1972 in sports

1972 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

Alpine skiing

16 January Ã¢ÂÂ Super Bowl VI: the Dallas Cowboys (NFC) won 24Ã¢ÂÂ3 over the Miami Dolphins (AFC)
Location: Tulane Stadium
Attendance: 81,023
MVP: Roger Staubach, QB (Dallas)
Orange Bowl (1971 season):
The Nebraska Cornhuskers won 38Ã¢ÂÂ6 over the Alabama Crimson Tide to win the college football national championship
23 December Ã¢ÂÂ In the first Pittsburgh Steelers playoff game in 25 years (and the franchises first playoff win), rookie Franco Harris salvages and converts into a touchdown a final seconds Terry Bradshaw incomplete pass in what has been called the greatest play in NFL historyÃ¢ÂÂThe Immaculate ReceptionÃ¢ÂÂto beat the Oakland Raiders 13Ã¢ÂÂ7.

The Washington Senators move to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas to become the Texas Rangers.
19 January Ã¢ÂÂ The BBWAA elects Sandy Koufax (344 votes), Yogi Berra (339), and Early Wynn (301) to the Hall of Fame.
Sparky Lyle saves 35 games for the New York Yankees, breaking Ron Perranoski's 1970 records for AL pitchers and left-handers. Lyle also becomes the first left-hander to save 100 career games in the American League.
World Series Ã¢ÂÂ Oakland Athletics win their first World Championship since the team was based in Philadelphia in 1930, and sixth in franchise history, by defeating the Cincinnati Reds, 4 games to 3.
31 December Ã¢ÂÂ The Pittsburgh Pirates' legendary right fielder Roberto Clemente dies in a plane crash near Puerto Rico on his way to bring relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims.

26 June Ã¢ÂÂ Roberto DurÃÂ¡n stopped Ken Buchanan in the thirteenth round to win the WBA Lightweight Championship.

Disc sports are introduced to Canada at the Canadian Open Frisbee Championships in Toronto

Men's professional

Men's amateur

Women's professional

Steeplechases

Flat races

18 March - NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship Ã¢ÂÂ Boston University Terriers defeat Cornell University Big Red 4Ã¢ÂÂ0 in Boston, Massachusetts
22 April - Czechoslovakia defeats the Soviet Union to win the 1972 Ice Hockey World Championships.
11 May - The Boston Bruins defeat the New York Rangers 3Ã¢ÂÂ0 to win the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals four games to two.
14 May - The Cornwall Royals defeat the Peterborough Petes to win the 1972 Memorial Cup Canadian amateur ice hockey junior men's championship.
15 May - The Spokane Jets defeat the Barrie Flyers 6Ã¢ÂÂ3 to win the 1972 Allan Cup Canadian amateur ice hockey senior men's championship.
Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins
Hart Memorial Trophy Ã¢ÂÂ for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
28 September Ã¢ÂÂ Paul Henderson scored the "goal of the century" to give Canada the win in the Summit Series, the first ever Canada versus the Soviet Union challenge series.
7 October - The National Hockey League begins the 1972Ã¢ÂÂ73 season.
11 October - The World Hockey Association (WHA) professional league begins play in its first season. This new league signed several of the top NHL stars including Bobby Hull and Derek Sanderson.