A 14-year look back at sports

Jayadev Athreya

I celebrated my birthday last Friday, and as I hit the big one-four, I pondered over the many events that have happened over the years.

But everything took a backseat to the love of my life, which is sports. So in today’s column I put down some thoughts reflecting the sports world in the last 14 years.

In 1983, when I was born, the Sixers — led by Dr. J — were NBA champions, Steffi Graf was a young rising tennis star and Ryne Sandberg was in the middle of his second season with the Cubs.

In 1984, a guy named Michael Jordan was selected third in the NBA draft, after Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie. Carl Lewis won four gold medals at the L.A. Olympics.

In 1985, the Iowa State basketball team, led by two Jeffs — Hornacek and Grayer — started its famous 22-win season.

In 1986, that drive culminated as the Cyclones reached the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, humbling Johnny Orr’s previous 72-69 season. In the summer, an unseeded 17-year-old won Wimbledon. His name was Boris (Boom-Boom) Becker.

In 1987, Becker won Wimbledon again, and Jordan won the league scoring title again. ISU made the NCAA tournament again.

In 1988, the Lakers won the NBA title. The aforementioned Graf won all four grand slams and the Olympic gold. In the same Olympics, Ben Johnson was banned for steroid use and was forced to hand over his gold to Lewis.

In 1989, the Pistons won their first NBA title, sweeping the Lakers in Kareem’s final season. They swept everybody except Michael Jordan’s Bulls, whom they beat in six at the East Finals.

In 1990, the Pistons did it again. In tennis, my favorite player, Stefan Edberg, won his second Wimbledon. Edberg defeated Becker in an epic five-setter.

In 1991, Jordan and the Bulls finally won an NBA title, defeating the Lakers in five.

Also, Stefan Edberg won his first US Open title. Despite Edberg’s win, the Open would be remembered more for Jimmy Connors’ semifinal run. The Cyclones beat the then second-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys at Hilton, thanks to two missed OSU free throws at the end.

In 1992, the Bulls got the second of their three-peat, with Jordan lighting up the Blazers from beyond the arc.

The Buffalo Bills lost the Super Bowl again.

In 1993, the Bulls defeated Phoenix for the toughest of their three titles thus far.

Pete Sampras won Wimbledon, where he would three-peat for the first time in tennis history. Jordan retired after his father’s death.

In 1994, Tim Floyd took over at ISU and led the team to an NCAA second-round finish. The Rockets won the NBA title, and Dallas swept the Super Bowl.

In 1995, Tim Floyd started the ‘Clones on their drive to a Big Eight championship.

In 1996, in addition to that championship, Troy Davis tore up the turf for 2,000 more yards and another rushing title.

In 1997, the Cyclones reached the Sweet Sixteen and got robbed by the refs while the fans got ticked off at Al Maguire’s fickleness.

The Bulls won their toughest championship ever, and the Packers won their first Super Bowl in 34 years.

Martina Hingis was/is No.1 in tennis, and Mike Tyson took out Evander Holyfield’s ear.

Next time we’ll talk about the future!


Jayadev Athreya is a sophomore in math from Ames.