To date, the city of New Orleans has hosted 11 Super Bowls and 91 Sugar Bowls. However, the first three Super Bowls and the first 40 Sugar Bowls played in New Orleans were not played in the vast, cozy confines of the Superdome but rather in the dreary, roofless Tulane Stadium. But while it may look unappealing to the eye, the stadium hosted some of the sport's most legendary teams and heroic players while showing the world the possibilities of holding the biggest events in t

Sporting a 15-1 record, the 1984 San Francisco 49ers were one of the greatest teams ever to win the Super Bowl. Mixed in the shuffle of...

While Madison Square Garden is widely known as one of the leading athletic venues in the world, there are layers to its rich story. There have been four iterations of the storied arena and not all were known for athletics. In fact, it wasn't until the third version of the Garden was first constructed that it began to truly focus on its impact in sports and society. The Concept Tex Rickard was hot. the highly respected boxing promoter had recently drawn over 100,000 people t

Very few men in NFL history can say that they have impacted the game of football in the way that Kellen Winslow did. From 1979 through 1987, he transformed the tight end position from a glorified tackle who just so happened to have a few select passing routes in his repertoire, into the virtuoso that we see on the the gridiron all over America. This is his story. The Early Years Kellen Winslow was born in St. Louis, Missouri on November 5, 1957. As the third of seven childre

Deep in the heart of Toronto stands an ancient relic of a bygone era. In its heyday, it was home to nine Stanley Cup champions while hosting so many historic moments in Toronto. Dubbed one of the "cathedrals" of hockey, Maple Leaf Gardens still very much looks the part from the outside despite not having hosted a major hockey event since 1999. This is its story. Development Conn Smythe had a dilemma. The owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs had grown wary of the uncomfortable a

While the Showtime Lakers were known for their star-studded cast of offensive prowess, few remember the rollicking defensive force that quietly powered them to five world championships. Although he never averaged more than 11.9 point per game or graced an All-Star roster, Michael Cooper did enough to stifle Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics. The Early Years Michael Cooper was born in Los Angeles on April 15, 1956. Although he showed flashes of talent, he wasn't a full-time s

Every stout offensive line needs a reliable left tackle to take the heat off the quarterback's backside. For over ten years, the 49ers...

Every potent offense needs a sturdy center who is both nimble and strong while possessing the leadership traits necessary to lead the...

Every great football dynasty needs a competent backup quarterback. In the 1960's, the Green Bay Packers enjoyed the subtle services of Zeke Bratkowski. Dubbed the "Super Sub", he found great success leading the team to victory when their franchise quarterback Bart Starr was either hurt or ineffective. But there is so much more to his story than years collecting splinters on the bench. The Early Years Edmund Raymond Bratkowski was born in Danville, Illinois no October 20, 193

It was third-and-goal at the 49ers one-yard line in Super Bowl XVI and it looked like the Bengals would score. But just as Cincinnati's...

Few arenas have earned as much mystique as the Boston Garden. It was almost as if it was created specifically to play mind games with opponents while giving their beloved Bruins and Celtics a boost of energy. It worked. From the day it opened in 1928 until the day its iconic parquet floor was taken apart and sold for souvenirs, the Boston Garden held the heart of Beantown in the palm of its hand. The Concept After enjoying the fruits of the roaring '20's, America was more th

While the city of Boston has a rich history in sports, none of it would have been possible without the father-son duo of George and Walter Brown. Together, they oversaw the famed Boston Marathon as well as both the Boston Arena and Gardens while ushering in multiple avenues of amateurism and professionalism, including the founding of both the Bruins and Celtics. This is their story. George George V. Brown was born on October 21, 1880 in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. He grew up o

Deep in the heart of the Philadelphia Sports Complex stood a stadium that bristled with energy and bustled with memories nearly every night. The Spectrum was home to both the Flyers and the 76ers and proved to be quite the advantage for its occupants as their fans rollicked the night away. Through the pain and struggle of searching for that elusive title, the Spectrum became a symbol for all of Philadelphia. This is its story. The Spectrum It was built on the site of a for

In the years before the Lakers moved into the Fabulous Forum, they played their home games adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. While they gained an audience in that short period of time, the nation began to realize just how relevant the Coliseum's neighbor could be to the sports landscape at large. Built on 3939 South Figuero Street in just under 15 months between April 1958 and July 1959 by the noted architect Welton Becket, the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

The climax of the first Rocky movie was set in Philadelphia's Spectrum Arena , but it wasn't filmed there. Instead, Sylvester Stallone and company filmed the historic bout between Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed at one of America's forgotten jewels of the sport: Los Angeles's Grand Olympic Auditorium. Initially, the plan was for the new auditorium to be built in 90 days, but after breaking ground on 1801 South Grand Avenue in January 1925, construction slowed until it was co

While some markets are easier than others, every expansion team struggles to attract attention and grow a fervent fanbase. That was certainly the case with the 1946 Los Angeles Rams. Having just left the grimy confines of Cleveland, Ohio, the Rams front office knew that they needed local talent to fill the massive Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Luckily for them, Southern California is always filled with talented players from the two largest universities in the area: USC and U

Very few rookies quarterbacks have led their team to the NFL championship. But Bob was no mere rookie signal-caller. In addition to passing the Rams to victory, he was a standout defensive back and kicker. A jack of all trades perfect for the team that was soon to be known as the Los Angeles Rams. This is his story. The Early Years Bob Waterfield was born in Elmira, New York on July 26, 1920. After his family moved to Los Angeles, he starred at nearby Van Nuys High School

Joe Montana was considered one of the best quarterbacks of his generation. With four Super Bowls, eight Pro Bowls and a Hall of Fame...

One of the more underrated coaches in NFL history is Dick Nolan. As a cornerback in New York, he witnessed firsthand as Tom Landry...

Chicago's historic Soldier Field celebrated a century of service to its community on October 9, 2024. Before the calendar turns to the year 2025, lets take a look back at the rich history of one of the Windy City's great venues, one unique fact at a time. Soldier Field officially opened to the public on October 9, 1924, the 53rd anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. First Football Game: Notre Dame beat Northwestern 13-7 on November 22, 1924. Largest Crowd for College Footbal