This Day in Sports History - 1/17/2003

In the highly anticipated first meeting between seven-foot-six Rockets rookie Center Yao Ming and seven-foot-one Lakers Center Shaquille O'Neal, the Rockets prevail 108 - 104 in overtime at the Compaq Center in Houston. Yao blocks Shaq's first three shots and alters Kobe Bryant's shot at the end of regulation. O'Neal finished with 31 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists. Yao manages 10 points, 10 rebounds, and six blocks. Houston Guard Steve Francis leads all scorers with 44 points, the most he will collect in a single game during his nine-year NBA career.

This Day in Sports History - 1/7/2003

Kobe Bryant breaks the NBA record for most three-pointers in a game, sinking 12 of them during the Lakers' 119 - 96 drubbing of the Seattle Sonics at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The record had been 11 by Dennis Scott of the Orlando Magic in 1996. On March 28, Bryant will tie an NBA mark for most three-pointers in a half with eight. He will have a total of nine three-pointers in that contest, and 55 overall, as the Lakers cruise to a 108 - 94 triumph over the Washington Wizards in Los Angeles.

This Day in Sports History - 6/24/2003

Expos Left Fielder Brad Wilkerson records a natural cycle - a single, double, triple and Homerun in order. Wilkerson singles in the second inning, doubles in the fifth, triples in the sixth, and homers in the seventh during a 6 - 4 victory over the Pirates at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

This Day in Sports History - 1/3/2003

In the BCS Championship Game at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, Ohio State edges Miami of Florida, 31 - 24 in double overtime. The Buckeye victory ends Miami's 34-game winning streak and their hopes of a second straight National Title. The Hurricanes tie the score at 17 - 17 on a 40-yard field goal from Todd Sievers on the last play of regulation. TE Kellen Winslow II catches a seven yard TD pass from Ken Dorsey on 4th down in the first overtime for a 24 - 17 Miami lead. On the ensuing Ohio State possession, quarterback Craig Krenzel converts a 4th & 14 play, but faces another 4th down at the 5. The Hurricanes are called for a controversial pass interference penalty on the play, and three plays later Krenzel scores on a 1-yard run to tie the game at 24 - 24. In the second OT, running back Maurice Clarett crosses the goal like for Ohio State and Miami is stopped at the one yard line.

This Day in Sports History - 10/25/2003

In Game 6 of the World Series, the last Series game played at the original Yankee Stadium, Josh Beckett of the Florida Marlins pitches a complete-game shutout on two days rest to beat the Yankees, 3-0. The win gives the Marlins the second world championship in their eleven year history; the first was in 1997. For both, the Marlins entered the playoffs as a wild card.