 Classic SI photo by John Iacono |
Amazin'
In one of the most memorable World Series games ever played, Mookie Wilson's grounder went through Bill Buckner's legs, Ray Knight came around to score and the Mets pulled off a miracle comeback against the Boston in Game 6 of the Fall Classic. New York became world champs the following night, making the curse of the Red Sox seem more real than ever.
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FACES IN THE CROWD |
| Chamique Holdsclaw Queens
Jan. 16, 1995 -- Jan. 16, 1995 -- Chamique, a 6 ft. 2 in. senior basketball forward at Christ the King High, had 58 points and 30 rebounds in a 79-42 defeat of Altoona (Pa.) High and 71-39 win over Cardinal O'Hara High of Springfield, Pa. Chamique, a 1994 All-America, was averaging 28.0 points and 14.0 rebounds through last Friday.
Career highlight: Four-time All-America led Tennessee to three NCAA championships.
Now photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/WNBAE/Getty Images | 
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GREATEST ATHLETES |
Jim Brown, Manhasset
Lettered 13 times at Manhasset High; All-America at Syracuse in football and lacrosse in 1956; ran for 12,312 yards in nine years with Browns.
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, New York
Led Power Memorial Academy to 71 straight wins; three straight national titles at UCLA; six-time NBA MVP scored record 38,387 points.
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Sugar Ray Robinson, New York
Middleweight was first boxer to win a world title five times; career record of 175-19-6.
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FLASHBACK |
1994: Seven Games To Glory
The Rangers outlasted the upstart Vancouver Canucks to finally capture that elusive Stanley Cup
We interrupt this New York Ranger Stanley Cup celebration to bring you a call from the President of the United States.
"Brian?"
"Mr. President," said Brian Leetch, winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs.
"Congratulations, man," Bill Clinton said. "I've been sitting here alone in the White House watching this, cheering for you, biting my fingernails, screaming and yelling."
FULL STORY
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THE SI POLL |
Who do New Yorkers root for? SI asked the Empire State residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
New York Yankees | 51% |
New York Mets | 25% |
Boston Red Sox | 4% |
Favorite NFL team
New York Giants | 28% |
New York Jets | 18% |
Buffalo Bills | 17% |
Favorite NBA team
New York Knicks | 34% |
New Jersey Nets | 9% |
Favorite NHL team
New York Rangers | 32% |
Buffalo Sabres | 14% |
New York Islanders | 11% |
New Jersey Devils | 3% |
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Favorite pro team
New York Yankees | 32% |
New York Mets | 16% |
Buffalo Bills | 10% |
New York Giants | 7% |
New York Jets | 4% |
Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in your state
Babe Ruth | 22% |
Jim Brown | 8% |
Mickey Mantle | 7% |
Jim Kelly | 7% |
State's biggest rivalry
Mets-Yankees | 40% |
Bills-Jets | 10% |
Yankees-Red Sox | 10% |
Islanders-Rangers | 8% |
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Favorite announcer
John Madden | 16% |
Marv Albert | 10% |
Phil Rizzuto | 6% |
More a fan of college or pro sports?
Favorite sport to play
Swimming | 17% |
Baseball/softball | 15% |
Favorite sports to watch on TV**
Football | 76% |
Baseball | 71% |
**Based on multiple responses | |
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*Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 403 New York 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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26 World Series won by the New York Yankees.
1.86 Era of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax from 1963 through '66.
20 Age of Mike Tyson when he won the heavyweight championship; the youngest boxer ever to accomplish the feat.
4 Stanley Cups won in a row by the New York Islanders from 1980-83.
54 Years in between winning the Stanley Cup by the New York Rangers (1940 to 1994).
120 Losses by the 1962 Mets.
9 New York Marathon wins for Norwegian runner Grete Waitz -- the most in the event's history.
433 Consecutive sellouts at Madison Square Garden by the New York Knicks from 1993-2002.
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ENEMY OF THE STATE |
Pedro Martinez
That'll teach Pedro to mess with Don Zimmer. New Yorkers' most-hated opponents were Martinez's Boston Red Sox (43%), the Miami Dolphins (22%), the Dallas Cowboys (4%) and the Atlanta Braves (4%).
Pedro Martinez | 21% |
George Steinbrenner | 19% |
Bill Parcells | 8% |
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FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: July 26, 1788 (11th state)
Area: 54,475 square miles
Bird: Bluebird
Capital: Albany
Economy: Agriculture: Dairy products, cattle and other livestock, vegetables, nursery stock, apples. Industry: Printing and publishing, scientific instruments, electric equipment, machinery, chemical products, tourism.
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Flower: Rose (Rosa)
Nickname: Empire State
Population: 18,976,457 (3rd)
Pro sports teams: Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, MetroStars, New York Giants, New York Islanders, New York Jets, New York Knicks, New York Liberty, New York Mets, New York Rangers, New York Yankees
Major college programs: Syracuse Orangemen
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