Image via Complex Original
1993 was a year where Bill Clinton was sworn into office, Jurassic Park was packing theaters and Nerlens Noel wasn't even born yet. The sporting world saw its fair share of action, it was the last time Major League Baseball had only four playoff teams (thanks to a strike in 1994) and had a World Series that ended with a walk-off home run. The NFL and NBA were dominated by their "Team(s) of the '90s," and it was the last time Canada captured titles in any of the four major leagues, doing it in two different sports.
The biggest athlete on the planet hung up his basketball shoes to try his hand at a different game. FOX got the rights to broadcast NFL matchups, Leon Lett had the blooper of the year. It was also the last trip around the sun that O.J. Simpson was remembered as a football player.
So take a look back at the sporting world in the days of Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, and Mrs. Doubtfire. The era of Jordan being an actual court presence and SportsCenter showing highlights may be over, but unlike today's youth we can be thankful we got to live through it. This is Retro Year in Sports: 1993.
MJ Retires
After the Bulls won their third straight title Michael had a change of heart (or possibly a mid-life crisis caused by the murder of his father in July) and on October 6, 1993 retired from the game of basketball. An act he would pull two more times (and counting).
It absolutely stunned the NBA as he was coming off an All-Star appearance, a scoring title, led the league in steals, made the All-Defensive Team, was First Team All-NBA, won a championship, and was Finals MVP. He was just 31 years old and seemingly at the top of his game. The modern day equivalent would be Kobe hanging it up...three years ago.
Jordan's intent was to play baseball which we'll cover in retro year: '94. Hint: it ended well for the NBA, not so much for the MLB.
WAG of the Year: Halle Berry
As January 1 ushered in a new year, David Justice and Halle Berry tied the knot in an early morning ceremony. Justice was an Atlanta Braves outfielder who was third in the NL MVP voting in '93, while Halle was a budding actress who proved to have significantly more staying power in American households. Just a few years later the relationship ended with abuse allegations, a restraining order, and a suicidal A-lister.
Cost of Living for Fans
The average price of a ticket for a Major League Baseball game was $9.73. The NBA was anywhere from $25.76-$27.12.
The FCI is a method used to measure the cost of a family outing at a game. It's calculated by multiplying an average ticket price by four (because who wants to go alone?), two small beers, four small sodas, two programs, parking, and the two cheapest hats at the stadium. For three of the big four (NHL numbers were N/A in 1993) were as follows: (All prices are rounded) The NFL was $173, NBA was $168, and the MLB was a comparatively reasonable $90. Let's see you try to get those prices now.
From the Court to the Courtroom
On Valentine's Day, Allen Iverson found himself in the middle of a riot that divided Hampton, VA (his hometown) along race lines and was the subject of an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary: No Crossover. It was an event that could've completely destroyed the future No. 1 overall pick's NBA career when he was given a 10-year sentence. Instead he was let off by Virginia's governor after four months, but was forced to finish his high school career at a school for "troubled" youths.
In December, boxer Tommy Morrison (who both won and lost the WBO title in 1993) punched an Iowa student for "staring at him," which is not only a ridiculous justification for whooping someone's ass, but also, probably hurt like hell. Morrison pled guilty to assault and public intoxication charges. His was ordered to pay a $310 fine but did not have to serve jail time.
Must-Have Sports Apparel
The Air Jordan VIIIs hit the market with a commercial arguably more interesting than Space Jam; if advertisers still put that much effort into their spots there'd be no need for DVR. If bandwagoning Jordan wasn't your style you also had your choice of Ewings, Mutombos, Chuck Barkley endorsed kicks, or Shaqs. Click here to see the diversity of foot warmers when Ren and Stimpy was king.
Starter went public on the stock exchange in April and their pull-over hoodies were all the rage on the playground. It was the best way to stay warm and wear your allegiance at the same time. Plus it had a pouch in the middle for your lunch money.
The Biggest Ballers
Michael Jordan's base salary was four million bucks a year but, with incentives, went significantly over that. He was estimated to bank $36 million—that's $11 million more than the second highest-paid athlete of the year, boxer Riddick Bowe—who allegedly ducked Lennox Lewis to fight Evander Holyfield (whom he lost to). Bowe also had his own boxing title on Sega's answer to the Gameboy, entitled Riddick Bowe Boxing.
Brazilian Auto Racer Ayrton Senna was also a "baller" that year, initially offering to drive for free (he was the third highest-paid athlete of 1992). Even so, he was vetoed off his team. Ultimately, Senna signed with McLaren and put away $18.5 million, making him the third highest-paid athlete of the year. It was temporarily a good move. Unfortunately, the next year Senna died while leading the San Monaco Grand Prix, bringing a very impressive career to an end way too quickly.
A much skinnier Barry Bonds was in the first year of a six-year, $43.75 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. But with endorsements and bonuses, Prince's (estranged) daddy, Cecil Fielder, made out with $12.7 million placing him 8th amongst all athletes and making him the richest baseball player of that season.
