Friday Flashbacks: O.J.’s White Bronco, Len Bias, and Bowie over Jordan
This week in 1994 was one of the most memorable sports weeks in my lifetime. It started with the New York Rangers, Captain Mark Messier and Conn Smythe winner Brian Leetch winning the Stanley Cup to chants of “1940″, followed by the riots in Vancouver after game 7. Friday, June 17th was also the opening day of the World Cup, with defending champion Germany defeating Bolivia 1-0, followed by a wild Spain-South Korea 3-3 draw. That evening, I settled in to watch Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, when a white Bronco took over the television, appearing in a split screen on the television. If you were old enough then, it is one of those moments you remember exactly where you were, watching O.J. Simpson and Al Cowlings travel down the highway, followed by a host of LAPD.
Len Bias dies of overdose two days after being drafted No. 2 overall by Boston (1986) . . . Heat defeat Mavericks in 6 games, as Wade dominates and Dirk struggles (2006) . . . Giants manager Dave Bristol sucker punches his own pitcher, John Montefusco, in post-game argument (1980) . . . Federal judge rules that Billy Cannon can play for the Houston Oilers, and not the Los Angeles Rams, after signing with both teams (1960) . . . Charlie Finley sues Bowie Kuhn for blocking trade, calls him “village idiot” (1976) . . . Deion Sanders arrested for fishing on restricted airport property (1996) . . . French teenagers brawl as the Beatles leave the stage (1965) . . . Chicago news station draws criticism for its World Cup graphic (1990) . . .
The Bulls may have passed on Michael Jordan if Sam Bowie had still been available (1984) . . . Brett Hull scores controversial triple overtime winner against Domenik Hasek and Buffalo to give Dallas the Stanley Cup (1999) . . . The NFL’s drug problems: Carl Eller believes 15% of players are problem users (1982) . . . Mickey Mantle hits his 27th home run 18 games earlier than Babe Ruth did in ’27 (1956) . . . Moses Malone signed with Maryland (but never played there) (1974) . . . Payne Stewart wins U.S Open as Scott Simpson bogies last three holes of playoff (1991) . . . “The San Francisco Warriors have their big ball grabbing rebounder” (1967) . . . Dick Howser dies of brain cancer (1987) . . .
Barry Switzer resigns amid turmoil of probation and player arrests, says he is frustrated by NCAA that doesn’t “recognize the financial needs of young athletes.” (1989) . . . Martina Hingis dates the guy that prosecuted her stalker (2001) . . . An agent representing Jerry Tarkanian, who was in town for talks with Jerry Buss for Tarkanian to become next Lakers’ coach, is found dead in his Rolls Royce (1979) . . . Grantland Rice on television and sports (1951) . . . Howard Cosell urges Congress to create commission to regulate sports (1972) . . . Ferret legging? (2004) . . . Dwight Eisenhower wants to see a baseball game on his return trip to the States (1945) . . . Little league coach seeks injunction against abusive mom (1971).
[photo via Getty]

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109 Responses to “Friday Flashbacks: O.J.’s White Bronco, Len Bias, and Bowie over Jordan”
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June 17th, 2011 at 2:08 PM
Mark Messier.. one of my first sports crushes. I was one weird kid.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:09 PM
I remember my dad laughing hysterically, both because of that moment when they went split-screen (which was truly absurd/surreal) and that seemingly every cop in LA was following him.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:09 PM
It’s a good think jpq doesn’t comment here anymore. Such a bullshit goal.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:10 PM
that evening, I settled in to watch Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, when a white Bronco took over the television, appearing in a split screen on the television.
This was enormous bullshit to Rockets fans (myself included). We weren’t even getting audio of the game. That was the dawn of entertainment news taking a strange precedence over the lives of all Americans, even those that profess to hate it.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:10 PM
I do, I was working as a busboy at a shitty restaurant in the town I grew up in. pretty sure my mode of transport at the time was a moped as well. big pimping as a 16 y.o.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:11 PM
If you were old enough then, it is one of those moments you remember exactly where you were, watching O.J. Simpson and Al Cowlings travel down the highway, followed by a host of LAPD.
