June 5 in sports history: All hail the 'Big Red Head'

OMG, THE KNICKS WERE ONCE GOOD!?

1994: A long, long, long time ago — in a previous century, actually — the New York Knickerbockers were pretty good thanks to Patrick Ewing.

In an epic performance in the deciding Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, the future Hall of Famer scored 24 points and grabbed 22 boards in New York's 94-90 win over the Pacers.

"There had been a lot of frustration over the years," Ewing told reporters. "I've been hurt, we've been beaten by Chicago . . . this was a long time coming. I'm very happy right now. I told my wife last night, if it was up to me, we're going to Houston tomorrow."

The Knicks went to Houston to play the Rockets in the Finals, but they lost in seven games. New York hasn't won an NBA title since 1973.

MAGIC FROM MJ ...

1991: In a 107-86 win over the Lakers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the Bulls' Michael Jordan made a hoop for the ages.

MJ glided past Byron Scott and took off to the hoop intending to dunk. As Sam Perkins came over to try to contest the shot, Jordan switched the ball into his left hand while in midair and gently flipped it in off the glass. 

Greatness.

"Instead of the easy one, he tries to make it hard ... I love it!" color man Mike Fratello shouted on the TV broadcast.

The Bulls went on to win the first of six titles in the Jordan Era, beating the Lakers in five games.

... AND A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC FROM DANNY

1992: A year later, the Bulls won another title, beating Portland in six games in the Finals. But in Game 2 of the series, the Blazers' Danny Ainge put on a show, scoring a record-tying nine points in overtime in a 115-104 win. "I'm not afraid to take the shot," said Ainge, who won two titles with the Celtics. "I'm not afraid to just blow the game."

A FINAL GRAND SLAM

1999: With a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Martina Hingis for the French Open title, 29-year-old Steffi Graf of Germany claimed her 22nd and final Grand Slam title. "This is the most incredible memory I'm going to have looking back on my career," Graf said of the win over the top seed.

'THE MICK' SURE COULD WHACK THE BASEBALL

1955: Was every Mickey Mantle home run during his career a tape-measure blast? Sheesh, the man had power.

In a 3-2 win over the White Sox in the second game of a doubleheader, Mantle, a switch-hitter batting right-handed, jacked a fastball off Billy Pierce that went an estimated 500-plus feet at Comiskey Park. According to the Chicago Tribune, the ball bounced on the left-field roof and shattered the window of a parked car on 34th Street.

Two years earlier, Mantle went yard with a blast estimated at 562 feet. In 1956, the Mick crushed another ball that might have gone 600-plus feet had it not hit the facade in right field in Yankee Stadium.

JACKSON IN PRE-GAME ACTION

1974: No stranger to controversy during his career, the A's Reggie Jackson brawled with teammate Bill North in the clubhouse before a game in Detroit. Once close friends, the two had not spoken since Jackson accused North of not hustling earlier in the season. The players were separated by teammates. Then they went at it again.

Jackson's shoulder was injured when the two wrestled to the floor. He left the game after 5.1 innings.

"It's very bad," Jackson told the Oakland Tribune about his relationship with North. "I don't think it will ever be resolved. ... I'm just embarrassed about it, no matter who's right or wrong."

'THE EXPRESS' WALKS INTO RECORD BOOK

1981: Nolan Ryan holds dozens of MLB career records — for strikeouts (5,714), no-hitters (7), double-digit strikeout games (215) and more. In a 3-0 win over the Mets, the team he started with, "The Express" added another career record: most walks. With his 1,776th free pass, the 13-year veteran surpassed Early Wynn, who played 23 seasons.

"I'm not ashamed of the record," Ryan said afterward. "It means I've been around enough to pitch a lot in the major leagues."

Ryan finished his 27-year career with 2,795 walks, a record that may never be broken.

Happy birthday ...

• Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, the third pick in the 2018 draft by the Jets. He was the youngest opening-day starting quarterback since the AFL and NFL merged. (23)
• Marques Colton, former NFL wide receiver who holds the New Orleans Saints franchise record for most receptions at 711. (37)
• Robert Kraft, billionaire owner of the New England Patriots. Under his ownership, the Pats have won six Super Bowls. (79)
• Torry Holt, former NFL wide receiver whose 13, 382 yards are 16th all time. Holt was chosen in the first round of the 1999 draft by the Rams and played 11 seasons. (44)
• Former NFL running back Kevin Faulk, who won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. A second-round pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, Faulk spent his entire 13-year career with New England. (44)

R.I.P.

2004: Ronald Reagan, who played college football, ran track and swam at Eureka College in Illinois but gained fame for his role as “Gipp” in the movie “Knute Rockne, All-American.” Oh and he also was President of the United States. He died at age 93.

June 4: 10-cent beer + MLB = Toxic brew