Eric Lindros of the Philadelphia Flyers was the highest paid player in the NHL making between $3.35 million to $3.5 million that season.
Right before Christmas of '93, Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Troy Aikman, got himself a present way hotter than a Super Soaker, Nerf gun or a 3DO, when he signed the biggest deal in NFL history.
The Best Sports Reference in Rap
Dr. Dre's "Nothin' But a G-Thang" technically dropped in 1992 but reached 11th on the Top 100 Billboard charts by the end of 1993 (after peaking at No. 2 earlier in the year). In the hit, Snoop also dropped a reference to Evander "Real Deal" Holyfield. May not sound like much, but it'd be pretty dope to hear your name dropped by a future legend in an era where SoCal dominated the hip-hop scene.
"Whoomp There It Is" by Tag Team (not rap but we gotta mention it because it was somehow popular) was also featured prominently across stadiums and arenas nationwide. Chicago Bulls fans were shouting it loudly during the NBA Finals. It's a memory you wanted to forget but we wouldn't let you.
Pop Culture Moments in Sports
1993 was a big year for sports flicks (if there is such a thing) featuring Cool Runnings, an inspirational "true" story about the 1988 Jamaican bobsled team who finished dead last.
Rudy an inspirational "true" story about a persistent little runt who wouldn't quit (though he clearly should) and finishes his career with a sack at Notre Dame.
Another fairly big name football picture: The Program was released which, if you haven't seen it, is kind of like Friday Night Lights except it takes place in college.
Rookie of the Year (starring one of the guys from American Pie) was another "film" released in '93 about a kid who breaks his arm which allows him to throw a fastball that tops out around the speed of light. Fun fact: both Cool Runnings and Rookie of the Year featured John Candy who, unfortunately, died a year later.
The biggest sports movie that hit theaters, however, was the nostalgic cult classic The Sandlot centering around a boy who gels in a new neighborhood with some kids by playing baseball all summer on a field that they improvise (odds are you already knew that). It sparked numerous references for the generation which grew up with it like saying "forever" over and over and calling the crappiest player on your squad "Smalls." We too are unable to avoid the movie's aforementioned nostalgia. We just find it odd because it takes place in 1962.
The biggest (sports) gaming release of the year was in arcades (remember those) with NBA Jam, a game that let you go two on two with a few of your buddies. It's a game that imprinted enough in our memories to still get referenced.
We Are The Champions
On the first day of the new year the undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide rammed the undefeated Miami (FL) Hurricanes, 34-13, to claim the National Championship for the '92-'93 season. It was the first ever Bowl Coalition National Championship game; a predecessor of the "much beloved" BCS, which lasted all of three seasons. The 1993 regular season was dominated by Bobby Bowden's Florida State Seminoles.
At the Rose Bowl (the last Super Bowl played there), with O.J. Simpson doing the pregame coin toss, the Dallas Cowboys won the first of back-to-back Super Bowls over the Buffalo Bills, and the third of four straight Super Bowls lost by the Bills. At least this one couldn't be blamed on a "wide right" kick as they got slammed 52-17.
The NBA's reigning dynasty of the '90s, the Chicago Bulls, capped their first "three-peat" of the decade by beating the Phoenix Suns (and regular season MVP 'Sir' Charles Barkley) in six games. The series was capped with a three-pointer by sharp shooter John Paxson to win the final game 99-98. It was the first time an NBA team had won three consecutive titles since the Boston Celtics won eight straight (yes, eight) from 1959-1966. And Michael Jordan won his third straight Finals MVP.
In the NHL, after losing Game 1, the Montreal Canadians bested Wayne Gretzky's Los Angeles Kings four games in a row to take the series in five, and claim the franchise's 24th title. To this day they're still the last team from Canada to take home Lord Stanley's Cup. Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy took home the series' MVP.
The Toronto Blue Jays won their second consecutive World Series, in six games, when All-Star right fielder Joe Carter hit a walk-off home run (only the second to conclude a World Series in history) off Phillies' closer Mitch Williams. Not only has this been the last time Major League Baseball's last remaining Canadian team won the championship but it's also (pathetically) the last time they've made the playoffs.
In the Men's NCAA Tournament, North Carolina, led by legendary coach Dean Smith, beat the "Fab Five" 77-71, in their final game together, made (in)famous by Chris Webber's technical foul (after calling a timeout when the team had none left). Doesn't matter, the entire Michigan basketball season was later vacated due to the Ed Martin scandal.
German Bernard Langer (-11) finished four strokes ahead of American Chip Beck to win the 1993 Masters (his second Masters title after also winning in 1985).
Evander Holyfield beat (both literally and figuratively) Riddick Bowe (who reportedly refused to fight Lennox Lewis) for the unified heavyweight title during the widely parodied "fan man" fight.
And at Wimbledon, perpetual tennis legends Pete Sampras (Men's) and Steffi Graf (Women's) were the victors in the Single's Championships. In fact, Graf took home three of the four Grand Slam tourneys with Monica Seles winning the Australian Open.