70 Fun Facts About 80s Sports

The 'Miracle on Ice' saw the US beat which country in ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics?

The Americans still had to beat Finland two days later to clinch the gold; coach Herb Brooks sprinted to the locker room and cried after the upset.

Which broadcaster asked 'Do you believe in miracles?' as the 1980 US hockey upset ended?

Michaels was calling the game for ABC; the final score was 4-3 after the Soviets had led 3-2 through two periods.

Which American speed skater won all five speed skating events at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics?

It remains a record for medals by one athlete at a single Winter Games; he later became an orthopedic surgeon.

Why did the United States boycott the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics?

President Carter even sent Muhammad Ali on a diplomatic tour of Africa to drum up support for the boycott.

Which British runner beat Sebastian Coe to win the 800 metres at the 1980 Moscow Olympics?

Ovett had written that he had a 90 percent chance in the 1,500 m; Coe turned the tables and won that one instead.

Rosie Ruiz was stripped of her 1980 Boston Marathon win eight days later for what reason?

New York officials then discovered she had cheated in the 1979 NYC Marathon that qualified her for Boston in the first place.

Which rookie replaced the injured Kareem at center and scored 42 to clinch the 1980 NBA Finals?

The 20-year-old played all five positions that night in Philadelphia and was named Finals MVP.

What was the score of the fourth-set tiebreak in the 1980 Borg–McEnroe Wimbledon final?

It was Borg's fifth straight Wimbledon title; McEnroe got his revenge in the 1981 final.

Which pitcher's 1981 rookie season with the Dodgers sparked 'Fernandomania'?

He is still the only player to win the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season.

Who caught 'The Catch', Joe Montana's winning pass in the January 1982 NFC Championship?

The 49ers beat Dallas 28-27 and went on to win their first Super Bowl two weeks later.

How many bases did Rickey Henderson steal in 1982 to set the single-season record?

He is the only American League player ever to steal 100 in a season, and he did it three times.

Which country won the 1982 FIFA World Cup, beating West Germany 3-1 in Madrid?

It was Italy's first title since 1938; Paolo Rossi's goals carried them after a slow start.

Which Georgia running back won the 1982 Heisman Trophy before jumping to the USFL's New Jersey Generals?

His 1989 trade from Dallas to Minnesota is credited with building the Cowboys' 1990s dynasty.

Which team's 1983 NCAA title ended with Lorenzo Charles's buzzer-beating dunk and Jim Valvano running around the court?

The Wolfpack beat Houston's 'Phi Slama Jama' 54-52 on a dunk off Dereck Whittenburg's 30-foot airball.

Australia II ended the New York Yacht Club's 132-year hold on which trophy in 1983?

Skipper John Bertrand came back from 3-1 down to beat Dennis Conner's Liberty, ending the longest winning streak in sport.

Where were the 1984 Winter Olympics held?

The city's Olympic venues were heavily damaged in the war that broke out in 1992.

Which British ice dancers earned across-the-board perfect artistic scores at the 1984 Winter Olympics?

Their free dance to Ravel's Boléro is still the only performance to sweep the 6.0s for artistic impression.

Carl Lewis won four gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, matching whose 1936 feat?

He was even drafted that year by the Chicago Bulls and the Dallas Cowboys despite never playing college basketball or football.

Who became the first American woman to win the Olympic gymnastics all-around title in 1984?

She had knee surgery just five weeks before the Games and beat Romania's Ecaterina Szabo by 0.05 points.

Which event made its Olympic debut in 1984 and was won by Joan Benoit?

The 1984 Games also turned a profit of $232.5 million thanks to private funding and existing venues.

Which country led the boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics?

Organizer Peter Ueberroth said the Soviets wanted to give America 'a taste of its own medicine' after 1980.

Who was taken first overall in the 1984 NBA draft, two picks ahead of Michael Jordan?

Portland took Sam Bowie second; it is the last draft in which two rookies made the All-Star Game.

Which team beat the Redskins 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII in January 1984?

