Today In Sports History 8/24

Our past has shaped the present by many things in history including sports, here is how sports marked our history today.

Baseball

• In 1919 Cleveland pitcher Ray Caldwell is flattened by a bolt of lightning.

Basketball

• In 2008 the star-studded American men’s basketball team led by the likes of LeBron James, Chris Paul & Kobe Bryant win the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics with a relatively narrow 118-107 win over Spain.

Boxing

• In 1908 Tommy Burns KOs Bill Squires in 13 rounds for the heavyweight boxing title.

Football

• In 1979 with 60,916 votes NFL fans choose old Patriots logo over the new logo.

Golf

• In 1975 PGA Tournament Players Championship, Al Geiberger leads wire-to-wire to finish 3 strokes ahead of runner-up Dave Stockton.

Hockey

• In 1972 Gordie Howe & Jean Beliveau are inducted in to Hockey Hall of Fame.

Miscellaneous

• In 1963 John Pennel is the first person to pole-vault 17′.

Olympics 

• In 2004 Americans Kerri Walsh and Misty May team up to win the women’s beach volleyball gold at the Athens Olympics beating Brazilian pair Shelda Bede & Adriana Behar 21–17, 21–11.