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Double trouble For the Record: Texas closing in on NHL, NBA history Click here for more on this story Posted: Wednesday June 23, 1999 12:52 AM   Texas toast: The Lone Star State is the place to be this summer for championships. Elsa Hasch, Harry How/Allsport By Ryan Hunt, CNN/SI Texas now has a chance to do something that has never been done before in the combined histories of the NBA and NHL finals. The Lone Star State is battling to become the first to have teams win the NBA and NHL championships in the same year. Talk about the ultimate bragging rights. Texas already has possession of the Stanley Cup, thanks to the Stars' NHL title. Now a Spurs championship would make history. Eight times have teams from the same state tried to sweep the titles. Eight times they failed. In fact, New York teams have been in this position three times before this year. But of the six finalists, only the 1994 Rangers were able to win a title. Massachusetts, or more specifically Boston, has had three cracks at the Finals daily double (1951, 1958 and 1974). The Celtics won the championship twice in those three years, but the Bruins went 0-for-3. State of emergency Teams from same state in NBA, NHL Finals in same year Year NHL Team Finals NBA Team Finals 1999 1999 1994 1992 1980 1974 1972 1958 1951 1950 Dallas Stars Buffalo Sabres N.Y. Rangers Chicago Blackhawks Phila. Flyers Boston Bruins N.Y. Rangers Boston Bruins Boston Bruins N.Y. Rangers W L W L L L L L L L S.A. Spurs N.Y. Knicks N.Y. Knicks Chicago Bulls Phila. 76ers Boston Celtics N.Y. Knicks Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Syr. Nationals ?? ?? L W L W L L W L   Chicago was the state of Illinois representative in 1992. The Bulls won the title that year, but the Blackhawks failed. Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) is the only other city/state to have teams in the hockey and basketball finals in the same season. Both the Flyers and Sixers lost in 1980. However, there is a historical precedent to the two-team, two-state battle. Again, New York was involved. In 1973, New York and California had two professional teams battling each other for the championships in baseball and basketball -- but the states split the championships. Oakland beat the New York Mets in the '73 World Series, while the New York Knicks beat the Los Angeles Lakers. That leaves Texas on the cusp of making history. And two Texas-sized celebrations.   Related information Stories Stars dump Sabres, stand poised to hoist Stanley Cup Spurs wear down Knicks, take Game 1 Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI.

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