I was 9. Was playing pick-up football game in the backyard with some neighbors while my dad was putting together some patio furniture on the deck. My mom poked her head out the door and yelled “the juice is loose!” Half the neighborhood kids/adults came over to watch the chase in our living room.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:11 PM
Fuck him.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:11 PM
Mark Messier.. one of my first sports crushes. I was one weird kid.
The Moose used to pull some serious tail, one of life’s mysteries.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:12 PM
Such a bullshit goal.
Yup.
Stupid rule too, never should have been adopted.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:12 PM
TBL narrative approves.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:13 PM
1994, working as a bouncer at Doc Donahues in Manasquan, New Jersey. Band playing was Bums in the Park, did an excellent cover of Rage’s Killing in the Name, usually the whole bar would be moshing to the end of the set instead, all eyes on the 19 inch color tv’s and the bronco chase. Band broke into Surrender by Cheap Trick, can still hear it.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:13 PM
Embassy Suites Hotel in Troy, MI. Staying there as we were headed to USA vs Switzerland at Pontiac Silverdome the next day.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:14 PM
Chuck Person’s junior prom tux is awesome.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:14 PM
everyone please do yourself a favor and go to the nicknames thread, skip to comment 144 and watch the video.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:15 PM
I was seven and my parents weren’t into sports so I have no recollection of watching Simpson on the freeway. However, I remember that in third grade we watched his verdict on TV in class.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:15 PM
Lisk – No video of Hull’s goal? Shame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VWAtMxXVCs
June 17th, 2011 at 2:16 PM
Were you fat then, too?
-Hernia
June 17th, 2011 at 2:17 PM
Heat defeat Mavericks in 6 games, as Wade dominates and Dirk struggles (2006)
Dwyane Wade ran headlong into mavericks on purpose in game 6, and the refs blew the whistle. That series was devastating. Don’t even get me started about the end of game 5.
It doesn’t matter as much anymore though, because Dirk is a champion now. I am just so happy for the guy.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:17 PM
My friend’s parents were away and had an awesome party. Remember it vividly. Summers of doing nothing are sorely missed.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:17 PM
We watched in class too and I remember high fiving someone
June 17th, 2011 at 2:18 PM
Absolutely. I was 13. I think we were playing baseball or street hockey outside and came in right before this all went down. Just surreal. At 13, athletes are still larger than life. I think this was the first time I remember seeing one of them like this.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:18 PM
Lisk – No video of Hull’s goal? Shame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VWAtMxXVCs
Wow Dallas had some ugly sweaters back then.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:18 PM
My choice of Ryne Sandberg is less weird, but I also had a short-lived thing for Prince, which puts me back to weird.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:19 PM
We watched in class too and I remember high fiving someone
So you’re black CJ?
June 17th, 2011 at 2:20 PM
This was one of my favorite 30 for 30′s
June 17th, 2011 at 2:20 PM
Wow Dallas had some ugly sweaters back then.
Terrible, yes still better than what the Sabres were wearing at the time.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:20 PM
!
I was a freshman in high school. I wasn’t shocked or anything, just remembered thinking that I’ll always remember where I was when this moment happend. Then I remember hearing some of the, um, kids yelling in excitment and then racing home to see if they got their “O.J. prize”
/Chris Rock’d
June 17th, 2011 at 2:20 PM
Maybe it was white guilt. I bought his effing book too. Loved the Juice.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:21 PM
I didn’t check it out the first time, but glad I did just now. Words cannot express the thoughts in my head, but lots of laughter ensued
June 17th, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Just gotten back from swimming at Water World and was watching it at a friend’s house. Action packed day.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Still hurts 25 years later. First and only athlete I ever idolized.
