 Classic SI photo by Manny Millan |
America's Sweetheart
With her engaging smile and trademark "wedge" haircut (Life magazine dubbed it "one of the most important fashion statements of the last 50 years"), Dorothy Hamill crossed over into the American mainstream. Her athletic accomplishments stand on their own: She was the 1976 Olympic and world champion, and went on to buy and perform with the Ice Capades.
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GREATEST ATHLETES |
Bruce Jenner, Newtown
Made 1972 Olympic team as decathlete a year after taking up sport; set world record in '75 and shattered it to win gold in '76.
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Steve Young, Greenwich
Top-rated passer in NFL history; Super Bowl MVP in 1995; only quarterback with 30,000 yards passing and 4,000 rushing.
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Calvin Murphy, Norwalk
Fourth-highest scoring average (33.1) in NCAA; NBA season free-throw-shooting record (95.8%); in NBA Hall of Fame.
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FLASHBACK |
1995: Storybook Ending
Trailing Tennessee late, unbeaten Connecticut got into gear in time to conclude a charmed season
One team. One goal. One problem. With the NCAA championship seemingly in their grasp on Sunday at the Target Center in Minneapolis, the Lady Vols of Tennessee grabbed a nap. Having spent the season repeating their pithy little mantra, one team, one goal, an affirmation that was splashed across the cover of their media guide, they flinched at the moment of truth.
FULL STORY
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SI COVERS |
Howe Did He Do It?
Baseball has its Iron Men in Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripken Jr., but both would be hard-pressed to match the accomplishments of Gordie Howe, who played a full 80-game schedule as a member of the Hartford Whalers at the age of 51, scoring 41 points and competing in his fifth decade in the NHL.
Click here to see a gallery of every Connecticut cover
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THE SI POLL |
Who do Nutmeggers root for? SI asked the Constitution State residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
New York Yankees | 42% |
Boston Red Sox | 26% |
New York Mets | 12% |
Favorite NFL team
New York Giants | 27% |
New England Patriots | 19% |
Dallas Cowboys | 7% |
New York Jets | 5% |
Favorite NBA team
Boston Celtics | 22% |
New York Knicks | 15% |
Los Angeles Lakers | 7% |
New Jersey Nets | 6% |
No favorite | 36% |
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Favorite NHL team
New York Rangers | 16% |
New York Islanders | 4% |
No favorite | 50% |
Favorite pro team
New York Yankees | 28% |
Boston Red Sox | 16% |
New York Giants | 9% |
New York Mets | 7% |
Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in your state
Ray Allen | 13% |
Rebecca Lobo | 12% |
Diana Taurasi | 9% |
Sue Bird | 7% |
Gordie Howe | 5% |
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State's biggest rival
Yankees-Red Sox | 39% |
UConn-Tennessee | 17% |
State's biggest sports rival
Massachusetts | 28% |
Tennessee | 24% |
New York | 21% |
Favorite announcer
John Madden | 16% |
Phil Rizzuto | 7% |
Jerry Remy | 6% |
Bob Costas | 4% |
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*Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 416 Connecticut 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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70 Consecutive games won by UConn women's basketball team, an NCAA record.
501-99 Geno Auriemma's record as UConn women's basketball coach, through 2002-03 season.
35-0 Record of UConn women's basketball team in 1994-95.
39-0 Record of UConn women's basketball team in 2001-02.
2,178 Points scored by UConn women's basketball player Nykesha Sales, most in school history.
2,145 Points scored by UConn men's basketball player Chris Smith, most in school history.
25 Number of seasons Whalers played in Hartford, in both the WHA and NHL.
51 Age at which Gordie Howe played a full 80-game season, in 1979-80, for the Whalers.
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ENEMY OF THE STATE |
Pat Summitt
And you wondered if this was a women's basketball state? Patriots owner Kraft made the list for pulling out of a deal in '99 to move his team to Hartford. Nutmeggers' most hated opponents: the Tennessee Volunteers (37%), the Yankees (19%) and the Red Sox (13%).
Pat Summitt | 25% |
George Steinbrenner | 20% |
Bob Kraft | 14% |
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FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: Jan. 9, 1788 (5th state)
Area: 5,544 square miles
Bird: Robin
Capital: Hartford
Economy: Agriculture -- Nursery stock, eggs, dairy products, cattle. Industry -- Transportation equipment, machinery, electric equipment, fabricated metal products, chemical products, scientific instruments.
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Flower: Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Nickname: Constitution State, Nutmeg State
Population: 3,405,565 (29th)
Pro sports teams: Connecticut Sun
Major college programs: Central Connecticut State Blue Devils, Connecticut Huskies, Quinnipiac Braves, Yale Bulldogs
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