A heart attack claims boxing legend Joe Louis at the age of 66.
Tennis star Billie Jean King acknowledges having a lesbian affair.
Alabama coach Bear Bryant wins his 315th game, breaking the record for
most college football victories set by Amos Alonzo Stagg.
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April 12, 1981
Former heavyweight champ Joe Louis dead
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Joe Louis, regarded by many as the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time,
dies of a heart attack at age 66. Nicknamed the "Brown Bomber," Louis held the
heavyweight crown from 1937 to 1949, successfully defending his crown a record
25 times. Memorable fights included victories over Max Schmeling and Billy Conn, and losses to Ezzard Charles and Rocky Marciano.
 1.3M QuickTime Movie - 23 sec.
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May 1, 1981
Billie Jean King admits having lesbian affair
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Tennis star Billie Jean King becomes the most prominent athlete to acknowledge a homosexual relationship when she discloses at a news conference that she had
an affair with her former secretary, Marilyn Barnett. King, who is married, makes the statement in response to a palimony suit filed by Barnett, who wants half of King's income from 1972 to 1979. A California judge later dismisses the suit, ruling Barnett is not legally entitled to the tennis star's earnings.
1.3M QuickTime Movie - 25 sec.
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November 28, 1981
Bear Bryant sets college football victory record
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Alabama beats rival Auburn 28-17 in Birmingham, Alabama, helping
Paul "Bear" Bryant pass Amos Alonzo Stagg as the all-time winningest college
football coach with 315 career victories. Bryant once said, "I'd probably croak in a week if I ever quit coaching." After a 25-year career that produces such stars as Babe Parilli, Joe
Namath and Kenny Stabler, he retires in late 1982 with a record of 323-85-17 and five
national championships -- and dies 37 days later.
1.2M QuickTime Movie - 22 sec.
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