Funny enough I was in Ocean City MD for both the OJ chase and Len Bias death. I remember the OJ chase vividly. Still laugh when I think of the Howard Stern crank caller who fooled everyone on ABC but Al Michaels.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Anyone see the 30 for 30 on this?
June 17th, 2011 at 2:22 PM
Brett Hull scores controversial triple overtime winner against Domenik Hasek and Buffalo to give Dallas the Stanley Cup
It’s a good think jpq doesn’t comment here anymore. Such a bullshit goal.
This. I just remember being up watching the game till 1 am with no real rooting interest except for hating Brett Hull, only to have that goal happen. Fuck Brett Hull
June 17th, 2011 at 2:23 PM
So had Portland taken Perkins or Barkley at #2, the Bulls would have taken Bowie and Jordan would have ended up in Dallas or Philly? Crazy to think about all of the implications here.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:23 PM
Maybe it was white guilt. I bought his effing book too. Loved the Juice.
I’m sure he probably would have loved you too. Right before he slashed your throat after you started seeing a waiter.
/probably took that a little too far
//don’t care
June 17th, 2011 at 2:23 PM
Go Cubbies Go
June 17th, 2011 at 2:24 PM
7th grade math. Our teacher was so aghast at the verdict we had no choice but to spend the rest of the class talking about it.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:24 PM
Same here.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Still laugh when I think of the Howard Stern crank caller who fooled everyone on ABC but Al Michaels.
that was really hilarious. Al Michaels just cut in from nowhere to about the caller saying something “in code,” and the “code” was the guy saying Babba-Booey, babba-booey.
He had been saying he was laying in a van or something.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:25 PM
This. And please Andrew Miller don’t give up 7 walks in the first 4 innings on Monday.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:25 PM
I was a youngin’. Still not sure why we watched that in class in the early afternoon but I remember it. I don’t recall any of the kids really having a reaction. After all, we were seven or eight years old.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:25 PM
This was enormous bullshit to Rockets fans (myself included). We weren’t even getting audio of the game.
we had it on gene peterson during most of the finals anyways. never forget that cutaway to the chase. fun stuff, b/c the rockets ended up winning.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:26 PM
The fact that there were literally like 15 cop cars chasing him was absurd. That would have been a great night to knock over a bank in LA.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:26 PM
/Sabres fan
Fuck Brett Hull
//pours one out for fellow buffalo fan Jpq
June 17th, 2011 at 2:27 PM
I think that was the first time I’d ever heard of Howard Stern.
/12 year old Minnesotan
June 17th, 2011 at 2:27 PM
So had Portland taken Perkins or Barkley at #2, the Bulls would have taken Bowie and Jordan would have ended up in Dallas or Philly? Crazy to think about all of the implications here.
how about that one from the Book of Basketball where Portland nearly traded the #2 pick and Drexler to Houston for Ralph Sampson, giving Houston #1 and #2?
June 17th, 2011 at 2:27 PM
still remember where i was in 1994: double-date (more of a hangout than a date) with 2 chicks from a nearby high school. we saw the OJ thing at McDonalds while getting milkshakes. ended up learning something cool that night – the chick i was trying to make happen actually had a pet alligator. don’t remember her name, but her crew was STACKED.
still seems like yesterday i can remember the awesomeness of 17 years ago. you guys reading this who are 20ish … enjoy it. it’s fun when you’re older, but a different kind of fun.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:27 PM
Cabrera’s sucking it up after 4. Bummer. I like that chubby Argentinian.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:28 PM
Other than the goal, why do people hate Brett Hull?
June 17th, 2011 at 2:28 PM
menarky – more Mavs stuff.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:29 PM
Brett Hull is the man.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:30 PM
TBL.
Player.
/probably read that wrong.
TBL, is it a different kind of fun because kids come in to your life? Not even your kids really, but maybe the people you hang out with have them? I turn 30 in 4 1/2 months.
