Events in Sports History in November 1996

Sports History

Nov 3 Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant becomes the then youngest player to make his NBA debut (18 years, 2 months, 11 days) in 91-85 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Great Western Forum

Nov 3 New York City Marathon: Giacomo Leone of Italy, man's champion in 2:09:54; Anuta Catuna of Romania takes women's title in 2:28:18

Sports History

Nov 3 San Francisco 49ers receiver Jerry Rice grabs 3 passes for 45 yards and a TD to become 1st player in NFL history to reach 1,000 career receptions in 24-17 win over New Orleans Saints; finishes career with 1,549

Sports History

Nov 5 Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is the unanimous choice as AL Rookie of the Year

Nov 6 LA Dodger Todd Hollandsworth wins NL Rookie of Year
Nov 7 Ex-NFL running back and Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier, is shot several times in his hometown of Camden, New Jersey; recovers
Nov 7 Wasim Jaffer gets 314* in 2nd cricket FC game for Mumbai v Saurashtra
Nov 9 8th College Football Holy War: Notre Dame beats Boston College 48-21 in Chestnut Hill

Holyfield vs. Tyson

Nov 9 Evander Holyfield upsets Mike Tyson in 11th-round knockout in Las Vegas to regain WBA heavyweight boxing title; second boxer, after Muhammad Ali, to win a heavyweight title 3 times

Nov 10 46th NASCAR Sprint Cup: Terry Labonte wins
Nov 11 Atlanta Braves starting pitcher John Smoltz wins NL Cy Young Award; Pat Hentgen of the Toronto Blue Jays claims AL Award
Nov 13 Padres third baseman Ken Caminiti is 4th unanimous winner of NL MVP
Nov 14 Texas Ranger Juan Gonzalez wins AL MVP
Nov 19 Albert Belle, signs record five-year, $55 million with White Sox

O. J. Simpson Takes the Stand

Nov 22 O.J. Simpson takes stand as hostile witness in the wrongful death lawsuit filed against him, saying it is "absolutely not true"

NFL Running Back and Convicted Criminal O.J. Simpson

Nov 23 61st Iron Bowl: Alabama beats Auburn 24-23 in Birmingham

Sampras's Third ATP

Nov 24 American Pete Sampras wins his 3rd ATP Tour World Championship tennis titles with a classic 3–6, 7–6, 7–6, 6–7, 6–4 victory over defending champion Boris Becker in Hanover, Germany

Toronto Argonauts' 13th

Nov 24 CFL Grey Cup, Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton: MVP Doug Flutie leads Toronto Argonauts to 13th title; beat Edmonton Eskimos, 43-37

Graf Retains WTA

Nov 24 German tennis star Steffi Graf retains her WTA Tour Championship with a 6–3, 4–6, 6–0, 4–6, 6–0 win over Martina Hingis at Madison Square Garden, NYC

Nov 24 Mashonaland defeat Matabeleland to win the Logan Cricket Cup
Nov 24 Mohammad Wasim scores 109 on Test Cricket debut, Pakistan v NZ Lahore
Nov 26 Baseball owners approve interleague play, 26-4
Nov 30 South African cricket opening batsman Gary Kirsten follows his 1st innings 102 with 133 in the Proteas' 329 run 2nd Test win v India in Kolkata