usatoday
November 29 has been the stage for numerous iconic moments in sports. From the inaugural Army-Navy football clash in 1890 to Lionel Messi's record-setting Ballon d'Or in 2021, the date has consistently delivered historic achievements.
In 1890, Navy shut out Army 24-0 at West Point, marking the beginning of the storied Army-Navy rivalry. The Montreal Forum opened its doors in 1924, with the Canadiens defeating the Toronto St. Patricks 7-1 in front of 9,000 spectators. A decade later, the Chicago Bears beat the Detroit Lions 19-16 in Detroit's first Thanksgiving game, a contest that also became the first NFL game broadcast nationally on radio.
1967 saw Scotty Bowman secure his first NHL coaching win as the St. Louis Blues edged the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. Bowman would retire with an NHL-record 1,244 regular-season victories and nine Stanley Cup championships. The following year, Tony Esposito, a future Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender, made his NHL debut for Montreal in a 5-4 loss to the Oakland Seals.
In 1976, the New York Yankees signed free-agent outfielder Reggie Jackson to a five-year, $3 million contract. Jackson propelled the Yankees to two consecutive World Series titles and earned the nickname 'Mr. October' after hitting three home runs in the clinching game of the 1977 Series.
1998 brought a milestone for Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, who became the first NFL player to throw 400 career touchdown passes in a win over the New Orleans Saints. In 2003, Cleveland Cavaliers rookie LeBron James scored 33 points against Memphis, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a 30-point game. That same year, Detroit defenseman Chris Chelios became the 11th NHL defenseman to reach 900 career points with an assist in the Red Wings' 2-1 victory over St. Louis.
2004: Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre made his 200th consecutive regular-season start and threw three touchdown passes in a win over the St. Louis Rams. 2005: Ottawa goaltender Ray Emery set an NHL record by winning his first nine career decisions, making 27 saves for his first shutout in a 4-0 victory over Montreal.
2008: Alabama routed Auburn 36-0 in the Iron Bowl, ending a seven-year drought in the rivalry and completing an undefeated regular season. 2009: Brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari became the first siblings to win the World Cup of Golf, delivering Italy's first title in the event.
2012: Atlanta defeated New Orleans 23-13 and ended Drew Brees' NFL-record streak of 54 consecutive regular-season games with a touchdown pass. Brees also threw five interceptions, the most of his career. 2014: No. 1 Alabama rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to defeat No. 15 Auburn 55-44 in the highest-scoring Iron Bowl in history. Amari Cooper caught 13 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns.
2015: Kobe Bryant announced that he would retire at the end of the 2015-16 season, ending a 20-year NBA career spent entirely with the Los Angeles Lakers. 2015: Andy Murray defeated David Goffin 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 to clinch Great Britain's 3-1 victory over Belgium in the Davis Cup final, giving Britain its first title since 1936.
2016: Columbus defeated Tampa Bay 5-1 to begin a franchise-record 16-game winning streak, which became the second-longest winning streak in NHL history. 2018: Winnipeg's Patrik Laine became the fourth-youngest player in NHL history to score 100 regular-season goals, reaching the milestone at 20 years, 224 days in a 6-5 victory over Chicago.
2020: Lewis Hamilton won the Bahrain Grand Prix for his 95th Formula 1 victory and 11th win of the season, while Romain Grosjean escaped a fiery first-lap crash after his car penetrated a barrier and split apart. 2021: Lionel Messi won a record seventh Ballon d'Or, further strengthening his claim as one of the greatest players in soccer history.
Key Analysis
November 29 stands out as a date that has repeatedly produced groundbreaking moments across various sports. The diversity of achievements—from football and hockey to tennis and auto racing—underscores the date's significance in the annals of sports history.
Originally reported by usatoday.