#‎ThrowbackThursdays

Kobe Bryant went old school and wore an assortment of throwback jerseys throughout the 2002 NBA Playoffs.

June 24, 1980 – The Atlanta Flames franchise moved to Calgary, Alberta

The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA from 1972 to 1980. The team was relocated to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the start of the 1980–81 #NHL season and were renamed the #CalgaryFlames. The NHL returned to the city with the Atlanta #Thrashers for 1999–2000 NHL season. The Thrashers left the city for Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 2011 to become the second incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets, making Atlanta the only NHL city in the modern era to lose 2 franchises.

#MJMondays

Young and freakishly talented Michael Jordan, and he knows it.

#MJMondays

Compete fearlessly.

Michael Jordan.
Chicago Bulls.

“Even when I’m old and grey, I won’t be able to play it, but I’ll still love the game.” – Michael Jordan

Why #42?

On Jackie Robinson Day (April 15) an AP community member asked a great question, “Why was he [Jackie Robinson] number 42 when the numbers for a team were only 1 to 9 at that time?”

We’ve found the answer to “why No. 42”…

Robinson was simply issued No. 42 as a matter of course by equipment manager John Griffin upon his arrival in Brooklyn a day before the 1947 season. Robinson wasn’t the first or the last player to wear the famous jersey for the Dodgers. In 1939, George Jeffcoat did so when he pitched in only one game. And long after Robinson retired, it was issued again to Ray Lamb, a pitcher from the University of Southern California. But Lamb was so uncomfortable wearing the number in 1969 that he gave it up when the season ended.

After that, it was never worn again by a Dodgers player, and it was retired by the club in 1972, a decade after Robinson was elected to the Hall of Fame.

DID YOU KNOW:
The idea of “un-retiring” Robinson’s number for a day belongs to Ken Griffey Jr. Griffey personally petitioned the Commissioner for the opportunity to wear it. He didn’t know what he was starting.

“It’s just my way of giving that man [Jackie Robinson] his due respect,” Griffey said at the time. “I just called Bud [Bud Selig, Baseball commissioner] and asked him if I could do it. He made a couple of phone calls and said, ‘Yeah.’ We had a good conversation. It was about me wearing it on that day, and only that day.”

Selig enjoyed the feel of it so much he now wants to blanket big league fields with all those No. 42s dancing across America.

“I think it’s great,” the Commissioner said. “Just their understanding of history and what that man did for so many people is so important. Believe me, it makes me very happy.”

sourced from Jackie Robinson official website.

Mar. 20, 1990 – The Los Angeles Lakers retired Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s #33

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season MVP Awards. In college at UCLA, he played on three consecutive national championship teams, and his high school team won 71 consecutive games. At the time of his retirement, Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA’s all-time leader in points scored, games played, minutes played, field goals made, field goal attempts, blocked shots, defensive rebounds, and personal fouls. Abdul-Jabbar also has been an actor, a basketball coach, and an author. In 2012, he was selected as a U.S. cultural ambassador.

Abdul-Jabbar’s #33 is one of seven numbers at the moment to be retired by the Lakers’ organization.

Footage from the retirement ceremony prior to Kareem’s final NBA game:

Feb. 21, 1986 – Rollie Fingers loses a chance to continue his career with the Cincinnati Reds when he refuses to shave his trademark handlebar mustache to comply with the club’s policy

“I’m not about to shave it off just to play baseball.” – Rollie Fingers

During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics (1968–76), San Diego Padres (1977–80) and Milwaukee Brewers (1981–85). He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. Fingers is also one of only a few MLB players to have his number retired by more than one club (Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers).

Feb. 16, 1992 – The Los Angeles Lakers retired Magic Johnson #32 jersey

This event was followed by two different comebacks to the NBA. Unlike Michael Jordan, Magic was allowed to wear his previously-retired jersey during his comeback stints.

Johnson became the fifth Lakers player to have his jersey retired, joining Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Feb. 4, 1993 – The Boston Celtics retired Larry Bird’s #33

Bird finished his career with averages of more than 24 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists per game, while shooting 49.6% from the field, 88.6% from the free throw line and 37.6% from three-point range.

Larry Bird – #33 – Boston Celtics
Drafted sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1978 NBA Draft.
Small Forward | 6’9” | 220 lbs. | Born: December 7, 1956

* Played all 13 seasons with Celtics
* Three-time NBA champion
* Three-time NBA MVP
* No. 33 retired by Celtics
* Named to NBA’s 50th anniversary team
* Twelve-time NBA All-Star
* Two-time NBA Finals MVP
* Three-time Three-point Shootout champion
* Member of the 1992 Dream Team
* Nine-time All-NBA First Team