May 31, 2013

790 years ago
1223

War
Mongol armies of Genghis Khan led by Subutai defeated Kievan Rus' and Cumans in the Battle of the Kalka River.

200 years ago
1813

Exploration
In Australia, William Lawson, Gregory Blaxland and William Wentworth reached Mount Blaxland, effectively marking the end of a route across the Blue Mountains.

80 years ago
1933

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Corpse in the Cab

75 years ago
1938

Baseball
At Yankee Stadium, Jimmie Foxx hit a grand slam off New York pitcher Joe Beggs‚ the first of three he hit off Mr. Beggs that season‚ but the Yankees prevailed 12-5. Lou Gehrig played his 2‚000th consecutive game and had an RBI single.

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Don't Want to Walk Without You--Kate Smith and Bing Crosby (4th month at #1)

Politics and government
Ernest Manning, 34, was sworn in as Premier of Alberta, eight days after the death of Social Credit Premier William Aberhart. Mr. Manning served as Premier until December 12, 1968.

50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): In Dreams--Roy Orbison (2nd week at #1)

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 Sukiyaki--Kyu Sakamoto (2nd week at #1)
2 Bachelor Boy--Cliff Richard and the Shadows
3 Summer Holiday--Cliff Richard and the Shadows
4 It's My Party--Lesley Gore
5 Little Latin Lupe Lu--The Righteous Brothers
6 Da Doo Ron Ron--The Crystals
7 Gypsy Woman--Rick Nelson
8 Dancing Shoes--Cliff Richard and the Shadows
9 Surfin' U.S.A.--Beach Boys
9 How Do You Do It--Gerry and the Pacemakers

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): See My Baby Jive--Wizzard

Space
The crew of the U.S. space station mission Skylab 1 detected a "big hole" in the sun's corona.

War
The United States Senate voted to cut off funds for the bombing of Cambodia despite pleas from national security adviser Dr. Henry Kissinger.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon and French President Georges Pompidou met in Reykjavik, Iceland to begin two days of talks.

Disasters
An Indian Airlines jet approaching Palam Airport in New Delhi crashed into a residential area, killing 48 of 65 passengers.

Football
The latest additions to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame were builder Moe Lieberman and players Leo Lewis and Russ Jackson.

30 years ago
1983

Died on this date
Jack Dempsey, 87. U.S. boxer. Mr. Dempsey, "The Manassa Mauler," was one of the people who made the 1920s the so-called "Golden Age of Sport." He won the world heavyweight title with a devastating 3-round knockout of Jess Willard on July 4, 1919. A string of successful defenses followed through 1923. Mr. Dempsey’s 4-round knockout of light heavyweight champion Georges Carpentier at Boyle’s City Acres in Jersey City, New Jersey on July 2, 1921 was the first major sports event ever broadcast on radio, and provided boxing with its first $1 million gate. 80,000 people were in attendance, producing gate receipts of almost $1.8 million. In contrast, Mr. Dempsey’s 15-round decision over Tom Gibbons on July 4, 1923 nearly bankrupted the host town of Shelby, Montana. On September 14, 1923, 82,000 came to the Polo Grounds in New York to see Mr. Dempsey fight Argentinian Luis Angel Firpo, "The Wild Bull of the Pampas." In a wild first round, Mr. Dempsey was knocked out of the ring, but was (illegally) helped into the ring by writers at ringside. Mr. Dempsey knocked out Mr. Firpo in round 2. This fight produced another $1 million gate. Mr. Dempsey was inactive in the ring from 1923-1926. A major black challenger, Harry Wills, was unsuccessful in attempts to arrange a title bout. Finally, on September 23, 1926, 120,757 spectators filled Sesquicentennial Stadium in Philadelphia to see challenger Gene Tunney outpoint Mr. Dempsey over 10 rounds to win the belt. The gate was almost $1.9 million, just beating the 1921 record. Another $1 million gate resulted from Mr. Dempsey’s fight against Jack Sharkey at Yankee Stadium in New York on July 21, 1927. In the 7th round, Mr. Dempsey landed a low blow; when Mr. Sharkey turned to the referee to complain, Mr. Dempsey knocked him out. A rematch with Mr. Tunney took place at Soldier Field in Chicago on September 22, 1927. 104, 943 spectators produced a gate of more than $2.6 million, a record that stood for decades. In the 7th round, Mr. Dempsey knocked Mr. Tunney down. According to a rule just recently adopted, Mr. Dempsey was required to go to a neutral corner during the count. Mr. Dempsey remained in the middle of the ring, and the referee refused to begin his count until Mr. Dempsey went to a neutral corner. Mr. Tunney rose at the count of 9, although he had been on the floor for as long as 14 seconds, by some estimates. "The Battle of the Long Count" concluded with Mr. Tunney retaining his title with another 10-round decision. Jack Dempsey retired from boxing several months later after compiling a record of 65 wins, 6 losses, 11 draws, and 1 no contest, but remained in the public eye as a successful restaurateur in New York for several decades.

