This Day in Sports History - 1/12/1975

The Pittsburgh Steelers capture their first NFL Championship in franchise history, downing the Minnesota Vikings, 16 - 6, in Super Bowl IX at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. The Steel Curtain defense dominates throughout and creates a 2 - 0 halftime lead on a safety when DE Dwight White sacks QB Fran Tarkenton in the end zone.

This Day in Sports History - 12/31/1972

Roberto Clemente dies when the chartered DC-& on which he is traveling crashes into the Atlantic Ocean one mile from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is 38. The plane is carrying relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. During his stellar 18-year career, all with the Pirates, Clemente batted .317 and collected exactly 3,000 hits. He won four betting titles, led the NL in hits twice, was named to 12 All-Star teams, and won 12 Gold Gloves. He was also the NL MVP in 1966 and the World Series MVP in 1971. He will be elected posthumously to the Hall of Fame in 1973.

Ryan Doumit

The Minnesota Twins signed Ryan Doumit to a 1 year deal worth $3 million. Doumit will primarily back-up Joe Mauer while playing some time at 1B, OF & DH. This will also give the Twins the opportunity to let Mauer play some time at first & DH. Doumit's fielding % by position is as follows, C: .986; 1B: .985 & OF: .964. Doumit brings some solid pop with his bat as well with a career .271 batting average and 67 HRs.

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Super Bowl XLV Preview

This Sunday February 6th will be Super Bowl 45 between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Here are 45 facts and stats that hopefully you'll enjoy.

1. First time that there will be more Super Bowls than US Presidents
2. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a 6-1 Super Bowl record
3. The Green Bay Packers have a 3-1 Super Bowl record
4. Packers are first #6 seed from NFC to make the Super Bowl
5. Packers have 3 players from Ohio St. (Ryan Pickett, Matt Wilhelm, A.J. Hawk)
6. Steelers have help opponents to under 17 points eleven times this season
7. Steelers are 22-3 in games where Troy Polamalu has an interception
8. Ben Roethlisberger has a 10-2 playoff record
9. Aaron Rodgers is NFL's all time leader in passer rating
10. Clay Matthews had 13.5 sacks this season
11. Charles Woodson played in Super Bowl 37 for Oakland
12. James Harrison has been fined $100K this season
13. Packers RB coach Edgar Bennett played for Packers in Super Bowl 31 win
14. Lamar Woodley has 10 sacks in 6 career playoff games
15. Packers OLB coach Kevin Greene played for Steelers from 1993-1995
16. Steelers DC Dick LeBeau played cornerback in NFL for 13 years
17. Rashard Mendenhall had a 3.9 yards/att during the regular season
18. Tramon Williams has 3 INT in playoffs, one returned for TD
19. 1st Super Bowl where both teams are more than 75 years old
20. Mike Tomlin has 5 straight playoff wins
21. Packers have lost 15 players to season ending injuries
22. Pittsburgh has 25 players with Super Bowl experience; Green Bay has 2
23. A.J. Hawk had a team leading 111 tackles this season
24. Packers defense forced 15 fumbles and 24 interceptions
25. Steelers defense forced 24 fumbles and 21 interceptions
26. Lawrence Timmons had a team leading 135 tackles
27. Lawrence Timmons, James Farrior and James Harrison each had over 100 tackles
28. Hines Ward has 7 receptions 166 yards and 1 TD in 2 career Super Bowl games
29. Ben Roethlisberger is looking to become 5th QB with 3 Super Bowl wins (Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman & Tom Brady)
30. Aaron Rodgers is 27 years old; Brett Favre was 27 years old when he one Super Bowl 31
31. James Harrison has longest play in Super Bowl history with a 100 yard interception return in Super Bowl 43
32. Mike McCarthy was born in Pittsburgh
33. Packers have 21 players/coaches in the Hall of Fame, Steelers have 18
34. Mike Tomlin is youngest coach to take team to 2 Super Bowls
35. Both teams play a 3-4 defense, making this the first Super Bowl to match two 3-4 defenses
36. Steelers were 4-2 against common opponents while Packers were 3-3
37. Packers FB John Kuhn was on Pittsburgh's 2005 Super Bowl team, he could become the 48th player to win a Super Bowl with more than one team
38. Packers DC Dom Capers was Steelers DC from 1992-1994
39. Steelers led NFL with 48 sacks; Packers were 2nd with 47
40. "The Terrible Towel" is made by a company in Wisconsin
41. Greg Jennings had 12 TDs during the regular season
42. Mike Wallace averaged 21 yards/reception during the regular season
43. Steelers WR Antwaan Randle El threw 2 TDs during the regular season
44. Donald Driver was a 7th round draft pick in 1999
45. The Packers have not trailed by more than 7 points all season