MLB 1996

1. John Smoltz: Won the NL Cy Young. He was the starter for NL All-Stars (Winning pitcher with two scoreless IP).

He was named the Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News and Baseball Digest. He was the Pitcher of the Month in April and May.

He led the NL in wins (24), winning percentage (.750), IP (253.7), and strikeouts (276).

He was 4^th in the league with a 2.94 ERA.

Smoltz started the season with an 11-1 record, on his way to winning the Cy Young.

During the postseason, he went 4-1 in the postseason with a tiny 0.95 ERA and had 33 SO in 38 IP.

Against LA in the division series Game One Smoltz tossed a complete game.

four-hitter, while just giving up one run in the Braves 2-1 win.

He won games one and five in the NLCS. In Game One went eight giving up two earned.

He helped the Braves erase a 3-1 series defect in Game Five with seven shutout innings.

Smoltz won Game One of the World Series in Yankee Stadium.

He was a tough luck loser in Game Five (1-0 New York win). He gave up one unearned run in eight IP and stuck out ten.

Atlanta won their second straight pennant and fourth in six years after sweeping the Dodgers and outlasting the Cardinals in seven games.

They fell to New York in the World Series in six games after taking the first two games on the road.

The Braves won the NL East with a 96-66 record.

2. John Wetteland: Was the World Series MVP. He saved all four of New York’s wins (the only closer ever to do that in the WS).

He was named the Rolaids Relief Man Award and TSN’s Reliever of the Year. He also was named to the AL- All-Star squad.

During the regular season he led the AL in saves with 43. He posted a 2.83 ERA and 69 K’s in 63 IP.

He closed out Games Two and Three with scoreless ninth innings against Texas.

He picked up the save in Game Three of the ALCS to put NY up 2-1 in the series vs. Baltimore.

In the Fall Classic, Wetteland allowed just one ER in 4.3 IP (2.08 ERA) and struck out six.

New York won the AL East with 92 wins. They beat the Rangers in four and Orioles in five to get to the World Series.

They won their first title since 1978 in six games over the Braves.

3. Albert Belle: Finished 3^rd in the MVP. He was the AL All Star’s clean up hitter and starting LF. He also was a Silver Slugger.

He led the AL in RBIs for the 3^rd time in four years with 148, a career high.

Belle was 2^nd in the league in total bases (375), 4^th in HR (48). He was also in the top 10 in slugging, OPS, runs (124), hits (187), and walks. He also hit .311.

He was known for his powerful swing and rage.

In the division series against Baltimore, he homered twice and drove in six runs.

His bottom of the seventh grand slam in Game Three off Armando Benitez broke a 4-4 tie. The Indians would eventually win 9-4.

Cleveland was upset in four games by Baltimore. The Indians won 99 games and AL Central by 14.5 games and had the top record in baseball.

NBA 1996

1. Michael Jordan: Won the regular season and Finals MVP. He also was named MVP of the All-Star game (20 pt. on 8-11).

He was first team all NBA and All-Defense.

MJ led the NBA in field goals (916), and PPG (30.4). He was second in free throws with 548

and third in steals (2.2).

He played in all 82 games and averaged over six rebounds and four assists per game.

In the 2^nd rd vs. New York Jordan put up 36 PPG in the five game route of the Knicks including 44 in the Bulls Game One win.

Chicago swept reigning East champ Orlando in the conference finals and Jordan’s 45 on 16-23 shooting powered the Bulls into the Finals.

Jordan averaged 27.3 points and 5.3 rebounds as the Bulls beat Seattle in six games to take their fourth title in six years.

Chicago set a NBA record by winning 72 games including 39 at home in the regular season.

2. Gary Payton: Was the Defensive Player of the Year. He was named 2^nd team All-NBA.

He was an All-Star (18 pt, 5 rb, 5 st, 5 ast.) and 6^th in the MVP voting.

Payton was named to the USA Olympic team that won gold in Atlanta. He led the team in assists (36) as he started six of the teams eight games.

The Glove led the NBA in steals per game (2.9) on his way to being named to the All-Defensive team.

He averaged 19.3 points, and 7.5 ast. in 81 games.

Payton helped close out the Kings in round one with 29-6-5 in Game Four.

Seattle swept the two-time defending champions Rockets in four games, led by Payton. He averaged 24.5 points and 7.8 asts while shooting 52% from field and 44% on threes in the series.

