On This Day

After 12 seasons in the Bay Area, Nate Thurmond joined the Chicago Bull where he recorded the first quadruple-double in NBA history with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocks.

Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers, also known as "Mr. Clutch" retired after 14 dominating seasons in the NBA.

The 7-foot Elmore Smith battered away 17 shots against the Portland Trail Blazers, setting a single-game NBA record.

San Diego quarterback Johnny Unitas became the first NFL player to top 40,000 yards passing when he hit Mike Garrett on a 30-yard pass against Cincinnati.

Billie Jean King won a much hyped nationally televised match held at the Houston Astrodome, between 55-year-old Bobby Riggs and 29-year-old Billie Jean King.

Ali and Norton met at the Forum, Inglewood, California in a rematch, the match was close but Ali ended up winning the split with 2 votes to 1.

Jet quarterback Joe Namath throws for 496 yards and six touchdowns as the New York Jets defeated Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts 44-34.

The 1972 Summer Olympics officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad was from August 26 to September 11, the games were overshadowed by the Black September terrorists attack on the Israeli Olympic team.

U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz won his seventh gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics , he swam the fly leg of the 400-meter medley relay.

Gymnast Olga Korbut of the Soviet Union won two gold and a silver medal in individual competition at the Olympics in Munich, Germany.