing his entire 19 years as a Spur and raising three more championship banners along the way. If it weren’t for Robinson’s severe injury, the Spurs may never have assembled the greatest frontcourt ever, and they may very well have zero banners hanging in their arena today.
#OTD (1992) Michael Jordan scored 57 pts in a win over Washington, giving Phil Jackson his 200th career victory in an NBA record 270 games. pic.twitter.com/7bBWr6N07a
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) December 23, 2016
YEAR: 1992 & 1997
SIGNIFICANCE: HC Phil Jackson became the fastest to win 200 and 500 career games on the same exact date 5 years apart
In the NBA’s history, many coaches have filtered in and out of the league, but few have attained the extraordinary success that Phil Jackson was able to capture. Beginning his NBA journey as a player, Jackson didn’t make headlines, however, he did win two titles with the Knicks (one of which he was out with a back injury). While his on-court career came to a close in 1980, his head coaching journey was kicked off in 1989 with the Chicago Bulls. The three headed-monster of HOFers alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were unstoppable with Jackson steering them to six championships and a 543-193 record in nine regular seasons.
Ultimately, Jackson’s efficiency was unmatched as he became the quickest to accumulate 200 wins on 12/23/1992, doing so in 270 games. All the while, Jordan was the league’s leading scorer for his coach’s first seven seasons which was a huge help. The momentous occasion came in a win over Jordan’s future franchise — the Washington Bullets — with “His Airness” soaring to 57 points.
“The Zen Master” Jackson continued to incentivize ungodly production rates, overshadowing his former feat of 200 wins by becoming the fastest to acquire 500 career wins (682 games). He would move past fellow HOFer Pat Riley’s record as the inconceivable accomplishment happened in 1997, also on December 23rd. As if Jackson hadn’t cemented his legacy enough, he went on to raise five more championships trophies — all with the L.A. Lakers. Phil Jackson retired in 2011 and sits seventh on the all-time head-coaching victories list (1,115).
#ThisDayInHistory In 1997, Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson becomes the quickest to reach 500 wins (682 games). pic.twitter.com/BniDNotNqj
— Mayweather Promotions (@MayweatherPromo) December 23, 2016
The @RamsNFL took on the Cleveland Browns in the 1951 NFL Championship at the Coliseum 68 years ago today. This marked the State of California’s first major professional championship, and the Rams’ only title to date while in Southern California ☀️#RamsHouseForever pic.twitter.com/0Mo1pyQPZi
— Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (@lacoliseum) December 23, 2019
YEAR: 1951 & 1962
SIGNIFICANCE: Rams beat the Browns for their 2nd title AND the Dallas Texans won the AFL Championship before moving to KC
After the Cleveland Browns dominated the AAFC for four years, they and two other franchises (49ers, Colts) were admitted into the NFL. Despite public perception of the upstart league, the Browns’ dominance carried over into 1950 as they rolled to a 10-2 record and defeated the Los Angeles Rams — formerly of Cleveland — to win their fifth straight title. The following season, LA fielded yet again the top-ranked offense and returned to the title game 364 days later for their revenge against CLE. Another one-score contest, the Rams’ first and only title in LA was won on a 75-yard REC by HOF WR Tom Fears, capping a back-and-forth final quarter.
Eleven years later, another challenger to the NFL had taken form in the American Football League. Holding their third title game on this date, the Houston Oilers — reigning back-to-back champions — hosted the Dallas Texans, who they had split the season series with. Dallas jumped out to a 17-0 lead but after allowing a TD before halftime, Houston won the second half 10-0 to send the game to OT. The scoreless first OT ended with George Blanda’s fifth INT of the game while the second was completely controlled by the Texans, who stole the Oilers’ dreams of a third consecutive title with a 25-yard FG from rookie Tommy Brooker to cap off the classic battle.
Titans vs. Chiefs?
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 15, 2016
This rivalry goes back to the 1962 AFL Championship Game as the Houston Oilers vs. Dallas Texans. #TBT #TENvsKC https://t.co/dDvsrhHPKg
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