In the West Finals he had 21-7-3 (P-A-St) and (18-8-4) in Game One and Two wins over Utah. In the Game Seven clincher he had 21 pts (9-17 fgs)six boards and five asts. in 45 minutes.

He guided the Sonics to wins in Game Four and Five of the Finals against Chicago (13-2 in their previous 15 playoff games.) GP averaged 22 pts. 8.5 ast, 6 rebs. in those games.

Seattle won the Pacific Division and had the top record in the West with 64 wins. They finished 2^nd in the NBA scoring 104.5 point per contest. Seattle advanced to the Finals for the first time since 1979.

3. Karl Malone: Was first-team All-NBA and All-Star (11 pts. 9 rebs.). He was also an Olympian. Malone scored in dbl. figures in USA’s first four games and shot 57% from the field.

During the regular season the Mailman was 2^nd in the NBA in points (2189), field goals (789), and 3^rd in FTs (512).

He averaged 25.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game and shot 52% in all 82 games.

In Utah’s three wins over Portland in round one Malone averaged 29.3 points 11 rebounds, while shooting 57%.

Malone helped give the Jazz a 2-1 series lead with 32-11-6 performance in a 105-75 rout of San Antonio. He had 25-13-6 in Utah’s series clinching win in Game Six.

In the West Finals Malone put up five straight games of 20+pts and 10+ rebs. The Jazz would fall in seven games.

During the playoffs, he finished in the top 5 of all players in total minutes points rebs steals ft and #1 in fgs made. He averaged 26-10-4 in 18 postseason games.

Utah won 55 games and was third in the West. They advanced to the West Finals for the 3^rd time in six seasons.

1996 College Basketball

1. Tony Delk: Was the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. He set a championship game record with seven three-pointers and scored 24 points and had seven rebounds.

He was the MVP of the Midwest regional. He scored 22 points vs. San Jose St. in round one and added 25 more against #9 Wake Forest in the regional final, which included 4-5 threes.

Delk was named first team All-American by most major publications and was also the SEC Player of the Year.

He led the Wildcats with 17.9 points per game while shooting 44.3% on threes and 49.4% from the field. He also averaged nearly two steals per contest.

Kentucky went 34-2 and 16-0 in the SEC and finished #2 in the final polls. They would beat four of the top 15 teams in the final AP poll on their way to the national title.

Big Blue took out #12 Utah by 31, #9 Wake by 20 to get to the Final Four. They would avenge an earlier loss by knocking out #1 UMass 81-74 as Delk scored 20.

In the title game Kentucky held off #15 Syracuse 76-67.

2. Tim Duncan: Was first team All-American, and the ACC Player of the Year.

He was named ACC Tournament MVP after a 27 point 22 rebound effort over top seed Georgia Tech. He set tournament records for most rebounds in a final (22) and tournament (56).

He became the first player in ACC history to lead the league in scoring (19.1), rebounding (12.3), blocks (3.8), and field goal % (55.5).

Duncan had two double-doubles to start NCAA play. He put in 27-13 in the sweet 16 win over Louisville, despite coming up with the flu.

In the regional final loss to Kentucky Duncan finished with 14-16-6 in 39 minutes.

Wake Forest finished 26-6 and #9 in the polls. Duncan helped them to the 7^th best defense in the country (61.3 PPG).

3. John Wallace: He was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team, All-West Regional team and was a consensus 2^nd team All American.

He was named to the first team All Big East regular season and tournament teams.

Wallace averaged 22.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assist per game. He scored over 30 fives during the season.

He shined during the NCAA tournament with several memorable performances. He had 18 points in each of Syracuse’s early wins over Montana St. and Drexel.

In the sweet 16 against Georgia he had 30-15. It was his pass that set up Jason Cipolla’s tying jumper to force overtime. He then scored the go ahead bucket with less than three seconds in the extra session of Syracuse’s 83-81 win.

He had a game high 21 in the Final Four win over #19 Mississippi St. as he played all 40 minutes.

In the final against #2 Kentucky, Wallace carried the Orangemen with 29 of their 67 points and added 10 rebounds. Syracuse would get to within four points late in the second half until Wallace fouled out.

Syracuse got to their first Final Four in nine years after knocking out #4 Kansas 60-57. They finished 29-9, 12-6 in the Big East and #15 in the final polls.

