TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - DECEMBER 24TH

1889 - Daniel Stover & William Hance patent bicycle with back pedal brake.

1940 - Paul Tagliabue, NFL commissioner (1989-2006 ) is born.

1950 - Cleveland Browns beat LA Rams 30-28 in NFL championship game.
1961 - Houston Oilers beat San Diego Chargers 10-3 in AFL championship game.
1974 - Cardinals' Lou Brock is named Sportsman of the Year.

1982 - Chaminade, with a student body of only 850 students, beats

#1 ranked Virginia 77-72 in a Honolulu holiday basketball classic.
1990 - Expos trade Tim Raines to White Sox for Ivan Calderon & Barry Jones.

2004 - Johnny Oates, baseball player and manager (b. 1946) dies.

2009 - George Michael, American sportscaster

(The George Michael Sports Machine) (b. 1939) dies.