 Classic SI photo by Lou Capozzola |
Ice-Cold Devil
Born in Alaska to parents of Mexican and Columbian descent, Scott Gomez became the first Latino player in the NHL when he made the impressive leap from junior hockey to the Devils in 1999 as a 19-year-old. In his first four seasons New Jersey has played for the Stanley Cup three times, winning twice.
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FACES IN THE CROWD |
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Brandon Drumm Anchorage
Oct. 21, 1996 -- Brandon, a junior running back at Service High, and Mark, a senior quarterback at Soldotna High, each set Alaska high school records on the same weekend. Brandon carried 26 times for state records of 381 yards and nine TDs in a 65-10 victory over Juneau-Douglas High. Brandon's rushing total topped the mark of 372 set only a week earlier by Dallas Elmore of Colony High.
Career highlight: All-Big 12 performer at Colorado, drafted by Detroit as a fullback.
Now photo by John F. Martin/AP
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GREATEST ATHLETES |
Trajan Langdon, Anchorage
Duke's alltime leader in three-pointers and free throw percentage; 11th pick, by Cavaliers in 1999.
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Tommy Moe, Girdwood
Won Olympic downhill gold and Super G silver in 1994; retired in '98 with five U.S. titles.
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George Attla, North Pole
Famed dog trainer and sprint musher won Anchorage Fur Rendezvous World Championship record 10 times.
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FLASHBACK |
1991: The Dogged Pursuit of Excellence
Susan Butcher is mushing toward a record fifth win in the Iditarod race
"Haw!" The command shattered the silence of the southern Alaskan bush. It was midwinter 1977, and the nearest human being was some 50 miles away. Lead dog Tekla and 14 other huskies were pulling Susan Butcher on a sled across a frozen river when, suddenly, the leader disobeyed her musher's order to veer left ...
FULL STORY
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THE SI POLL |
Who do Alaskans root for? SI asked the Last Frontier State residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
Seattle Mariners | 22% |
Chicago Cubs | 11% |
Favorite NFL team
Seattle Seahawks | 16% |
San Francisco 49ers | 11% |
Green Bay Packers | 9% |
Favorite NBA team
Los Angeles Lakers | 18% |
Seattle SuperSonics | 7% |
No favorite | 39% |
Favorite NHL team
New Jersey Devils | 10% |
Colorado Avalanche | 6% |
No favorite | 50% |
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Favorite pro team
Seattle Seahawks | 8% |
San Francisco 49ers | 8% |
Seattle Mariners | 7% |
Green Bay Packers | 7% |
Favorite college team
Washington | 8% |
Alaska-Anchorage | 8% |
Alaska-Fairbanks | 7% |
Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in your state
Scott Gomez | 36% |
Trajan Langdon | 13% |
Carlos Boozer | 9% |
State's biggest rivalry
Alaska-Anchorage vs. Alaska-Fairbanks | 56% |
High school rivalries | 11% |
Iditarod rivalries | 4% |
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More a fan of college or pro sports?
Favorite sport to play
Favorite sports to watch on TV**
Football | 76% |
Winter Olympics | 50% |
Baseball | 41% |
Summer Olympics | 39% |
Basketball | 32% |
**Multiple responses allowed. | |
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*Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 400 Alaska residents who identified themselves as sports fans. Margin of error +/- 5%.
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Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary |
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STATITUDES |
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1973 First year the Iditarod Sled Dog Race was contested over its present course.
1,150 Approximate distance (in miles) of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
5 Most wins (Rick Swenson) in the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
4 Most wins by a woman (Susan Butcher) in the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
20,321 Height (in feet) of Mount McKinley, one of climbing's Seven Summits.
4th Highest finish of host school Alaska-Anchorage in the Great Alaska Shootout.
25 Number of years the Great Alaska Shootout has been contested.
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ENEMY OF THE STATE |
George Steinbrenner
The Boss earned his fifth Enemy title by edging Cusack, former owner of the minor league hockey Alaska Aces. The teams most hated by Alaskans are the Fresno Falcons (13%) -- the Aces' archrivals -- the Yankees (9%) and the Oakland Raiders (9%).
George Steinbrenner | 15% |
Mike Cusack Jr. | 11% |
Al Davis | 10% |
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FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: Jan. 3, 1959 (49th state)
Area: 656,425 square miles
Bird: Willow ptarmigan
Capital: Juneau
Economy: Agriculture -- Seafood, nursery stock, dairy products, vegetables, livestock. Industry -- Petroleum and natural gas, gold and other mining, food processing, lumber and wood products, tourism.
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Flower: Forget Me Not (Myosotis alpestris)
Nickname: Last Frontier
Population: 626,932 (48th)
Pro sports teams: None
Major college programs: Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves, Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks
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