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As another year in sports goes down in the record books, we look back
and cherish the moments that captivated us all. Keeping up to speed, Dale
Jarrett won the 1999 Nascar Winston Cup championship.
Motocross went to new heights when Travis Pastrana, age 15, won the gold medal in the X Games’ inaugural Moto X freestyle event. |
| After surviving a three-year battle with testicular cancer, Lance Armstrong
celebrated by becoming the second American to win the Tour de France.
At 17 years of age, Serena Williams took her place in history by dethroning Martina Hingis to win the 1999 U.S. Open Title. Andre Agassi won the French Open to become only the fifth man in history to complete a career Grand Slam. He followed that victory by sweeping through the field at the U.S. Open. David Cone of the New York Yankees pitched the 14th perfect game in baseball history. |
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The St. Louis Rams took their claim to world champions as they escaped disaster by halting the Tennessee Titans at the 1-yard line as time expired to win Super Bowl XXXIV. As they say, there is no "I" in team. The Houston Comets faithfully believed in that concept as they earned their third straight WNBA championship by beating the New York Liberty in a series sweep. The San Antonio Spurs ruled the basketball court as they defeated the New York Knicks to become NBA world champions. Overshadowing the umpire labor protests of the 1999 MLB season, what more can you say other than that the Yankees are doing their best to stake claim to a dynasty as they swept the Atlanta Braves and snatched up another World Series. The Dallas Starters took the hard route to winning the championship as they defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in triple overtime of game 6. In collegiate action, the Connecticut Huskies upset the Duke Blue Devils to win the Final Four. Tennessee’s drive for a championship finally concluded as they won the NCAA football championship and gained rights to the Sears Trophy. In July, women’s soccer gained prominence as the U.S. women’s soccer team defeated China 5-4 in penalty kicks following a 0-0 tie. More than 90,000 fans attended the Rose Bowl event and another 40 million watched via television. The U.S. team defeated the European team to win golf’s prestigious Ryder Cup. Instead of Tiger Woods dominating the spotlight, the American’s stirring comeback was marked by Justin Arnold’s breathtaking putt on the 18th green. The world said a fond farewell to several sports heroes as Wayne Gretzky officially retired after setting or tying 61 records. Two months later "The Great One" was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Also stepping out of the sports’ limelight was Detroit running back Barry Sanders and German tennis star Steffi Graf. |
| The year did not go without tragedy and strife, as the world lost one
of its golf champions. Payne Stewart was killed in a bizarre plane accident
in which the loss of cabin pressure incapacitated everyone aboard. The
plane flew on autopilot for four hours until running out of fuel and crashing
in South Dakota.
From crowning new champions, to witnessing the retirement of the greatest, to saying good-bye to a hero, 1999 was definitely a year to be a sports enthusiast. |
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