The Year In Sports 1994

**The Year In Sports 1994** is the fourth video of the "Year In Sports" video series.

Narrated by Marv Albert

The music in the opening segment is "Won't Forget These Days" by Fury In The Slaughterhouse.

## Narrator's Opening Dialogue

> "*It was a year of first ever championships for some, while other teams repeated, and still others repeated and repeated and repeated. It was the year owners and players filmed while fans burned. Some stars said goodbye while they were good and ready while others left the scene before they're tired. Perhaps we'll best remember this as the year Agassi met with ecstasy, the year the world came to America, and for that one last chance left that finally, finally made a winner of the kid from Wisconsin. Yes, we remember it well.*"
> ― Marv Albert
>
>

## Table of Contents

### NFL

> "*We wanted "The Sound of Music", we got "Son of Frankenstein".*"
> ― Paul Zimmerman
>
>

* AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills 30, Kansas City Chiefs 13
	+ Joe Montana suffered a concussion after being tackled by Bruce Smith
* NFC Championship - Dallas Cowboys 38, San Francisco 49ers 21
* Super Bowl XXVIII - Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13
	+ MVP: Emmitt Smith

#### Interviewees

* James Washington - Cowboys
* Emmitt Smith - Cowboys
* Peter King - SI Senior Writer
* Troy Aikman - Cowboys
* Joe Montana - Chiefs

### NCAA Football

> "*Lots of trials end in hung juries. Why shouldn't it be the same in college football?*"
> ― Rick Reilly
>
>

* Notre Dame defeats Florida State 31-24
* In the Holy War game, Boston College upset Notre Dame 41-39 with a game-winning field goal by David Gordon
* Orange Bowl - Florida State Seminoles 18, Nebraska Cornhuskers 16 (National Champions)
	+ Scott Bentley's championship-winning FG
	+ Bryon Bennett's last second field goal attempt sailed wide left
* A few months after Florida State won the national championship, a few players (minus Charlie Ward) got into trouble for going on a shopping spree at Foot Locker, spending $6,000 worth of goods while the cash was funded by their agents.

#### Interviewees

* Sally Jenkins - SI Senior Writer
* Charlie Ward - Florida State

### Winter Olympics

> "*The temperature was a numbing 14°, but the spirits of the spectators soared.*"
> ― William Oscar Johnson
>
>

* Location: Lillehammer, Norway
* Background Music: Sylvia Suite I. Prelude - Les Chasseresses, Fanfare (arrangement by Janos Sandor & Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra)
* Nancy Kerrigan put on a stellar performance in figure skating only to lose the gold medal to Oksana Baiul
* Bonnie Blair defends her gold medal in speed skating (500 m, 1000 m)
* Johann Olav Koss won three gold medals in speed skating in his home country (1500 m, 5000 m, 10000 m)
* Dan Jansen finally wins gold medal in speed skating, breaking the jinx caused by the death of his sister that hindered his efforts (1000 m)
* Sweden wins gold medal in hockey, defeating Canada in a shootout as Tommy Salo deflected Paul Kariya's last attempt to tie
* Georg Hackl of Germany wins gold medal in luge
* Tommy Moe wins gold medal in Downhill skiing
* Liz McIntyre put on a performance in moguls and ended up taking the silver medal
* Cathy Turner defends her gold medal in short track speed skating

### NCAA Basketball

> "*If this season walked into a psychiatrist's office, it would be fitted for a straitjacket*"
> ― Alexander Wolff
>
>

* On February 13, 1994, Temple Owls coach John Chaney threatened homicide against UMass coach John Calipari at a post-game conference.
* The Boston College Eagles upset defending national champion North Carolina Tar Heels.
* National Championship - Arkansas Razorbacks 76, Duke Blue Devils 72
	+ 20 seconds into the game, Grant Hill took a nasty fall landing on his rump. He was shaken but unharmed.
	+ Scotty Thurman's championship-winning three-pointer

#### Interviewees

* Nolan Richardson - Arkansas
* Mike Krzyzewski - Duke
* Alexander Wolff - SI Senior Writer

### NHL

> "*A team touched by the gods, well, not so much touched as checked into the boards.*"
> ― Leigh Montville
>
>

* Wayne Gretzky surpasses Gordie Howe as all-time goals leader
* The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim began their first season
* The New York Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Finals thanks to Stéphane Matteau's OT goal in Game 7 against the New Jersey Devils
* Stanley Cup Finals - New York Rangers 4, Vancouver Canucks 3
	+ Game 1 - Canucks 3, Rangers 2 (OT)
	+ Game 2 - Rangers 3, Canucks 1
	+ Game 3 - Rangers 5, Canucks 1
	+ Game 4 - Rangers 4, Canucks 2
	+ Game 5 - Canucks 6, Rangers 3
	+ Game 6 - Canucks 4, Rangers 1
	+ Game 7 - Rangers 3, Canucks 2 (Rangers end their 54-year curse to win the Stanley Cup)

#### Interviewees

* Brian Leetch - Rangers
* Austin Murphy - SI Senior Writer
* Mike Richter - Rangers

### Soccer

> "*It was Pelé's dream to have a World Cup in the U.S. Even Americans thought he was off his rocker.*"
> ― E.M. Swift
>
>

* Background Music: "American Life in the Summertime" performed by Francis Dunnery
* World Cup Final - Brazil vs. Italy (Brazil wins 3-2 on penalty kicks; Roberto Baggio missed a decisive penalty kick for Italy)

#### Interviewees

* Alexander Wolff - SI Senior Writer
* Peter King - SI Senior Writer

### NBA

> "*The NBA is suddenly in hands so new, some of them don't leave fingerprints.*"
> ― Bruce Newman
>
>

