Special – 1987 – NBC Sports – The Year In Sports In Review – Host Bill Macatee

DOG COMMENTARY: 

Let’s take a look at what took place in the year in sports in 1987….as Super Bowl XXI was won by the  New York Giants by a score of 39 – 20 over the Denver Broncos….while Fiesta Bowl featured the Penn State Nittany Lionswinning the national championship over the Miami Hurricanes by a score of 14 – 10….then the Southern Methodist University Mustangs football team became the 1st college football program to be given the “Death Penalty” by the NCAA for recruiting violations.  In soccer’s FA Cup, Coventry City defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3 – 2 to take the championship. In MLB’s World Series, the Minnesota Twins won a seven game series over the St. Louis Cardinals….in the 1st World Series played indoors at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome…..and it was also the 1st World Series where a home run won every game….as Twins P Frank Viola won the Series MVP.  In NCAA men’s basketball….Coach Bobby  Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers took the national title from the Syracuse Orangemen by a score of 74 – 73 on a last second shot from Keith Smart from the left corner.  In the NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Magic Johnson, defeated their arch rival Boston Celtics, led by Larry Bird.  In Las Vegas, Nevada in March, Mike Tyson adds the WBA heavyweight title to his WBC belt when he bear James “Bonecrusher” Smith in a 12-round decision….while in April, Sugar Ray Leonard defeats Marvelous Marvin Hagler for the world middleweight title.  Ireland’s Stephen Roche won cycling’s Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and UCI Road World Championships.  Susan Butcher became the 1st woman to win the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Championship with lead dogs Granite + Mattie. At the World Figure Skating Championships, Canada’s Brian Orser won the men’s competion….Germany Katarina Witt the women’s title…..USSR Katerina Gordeeva + Sergei Grinkov the pairs competition…..with IUSSR Natalia Bestemianova + Andrei Bukin winning the ice dancing competition. In PGA Golf, the Masters Tournament was won by Larry Mize…..the U.S. Open by Scott Simpson….the British Open by Nick Faldo….the PGA Championship by Larry Nelson….with the PGA Tour money leader being Curtis Strange with $925,941 total earnings….witht the Senior PGA Tour money leader being Chi Chi Rodriguez at $509,145.   Horse Racing’s Triple Crown races saw Alysheba win the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes….while Bet Twice took the Belmont Stakes.  The Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup in seven games over the Philadelphia Flyers….as Wayne Gretzky won both the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top scorer….along with the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s MVP.  In the Grand Slam in tennis men’s results….Stefan Edberg won the Australian Open…..Ivan Lendl the French Open and US Open…..and Pat Cash won Wimbledon….while on the women’s side, Hana Mandlíková won the Australian Open….Steffi Graf the French Open….and Martina Navratilova won Wimbledon and the US Open.  In yachting’s Ameica’s Cup, USA Skipper Dennis Conner captained his yacht Stars and Stripes of the San Diego Yacht Club to victory over Australian defender Kookaburra III from the Royal Perth Yacht Club….by 4 races to 0. 

The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year was Canada’s Ben Johnson in track and field….while the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year was USA Jackie Joyner-Kersee also in track and field. As seen above….1987 was an eventful year full of outstanding performances and events….which makes this video well worth watching by any and all sports fans.