Events in Sports History in January 2012

Sports History

Jan 6 Thierry Henry re-signs for Arsenal on a two-month loan deal

Jan 7 Hopman Cup Tennis, Perth: Tomáš Berdych beats Frenchman Richard Gasquet 7-6, 6-4 for an unassailable 2-0 lead; 2nd title for Czech Republic
Jan 8 "The 3:16 Game" AFC Wild Card Playof, underdogs Denver Broncos defeat Pittsburgh Steelers 29–23 with Tim Tebow connecting with Demaryius Thomas on an 80-yard touchdown pass on first scrimmage play of overtime
Jan 9 College Football, 14th BCS National Championship, Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans: #2 Alabama beats #1 LSU, 21-0

Messi, Sawa Awarded

Jan 9 FIFA Ballon d'Or: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi wins award for a record 3rd consecutive year; Japanese midfielder Homare Sawa wins women's award

Youngest Player to Score 20,000 Points

Jan 17 LeBron James becomes youngest player in NBA history to record 20,000 career points during the Miami Heat's 92-75 victory over Golden State; James, 28 years, 17 days, passes Kobe Bryant, 29 years, 122 days

Jan 22 AFC Championship, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough: New England Patriots beat Baltimore Ravens, 23-20
Jan 22 NFC Championship, Candlestick Park, SF: New York Giants beat San Francisco 49ers, 20-17 (OT)

Azarenka Defeats Sharapova

Jan 28 Australian Open Women's Tennis: Victoria Azarenka becomes first Belarusian player to win Grand Slam singles title; beats Maria Sharapova of Russia 6-3, 6-0

Đoković beats Nadal

Jan 29 100th Australian Open Men's Tennis: Novak Đoković beats Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5; longest Grand Slam singles final in duration in the Open Era, 5 hours 53 minutes