NFL 1995

1. Brett Favre: Was the NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and unanimous first team All- Pro. He was also the starter for the NFC Pro Bowl team (7-14 114 yards TD).

He led the NFL in passing yards with 4413 and TDs with 38 (3^rd most in a season).

Favre was 2nd in league completions (359), rating (99.5), yds /attempt (7.7), and 6^th in comp. % (63.0).

In his final seven games he threw for 21 TDs vs. just 2 Ints as Green Bay went 6-1. He amassed 300+ yards four of those games and over 122.0 QB rating five times.

In the Wildcard round against Atlanta, Favre was 24-35 199 yards and 3 TDs (111.5 rating) as the Packers hammered the Falcons 37-20.

He led Green Bay’s stunning upset of the defending champion 49ers 27-17 in San Francisco. He threw for 299 yards and two scores on 21-28 passing. His two first half TD tosses gave the Packers a 21-0 lead.

He helped Green Bay to a 4^th quarter lead on the road at much favored Dallas in the NFC title game. Favre threw for 307 more yards and 3 TDs. His one-yard scoring pass to Robert Brooks put the Packers in front in the 3^rd quarter.

Green Bay would eventually lose to Dallas 38-27. The Pack went 11-5 and won their first division title since 1972, and advanced to the NFC title game for the first time since Vince Lombardi coached.

2. Emmitt Smith: Set the NFL record with his 25 touchdowns. He was runner up for the MVP, unanimous All-Pro and NFC Pro Bowler.

He led the league in carries (377), yard (1,773), points (150), and yards from scrimmage (2,148).He was 4^th in yards/carry (4.7).

He added 62 catches (2^nd on team) for 375 yards.

Emmitt had 11 100 yard games including four with at least 150.

He was the first and only player in NFL historywith five straight 1.400 yard seasons rushing.

His best game came on Monday Night in Week 1 at New York. Smith ran 60 yards for a touchdown on the game’s third play. He went on to score three more times and run for 163 on just 21 carries.

In the Divisional round win over the Eagles, Smith had 99 yards rushing, 40 receiving and one-yard TD run.

He put Dallas into their third Super Bowl in four years with his performance in the NFC Championship. He gave the Cowboys the lead in the 2^nd quarter with a short TD run, right before halftime.

In the decisive 4^th quarter, he scored the go-ahead and clinching TD. Smith finished the day with 150 yards on 35 carries.

He added two more short TD runs in the Super Bowl, including a four yarder to ice the Cowboys title.

Dallas won their 3^rd Super Bowl in four years. They hammered Philadelphia 30-11 and came from behind to beat Green Bay 38-27 to get to advance to Super Sunday. They beat Pittsburgh 27-17 in the Big Game.

The Cowboys went 12-4, won the NFC East and had the top record in the NFC. They finished 3^rd in the NFL with 27.2 Points per game.

3. Jerry Rice: Was a unanimous All-Pro and Pro Bowler. He set an NFL record with 1848 yard receiving (still stand today.)

His 122 catches were just one short of Herman Moore’s record of 123 in 1994. He averaged over 15 yard per reception.

He also was third in the NFL with 15 receiving touchdowns. He was tied for second with 17 total TDs. His 1884 yards from scrimmage were 3^rd in the NFL.

In the 1995 season Rice became the leading receiver in yards and catches for a career in NFL history.

Against the 8-1 Cowboys, helped lead the 5-4 49ers resurgence with 5 catches 161 yards and an 81-yard TD bolt.

He had a career day against Minnesota on Monday Night Football with 14 grabs, a career high and MNF high 289 yards and 3 TDs (all n the first half).

In the playoff loss to Green Bay, Rice had 11 catches (tied playoff high) for 117 yards.

San Fransisco went 11-5 and won the NFC West as well as a 1st round bye. They topped the NFL with 28.6 points per game.

College Football 1995

1. Tommie Frazier: Was the MVP of the Fiesta Bowl (National Championship) and runner up in the Heisman voting.

He was a consensus All-American, Sporting News Offensive Player of the Year, Big Eight Player of the Year, and won the Unitas award (top senior QB).

He was also named by Sports Illustrated as the nation’s top offensive player.

He passed for 1,362 yards and 17 TDs and ran for 604 yards and 14 TDs.

Against # 7 Kansas St. Frazier threw for 4 TDs. The following week, against #5 Colorado he threw for 241 yards and 2 TDs and ran for another score.

