Friday Flashbacks: Mike Price Gets Stripped Of His Alabama Job, and the Knicks Somehow Win the Patrick Ewing Lottery

Here are your Friday Flashbacks for the week of May 6 to May 12:

Mike Price fired before he ever coaches a game at Alabama, for having a little too much fun (2003) . . . The Houston Rockets even the series with the Celtics after a costly Bird technical–and yes, 3o years ago, they were playing the NBA finals this week (1981) . . . Free Shoes University (1994) . . . Jimmy Jones shows us that old-fogey-ism isn’t just reserved for sports with people, saying he’s not impressed by Secretariat (1973) . . . Jim Schoenfeld suspended, but Devils get a court injunction to keep him coaching in the conference finals, and the officials walk off while the NHL President can’t be found (1988) . . . Grantland Rice on Derby Crowds (1949) . . .

Against the odds, the Knicks win the Patrick Ewing draft lottery (1985) . . . In what was dubbed the “Dream Series”, the three-time defending champion Islanders shut out the explosive Edmonton Oilers and Wayne Gretzky in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals (1983) . . . A New Jersey teen gets speared in the neck with a javelin, survives (1993) . . . Are professional sports salaries justified? (1976) . . . Does anyone remember a chocolate-flavored soft drink named after Pete Rose? (1978) . . . Thurman Munson thinks defending Cy Young winner Ron Guidry is “crazy and wacky” for switching to the bullpen while Goose Gossage is out (1979) . . . Red Smith with a fantastic piece on Cassius Clay’s conviction for refusing to report for military service (1968) . . .

Olbermann suspended by ESPN for unauthorized appearance on Craig Kilborn’s Daily Show (1997) . . . Fans are “becoming brain dead sadists from watching too much sports on television” (1984) . . . Rickey Henderson celebrates breaking the career stolen base record (1991) . . . Seattle Slew wins the Kentucky Derby (1977) . . . Famous athletes as business failures (1971) . . . SI and Valvoline apologize for unfortunate ad placement next to photo of dead spectators at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (1999) . . . Steve Nash edges Shaquille O’Neal for NBA MVP (2004) . . . Shaquille O’Neal apologizes for joking about having sex with Cindy Crawford and Venus Williams (2001).

[photo via Getty]

SouvenirCity Says:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:44 PM

In what was dubbed the “Dream Series”, the three-time defending champion Islanders shut out the explosive Edmonton Oilers and Wayne Gretzky in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals (1983)

Uh oh… I’m ducking for cover in fear of a ragesplosion from one of our commenters.

jim Says:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:44 PM

Roll Tide!!!

SouvenirCity Says:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:46 PM

Oh, and captain of that 1983 Oilers team? Chicago native! Lee Fogolin!

Geeezeus Says:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:51 PM

No rage here, the Oilers’ were very young and learned some important lessons from the series.

Gretzky often tells a story of walking past the Islanders room after game 4 and being surprised by the lack of a raucous celebration. They saw a black, blue and bloodied Islanders team, looked in the mirror and noticed they were without a scratch.

NeverWrittenForFree Says:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:53 PM

Thurman Munson thinks defending Cy Young winner Ron Guidry is “crazy and wacky”

in years of All-Star Baseball, guidry was the only pitcher to throw a no-hitter for me

captain_spalding Says:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:53 PM

This is the best article on the Kentucky Derby

http://www.kentuckyderby.info/kentuckyderby-party.php

/mihalo

SouvenirCity Says:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:53 PM

Except for that giant gaping hole where a Stanley Cup would have fit. They got four of them later of course but you can’t tell me what they were disappointed to be swept out of the Finals.

I almost forgot… Fuck Mike Bossy. That’s a given.

Geeezeus Says:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:54 PM

Jim Schoenfeld suspended, but Devils get a court injunction to keep him coaching in the conference finals,

“Probably because you fell you fat pig“

Geeezeus Says:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:55 PM

Except for that giant gaping hole where a Stanley Cup would have fit.

They got swept by a team claiming their 4th consecutive Stanley Cup, not like they lost to scrubs. Oilers’ returned the favor the following year.

SouvenirCity Says:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:58 PM

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

/Basil Pocklington

Geeezeus Says:
May 6th, 2011 at 5:59 PM

Yes, fuck arguably the greatest pure goal scorer in league history.