2001 Sports Events — Verified Historical Highlights
2001 Sports Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 01 Jan 30th Fiesta Bowl: Oregon State Triumphs: In a decisive victory, #5 ranked Oregon State University defeats #10 Notre Dame 41-9 in the 30th Fiesta Bowl, demonstrating their collegiate football prowess.
- 02 Jan 67th Sugar Bowl: Miami Triumphs: In a decisive college football matchup, #3 ranked Miami defeats #7 ranked Florida 37-20 in the 67th Sugar Bowl, demonstrating their football prowess.
- 07 Jan ECW Wrestling Promotion's final pay-per-view: Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) held its final pay-per-view event on January 7, 2001, marking the end of an era for the promotion. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 09 Jan Juan González signs with Cleveland Indians: Juan González, a professional baseball player, signed with the Cleveland Indians on January 9, 2001, adding to the team's roster. source: baseball-reference.com
- 13 Jan Dominique Wilkins jersey retirement: On January 13, 2001, the Atlanta Hawks retired the jersey of Dominique Wilkins, honoring his contributions to the team and his legacy in the NBA. Wilkins is regarded as one of the greatest players in franchise history. source: nba.com
- 22 Jan Death of Tommie Agee, MLB Player: Tommie Agee, a Major League Baseball outfielder best known for his time with the New York Mets, died on January 22, 2001. Agee was celebrated for his defensive prowess and key contributions to the Mets' 1969 World Series championship.
- 09 Feb Derek Jeter signs record-breaking contract: New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter signed a 10-year, $189 million contract extension, making it the largest contract in baseball history at the time. source: nytimes.com
- 11 Feb NBA All-Star Game: East defeats West: In the NBA All-Star Game held in Washington, D.C., the Eastern Conference All-Stars defeated the Western Conference All-Stars with a final score of 111-110. source: nba.com
- 16 Feb Mathieu Schneider becomes first NHL defenseman to score against all 30 teams: On February 16, 2001, Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mathieu Schneider scored a goal against the Minnesota Wild, making him the first defenseman in NHL history to score against all 30 teams. source: thehockeywriters.com
- 17 Feb Death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt: NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt died on February 17, 2001, following a crash during the Daytona 500 race, leading to widespread mourning in the racing community. source: nytimes.com
- 18 Feb Death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt: NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt died on February 18, 2001, following a crash during the Daytona 500 race, leading to widespread mourning in the racing community. source: nytimes.com
- 25 Feb Death of Sir Donald Bradman, cricket legend: Sir Donald Bradman, widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, passed away on February 25, 2001. His death marked the end of an era in the sport of cricket.
- 03 Mar Rusty Greer contract extension with Texas Rangers: On March 3, 2001, Rusty Greer signed a contract extension with the Texas Rangers, solidifying his position with the team. Greer was known for his contributions to the Rangers during his career in Major League Baseball. source: espn.com
- 23 Mar WWF Acquires World Championship Wrestling: The World Wrestling Federation (later renamed World Wrestling Entertainment, WWF/E) purchased World Championship Wrestling for approximately $7 million, consolidating the professional wrestling entertainment market and marking a significant moment in sports entertainment history.
- 25 Mar Tiger Woods wins PGA Players Championship: On March 25, 2001, Tiger Woods secured his first victory at the Players Championship, a prestigious golf tournament held at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Woods' performance was marked by a commanding lead, finishing four strokes ahead of the runner-up, Phil Mickelson. This win further solidified Woods' reputation as a dominant force in professional golf during the early 2000s. source: pgatour.com
- 08 Apr Tiger Woods Achieves Historic 'Tiger Slam' at Masters Tournament: On April 8, 2001, Tiger Woods won the Masters Tournament, completing the 'Tiger Slam' by holding all four major golf championship titles simultaneously. This achievement marked a significant milestone in his career. source: pga.com
- 09 Apr PNC Park Opens with Pirates-Reds Game: On April 9, 2001, PNC Park, the new home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, opened with a game against the Cincinnati Reds. The stadium was praised for its design and fan-friendly atmosphere. source: mlb.com
- 25 Apr Rickey Henderson breaks Babe Ruth's walks record: On April 25, 2001, Rickey Henderson set the Major League Baseball record for career walks, surpassing Babe Ruth's previous record of 2,062 walks. source: espn.com
- 27 Apr NBA Game: Charlotte Hornets defeat Miami Heat: On April 27, 2001, the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Miami Heat in an NBA playoff game. source: nba.com
- 10 May XFL Ceases Operations: The XFL, an experimental professional football league co-founded by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Federation Entertainment and NBC, shut down operations due to rapidly declining viewership and financial challenges. This marked the end of an ambitious attempt to create an alternative professional football league.
