TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY DECEMBER 14

2009  Red Sox sign John Lackey to a 5 year $85 million deal

1999  LA Clippers score just 19 points in the 1^st half – breaking a 25 year old record

1992  Lennox Lewis wins the WBC title when Riddick Bowe refuses to fight him

1991  Desmond Howard wins the 57^th Heisman Award

1990  Alex English of Denver scores his 25,000^th NBA point

1988  The Miami Heat win their first game ever 89-88 after 17 losses

1986  Dan Marino throws for 403 yards and 5 TDs in an OT win vs. LA Rams

1985  Roger Maris died – 2 time MVP with NYY – in 1961 he  batted .269 with record 61 HRs and 141 RBI

1984  Howard Cosell retires from Monday Night Football after 15 years

1980  Elston Howard died – 4 time World Series winner with NYY – MVP 1963

1980  New Orleans Saints beat NY Jets – end 14 game losing streak

1965  Rookie Rick Barry of San Francisco scores 57 points in a game vs. NY Knicks – second highest score by a rookie (Wilt Chamberlain had 58 in 1960)

1962  Wilt Chamberlain of Philadelphia scores 63 and Elgin Baylor of LA Lakers scores 50 – only 3 times in NBA history have opposing players scored 50 or more in the same game

1961  NYY reject Roger Maris’ request for a $75,000 contract

1954  Brooklyn Dodgers sign Sandy Koufax to a $6,000 contract

1947  NASCAR is founded in Daytona Beach, Florida