Marcus Allen was MVP, and Apple aired its famous '1984' Macintosh commercial during the broadcast.

Doug Flutie's 'Hail Mary' pass in November 1984 beat which team?

Gerard Phelan caught the walk-off touchdown for Boston College against Bernie Kosar's Hurricanes.

Which eighth-seeded team upset Georgetown 66-64 in the 1985 NCAA final?

Coached by Rollie Massimino, they remain the lowest-seeded champion in tournament history.

How long did the 1985 Hagler–Hearns middleweight fight, known as 'The War', last?

The Ring called it 'the most electrifying eight minutes ever' and named it fight of the year.

Who became the youngest ever men's Wimbledon singles champion in 1985 at age 17?

He was unseeded, and won again in 1986 and 1989.

Pete Rose broke whose all-time hits record in September 1985?

Hit number 4,192 was a single off Eric Show at Riverfront Stadium; four years later Rose was banned for gambling.

Team Europe won the Ryder Cup for the first time in 1985 at which English course?

Two years later at Muirfield Village they became the first visiting side to win on American soil.

Which umpire's blown Game 6 call in the 1985 World Series do Cardinals fans still blame?

The Royals came back to win the game and then took Game 7 to beat the heavily favored Cardinals.

Which team recorded 'The Super Bowl Shuffle' before crushing the Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX?

The Bears filmed the video the day after their only loss of the season, to Miami on Monday Night Football.

What was Bo Jackson's college, where he won the 1985 Heisman Trophy?

He remains the only athlete named an All-Star in two major American sports, with the Royals and the Raiders.

At what age did Jack Nicklaus win the 1986 Masters, his 18th and last major?

He remains the oldest Masters champion; only Phil Mickelson, at the 2021 PGA, has won a major at an older age.

Which Red Sox first baseman let Mookie Wilson's grounder through his legs in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series?

Boston had been one strike away from the title twice that inning; the Mets won Game 7 two nights later.

Diego Maradona scored the 'Hand of God' goal against which team at the 1986 World Cup?

Four minutes later he dribbled past five defenders for the 'Goal of the Century' in the same match.

Who became the first American to win the Tour de France in 1986?

He was accidentally shot while hunting the next year, then came back to win again in 1989 and 1990.

Roger Clemens set a record in April 1986 by striking out how many batters in a nine-inning game?

He did it at Fenway against Seattle; he matched it exactly ten years later in Detroit.

The 1985-86 Boston Celtics set an NBA record by going 40-1 where?

They finished 67-15 and the 40 home wins were not matched until the 2016 Spurs.

Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history in 1986 at what age?

Two years later he became lineal champion by knocking out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds.

Who beat Marvin Hagler by a controversial split decision in April 1987's 'Super Fight'?

It turned out to be Hagler's last fight; he never boxed again.

Doug Williams threw a record 340 yards as Washington beat which team 42-10 in Super Bowl XXII?

Williams had started the season as a backup and was 0-2 as a regular-season starter; he was named MVP.

Which team traded Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings on August 9, 1988?

The deal brought Edmonton $15 million in cash plus players and picks, and is credited with popularizing hockey in California.

Which stadium hosted its first night game in 1988, the last in the majors to install lights?

The Cubs had played only day games at home for 74 years.

Kirk Gibson's famous 1988 World Series walk-off home run came off which Athletics closer?

Gibson had not started because of injuries to both legs; it was his only plate appearance of the Series.

How many consecutive scoreless innings did Orel Hershiser pitch to set the record in 1988?

He finished the year with the Cy Young, a Gold Glove and the World Series MVP.

Which sprinter was stripped of his 1988 Olympic 100 m gold after testing positive for stanozolol?

His 9.79-second run in Seoul was erased three days later; Carl Lewis was upgraded to gold.

Which tennis player won the 'Golden Slam' in 1988: all four majors plus Olympic gold?

It remains the only calendar Grand Slam completed on three surfaces since hard courts came to the US Open in 1978.

Florence Griffith Joyner's 1988 world record in the 200 metres, still standing, is what time in seconds?

