Today in Sports History 6/17/1994

Photo by Jean-Marc Giboux/Liason/Getty Images

June 17, 1994, remains the craziest day in sports history. The day is infamous for the Los Angeles Police Department's (LAPD) and OJ Simpson's televised expressway chase, the confluence of other monumental sporting events, and the American people's reaction.

Arnold Palmer Played His Final U.S. Open

The legend shot an 81 during the second round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. Usually, if a professional golfer shot an 81, he would be ridiculed; however, Palmer was 64 years old and had not played the U.S. Open in 11 years.

Palmer got cut, but his send-off was a touching moment. Ernie Els won the first of his four major tournaments in a dramatic three-way playoff.

Ken Griffey Jr. Tied Babe Ruth

In Kansas City, Missouri, Griffey’s Seattle Mariners faced off against the Kansas City Royals. Griffey hit his 30th home run of the season, tying Babe Ruth for the most homers before June 30.

Griffey broke Ruth’s record five days later. At the time, Griffey was on pace to hit 70 home runs, which would have eclipsed Roger Maris’ 61 home runs, the single-season record.

Maris’ record remained safe when a strike ended the 1994 MLB season on August 11. Griffey finished 21 home runs shy of Maris’ record.

The U.S. Hosted the World Cup for the First Time

Chicago native Oprah Winfrey hosted the 1994 World Cup’s opening ceremony in her home city. Diana Ross headlined the event and performed a routine where she was supposed to hit a penalty kick that split the net in half. Still, she missed, and the net broke apart anyway. President Bill Clinton officially opened the tournament afterward.

Newly unified Germany played Bolivia, following the ceremony at Soldier Field. Germany bested Bolivia 1-0. Later, Spain played South Korea in Dallas’ Cotton Bowl, tying 2-2.

The 1994 World Cup boosted soccer’s popularity in the United States and was the most financially successful tournament until 2018.

The New York Rangers Celebrate With Lord Stanley’s Cup

On the morning of June 17, 1994, the New York Rangers rolled down Victor’s Canyon, getting drenched in ticker tape for their championship parade. The Rangers won their first Stanley Cup in 54 years, besting the Vancouver Canucks in seven games.

The Rangers swept the New York Islanders, upended the Washington Capitals, and handled the New Jersey Devil’s to reach the final.

Hockey pundits credit the 1994 Stanley Cup final for spreading the NHL’s influence in Europe, with four Russian players inscribing their names on Lord Stanley’s Cup.

The Chase

The LAPD charged O.J. “The Juice” Simpson with two counts of murder. The victims were Simpson’s wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and friend Ronald Goldman. “The Juice” agreed to turn himself in but went missing. The LAPD deemed Simpson a fugitive and issued a warrant for his arrest.

Simpson was one of the most popular and successful people in America.

O.J. Simpson was a hall of fame running back who played for the Buffalo Bills. In 1973, he set the NFL’s single-season rushing record, running for over 2,000 yards. After football, Simpson turned to Hollywood, starring in commercials, on T.V. shows like Roots, and in movies like The Naked Gun franchise.

Around 6:45 p.m., police spotted Simpson on the expressway in a white Ford Bronco. Simpson sat in the back seat with a gun to his head while former teammate Al Cowlings drove the truck. The low-speed pursuit lasted for two hours and totaled 60 miles.

Every major network broadcasted the chase. The uncertainty and tension glued people across the country to their television sets.

NBC, broadcasting Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, used a split-screen broadcast to cover the game and the chase simultaneously. The Knicks eventually lost to the Rockets in seven games.

At about 9 p.m, Simpson returned to his home and surrendered to the police. Ninety-five million people watched “the Juice” try to break loose, making it one of the most infamous and astonishing moments in television and sports history.