Highlighted by legendary achievements, iconic performances, and some unique occurrences, December 6th marks the unofficial coronation of “King Henry” just two years ago. The late Kobe Bryant and Antawn Jamison also went bucket-for-bucket in a nail-biter as the recently-traded John Wall scored a career-high exactly 16 years later. Lastly, the Jets and Seahawks engaged in another instant-classic with one of the most controversial and consequential endings in recent history.

Jaime Segui & Alex Raphael covered the MLB & NBA sections in this article.

REC TD Record

Dec 6, 1992: Jerry Rice catches his 101st career TD in a 27-7 #49ers win over the #Dolphins, breaking Steve Largent’s all-time record (via HBO In NFL narrated by the 🐐 Harry Kalas)#49ersMonterrey #NinerEmpireMonterrey #LetsGoNiners #NinerEmpire #Niners #NFL #NFL100 #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/YElUlzSaHh
— 49ers Monterrey (@49ersMonterrey) December 6, 2019

YEAR: 1992

SIGNIFICANCE: Jerry Rice caught his 101st career TD pass to break the all-time NFL record

Just one week after joining Steve Largent as the only players in NFL history to catch 100 TD passes, Jerry Rice caught his 101st TD to break Largent’s all-time record in a blowout win over the Dolphins. Despite a meager statline by his standards (7 receptions, 79 yards), his record-setting 12-yard TD from Steve Young put the finishing touches on a 27-3 victory that would push the 49ers’ record to 11-2. In just his eighth NFL season, the future HOFer would end the 1992 season with not only his seventh consecutive 1,000-yard season, but his fourth straight with at least 10 TDs — streaks that would last another four and three years, respectively.

50-Point Showdown

OTD in 2000: Kobe Bryant and Antawn Jamison both scored 51 points (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/KeltQNyIxl
— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) December 6, 2018

YEAR: 2000 & 2016

SIGNIFICANCE: Antawn Jamison and Kobe Bryant scored 51 points each AND John Wall scored a career-high 52 points

About a year into the new century on December 6th, a 22-year-old Kobe Bryant and 24-year-old Antawn Jamison duked it out in a high-scoring affair in which each man filled up the scoring column. Golden State’s Jamison posted his second consecutive 50-point performance (21-29 FG), while Bryant posted a prolific 50-piece of his own (the first of his young career). The Warriors would walk away with the win over the Lakers, 125-122 in OT.

This remarkable happening was only the third time in NBA history and the first time in 38 years that opposing players each put up at least 50 points in a game. The most recent recorded occurrence of this rare circumstance before this 2000 showdown was with Philadelphia Warriors’ Wilt Chamberlain (63 points) and L.A. Lakers Elgin Baylor (50 points).

The 2010 No. 1 overall draft pick John Wall has been seriously hindered by injuries the past three seasons of his career. But, on this day in 2016, before his unfortunate string of sidelining injuries, John Wall was able to soar to a career-best 52 points in a victory over the Orlando Magic. Wall will now try to regain his footing as one of the best floor generals in the NBA after being traded to the Houston Rockets for Russell Westbrook in a blockbuster swap almost exactly four years after his career-best scoring performance.

John Wall dropped a career-high 52 points (18-31 FG, 11-14 FT) with eight dimes and three steals in Washington's 124-116 loss to the Magic. pic.twitter.com/sngzLCLVAu
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 7, 2016

The Need for Replay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_tnTCtmJ8k

YEAR: 1998

SIGNIFICANCE: A poor call on Vinny Testaverde’s game-winning TD run would ultimately lead to the adoption of Instant Replay

On this date in 1998, the Seattle Seahawks travelled to East Rutherford, NJ with slim playoff hopes to take on the 8-4 Jets. They fought valiantly for their postseason lives, however, and held a 31-19 lead before Keyshawn Johnson’s fourth-quarter TD cut the lead to one score. Down five, New York got the ball back at their own 36 with just over 3:00 to go as Vinny Testaverde continued on with his big day through the air (42/63, 418 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT).

Mixing in two runs (10 yards) between six passing attempts, Testaverde completed four for 47 yards but faced a fourth-and-goal from Seattle’s five-yard line with less than :30 left. Lined up under center, Testaverde noticed an absence in the A-gap and snuck it straight up the middle, appearing to score the go-ahead TD. The broadcast’s replay, however, showed Testaverde clearly down before the ball crossed the goal line, creating an instant controversy that would directly result in the adoption of “instant replay” the following offseason.

December 6, 1998: The Jets beat the Seahawks 32-31 after Vinny Testaverde scores the game-winning touchdown on fourth and goal with 20 seconds left even though he is clearly short of the goal line. The NFL did not have instant replay at the time. pic.twitter.com/ALxwe8u9xJ
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) December 6, 2019

Crown King Henry

YEAR: 2018

SIGNIFICANCE: Derrick Henry rushed for a franchise-record 238 yards, including a NFL record-tying 99-yard TD run

After spending his first two NFL seasons behind DeMarco Murray — a former rushing champion — Derrick Henry was finally poised to assume a bell-cow role with the Titans. A second-round pick in 2016, the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner made just four starts (played 31 of 32 games) through his first two years, totaling 1,234 yards and 10 TDs on 286 carries. Starting 12 of 16 games in 2018, Henry struggled to get going and was unable to muster a single 100-yard game — until this date.

Totaling just 474 rushing yards on 128 carries through 12 games (3.7 YPA), King Henry exploded in a Thursday night matchup against the Jaguars for 238 yards and four TDs on just 17 rushing attempts. Opening the scoring with a three-yard TD run early in the first quarter, he then tied an NFL record by ripping off an iconic 99-yd TD during which he not just stiff-armed, but manhandled three Jaguars.

Nearly doubling his season TD total (five to nine) in the 33-9 win, he would more than double his rushing total over the next four games (585 yards) to finish with his very first 1,000 yard season. In retrospect, this breakout game would be a sign of things to come as Henry would win the rushing title the very next season, continue to dominate in his first playoff run, and emerge as the premier running back in the NFL.

Full Court Dime for OT

YEAR: 2019

SIGNIFICANCE: Steven Adams made a full-court pass to Dennis Schroder with 1.1 seconds left who put it in at the buzzer

In a western conference duel, exactly one year ago, the New Zealand big man Steven Adams transformed into Oklahoma City’s quarterback, throwing a pinpoint “hail mary” pass to Dennis Schroder who came down with it. The game clock reading only 1.1 seconds left and the Thunder down two points, Schroder instantly put up a right-handed game-tying layup at the buzzer to force OT, adding to his 25 points. The Thunder would claw their way to a 139-127 victory in the extra period to take down the Minnesota Timberwolves that sparked OKC’s surprising playoff campaign after an early season drought thanks to this epic clutch play.