Today in Sports History: Jan. 31

  • Sunday, January 31, 2016 1:04am
  • Sports

1920 — Joe Malone of the Quebec Bulldogs scores an NHL record seven goals in a 10-6 victory over the Toronto St. Patricks.

1941 — Joe Louis knocks out Red Burman in the fifth round at Madison Square Garden to retain the world heavyweight title.

1950 — High school pitcher Paul Pettit signs with the Pirates for a record $100,000. To do so, Pittsburgh has to purchase his contract from a film producer who had signed Pettit to an exclusive contract as an athlete/actor.

1988 — The Washington Redskins score 35 points in the second quarter to overcome a 10-0 deficit and beat the Denver Broncos 42-10 in the Super Bowl. MVP Doug Williams passes for four touchdowns and a record 340 yards. Timmy Smith rushes for a record 204 yards.

1991 — Michael Adams of the Denver Nuggets scores a career-high 45 points, hands out 12 assists and grabs 11 rebounds in a 123-119 win over New Jersey. The 5-foot-11 guard becomes the shortest player in the NBA to get a triple-double.

1993 — The Dallas Cowboys win the Super Bowl, beating Buffalo 52-17 and giving the Bills their third straight loss in the title game, a league record.

1998 — Martina Hingis, 17, becomes the youngest player in the Open era to defend a Grand Slam title, capturing her second Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Conchita Martinez.

1999 — John Elway gets his second straight Super Bowl ring, weaving his magic for the final time during the Denver Broncos’ 34-19 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

2004 — Justine Henin-Hardenne wins her third Grand Slam title and extends her dominance in major finals against countrywoman Kim Clijsters with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win in the Australian Open women’s title match.

2006 — Carolina ties an NHL record for wins in a month, going 13-1 in January after an 8-2 win over Montreal.

2009 — Serena Williams routs Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-3 to win the Australian Open — her 10th Grand Slam title — and return to the No. 1 ranking. It’s the fourth Australian Open championship for Williams.

2010 — Roger Federer easily beats Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (11) for a fourth Australian Open championship and his 16th Grand Slam title overall.

2010 — Lindsey Vonn wins a super-G race, clinching the discipline title in the final World Cup race before the Vancouver Olympics. Vonn posts her ninth win of the season and third in super-G.

2011 — For the first time since the inception of the WTA rankings in 1975, the top 10 players hail from 10 different countries. With Danish player Caroline Wozniacki remaining at No. 1, the top 11 women are from 11 different countries.

2013 — Hannah Kearney, Heather McPhie and Eliza Outtrim complete an American sweep at a freestyle World Cup moguls event at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah. It’s only the second sweep by U.S. women, with the other occurring Jan. 21, 2010, in Lake Placid, N.Y. Kearney won gold in 2010 as well, while McPhie took bronze behind Shannon Bahrke.

2015 — Serena Williams wins her 19th Grand Slam title and extendeds her decade-long domination of Maria Sharapova with a commanding 6-3, 7-6 (5) win.

2015 — Teen star Lydia Ko becomes the youngest golfer of either gender to reach No. 1 in the world ranking. The 17-year-old shares a second place finish at the LPGA Tour’s season opener, where she finishes a shot behind Na Yeon Choi in the Coates Golf Championship.

More in Sports

Glacier Swim Club senior Lucia Chapell (Colorado College signee), coach Lisa Jones, senior Pacific Ricke (Bates College signee), Coach of the Year Scott Griffith, Female Athlete of the Year Emma Fellman (University of Minnesota signee) and coach Seth Cayce are shown Friday at the 2025 Alaska State Swimming Championships in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy GSC)
Emma Fellman named Alaska Female Athlete of the Year

Glacier Swim Club captain and JDHS senior honored.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Riley Fick delivers a pitch against Sitka during the Crimson Bears 4-1 loss to the Wolves on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS in two battles Saturday with Sitka

Crimson Bears fall to Wolves in pair of pitching duels.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gwen Nizich is celebrated at home plate after hitting a home run against visiting Lathrop during the Crimson Bears’ 16-1 win over the Malemutes on Saturday at Melvin Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS’ sweeps Lathrop Saturday at Melvin Park

Crimson Bears securing conference standings over Malemutes

In this file photo JDHS junior keeper Alba Muir defends the goal against West Valley. Muir earned the Crimson Bears Hard Hat award for her play in Friday’s road game against Colony. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
JDHS soccer girls find Colony road series bumpy

Crimson Bears fall in two hard-fought matches against Knights

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys soccer team play to a 2-2 tie in their white travel jerseys against Colony on Friday in Palmer. (Photo courtesy Troy Bennetsen)
JDHS soccer boys play strong on the road at Colony

Crimson Bears battle Knights for conference lead

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Cailyn Baxter won the girls long jump with a 16’1” effort during Saturday’s Capital City Invitational Track and Field meet at Juneau’s Thunder Mountain Middle School field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Invitational ends with Saturday flourish

Athletes got funky as times shortened and distances lengthened

Gastineau Channel Little League players listen as Juneau Police Chief Derek Bos speaks during Saturday’s GCLL Opening Day, and field grand reopening and rededication at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
73rd opening day of Little League in Juneau honors namesakes at new Adair Kennedy Memorial Park

More than 430 players on 37 GCLL teams revisit tragic day in history with a field of dreams.

Golden-crowned sparrows come through town on their way to alpine nesting areas. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
On The Trails: Spring arrives

Spring is happening, very slowly but surely. Purple mountain saxifrage has been… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé batter Cassie Chenoweth eyes a pitch against Lathrop during the Crimson Bears’ 6-3 win over the Malemutes on Friday at Melvin Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS’ softball team splits with Lathrop

Crimson Bears top Malemutes 6-3, fall 11-1 at Miller Park.

Most Read