Today’s highlights in sports history:
In 1981, John McEnroe lost his temper on the first day of Wimbledon after beating Tom Gullikson 7–6 (5), 7–5, 6–3 in his first round match. McEnroe’s return on Gullikson’s serve was ruled invalid by chair umpire Edward James. McEnroe famously yelled, “You’re not serious,” and called James “the worst thing on earth” and an “incompetent fool.” After James assessed a point penalty on McEnroe, tournament umpire Fred Hoyles was called onto the court. After an argument between McEnroe and Hoyles went unresolved, Gullikson held serve and McEnroe yelled at Hoyle at the changeover, resulting in another point penalty. McEnroe was later fined $1,500.
On this date:
1918 – Mora Burstedt beat Eleanor Goss 6-4, 6-3 to win her fourth consecutive U.S. Lawn Tennis Association women’s title.
1937 – Joe Louis knocks out Jim Braddock in the eighth round at Chicago’s Comiskey Park to win the world heavyweight title, a title he would hold for the next 11 years.
1938 – In a rematch portrayed in both countries as a battle of good and evil, American Joe Louis retained his world heavyweight title by knocking out Germany’s Max Schmeling in 2 minutes and 4 seconds of the first round at Yankee Stadium.
1949 – Ezzard Charles beat Jersey Joe Walcott by a 15-round unanimous decision at Chicago’s Comiskey Park to win the vacant world heavyweight title.
1977 – John Ziegler is named the fourth president in NHL history, succeeding Clarence Campbell.
1979 – Larry Holmes stops Mike Weaver in the 12th round at Madison Square Garden in New York to retain the WBC heavyweight title.
1980 — UEFA European Championship Final, Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy: Horst Hrubesch scores two goals as Germany beats Belgium 2-1.
1991 — NHL Draft: Oshawa Generals centre Eric Lindros is selected first overall by the Quebec Nordiques.
1994 – Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets beat New York 90-84 in Game 7 of the Finals to win their first NBA title. Olajuwon finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 blocks.
1994 – FIFA World Cup: The United States defeats Colombia 2–1 in a round match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to win their first World Cup since 1950.
1996 – Michael Moore defeats Axel Schultz in 11 rounds to win the IBF heavyweight boxing title.
1999 — In one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon’s 113-year history, world number one Martina Hingis loses 2-6, 0-6 in the first round to 16-year-old qualifier Jelena Dokic, ranked 129th in the world.
2001 – Carrie Webb sets two scoring records at the LPGA Championship, shooting a 7-under 64 to take a three-stroke lead. Webb breaks the 36-hole scoring record by two strokes with an 11-under 131. Webb shoots 29 for the first nine holes, the lowest nine-hole score in the championship’s 47-year history.
2006 – The U.S. soccer team was eliminated from the World Cup after losing 2-1 to Ghana.
2007 — For the first time, Americans have the top two picks in the NHL Draft. Chicago selects Patrick Kane with the first pick, and Philadelphia selects left winger James Van Riemsdyk with the second pick.
2012 — Jerry Sandusky is convicted on 45 counts of sexually assaulting 10 boys over a 15-year period. The allegations lead to the firing of Joe Paterno, the popular Penn State coach who died of lung cancer on Jan. 22. The Penn State Board of Trustees fires Paterno, citing a “failure of leadership” surrounding the allegations against Sandusky.
2012 — NHL Draft: Sarnia Sting (OHL) right winger Nail Yakupov is selected first by the Edmonton Oilers.
2014 – Michelle Wie wins her first major tournament at the U.S. Women’s Open, defeating world number one Stacy Lewis by two strokes.
2017 – Washington point guard Markelle Fultz is selected first overall in the NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.
2018 — NHL Draft: Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin of Frolunda HC (SHL) is selected first overall by the Buffalo Sabres.