Disasters
Hundreds of people were evacuated from Bountiful and Farmington, Utah, where many homes had been destroyed by mud slides. In Salt Lake City, sandbags were used to turn streets into canals to facilitate removal of the water.

Basketball
Basketball
NBA Finals
Philadelphia 115 @ Los Angeles Lakers 108 (Philadelphia won best-of-seven series 4-0)

Julius Erving's 3-point shot with 59 seconds remaining gave the 76ers an insurmountable lead as they defeated the Lakers before before 17,505 fans at The Forum in Inglewood, California to win their first NBA championship since 1967. It was the third NBA championship for the 76ers, who lost only 1 game in 3 playoff series in 1983; their first title came in 1955, when they were the Syracuse Nationals. Philadelphia center Moses Malone was named the finals' Most Valuable Player. It was the last time that the finals ended in the month of May.

25 years ago
1988

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev continued their summit in Moscow. After their morning meeting, the two men strolled through Red Square, and President Reagan lunched with Soviet cultural leaders and intellectuals. He then addressed the students of Moscow State University, calling on them to have faith that changes afoot in the Soviet Union would bring benefits to their society.

Environment
The Canadian House of Commons passed bills to phase out tobacco advertising, restrict smoking in workplaces under federal jurisdiction, and ensure smoke-free areas in passenger planes, trains, buses, and ships, effective January 1, 1989.

Basketball
NBA
Western Conference
Finals
Dallas 102 @ Los Angeles Lakers 119 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Baseball
Jeff Pico threws a 4-hit, 4-0 shutout against the Cincinnati Reds to win his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs. He was the first Cubs’ pitcher to debut with a shutout since Bill Lee in 1934.

New York Yankees’ starting pitcher Al Leiter made one pitch before leaving the game. Oakland Athletics’ leadoff hitter Carney Lansford hit the first pitch off Mr. Leiter for a hit‚ and Mr. Leiter was replaced by reliever Neil Allen. Mr. Allen gave up just 3 hits in 9 innings to record a 5-0 shutout for New York. Mike Pagliarulo hit a 2-run home run off Steve Ontiveros to supply Mr. Allen with all the runs he needed.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Informer--Snow (5th week at #1)

Economics and finance
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal ruled that Canada's steel producers were not being harmed by steel imports from the United States or any other countries named in the complaints filed. Temporary duties on the commodity were lifted as a result of the decision, although Canadian steel producers vowed to appeal the decision.

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Finals
New York 95 @ Chicago 105 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

10 years ago
2003

Diplomacy
U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in Poland to begin a trip to Europe and the Middle East aimed at improving relations with Europe and promoting his "road map" to peace in the Middle East.

Crime
Eric Rudolph, accused of planting a bomb in downtown Atlanta during the 1996 Summer Olympic games, and of attacks on abortion clinics and a sodomite nightclub, was arrested in Murphy, North Carolina. A woman had been killed in the Olympic Park bombing, and a police officer had been killed in another of the attacks attributed to Mr. Rudolph, who had long been the subject of a manhunt by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (0-1) 17 @ Saskatchewan (1-0) 51