* The Denver Nuggets became the first 8-seeded team to upset a number-one seed team
* Toni Kukoc's buzzer-beater in Game 3 vs. Knicks
* Scottie Pippen's Phantom Foul on Hubert Davis in Game 5
* The Bulls fell in seven games to the Knicks
* Reggie Miller scored 25 points in the 4th quarter in Game 5 vs. Knicks
* Patrick Ewing's tip-in dunk secured the Knicks' trip to the Finals
* NBA Finals - Houston Rockets 4, New York Knicks 3 (MVP: Hakeem Olajuwon)
	+ Game 1 - Rockets 85, Knicks 78
	+ Game 2 - Knicks 91, Rockets 83
	+ Game 3 - Rockets 93, Knicks 89
	+ Game 4 - Knicks 91, Rockets 82
	+ Game 5 - Knicks 91, Rockets 84
	+ Game 6 - Rockets 86, Knicks 84 (Hakeem blocks Starks' championship-winning three-point attempt)
	+ Game 7 - Rockets 90, Knicks 84

#### Interviewees

* Phil Taylor - SI Senior Writer
* Reggie Miller - Pacers
* Anthony Mason - Knicks
* John Starks - Knicks
* Hakeem Olajuwon - Rockets
* Sam Cassell - Rockets

### The Outer Limits

* Former Seminoles quarterback Charlie Ward decided to play in the NBA instead of the NFL
* Michael Jordan struggling to play baseball
* Nancy Kerrigan was attacked prior to the Olympics; Tonya Harding was apparently involved in the conspiracy
* Danny Bonaduce vs. Donny Osmond in a charity boxing match
* Dennis Rodman had a highly publicized two-month affair with Madonna
* The L.A. Dodgers responded to Reds owner Marge Schott's comments by wearing earrings for two games against the Reds
* Jimmy Johnson retired from coaching the Cowboys after winning the Super Bowl
* Mike Keenan left coaching position from the Rangers after winning the Stanley Cup and went to coach the St. Louis Blues.
* Carlos Alberto Parreira quit coaching Brazil after winning the World Cup.

### Major League Baseball

> "*It seems kryptonite is not all that could stop Griffey.*"
> ― Tom Verducci
>
>

* Kenny Rogers pitched a perfect game on July 28.
* Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Matt Williams were on a home run chase.
* Tony Gwynn was on the verge of becoming the first player to hit .400 since Ted Williams in 1941.
* A players' strike halted the season and eventually canceled the World Series

#### Interviewees

* Frank Thomas - White Sox
* Steve Wulf - SI Senior Writer
* Matt Williams - Giants
* Tony Gwynn - Padres

### Interlude

#### Sports Figures Who Retired

* Phil Simms
* Lawrence Taylor
* Arnold Palmer
* Isiah Thomas
* Mario Andretti
* Martina Navratilova
* Ryne Sandberg

### Moments

* Scott Erickson's No-Hitter
* Julio César Chávez defeats Meldrick Taylor
* Nick Price wins British Open (He sank a 50-foot eagle putt on the 17th hole)
* Andre Agassi wins U.S. Open
* Noureddine Morceli's 3,000-Meter World Record
* Jerry Rice Breaks Career Touchdown Record (He scored on the first game of the league's 75th season)
* David Robinson Wins Scoring Title (He scored 71 points against the Clippers on the last game of the season)
* Julie Krone's Comeback (She returned to racing after recovering from her broken ankle and won her first race back the next day)
* Tar Heels Wins Women's NCAA Title (Charlotte Smith hits a championship-winning three-pointer at the buzzer)
* N.L. All-Stars Win In 10 Innings (Moisés Alou slammed an RBI double as Tony Gwynn slid to home plate beating Pudge Rodriguez's tag)
* Colorado Stuns Michigan (Kordell Stewart threw a Hail Mary pass and Michael Westbrook caught the ball in the end-zone off a deflection)

### Reflections

* Phil Taylor: "If I had to pick one moment that I'll remember all year for all the years to come, it's Jansen after he finally won his race."
* Frank Thomas: "Michael Jordan retired and Michael Jordan coming to play baseball. I think those two together had to be the biggest moment."
* Mike Krzyzewski: "The biggest moment for me and I'm not trying to stick daggers all over my body, was Scotty Thurman's shot."
* Alexander Wolff: "When Scotty Thurman threw in that shot, I think we had our biggest moment of the season."
* Anthony Mason: "It was a great moment when I saw the Rangers win the Stanley Cup. I was right downstairs."
* Mike Richter: "The New York Knicks. I just thought it was amazing."
* Steve Wulf: "United States beating Columbia in the World Cup. I think that was a defining moment."
* Austin Murphy: "Just a critical mass that soccer achieved that summer."
* Tony Gwynn: "To me, the biggest glory is the home runs. Guys being able to hit home runs at almost seemingly at will."
* James Washington: "Beating the Giants at the Meadowlands and watching Emmitt lay his guts out for the program."
* Matt Williams: "To see Bonnie Blair continue to dominate everything."
* Reggie Miller: "I probably think the indictment of O.J. Simpson on two counts of murder."
* Sally Jenkins: "O.J. Simpson's arrest. I think it's the last blow to the ideal virtuous athlete."

#### Jimmy Johnson's Retirement

* Troy Aikman: "Well, it had to be Jimmy's departure."
* Peter King: "Valley Ranch was not big enough for the two of them, and one of them had to go, and it wasn't going to be Jerry."
* Troy Aikman: "So if it was something bigger than that, I missed it, because I was in Maui somewhere. (chuckles)"