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Team USA celebrates its shocking upset of the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

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Winter Olympics History

The First Winter Olympics In 1924, the first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France, with approximately 250 athletes competing for 16 countries in 16 events. Women were only allowed to participate in figure skating (11 competed). Other events included bobsled, cross‑country skiing, curling, hockey, military patrol, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating. The […]

World Series History

1903: First World Series Played The first modern World Series was a best‑of‑nine series played in 1903 between the American League champion Boston Americans (later Red Sox) and National League champion Pittsburgh Pirates. The Americans won the final four games to win the championship, 5‑3. Boston pitcher Cy Young, MLB’s all‑time leader in wins (511), […]

The Modern Summer Olympic Games: A Timeline

Modern Olympic history is full of heart‑thumping victories and painful defeats. But a look back at the 28 Summer Games that have taken place since 1896 also offer a snapshot of geopolitics, a shift in women’s rights and the state of global affairs. From Athens to Rio, in the last 125 years, the Games have […]

Super Bowl History

History of the Super Bowl Though the NFL officially formed in 1920, the Super Bowl wasn’t played until more than 40 years later. In 1960, a group of businessmen who wanted to own football franchises—but were denied by the NFL—launched an alternative league, known as the American Football League (AFL). For several years, the NFL […]

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Flashback: Soap Box Derby Mania

Hundreds of thousands tuned in on the radio to the 1936 All‑American Soap Box Derby, held in Akron, Ohio. This was only the Derby’s third year in existence, but its popularity soared as America was looking for something to root for, still struggling from the Great Depression. The All‑American Soap Box Derby has been held […]

The Dictators

The 1978 World Cup was hosted by Argentina, which was under a brutal military dictatorship at the time. Discover what really motivated the Argentine players to win the tournament, and some of the controversies they dealt with on their journey to victory.

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The Nearly Men

English Hooliganism had placed a black cloud over the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Find out how the team’s inspiring journey, and heartbreaking loss to West Germany in the semi‑finals, helped turn perceptions around.

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The Meltdown

The 1998 World Cup in France featured several high‑profile players making memorable mistakes. Discover how David Beckham, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane “melted down” in France.

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