Historically Speaking: 3-26-09

We are all over the place this week, boys and girls. Speaking of places, sprint past the jump, 'cause there's lots of Canadians and hockey and shit. Really.

*Today in 1931, Boston Bruins coach Art Ross became the first bench boss to pull his goalie for an extra skater.

* Well, the UCLA dynasty continues. Today in 1973, they clinched their seventh NCAA men's basketball title in a row, beating Memphis 81-76. In '79, Michigan State beat Indiana State 75-64.

* Nineteen seventy-six was a humdinger of a year in that the American League approved of the purchase of the Toronto Blue Jays by Labatt Breweries. The price tag on that bitch was seven billion.

* Minnesota North Star Neal Broten became the first American-born NHLer to net 100 points in a season in 1986.

* The New York Rangers, in 1992 clinched their first President's Trophy in 50 years.

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



...seven-foot Dave Newmark of Columbia, who was asked, around 1967, how the no-dunking rule made him feel. His response: "Smaller."