THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 1/2

1832 – The sport with brooms on ice, Curling, opens up its first club in the United States. The Orchard Lake Curling Club is open.

1912 – Club President of the Brooklyn Superbas, Charles Ebbets announces the purchase of 4.5 acres. Which he plans to build a 23,000-seat concrete and steel stadium. Ebbets Field opened in 1913.

1943 – The University of Kentucky men’s basketball begins their 129 home game winning streak. The steak ended in 1955, which included NCAA Titles 1948, 1949, and 1951.

1953 – In a record that no one wants to have, The Baltimore Bullets record a 32 road game losing streak. The streak which began with 12 games remaining in the 1952-53 season and continued 20 more games during the 1953-1954 season. Setting the mark was the 73-66 loss at the hands of the Indianapolis Olympians.

1965 – The New York Jets set an NFL record (at the time) by signing future Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Namath to a three-year, $427,000 contract.

1966 – The Green Bay Packers defeat the Cleveland Browns 23-12 in the National Football League Championship at Lambeau Field.  This was the first NFL title game televised in color and the last one before the Super Bowl era.

1977 – Atlanta Braves Owner Ted Turner is suspended for one year by Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, for tampering in the free agent signing of Gary Matthews.

1982 – The New York Islanders defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. This win begins an NHL 23-game undefeated home winning streak. 

1983 – Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Ken Anderson completes 20 consecutive passes in a 35-27 win over the Houston Oilers. Anderson finishes the season winning his second consecutive passing title with an NFL 70.55% completion percentage.

1985 – Jerry Tarkanian, men’s basketball coach at the University of Nevada  Las Vegas, collets his 600th victory with a 142 – 140  triple overtime win over  Utah State. The 282 total points breaks a NCAA men’s record of 275 set in 1976.

1986 – New York Islander right wing Mike Bossy scored his 499th & 500th career goals in a 7-5 win over the Boston Bruins. The two goals came in the final 2:22.  Making him the 11th player in NHL history to score 500 goals.  

2000 – 19,600 fans watch as the Miami Heat down the Orlando Magic 111-103 in the first NBA game at the Heat’s new American Airlines Arena in Miami.