In the National Championship game vs. #2 Florida, he had one of the decade’s iconic runs; 75 yards for a touchdown.

He finished the game with 199 yards rushing on 16 carries and 2 TDs and 105 yards and a score through the air.

Nebraska went on to take their second straight national championship in a rout 62-24 over Florida.

They beat four top 10 teams (KSU, Kansas, Colorado and Florida) by an average score of 49-18. The Cornhuskers went 12-0 and easily won the Big Eight in its final season. They scored a NCAA high 52.4 points per game and had average nearly 400 yards rushing per game (399.8).

2 Eddie George: Won the Heisman Trophy and was a unanimous All-American. He won the Camp, and Maxwell awards (Top player), Doak Walker (top RB), and Big 10 Offensive POY.

He led the NCAA with 24 TDs and 144 points (12.0 per game).

His top performance came against Illinois

and the Illni defense that featured future top five picks Simeon Rice and Kevin Hardy. He rumbled for a school record 314 yards (8.9 per rush) and three total TDs.

He finished with 1927 yards (2^nd in NCAA), 5.9 yds/carry, 44 rec. for 399 yards and a TD.

George ran for 205 yards and 2 scores in the Buckeyes 45-26 win over #11 Notre Dame.

He had 89 yards and a TD in Ohio State’s 20-14 loss to #4 Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl.

The Buckeyes finished the season 11-2. They won their first 11 games, including over #11 ND, #13 Penn St, and #25 Iowa. They finished #6 in the final poll after a loss to Tennessee.

3. Keyshawn Johnson: Was the Rose Bowl MVP. He was a consensus All-American, Pac 10 Offensive POY, and 7^th in the Heisman.

He was 4^th in the country with 90 catches and had 1218 yards and six TDs.

In the Rose Bowl, Keyshawn set a record with 216 yards. He had 12 catches and scored a TD, as USC upset #8 Northwestern.

He also had the game winning TD in a 31-30 win over Stanford.

USC finished the season 9-2-1 and Pac-10 champions (6-1-1) and beat Northwestern 41-32 in Pasadena. The Trojans were #12 in the final poll.

MLB 1995

1. Greg Maddux: Won his 4^th straight NL Cy Young award. He was a unanimous choice. He finished 3^rd in the NL MVP voting.

He earned the Gold Glove, Pitcher of the Year awards by AP, Sporting News and Baseall Digest. He was the NL Pitcher of the Month in July and September.

He led the league in wins (19), winning percentage (.905) after losing just twice. He was the leader with a 1.63 ERA (3^rd lowest since 1968), 10 complete games, 3 shutouts, 209.2 IP and .81 WHIP.

He was an NL All-Star team.

Maddux went an amazing 51 IP without allowing a walk.

In the playoffs, the “mad dog” won the clinching Game Four over Colorado going seven while striking out seven.

In the NLCS sweep of Cincinnati, Maddux went eight innings giving up just one earned run to pick up the win in Game Three.

In the World Series opener, Maddux outdueled Orel Hersheiser and the high powered Indians. He allowed just two hits and two unearned runs en route to a complete game 3-2 Braves win.

Atlanta upset Cleveland in six games to win the World Series. The Braves went 90-54 (144 games due to the strike) and won the NL East.

2. Albert Belle: Was Sporting News and Baseball Digest Player of the Year in MLB. He finished 2^nd in the AL MVP voting. He was also the starting LF for the AL All-Stars and a Silver Slugger.

He led the league in Home Runs (50), RBIs (126),doubles (52), total bases (377), runs (121), slugging (.690) and was second in OPS (1.091). He also hit .317 which was good for 8^th in the AL.

He was the player of the month in the AL in August and September.

Belle was the first major leaguer with 50 HR and 50 doubles in the same season.

The Indians left fielder finished with a vengeance 18 HR in the final 29 games.

In Game 1 of the ALDS Belle pull Cleveland even with Boston twice, including a two-run double in the sixth off Roger Clemens and a solo HR in the eleventh. Cleveland would go onto win 5-4 in 13.

In Game 5 of the World Series he helped Cleveland force a Game Six with a two-run bomb in the first inning off Greg Maddux, and scored thego-ahead run in the sixth following and intentional walk.

For the postseason Belle homered four times and drove in eight runs and scored eight times in 14 games.

The Indians won a ML best 100 games and were an incredible 30 games in front of second place Kansas City in the Central Division. They swept Boston in the ALDS and beat Seattle in six in the ALCS before falling to Atlanta in the World Series in six games.