/going to Vegas
June 17th, 2011 at 2:30 PM
the chick i was trying to make happen actually had a pet alligator.
I’m sure she turned out well.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:31 PM
The summer of 1994 was one of the best summers of my youth, mostly because Speed came out that summer.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:32 PM
I still enjoy that movie. Then I travelled to California for the first time and remember thinking that the bus would have blown up before it got off the on ramp to the 405.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:32 PM
Wow….you’re right. I feel old
June 17th, 2011 at 2:33 PM
Whats this mean?
June 17th, 2011 at 2:33 PM
The summer of 1994 was one of the best summers of my youth, mostly because Speed came out that summer.
That movie was on cable a few weeks ago late at night when I couldn’t sleep. One of the most unintentionally funny movies I’ve ever seen when you watch it after you haven’t seen it in about 10 years.
“Pop quiz, HOT SHOT!”
“There’s enough C4 on this bus to put a hole in the world.”
“Shoot the hostage.”
/huge crush on Sandra Bullock back then. She was a fine-looking 20 something in that movie.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:33 PM
Get in shape, Britney.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2004614/Britney-Spears-looks-shape-opening-night-Femme-Fatale-tour.html
June 17th, 2011 at 2:34 PM
I always thought it meant she had huge tracts of land
June 17th, 2011 at 2:34 PM
Really hot. Or big bags of fat. Perhaps both.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:34 PM
Whats this mean?
Either she rolls with a bunch of hotties, or the girls she rolls with had nice boobies. Or both.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:35 PM
So he was calling her friends her ‘crew’? Oh TBL.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:35 PM
WOW JCK!!
/high five
June 17th, 2011 at 2:35 PM
Wow….you’re right. I feel old
truth.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:36 PM
yeah, pretty sure summer on ’94 was when I lost my v card and discovered the wonders of booze and weed. best summer indeed.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:37 PM
So he was calling her friends her ‘crew’? Oh TBL
he’s always trying to be “street.” Don’t you remember when he was looking for Bsanders before the Jets/Colts playoff game, so he could “rap” about it with him?
I don’t get it. It doesn’t jive with the picture of the goofy guy holding the giant check for the tiny amount on the twitter page.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:37 PM
The bus flying over the gap in the bridge is so friggin ridiculous, I love it
June 17th, 2011 at 2:37 PM
Wanna feel old? There will be people in college this fall who were born in ’93.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:37 PM
That’s funny… I was dating my HS crush and he dumped me that fall because I wasn’t ready to give up my v card yet.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:37 PM
eh, I’d still wreck it.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:37 PM
I was a sophomore in high school. The OJ verdict was about to be read and we had to go outside to work on special teams during football class (yes, we have football class in Texas).
I begged my coach to let me stay in the locker room and watch the verdict. When he said no, I said “but this is history in the making!” He responded with, “History is going to be made when you get your ass kicked this Friday night!” By the way we won that Friday 55-0 or something absurd like that.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:38 PM
menarky – more Mavs stuff.
awesome, thanks dirt.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:38 PM
The bus flying over the gap in the bridge is so friggin ridiculous, I love it
It honestly shouldn’t be listed as an action movie anymore. It should be listed under “comedies.”
June 17th, 2011 at 2:38 PM
Dirt youre so right. Like when he calls a girls butt a toilet. I’ll never understand that one.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:39 PM
/high fives back
//not sure which part he got high fived for.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:39 PM
dirk did average 22.8 points and 10.8 boards per game in the finals. I wish i could struggle like that.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:40 PM
//not sure which part he got high fived for.
The part where we posted pretty much the exact same thing at the exact same time. Except you made use of the phrase “bags of fat.” So you win.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:40 PM
prude.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:41 PM
Oh, I didn’t say I wouldn’t!
June 17th, 2011 at 2:41 PM
Wait til his kid is old enough to start calling him out on this stuff.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:41 PM
Like when he calls a girls butt a toilet.