- 22 May NHL Eastern Conference Final: The New Jersey Devils defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4 games to 1 in the NHL Eastern Conference Final, advancing in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
- 03 Jun Karrie Webb wins US Women's Open Golf Championship: Australian golfer Karrie Webb secured victory at the US Women's Open Golf Championship in 2001. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 09 Jun Colorado Avalanche win Stanley Cup Championship: The Colorado Avalanche secured the Stanley Cup Championship on June 9, 2001, defeating the New Jersey Devils. This victory marked the Avalanche's second championship title in franchise history, solidifying their status in the NHL. source: nhl.com
- 10 Jun Gustavo Kuerten wins third French Open title: On June 10, 2001, Brazilian tennis player Gustavo Kuerten won his third French Open title, solidifying his legacy in the sport. This victory was celebrated by fans and marked a high point in his career. source: bbc.com
- 18 Jun Retief Goosen wins US Open Golf Championship: South African golfer Retief Goosen won the US Open Golf Championship in 2001. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 20 Jun Barry Bonds breaks pre-All-Star home run record: On June 20, 2001, Barry Bonds hit his 25th home run before the All-Star break, setting a new record. This achievement highlighted his exceptional performance during the MLB season. source: espn.com
- 27 Jun 2001 NBA Draft: The 2001 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 2001, featuring notable players such as Kwame Brown and Tyson Chandler. This event was significant for shaping the future of several NBA teams. source: nba.com
- 07 Jul Dale Earnhardt Jr. Wins Pepsi 400 at Daytona: On July 7, 2001, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway, marking his first victory in the NASCAR Cup Series. This win was significant for Earnhardt Jr., following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Dale Earnhardt Sr. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 09 Jul Goran Ivanišević Makes Wimbledon History: On July 9, 2001, Croatian tennis player Goran Ivanišević won the Wimbledon men's singles title as a wild card entry, becoming the first and only player to do so. His victory was celebrated as a remarkable underdog story in tennis history. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 16 Jul Jacques Rogge elected as IOC President: Jacques Rogge was elected as the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), succeeding Juan Antonio Samaranch. source: olympic.org
- 23 Jul Brazil Defeats Honduras in Soccer Match: In an international soccer match, Brazil secured a decisive 2-0 victory over Honduras, demonstrating the team's continued football prowess and competitive spirit.
- 01 Aug Korey Stringer's Tragic Death: Korey Stringer, an American football player for the Minnesota Vikings, tragically died on August 1, 2001, due to complications from heatstroke during training camp. His death led to increased awareness and changes in NFL policies regarding heat-related illnesses. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 03 Aug 8th World Athletics Championships Begin: The 8th World Athletics Championships commenced on August 3, 2001, in Edmonton, Canada, featuring top athletes from around the world competing in various track and field events. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 06 Aug NFL Coach Dick Rehbein Dies: Dick Rehbein, an NFL coach who served as the quarterbacks coach for the New England Patriots, passed away on August 6, 2001. source: pro-football-reference.com
- 06 Sep Barry Bonds hits 60 home runs in record time: On September 6, 2001, Barry Bonds hit his 60th home run of the season, becoming the fastest player to reach this milestone in Major League Baseball history. This achievement marked a significant moment in Bonds' career and the sport, as he continued to break records during the 2001 season. source: espn.com
- 08 Sep Venus Williams wins US Open women's tennis title: On September 8, 2001, Venus Williams won the US Open women's singles title, defeating her sister Serena in the final. This victory marked a significant achievement in her career and added to her growing legacy in tennis. source: usopen.org
- 13 Sep Major League Baseball suspends games following 9/11: On September 13, 2001, Major League Baseball announced the suspension of all games in the wake of the September 11 attacks. This decision was part of a broader response to the national tragedy, affecting the entire sports calendar. source: nytimes.com
- 15 Sep Alex Zanardi suffers devastating racing accident: On September 15, 2001, racing driver Alex Zanardi suffered a severe accident during a CART race in Germany. The incident resulted in life-threatening injuries, leading to significant media coverage and public concern. source: nytimes.com
- 04 Oct Rickey Henderson Breaks Baseball Run-Scoring Record: Rickey Henderson of the San Diego Padres sets a historic milestone by breaking Ty Cobb's long-standing record to become the leading run-scorer in Major League Baseball history, achieving his 2,246th run.
