Events in Sports History in January 1969

  • Jan 1 35th Orange Bowl: #3 Penn State beats #6 Kansas, 15-14
  • Jan 1 35th Sugar Bowl: #9 Arkansas beats #4 Georgia, 16-2
  • Jan 1 55th Rose Bowl: #1 Ohio State beats #2 Southern California, 27-16
  • Jan 1 Jack Kent Cooke, owner of NHL's LA Kings, fines each player $100 for "NOT" arguing with the referee

Zatopek "Public Enemy"

Jan 2 Once influential daily sports newspaper, 'Soviet Sport' declares Czech super-star distance runner Emil Zatopek a "public enemy" after he supports democratic wing of the Communist Party at start of the Prague Spring

NY Jets Win Super Bowl

Jan 12 Super Bowl III, Orange Bowl, Miami, FL: New York Jets beat Baltimore Colts, 16-7; MVP: Joe Namath, NY Jets, QB

19th NBA All-Star Game

Jan 14 19th NBA All-Star Game, Baltimore Civic Centre: East beats West, 123-112; MVP: Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals, PG

  • Jan 14 Matt Busby retires from Manchester United
  • Jan 19 19th NFL Pro Bowl, LA Memorial Coliseum: West beats East, 10-7; MVPs: Roman Gabriel, Los Angeles Rams, QB; Merlin Olsen, Los Angeles Rams, DT
  • Jan 19 8th AFL All Star Game, Gator Bowl, Jacksonville: Western Division beats Eastern Division, 38-25; MVPs: Len Dawson, KC Chiefs, QB; George Webster, Houston Oilers, LB

22nd NHL All-Star Game

Jan 21 22nd NHL All-Star Game, Montreal Forum: Western Division ties Eastern Division, 3-3; MVP: Frank Mahovlich, Detroit, LW

1st Women's Australian Open

Jan 26 1st Australian Open Women's Tennis: Margaret Court wins inaugural Open event; beats American Billie Jean King 6-4, 6-1

Laver Begins Grand Slam

Jan 27 Australian Open Men's Tennis: Rod Laver takes 1st leg of his successful second Grand Slam; beats Andrés Gimeno of Spain 6-3, 6-4, 7-5

Noll Youngest Coach

Jan 27 Chuck Noll is named head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers (the youngest coach in NFL history at the time)

O.J. Simpson First Pick

Jan 28 1969 NFL Draft: O.J. Simpson from USC first pick by Buffalo Bills