If this actually happened we need to mock him daily for it. For real.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:41 PM
We’d all hit it. Except for Brad Clooney.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:42 PM
Totally missed that, yet it was right below mine. Good thing no one reads the comments here.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:42 PM
We’d all hit it. Except for Brad Clooney.
…and ATL_Badger. Better get on that treadmill honey.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:42 PM
Oh, it happened.
/Team Fart Tank
June 17th, 2011 at 2:43 PM
Loser hippie!
June 17th, 2011 at 2:46 PM
It has, alot
June 17th, 2011 at 2:46 PM
Any Flyers fans, our new goalie is on Twitter. @bryzgoalie30
June 17th, 2011 at 2:47 PM
It has, alot
he’s been honoring the moratorium. He was made to understand that it was not a good thing to say.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:51 PM
Agree with TBL. Summer of ’94 was legendary. House parties all summer. Tan ass falling out of trees. True bliss.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:51 PM
Give him some suggestions on state parks in PA. He was really concerned about that.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:51 PM
I remember being out on the deck of my Dad’s house in Manhattan Beach and seeing the STACK of helicopters following OJ on the 405…
June 17th, 2011 at 2:53 PM
How the fuck did you confuse me with TBL?
June 17th, 2011 at 2:54 PM
I spent the summer Regulating. Regulating any stealing of his property. I was damn good too. Not no geek off the streets. I was handy with the steel if you know what I mean. Earned my keep.
June 17th, 2011 at 2:59 PM
Other than the goal, why do people hate Brett Hull?
Being a CO fan I hated the entire stars team (soft place in the heart for mike modano though) after that 7 game WCF series. I always thought he was an entitled little prick who didn’t live up to the class his dad had. The “charlie sheen” of Hockey sorts I guess.
OT/ how do you change the gravatar image? I can’t figure it out on the wordpress profile. Am I missing something simple? /OT
June 17th, 2011 at 3:00 PM
Any Flyers fans, our new goalie is on Twitter. @bryzgoalie30
He hasn’t signed a contract yet and they have to move some contracts out before they can afford to. They’ll regret it if they sign him to big bucks.
June 17th, 2011 at 3:00 PM
OT/ how do you change the gravatar image? I can’t figure it out on the wordpress profile. Am I missing something simple? /OT
go to gravatar.com, set up an account, and do it there. Make sure the email address you use there is the same as the one here.
That’s basically it.
June 17th, 2011 at 3:03 PM
Sweet. Thanks for the help
June 17th, 2011 at 3:03 PM
The #1 song this week in 1994 was “I Swear” by All4One
June 17th, 2011 at 3:04 PM
There are some FANTASTIC songs on this list. Merry Christmas indeed!
June 17th, 2011 at 3:04 PM
My choice of Ryne Sandberg is less weird
Ryno’s wife was hot. Just ask his teammates.
June 17th, 2011 at 3:05 PM
My first boyfriend broke up with me at the middle school dance while this song was playing!
June 17th, 2011 at 3:07 PM
My first boyfriend broke up with me at the middle school dance while this song was playing!
Kind of counter intuitive with that song in the background. Why did he break up with you?
June 17th, 2011 at 3:08 PM
Water World FTMFW
Summer of ’94 was indeed super rad. Funny, I’d forgotten how busy that week in sports was–I’d just moved back from San Francisco and was landscaping, drinking, landscaping and drinking while landscaping. Also, drinking.
Good gravy. Youth.
June 17th, 2011 at 3:08 PM
Because he wanted to go dance with that slut, Megan
June 17th, 2011 at 3:10 PM
Screw her
June 17th, 2011 at 3:11 PM
Summer of ’94 was good, but ’95 better because I had ended my relationship of 3 years and was a free agent. By September of ’95 I was dating my now wife. But the summer was a good one.
June 17th, 2011 at 5:13 PM
more about just being young