Historically Speaking: 2-5-09

I don't know what you're gonna do when the 24-inch pythons run wild on you, brother, but I suggest you get your learn on before that happens. You can do just that, after the jump.

*Way back in 1921, a little baseball franchise known as the New York Yankees purchased 20 acres in the Bronx as the site for the future Yankee Stadium.

*In 1972 in Springfield, MA, the basketball Hall of Fame welcomed Bob Douglas as the first black man elected to the hall.

* It was 32 years ago today that Sugar Ray Leonard won his first fight. He defeated Luis Vega in the sixth.

* Eleven years later, professional wrestling aired during prime-time television for the first occasion since the 1950s. In this particular episode of the "The Main Event," Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant squared off in a WrestleMania III rematch. Thirty-three million viewers combined for a 15.2 rating as they watched the giant defeat Hogan in the highest-rated television show in professional wrestling history.

* Finally, in 2003, Mike Modano became only the second American-born NHLer to notch 400 goals and 600 assists. He joined Jeremy Roenick in doing so.

And your Sports Illustrated quote of the day comes from the mouth of...

...long-time fucktard and former San Francisco 49er center Randy Cross.



In 1989, Cross announced his retirement, and unfortunately for today's football viewers, his words went a little like this:

"I'm not a boxer. I'm only going to do this once."