Everything That Happened On The 'Wildest Day In Sports History'

Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman were killed outside her home in Los Angeles on June 12, 1994. O.J. Simpson, Nicole's former husband, became a suspect the following day and, on June 17, 1994, he was officially charged with their murders. The warrant for his arrest prompted Simpson to flee and lead police on a chase through Los Angeles freeways. Crouched in the back of a white Ford Bronco, Simpson was driven around by his friend, Al Cowling. As police swarmed, so did the media. Helicopters provided news coverage that about 95 million people saw in real time on their television. Television channels broke into regular programming, including the fifth game of the NBA Finals underway between the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets. By the end, Simpson was taken into custody.

Game five of the NBA Finals between the Houston Rockets and the New York Knicks took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 17, 1994. The series was tied at two game each going into the game. Despite Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon and Otis Thorpe besting Patrick Ewing in points and rebounds, respectively, the Knicks won the game 91 to 84. That put them up one game in the series, although they would go onto lose the championship in game seven. During the broadcast of the game five of the NBA finals, announcer Marv Albert called the game while simultaneously cutting away to Tom Brokaw and Bob Costas reporting on the O.J. Simpson chase going on in Los Angeles. Albert called it “the most unusual situation I have been in on the air.”

The New York Ranger clinched the NHL Stanley Cup title on June 14, 1994, over the Vancouver Canucks. Their victory came in seven games and was the first Stanley Cup title in 54 years for the Rangers. Mark Messier, Rangers legend, recalled that going into the game, The whole city was so freaking on fire. You couldn’t help but be caught up in it, the enormity of it, that building was electric. This same energy was felt during the parade held for the team on June 17, 1994. The ticker tape parade down the “Canyon of Heroes” in the financial district of New York City brought out a reported 1.5 million people and resulted in 20 tons of paper littering the streets in its aftermath. It culminated in a ceremony during which Mayor Rudy Giuliania presented the team with keys to the city.

Golf legend Arnold Palmer played the U.S. Open for the final time in 1994. Held at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh, PA, Palmer was playing “as close… to a home game” as ever when it came to Oakmont because he lived just an hour away. Palmer's performance at the U.S. Open Championships was not what he hoped. After he shot an 81 on Friday, June 17, 1994, Palmer did not advance to the next stage of the prestigious event. When speaking to the press that day, Palmer said: I suppose the most important thing is the fact that [golf] has been as good as it has been to me… They call this a little bit of being sun-whipped and tired, and ready to take a little rest. Hopefully, a few more golf tournaments along the way. I think that’s about all I have to say, thank you very much. Palmer didn't leave golf that day, but he never again returned to compete at the U.S. Open. Ernie Els won the U.S. Open Championship in 1994, the first major win in his career.

The FIFA World Cup was held in the United States in 1994 for the first time in the history of the world soccer championship. The opening ceremony took place in Chicago at Soldier Field, one of the venues hosting games during the tournament. The emcee of the opening ceremony, Oprah Winfrey, fell off the stage soon after television of the event began. Singers like Diana Ross performed, although Ross had a moment of misfortune, too. In a stunt where she was supposed to kick a soccer ball, she missed the goal entirely. The 1994 World Cup ended with a win for Brazil over Italy on July 17, 1994. Brazil was ultimately the team that eliminated the United States team earlier in the tournament.

Only one player had ever done it before - hit 30 home runs by the end of June during the season. Babe Ruth hit 30 home runs before July in both 1928 and 1930, years that he competed with 54 and 49 home runs, respectively. Ken Griffey Jr. tied Ruth's record on June 17, 1994. In an at-bat facing pitcher David Cone from the Kansas City Royals, he hit a solo home run. The Seattle Mariners went on to win the game over the Royals 5 to 1. By the end of the season, Griffey hit a total of 40 home runs. The season was short, however, due to the player strike. The last games were played on August 11, 1994.

Amid everything happening on June, 17, 1994, a phone call came into the media from an individual claiming to be at O.J. Simpson's house awaiting his arrival. Al Michaels was actually the commentator who figured out the call was a prank, calling it “a totally farcical call.” Peter Jennings, ABC News anchor, was stoic in the face of the call, not even flinching when the caller said, “And a Baba Booey to you all.” The quip was a reference to The Howard Stern Show. It was used by fans when making prank phone calls. Later, the identity of the caller was revealed to be Morrie, a long-time fan of the show.