- 05 Oct Seattle Mariners set MLB wins record: On October 5, 2001, the Seattle Mariners achieved a Major League Baseball record by securing their 116th win of the regular season, surpassing the previous record of 114 wins. source: mlb.com
- 06 Oct Seattle Mariners tie historic baseball record: On October 6, 2001, the Seattle Mariners matched the Major League Baseball record for most wins in a single season by achieving their 116th win, equaling the previous record set by the Chicago Cubs in 1906. source: mlb.com
- 01 Nov Derek Jeter hits walk-off home run in World Series Game 4: In Game 4 of the 2001 World Series, Derek Jeter hit a walk-off home run in the 10th inning, leading the New York Yankees to a 4–3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. This moment marked the first time a World Series game was played in November, earning Jeter the nickname "Mr. November." source: mlb.com
- 03 Nov Arizona Diamondbacks win first World Series: On November 3, 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks secured their first World Series championship by defeating the New York Yankees in Game 7, 3–2. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 04 Nov Serena Williams wins WTA Tour Championship: On November 4, 2001, Serena Williams won the WTA Tour Championship, securing her position as the world No. 1 ranked female tennis player. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 06 Nov Record-Breaking Deep Sea Dive: John Bennett from the United Kingdom achieved a remarkable underwater milestone by completing a scuba dive to a depth of 307.8 meters at Escarcia Point, Puerto Galero in the Philippines, setting a new world record for the deepest scuba dive at that time.
- 11 Nov Mark McGwire retires from baseball: On November 11, 2001, Mark McGwire announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after 16 seasons. He is best known for his record-breaking home run chase in 1998, which revitalized interest in baseball. source: nytimes.com
- 12 Nov Death of Tony Miles: Tony Miles, a prominent English chess player who made significant contributions to the game, passed away. Known for his strategic prowess and competitive spirit, Miles was an important figure in the chess world.
- 17 Nov Lleyton Hewitt wins Tennis Masters Cup: On November 17, 2001, Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt won the Tennis Masters Cup, defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final. This victory marked Hewitt's first Masters Cup title. source: atptour.com
- 18 Nov WWE Survivor Series event: On November 18, 2001, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) held its annual Survivor Series pay-per-view event. The event featured multiple elimination-style matches and was part of WWE's flagship series. source: wwe.com
- 25 Nov Richard Burns makes rally history: On November 25, 2001, British rally driver Richard Burns made history by becoming the first Englishman to win the World Rally Championship. His victory was a significant achievement in the motorsport world. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 06 Dec Charles McClendon, Hall of Fame Football Coach Dies: Charles McClendon, a renowned football coach inducted into the Hall of Fame, passed away on December 6, 2001.
- 07 Dec Death of LSU Football Coach Charles McClendon: Charles McClendon, long-time head football coach for Louisiana State University and a significant figure in college football history, passed away. McClendon was a notable coach who had a substantial impact on LSU's football program during his tenure.
- 10 Dec Eric Crouch wins 67th Heisman Trophy: On December 10, 2001, Eric Crouch, quarterback for the University of Nebraska, was awarded the Heisman Trophy, recognizing him as the most outstanding player in college football. His performance during the season was pivotal in leading his team to success. source: ncaa.com
- 13 Dec Yankees Sign Jason Giambi: The New York Yankees signed first baseman Jason Giambi to a massive seven-year contract worth $120 million, signaling the team's continued commitment to acquiring top baseball talent during the early 2000s.
- 22 Dec Chan Ho Park Signs Major MLB Contract: Korean baseball star Chan Ho Park signs a substantial five-year, $65 million contract with the Texas Rangers, highlighting the growing international presence in Major League Baseball.
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