Flo-Jo won three golds in Seoul and her 100 m record from the US trials also still stands.

Which diver won both 1988 golds after hitting his head on the springboard in prelims?

He was defending both titles from 1984 and competed on with a concussion.

Which British ski jumper became a folk hero by finishing last in both events at Calgary 1988?

The Jamaican bobsled team debuted at the same Games; both stories became Hollywood films.

Which East German figure skater defended her Olympic title at Calgary in 1988?

Both she and Debi Thomas skated to Carmen, which is why the final was billed the 'Battle of the Carmens'.

Ayrton Senna won his first Formula One title in 1988 driving for which team?

He and teammate Alain Prost won 15 of the 16 races that season in the Honda-powered MP4/4.

Kansas's 'Danny and the Miracles' won the 1988 NCAA title over which Big Eight rival?

Larry Brown coached the Jayhawks to the 83-79 win over Billy Tubbs's Sooners in Kansas City.

Which team swept the Lakers in the 1989 NBA Finals for its first championship?

The 'Bad Boys' were the last of the NBA's original eight charter teams to win a title.

By what margin did the American winner beat Laurent Fignon in the 1989 Tour de France, the closest ever?

He overturned a 50-second deficit in the final-day time trial into Paris.

Michael Chang became the youngest man to win a singles major at which 1989 tournament?

He was 17 years and 109 days old, and famously served underarm while cramping against Ivan Lendl on the way.

The 1989 World Series between the Athletics and Giants was interrupted by what?

The Loma Prieta quake struck before Game 3; Oakland completed a sweep when play resumed ten days later.

Nolan Ryan became the only pitcher ever to reach how many career strikeouts in August 1989?

He was 42 years old and got there by fanning Rickey Henderson of the Athletics.

Joe Montana's 92-yard drive in the final minutes of Super Bowl XXIII beat which team?

John Taylor caught the winning touchdown with 34 seconds left for a 20-16 win and San Francisco's third title.

Anthony Nesty won which country's first Olympic medal by beating Matt Biondi by 0.01 seconds in 1988?

The upset also ended Biondi's bid to match Mark Spitz's seven golds; he finished Seoul with five.

How many NBA championships did the Showtime Lakers win during the 1980s?

Pat Riley's promotion in 1981 and the drafting of James Worthy in 1982 built the powerhouse around Magic and Kareem.

Martina Navratilova won a record how many consecutive singles majors across 1983 and 1984?

She went 86-1 in 1983 and put together a 74-match winning streak, both still records.

Which NHL team won four straight Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983?

Their 19 consecutive playoff-series wins between 1980 and 1984 remain unmatched in North American pro sports.

How many goals did Wayne Gretzky score in 1981-82, still the NHL single-season record?

He added 120 assists for 212 points in 80 games, becoming the only player ever to break 200 points in a season.

With what record did the 1984 Detroit Tigers open the season, an unprecedented start?

Sparky Anderson's team led the AL East wire-to-wire and went on to win the World Series.

During the 1987 NFL strike, how were weeks four to six of the season staged?

Only week three was cancelled, cutting the schedule to 15 games; it remains the last NFL season disrupted by a labour dispute.

Which barefoot runner collided with Mary Decker in the 3,000 m final at the 1984 Olympics?

Decker fell to the curb with a hip injury and did not finish; Romania's Maricica Puică won and Budd faded to seventh.

Dennis Conner won back the America's Cup in 1987 off which Australian port?

Stars & Stripes 87 swept Kookaburra III 4-0 in Gage Roads, four years after Australia II had taken the trophy from the New York Yacht Club.

Which team did the Philadelphia Phillies beat in 1980 to win their first World Series?

The Phillies clinched at home in Game 6 on October 21, 1980, in the first World Series played entirely on artificial turf.

How much was the USFL awarded after winning its 1986 antitrust suit against the NFL?

The jury agreed the NFL had violated antitrust law but the nominal damages doomed the spring league's planned move to a fall schedule.