Cleveland led baseball with 840 runs scored and a .291 team batting average.

3. Randy Johnson: Won the AL Cy Young. He was the Sporting News AL Pitcher of the Year, starter of the AL All-Star team, and 6^th in the MVP.

The Big Unit led the AL in ERA (2.48) and was 18-2 (tops in winning percentage), and his 294 strikeout were best in the league.

He also had six CGs and 3 SHOs.

Johnson dominated down the stretch including a 7-0 mark in his final ten games as Seattle erased a 13 game division deficit to California.

In the one game playoff win over the Angels Johnson stuck out 13 and just gave up three hits and one run in a complete game.

In the ALDS Seattle held off elimination when Johnson went seven and struck out ten in their 7-4 win.

With one day rest Johnson came on in relief and rescued the Mariners in Game Five. He pitched a scoreless ninth and tenth (allowed one run in the top of the 11th). He struck out six in those three innings and got the win as Seattle scored twice in the bottom of the 11^th to advance to the ALCS.

In the ALCS Game 3 he gave the Mariners a 2-1 series lead with 8 IP 6 K’s 4 H and 1 ER as Seattle won 5-2 in 11.

He finished the postseason with a 2.48 ERA and 29 K’s in 25.1 IP.

Seattle went 79-66, and won the AL West. They beat New York in five to get to their first ALCS, which they fell to Cleveland in six games.

NBA 1995

1. Hakeem Olajuwon: Was the Finals MVP. He put up 32.8 PPG, 11.5 rebs, and 5.5 ast. In the four game sweep of the Magic. Hakeem had a league high 33.8 PPG in the playoffs, and added 10.3 rebs,

4.5 asts, and 2.8 blk, while shooting 53% in 22 postseason games.

He was an All-Star, 3^rd team All-NBA and 2^nd team All-Defense and fifth in the MVP voting.

The Dream was 2^nd in the NBA in scoring with 27.8 points, and blocks with 3.4. He pulled down 10.8 boards per game in the regular season and shot 51%.

He was the first player to finish in the top 10 in the league in blocks and steals in the same season.

He posted 35 PPG in round one vs Utah, including 40 and 33 in games four and five to clinch the series.

Olajuwon averaged 30-11.6-5.7 in the final three games in round 2, as he led Houston back from down 3-1 to stun Phoenix in seven.

With the famous use of the “dream shake.” Hakeem powered the Rockets past MVP David Robinson and Spurs with 41-16 in a Game Two win, 42-9-8 in Game Five and 39-17 and five blocks to clinch the West in Game Six.

The Rockets were 47-35 in the regular season. They beat the top three seeds in the West (San Antonio, Phoenix, Utah) on their way to the Finals.They pummeled the East’s top seed Orlando towin their second straight NBA crown.

2. Shaquille O’Neal: Won the scoring title and was MVP runner-up. He was 2^nd team All-NBA., and starting center for the East All-Stars (22 points and 7 rebounds). He was also the NBA Player of the month in November.

Shaq averaged 29.3 point game and also led the league in field goals. He was second in FG % (58.3), and 3^rd in rebounds (11.4).

In Round two against Chicago, O’Neal put the Magic on his back with 23-22 and five blocks in Game Five and 27-14 in the clincher in Game Six.

In the East Finals he dominated Indiana with 39 and 10 in Game Two.

In Game Five to break a 2-2 series tie, he had 35-13 in the Magic 108-106 win.

He averaged 28-12.5 and 2.4 blocks in the Finals loss to Houston.

Orlando had the top record in the East (57-25). They beat Boston in four, Chicago in six and Indiana in seven to get to their first Finals, where they were swept. The Magic led the NBA in scoring with 110.9 points per game.

3. David Robinson: Won the 1995 MVP. He was first team All-NBA and All-Defense.

He was third in the league with 27.4 points and 4^th with 3.2 blocks and field goals with 788. He led the league with 656 free throws.

He added 10.4 boards per game and hit on 53% of his shots and nearly three assist per contest

In the playoffs Robinson averaged 25.2 ppg and 12.1 rebs. In the second round against the Lakers he put up 28-16 and 3.8 blocks in the Spurs four wins.

The Spurs had the top record in the NBA (62-20). They swept Denver in the first round and beat the Lakers in six in the second. They were beat in six games by Houston.