January 2, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Kathy Fincham!

520 years ago
1492

World events
Muhammad XI, leader of the last Arab stronghold in Spain, surrendered to King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I.

50 years ago
1962

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Silk Petticoat, starring Michael Rennie and Antoinette Bower

40 years ago
1972

Football
NFL
AFC Championship
Baltimore 0 @ Miami 21

Bob Griese's 75-yard touchdown pass to Paul Warfield early in the 1st quarter was all the Dolphins needed as they defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Colts at the Orange Bowl to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in their 6-year history. Dick Anderson intercepted a Johnny Unitas pass and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter, and Larry Csonka rushed 5 yards for the final touchdown in the 4th quarter. Garo Yepremian converted all 3 touchdowns.



NFC Championship
San Francisco 3 @ Dallas 14

Calvin Hill rushed 1 yard for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter an Duane Thomas rushed 2 yards for a touchdown in the 4th quarter as the Cowboys advanced to the Super Bowl for the second straight year. Mr. Hill's touchdown was set up when George Andrie intercepted a John Brodie pass and returned it to the San Francisco 1-yard line. The 49ers' only score came on a 28-yard field goal by Bruce Gossett in the 3rd quarter.





Hockey
NHL
Montreal 6 @ Detroit 4

This was the Sunday broadcast on CBC radio.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Don't You Want Me--The Human League (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Physical--Olivia Newton-John (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Canada (RPM): Physical--Olivia Newton-John (3rd week at #1)

Politics and government
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak dismissed his cabinet, named a new prime minister, and asked him to form a new government. Previously, Mr. Mubarak had held the posts of President and Prime Minister. Ahmed Fuad Mohieddin, previously the first deputy Prime Minister, now became the Prime Minister. A new cabinet was announced the following day.

Football
NFL
AFC Divisional Playoff
San Diego 41 @ Miami 38 (OT)

Rolf Benirschke's 29-yard field goal at 13:52 of overtime gave the Chargers the win over the Dolphins in the highest-scoring playoff game to date (see video).

NFC
Divisional Playoff
Tampa Bay 0 @ Dallas 38

See video.

25 years ago
1987

Died on this date
Harekrushna Mahatab, 87. Indian politician. Mr. Mahatab began acting on behalf of Indian independence from British rule in the 1920s, and was a member of the Indian National Congress Party until 1966. He was Chief Minister of Odisha (1946-1950, 1956-1961) and Governor of Bombay (1955-1956), and represented the Odisha ridings of Cuttack (1952-1955) and Deogarth (1962-1967) in the Lok Sabha. Mr. Mahatab joined the Orissa Jane Congress in 1967, and served three terms in the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

War
Forces of Chadian President Hissen Habre attacked and captured the oasis town of Fada, reportedly killing several hundred Libyan soldiers during the advance. The thrust carried the Chadians north of the 16th parallel, which had divided Chad into a northern sector controlled by Libya and a southern sector controlled by the government of Chad, which was supported by France.

Football
NCAA
Fiesta Bowl
Pennsylvania State 14 Miami (Florida) 10 @ Glendale, Arizona

The Nittany Lions intercepted Hurricanes' quarterback Vinny Testaverde 5 times as Penn State, under head coach Joe Paterno, won its second national championship in five years.



10 years ago
2002

Died on this date
Buddy, 4. U.S. dog. A Labrador retriever, Buddy was the pet of U.S. President Bill Clinton and his family, moving into the White House as a three-month-old puppy in December 1997. He was run over by a car and killed in Chappaqua, New York.

Politics and government
Eduardo Duhalde was sworn in as interim President of Argentina, to serve until elections in 2003. He was Argentina's fifth president in the previous two weeks.