The events that occurred on November 1st surround the day with an essence of nostalgia, especially for modern sports fans. Just two years ago a man many are familiar with, Derrick Rose, had a game that reminded the NBA world of his MVP days. Furthermore, a rookie Big Ben took down the most dominant dynasty in NFL history streaking at a historic rate. Occurrences like these are what make fans love tuning in to watch sports each day.

Rose Drops 50

YEAR: 2018

SIGNIFICANCE: Derrick Rose scored a career-high 50 points 7 years after his MVP season

Suffering through numerous heartbreaking and potentially career-ending injuries after finding early success with the Bulls, many believed Derrick Rose could never return to form. He missed all of 2012-13 then bounced between the Knicks, Cavaliers, and Timberwolves over two seasons after leaving Chicago in 2016. On this night in 2018, however, Rose’s years of rehab paid off with a career-best scoring outburst five years removed from his ACL tear, charging up the entire Target Center and leading Minnesota to victory.

The Derrick Rose of old seemed to have resurfaced as the 2010-11 MVP erupted for a career-high 50 points in a narrow victory over the Utah Jazz. Rose hit the go-ahead buckets with under 20 seconds left to reach 50, then the Jazz threw up three potential game-tying shots, rebounding each miss. The final attempt by Dante Exum in the corner was blocked by none other than the man of the night to seal the deal and the crowd erupted as his teammates stormed the court to celebrate his amazing accomplishment. Hardly able to contain his emotion after the buzzer, just five words from Rose’s postgame interview captured the essence of the night: “I worked my ass off.”

Congratulations to @drose on winning moment of the year at the #NBAAwards!

Here's his post-game interview from after his monster night on the court. pic.twitter.com/5C3zTLCi07
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) June 25, 2019

Pats Fall to Big Ben

YEAR: 2004

SIGNIFICANCE: The Steelers snapped the Patriots’ NFL-record 21-game winning streak

Through his first four NFL starts, Ben Roethlisberger had yet to lose a game going into a matchup with the undefeated, Super Bowl Champion Patriots. New England was on a bit of a streak of their own, winning their last 18 regular season games — 21 straight counting the playoffs. On this day, however, Pittsburgh jumped out of the gates to a 24-3 first half lead with two TD passes to Plaxico Burress in the first quarter, then never looked back. The defense absolutely tortured Tom Brady and the Patriots’ offensive line to the tune of four sacks and two interceptions while allowing just five rushing yards on six total attempts. At 6-1, the rookie QB from Miami (OH) led the Steelers to a 6-1 start since taking over in Week 2, equaling the franchise’s best since 1978 (7-0).

Dickerson to Indy

7https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt07v0Io1Lc

YEAR: 1987

SIGNIFICANCE: LA Rams, Indianapolis Colts, & Buffalo Bills completed a 3-team trade involving HOF RB Eric Dickerson

Since moving to Indianapolis from Baltimore in 1984, the Colts had been somewhat of a mess. Compiling a 38-98-1 record since 1978, the team started a surprising 3-3 but felt an elite RB would push them towards contention. So, 28-year-old GM Jim Irsay (owner Robert Irsay’s son) masterminded a three-team, ten-player trade that netted the Colts a 27-year-old Eric Dickerson — the 1986 Offensive Player of the Year. A massive haul for just a single player, it remains one of the few ten-player trades in NFL history, rivaling that of Herschel Walker just two years later.

Dickerson would top 1,000 yards in just nine games while leading the Colts to the Playoffs, then led the NFL in rushing the following season. Totaling just 1,213 yards in only 21 games the next two years, Dickerson returned to LA to replace the injured Bo Jackson following a 1-15 record and eventually got inaugurated into the Hall of Fame as the second leading rusher of all-time, behind only Walter Payton at the time (now 9th).

Color Barrier Broken

Earl Lloyd was the first African American to have stepped on the court & play a NBA game, making his debut on October 31st, 1950. He was also the first black assistant coach in the league, coaching the Detroit Pistons from 1968-1970. pic.twitter.com/BTQAMhRT52
— Tyjeria Sha’na (@tyjeria_shana) February 3, 2019

YEAR: 1950

SIGNIFICANCE: Earl Lloyd became the very 1st black player in NBA history

A native of Alexandria, Virginia, Earl Lloyd became a star on the court for nearby West Virginia State after leading them to multiple CIAA championships. Drafted in the ninth round by the Washington Capitols, Lloyd somehow didn’t hear the news until a friend approached him on campus about “rumors” that he’d be moving to Washington. Though drafted after fellow trail blazers Chuck Cooper (second round) and Nat Clifton (traded by Harlem Globetrotters), Lloyd was the one to make his historic debut first. Taking the court for the first time on this date 70 years ago against the Rochester Royals, Earl Lloyd officially became the very first black player to take the court in NBA history. After just seven games, however, Lloyd was drafted into the Army and promptly went to Korea for two years, returning to the NBA in 1952.

Career-High Curry

YEAR: 2015

SIGNIFICANCE: Stephen Curry scored a career-high 53 points

Three games into his (successful) MVP defense, Steph Curry absolutely lit up the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center for a career-high 53 points and an easy victory. Converting 17-of-27 shots and 8-of-14 threes, Curry missed a double-double by just a single assist but also wreaked havoc on the defensive end with a game-high four steals. Just the first of Curry’s three 50-point games that season, he would finish with an average of 30.1 PPG, securing his second straight MVP, this time being the first unanimous MVP ever, while helping lead Golden State to a record-setting 73-win season and second consecutive Finals appearance.