TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - APRIL 6TH

1896 - 1st modern Olympic games open in Athens Greece [3/25 OS]. American,

James Connolly, wins 1st Olympic gold medal in mod history.

1903 - Mickey Cochrane, Baseball Hall of Fame catcher (.320 avg) is born.

1935 - H Levitt sinks 499 basketball free throws, misses & sinks 371 more.

1951 - Bert Blyleven, Dutch-born baseball player is born.

1954 - Montreal Canadiens score 3 goals in 56 sec in playoff game against Detroit.

1968 - Gunpowder stocks at a sporting-goods store explode, killing 43 (Va).
1977 - Kingdome opens, Seattle Mariners 1st game, loses to Angels 7-0.

1980 - Gordie Howe completes a record 26th season.

1986 - Soccer ball juggled non-stop for 14:14 hrs.
1987 - Al Campanis appears on Niteline saying blacks may not be equiped

to be in baseball management, sparking a racial controversy.

1988 - NJ Devils' 1st playoff game; lose to Isles 4-3 (OT) in 1st round.
1991 - Argentine soocer star Diego Maradona suspended for 15 month by

Italian League for testing positive for cocaine use.
1992 - 1st game at Camden Field, Balt-Orioles beat Indians 2-0.

1993 - Florida Marlins 1st lost ever (4-2 to LA Dodgers).
1996 - Albert Belle shows off his arm by hitting Sports Illustrated photographer

Tony Tomsic in the hand prior to a game.

1997 - Jack Kent Cooke, NFL owner (Wash Redskins), dies at 84.