2001 was a sports odyssey.  The first year as the new millennia started. Much like any year, there were ups and downs.  This year in American sports was unique.  The moment that defines the year 2001 is the terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11th.  The year almost seems split between before that moment and after that moment.  Sports in America seemed to stop even if life didn’t stop.  Time marched on, however, and so did sports.

It was sports that seemed to unify the country and help heal some wounds.  September 11th wasn’t the only day in 2001 though, there were 364 other days, it was a year after all.  Here’s some moments that happened that

Here’s some athletes that were born in 2001:

Here are some of the athletes that died in 2001:

News of the Year:

  • Wikipedia is launched.
  • The International Olympic Committee awards Beijing the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.
  • The iPod is first introduced by Apple.
  • Microsoft releases Windows XP.
  • Bungie and the Original Xbox, releases Halo 1.
  • Michael Jordan returns to the National Basketball Association with the WashingtonWizards after a 3½ years “retirement.”
  • Danny Almonte – the “12 year old” who buzzed through the Little League World Series, but was actually 14 years old.  Honest mistake?
  • Barry Bonds breaks single-season home-run record hitting 73 home runs.
  • Randy Johnson‘s fastball and one poor pigeon met in the 7thinning of a spring training game against San Francisco.  The fastball struck a dove, killing it instantly.
  • Seattle Mariners tied the 1906 Chicago Cubs’ record with 116 regular season wins.
  • Game 3 of the World Series was opened in New York by President George W. Bush, who threw the ceremonial first pitch, a strike to Yankees backup catcher Todd Greene. Bush became the first incumbent U.S. president to throw a World Series first pitch since Jimmy Carter in 1979.

    President George W. Bush throws out the ceremonial first pitch Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001, at Yankee Stadium before Game Three of the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees. Photo by Eric Draper, Courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library
  • Lance Armstrong won his third consecutive Tour de France.
  • Tiger Woods win at the Masters meant he became the only golfer in history to hold all four major championships simultaneously
  • John Ruiz defeats Evander Holyfield in their second fight by a decision in 12 rounds, winning the WBA’s World Heavyweight Championship, becoming the first Hispanic to win the world Heavyweight title.

  • Major League Lacrosse begins play as a single-entity-ownership league
  • First UFC event under ownership of Zuffa.
    • UFC rule change, weight classes redefined to present standard. Introduces middleweight division.
  • XFL is founded by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, but the league folded that same year, after the Los Angeles Xtreme won the league’s only championship.

Championships:

Horse Racing:

Tennis:

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Andy Kious

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