Today in Sports History: March 3rd

Gary Glitter - Rock'n Roll Part 2 1972 (via fritz5134)

3/03/1875 - First indoor hockey game

At the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal, Canada, the first recorded indoor hockey game takes place. Hockey was usually confined to the outdoors on ice or in the fields and typically lacked any rules or regulation. This game featured two teams, two goaltenders, a referee, a puck, a time limit, and most importantly, was referred to as a "hockey" match in an advertisement for the game.

3/03/1990 - Olajuwon briefly has historic game

Hakeem Olajuwon, then known as "Akeem Olajuwon," fills out the box score in every single category. In a 129-121 victory over the Golden State Warriors, the Rockets center compiled 29 points, 18 rebounds, 11 blocks, 9 assists, and 5 steals. After the game, members of the Rockets' scoring crew went back and reviewed the tape. They decided that he had not been rightfully given an assist on a first quarter shot by Buck Johnson, so they gave him a tenth assist.

With that extra digit, Olajuwon had become just the third player to record a quadruple-double in NBA history, joining a list that only included Nate Thurmond and Alvin Robertson. However, it was short lived. NBA vice president Rod Thorn looked over the game tape and decided to remove the additional assist.

"A box score should not be changed after the fact for the purpose of achieving a statistical milestone," Thorn said. "If an appreciable statistical change needs to be made after the box score is distributed, the league office is responsible for making the change, if is deemed necessary."

The decision would have been a terrible footnote in the career of Hakeem Olajuwon, except that just 26 days later, he recorded an NBA-approved quadruple-double against the Milwaukee Bucks (18 points, 16 rebounds, 11 blocks, 10 assists).

3/03/1972 - Hey Song reaches sports world

It was on this day in 1972 that sports history was shipped to record stores across the country. Gary Glitter released his self-titled album, Glitter, and with it came "Rock and Roll" parts 1 and 2, or the "Hey Song" as it was mostly referred to. The song began receiving airtime throughout sports stadiums in the 1970's. With it's rhythmic clapping, one-syllable lyrics, and adrenaline-pumping ambiance, "Rock and Roll" was perfect for arenas packed with 50,000 screaming fans.
No song was played more frequently in sporting venues.

The song's airtime began dwindling, however, since the turn of the 21st century, thanks to Gary Glitter's sordid rap sheet. Glitter was arrested on child pornography charges in 1997 and 1999. Rumors of underage sex circled the performer for several years, and in 2005, he was sentenced to three years in jail for molesting 11 and 12 year-old girls.

His label as a sex offender and pedophile forced many teams to stop playing the song. In 2006, the NFL asked every team to remove the Hey Song from its playlist. The Denver Broncos, who were one of the first teams to adopt Glitter's tune, switched their touchdown celebration music to "Go Daddy-O" from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (it was later changed to something else).

Despite the baggage, the Hey Song could still be heard at a plethora of sports arenas. Though it begs the question: if your favorite piece of art was painted by Adolf Hitler, is it still a good painting? Or if your favorite movie was directed by Roman Polanski, can you still watch it?