May 10 in sports history: One giant leap for hockey great

1919: Johnny Loftus led Sir Barton to the Kentucky Derby victory, setting the stage for the first American Triple Crown in horse racing history. Sir Barton may never have been better than on this day, when he led the field the entire race and bested Billy Kelly by five lengths.  

"Like a hare unbrushed by savage hounds, the chestnut son of Star Shoot — Lady Sterling darted from his field as the barrier was sprung and led to the end of this premier turf event of the Western Hempisphere," the Louisville Courier-Journal wrote of Sir Barton's win.

1969: The NFL and upstart AFL joined forces, creating a bolstered NFL that included two conferences of 13 teams, henceforth known as the AFC and NFC. The NFL moved three franchises in the deal — Baltimore, Cleveland and Pittsburgh — to the AFC.

"After discussion with National Football league clubs," NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle said, "three of them who felt strongly about maintaining the identity built up between the AFL and NFL and who have deep faith in the future of the new American Conference agreed to make the move."

Said Browns owner Art Modell: "This is one of the least disruptive moves for pro football."

1973: The New York Knicks celebrated their second title in four years with a 102-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

"This one is more rewarding," said Knicks center Willis Reed, who earned playoff MVP honors for his efforts. "In '70, all the pieces were there. This year, there was a lot of skepticism. We struggled in spots during the season and people didn't think we had enough to make it."

There was a time when the Knicks were one of the NBA’s top franchises, but it has been 47 years since they last lifted the championship trophy.

1999: In a 12-4 win over the Mariners, Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra had a career day with three home runs (two grand slams) and 10 RBI. The third-year slugger and 1997 AL Rookie of the Year became the first American League player since 1975 to register 10 RBI.

"It was amazing," he said after the game. "I've never his three home runs in a game before — not in Little League, college, nowhere. I'm glad I waited until the big leagues to do it."

2014: Michael Sam became the first openly gay football player to be selected in the NFL Draft. The former Missouri defensive end — the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year — was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round, the 249th pick. Sam thought he should have gone much higher.

"From last season alone, I should've been in the first three rounds," Sam said. "SEC Defensive Player of the Year, All-American. ... You know what, who knows? Who knows? Only the people who sit in the war room now. They saw Michael Sam, day after day they scratched it off the board. That was their loss. But St. Louis kept me on the board, and you know what, I feel like I'm a (Jadeveon) Clowney, a first draft pick. I'm proud of where I am now."

Sam never played in the NFL. He played briefly in the CFL before retiring in 2015.

2016: Golden State's Stephen Curry became the first unanimous MVP in NBA history, one day after setting a playoff record with 17 overtime points in a win over Portland.

"I never really set out to change the game," said Curry, who became the 11th back-to-back MVP in NBA history. "I never thought that would happen in my career. What I wanted to do was just by myself."

ALSO

1946: Despite a grand slam by Joe DiMaggio, the Red Sox beat New York, 5-4, for their 15th straight win.

1993: Bill Walton, the legendary NBA center and even more legendary loudmouth, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Walton, who had 30 operations on his feet and legs during his career, wished he could have done more. "My career was one of frustration and disappointment, which makes being here today more special," he said. Walton averaged 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds in 10 NBA seasons.

2001: The XFL — the original version, that is — folded after just one season. Then-WWF chairman Vince McMahon reported losses of roughly $35 million for his cursed endeavor.

Happy birthday ...

• ESPN's Chris Berman, who joined the WWL in its infancy in 1979 (65).
• Former NFL quarterback and head coach Jim Zorn, an undrafted free agent who became the starting QB for the expansion Seattle Seahawks (67).
• Salvador Perez, 2015 World Series MVP. The Venezuelan catcher is a six-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove and two-time Silver Slugger winner. He has spent his entire career with the Royals (30).
• Tyus Jones of the Memphis Grizzlies. He was the 24th overall pick in the 2015 draft by Cleveland and then traded to Minnesota (24).
• Rony Seikaly, first-ever pick by the Miami Heat and first Lebanese-born player in the NBA. He was chosen ninth overall in the 1988 draft after starring at Syracuse (55).

R.I.P.

1963: Gene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb, an imposing figure as a defensive lineman for the Rams, Baltimore and Pittsburgh. He also was a professional wrestler. He died of a drug overdose at age 31.

May 9: A Mother's Day Special.