The year 1976 consisted of Sports Championship winners Boston Celtics (NBA), Cincinnati Reds (MLB), Montreal Canadiens (NHL), Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)
HIGHLIGHTS
The
1976 NBA championship final series between the
Boston Celtics and the
Phoenix Suns was a hard-fought series. The Celtics, led by John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, and Jo Jo White, managed to take the series in six games. The Celtics won the first two games at home, but the Suns battled back with two wins of their own. In the fifth game, the Celtics were able to take the lead and eventually the series, with Havlicek scoring a game-high 28 points. The series was an exciting one, with the Suns pushing the Celtics to the brink, but in the end, the Celtics were able to come out on top.
The
1976 World Series was a classic showdown between the
Cincinnati Reds and the
New York Yankees. The Reds were led by the Big Red Machine and had a lineup of stars such as Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, and Johnny Bench. The Yankees were led by Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson and had a lineup of stars such as Catfish Hunter, Graig Nettles, and Willie Randolph. The Reds won the series in four games, taking the first two games in
Cincinnati and the last two in
New York. The Reds' pitching was dominant throughout the series, as they held the Yankees to just one run in the first two games and three runs in the last two. The Reds won the series and their first championship since
1940.
The
1976 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the
Montreal Canadiens and the
Philadelphia Flyers. The Canadiens won the series four games to two, capturing their eighteenth Stanley Cup championship. The series was evenly matched, with all six games being decided by one goal. The decisive game was won by the Canadiens in overtime, with Guy Lafleur scoring the winning goal. The Canadiens had a balanced attack throughout the series, with six players scoring at least three goals. The Canadiens were led by their veteran goaltender Ken Dryden, who posted a 2.26 goals against average and two shutouts over the course of the series. The Flyers, on the other hand, were led by rookie goaltender Bernie Parent, who posted a 2.13 goals against average and one shutout. The Canadiens' victory marked the first time in
NHL history that a team had won the Stanley Cup after finishing fourth in the regular season standings.
The
1976 NFL Super Bowl was an epic showdown between the
Pittsburgh Steelers and the
Dallas Cowboys. The Steelers had a formidable defense, led by the "Steel Curtain" of defensive linemen Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Dwight White, and Ernie Holmes. The Cowboys had the
NFL's top offense, led by quarterback Roger Staubach and running back Preston Pearson. The Steelers won the game 21-17, with Terry Bradshaw throwing for two touchdowns and Franco Harris rushing for a touchdown. Bradshaw was named the MVP of the game, and the Steelers would go on to win four Super Bowls in the
1970s. The Cowboys, meanwhile, would have to wait until the
1990s for their next Super Bowl win.