1963: He was a monster on the boards. UNC’s Billy Cunningham snagged an NCAA record 27 rebounds. That helped the Tar Heels beat Clemson 79-63.
1972: He was the first in the NBA to reach this plateau. The Lakers’ Wilt Chamberlain became the first player to hit 30,000 points in a career. He wound up with 19 points in the game, but Los Angeles came up short to Phoenix 110-109.
1980: Number one of many. U.S. speed skater Eric Heiden won the gold medal in the 5,000 meter event. It was the first of five gold medals he won in the Winter Olympics.
Happy birthday today to . . . Calgary Flames Hall of Fame winger “Mr. Mustache” Lanny McDonald, who’s 73. Former Detroit Pistons small forward Kelly Tripucka and former tennis player John McEnroe are both 67. Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame running back “The Bus” Jerome Bettis is 54. Former Green Bay Packers running back Ahman Green is 49. Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett is 27, and Charlotte Hornets shooting guard Coby White is 26.