Events in Sports History in February 1981

31st All-Star Game

Feb 1 31st NBA All-Star Game, Coliseum at Richfield, OH: East beats West, 123-120; MVP: Nate Archibald, Boston Celtics, PG

The Underarm Bowl

Feb 1 Australian cricket captain Greg Chappell sensationally instructs younger brother Trevor to bowl underarm to Brian McKechnie with NZ needing 6 from last ball to tie 3rd World Series ODI in Melbourne; Australia wins by 6

Feb 1 NFL Pro Bowl, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI: NFC beats AFC, 21-7; MVP: Eddie Murray, Detroit Lions, PK
Feb 3 Australia beats NZ 3-1 to win cricket's World Series Cup

Hamilton US Champion

Feb 8 US male Figure Skating championship won by Scott Hamilton

Feb 10 33rd NHL All-Star Game, The Forum, Inglewood: Campbell Conference beats Wales Conference, 4-1; MVP: Mike Liut, St. Louis Blues, G

Lillee Top Australian Wicket-taker

Feb 10 Dennis Lillee becomes Australian Cricket's top wicket-taker with 249

Feb 12 Arbitrator Goetz declares Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk a free agent

Daytona 500

Feb 15 23rd Daytona 500: Richard Petty wins record 7th title at Daytona, beating Bobby Allison to the line by 3.5 seconds

Sports History

Feb 18 20-year-old Edmonton center Wayne Gretzky becomes first player in NHL history to score 5 career hat-tricks before age 21; scores 5 goals and 2 assists in 9-2 Oilers' home win against St. Louis

Feb 20 Quebec's Czech rookie brothers Peter and Anton Šťastný each score first career NHL hat-tricks in Nordiques' 9-3 win at Vancouver; Peter adds 3 assists and Anton 2

NHL Record

Feb 22 Slovak brothers Anton & Peter Šťastný score NHL rookie record 8 points each in Quebec Nordiques, 11-7 win over Washington Capitals at Capital Centre

Feb 25 Exec Board of Baseball Players' Association votes unanimously to strike on May 29 if the issue of free-agent compensation remains unresolved
Feb 25 NHL most penalized game; Bruins vs Northstars, 84 penalties (392 mins)
Feb 25 NY Islanders give up their most goals (11) vs Calgary Flames
Feb 26 84 penalties (406 mins) assessed for a brawl between NHL Minn & Bost
Feb 28 Calvin Murphy (Hou), sets NBA record with 78 consecutive free throws