December 9
1941 - China entered World War II after declaring war on Germany, Italy and Japan.
1958 - The anti-Communist John Birch Society was formed.
1965 - "A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the first animated TV special featuring characters from the “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, premiered on CBS.
1979 - Scientists certified the global eradication of smallpox, a disease which killed an estimated 300 million people in the 20th century.
1990 - Solidarity founder Lech Walsea won Poland's first free presidential election since 1926.
1992 - The first U.S. Marines made a pre-dawn beach landing in Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope; they were met by hundreds of reporters awaiting their arrival.
1993 - U.S. astronauts completed repair work in orbit on the Hubble Space Telescope.
1996 - Archaeologist and anthropologist Mary Leakey died in Kenya at age 83.
2008 - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on corruption charges, including attempting to profit from filling the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.
2013 - Scientists revealed that NASA’s Curiosity rover had uncovered signs of an ancient freshwater lake on Mars.
Birthdays
25 - Riley Clemmons (singer)
29 - McKayla Maroney (gymnast)
44 - Simon Helberg (actor)
47 - Imogen Heap (singer)
55 - Jakob Dylan (singer)
55 - Lori Greiner (reality star/entrepreneur)
56 - Kurt Angle (professional wrestler)
62 - Felicity Huffman (actress)
67 - Donny Osmond (singer)
71 - John Malkovich (actor)
75 - Tom Kite (golfer)
83 - Beau Bridges (actor)
90 - Judi Dench (actress)
================================
Today in Sports History - December 9
1926 - The United States Golf Association legalized the use of steel-shafted golf clubs.
1934 - The New York Giants defeat the Chicago Bears 30-13 in the NFL Championship Game.
1935 - University of Chicago running back Jay Berwanger wins the first Heisman Trophy.
1941 - Minnesota running back Bruce Smith wins the Heisman Trophy.
1949 - The NFL merges with the AAFC, taking in the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Colts.
1951 - Bob Waterfield (Los Angeles Rams) became the first professional football player to kick five field goals in one game.
1973 - Jim Bakken (St. Louis Cardinals) kicked six field goals against the Atlanta Falcons.
1978 - The first game of the Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL) was played between the Chicago Hustle and the Milwaukee Does.
1984 - Eric Dickerson (Los Angeles Rams) became only the second pro football player to run for more than 2,000 yards in a season. O.J. Simpson held the previous record at 2,003.
1985 - Jerry Rice (San Francisco 49ers) began a streak of 100+ consecutive games with receptions.
1991 - Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins) reached the 20 touchdown mark for an NFL record ninth season.
1995 - Ohio State running back Eddie George wins the Heisman Trophy.
2004 - NHL officials and union leaders held talks for the first time since summer. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman imposed a lockout on September 16 due to an impasse in contract negotiations.
2006 - Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith wins the Heisman Trophy.
2013 - The Chicago Bears retire Mike Ditka's #89.
2017 - Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield wins the Heisman Trophy.
2018 - Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers breaks Tom Brady's NFL record with his 359th consecutive pass without an interception.
2018 - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady breaks Peyton Manning's NFL record for career touchdown passes with 582.
2023 - LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels wins the Heisman Trophy.
2023 - Japanese baseball two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani signs a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the most lucrative contract in North American pro sports history.
1941 - China entered World War II after declaring war on Germany, Italy and Japan.
1958 - The anti-Communist John Birch Society was formed.
1965 - "A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the first animated TV special featuring characters from the “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, premiered on CBS.
1979 - Scientists certified the global eradication of smallpox, a disease which killed an estimated 300 million people in the 20th century.
1990 - Solidarity founder Lech Walsea won Poland's first free presidential election since 1926.
1992 - The first U.S. Marines made a pre-dawn beach landing in Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope; they were met by hundreds of reporters awaiting their arrival.
1993 - U.S. astronauts completed repair work in orbit on the Hubble Space Telescope.
1996 - Archaeologist and anthropologist Mary Leakey died in Kenya at age 83.
2008 - Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on corruption charges, including attempting to profit from filling the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.
2013 - Scientists revealed that NASA’s Curiosity rover had uncovered signs of an ancient freshwater lake on Mars.
Birthdays
25 - Riley Clemmons (singer)
29 - McKayla Maroney (gymnast)
44 - Simon Helberg (actor)
47 - Imogen Heap (singer)
55 - Jakob Dylan (singer)
55 - Lori Greiner (reality star/entrepreneur)
56 - Kurt Angle (professional wrestler)
62 - Felicity Huffman (actress)
67 - Donny Osmond (singer)
71 - John Malkovich (actor)
75 - Tom Kite (golfer)
83 - Beau Bridges (actor)
90 - Judi Dench (actress)
================================
Today in Sports History - December 9
1926 - The United States Golf Association legalized the use of steel-shafted golf clubs.
1934 - The New York Giants defeat the Chicago Bears 30-13 in the NFL Championship Game.
1935 - University of Chicago running back Jay Berwanger wins the first Heisman Trophy.
1941 - Minnesota running back Bruce Smith wins the Heisman Trophy.
1949 - The NFL merges with the AAFC, taking in the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Colts.
1951 - Bob Waterfield (Los Angeles Rams) became the first professional football player to kick five field goals in one game.
1973 - Jim Bakken (St. Louis Cardinals) kicked six field goals against the Atlanta Falcons.
1978 - The first game of the Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL) was played between the Chicago Hustle and the Milwaukee Does.
1984 - Eric Dickerson (Los Angeles Rams) became only the second pro football player to run for more than 2,000 yards in a season. O.J. Simpson held the previous record at 2,003.
1985 - Jerry Rice (San Francisco 49ers) began a streak of 100+ consecutive games with receptions.
1991 - Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins) reached the 20 touchdown mark for an NFL record ninth season.
1995 - Ohio State running back Eddie George wins the Heisman Trophy.
2004 - NHL officials and union leaders held talks for the first time since summer. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman imposed a lockout on September 16 due to an impasse in contract negotiations.
2006 - Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith wins the Heisman Trophy.
2013 - The Chicago Bears retire Mike Ditka's #89.
2017 - Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield wins the Heisman Trophy.
2018 - Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers breaks Tom Brady's NFL record with his 359th consecutive pass without an interception.
2018 - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady breaks Peyton Manning's NFL record for career touchdown passes with 582.
2023 - LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels wins the Heisman Trophy.
2023 - Japanese baseball two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani signs a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the most lucrative contract in North American pro sports history.
