SPECIAL EDITION***
1982
1983
1984
News
News
News
British invade Falklands
The Falkland Islands, long the subject of
diplomatic contention, were seized by Argentina
April 2. The next day. Great Britain sent a naval task
force to reclaim the islands.
Thunderbird pilots die
Four Thunderbird show jets practicing a stunt
maneuver crash one after the other into the Nevada
desert January 18, killing all four pilots. The planes
crashed after failing to complete an upward loop at
over 400 miles an hour.
Slavery in North Carolina
A crew leader for migrant laborers and two assis
tants are convicted January 22 by a federal jury in
Raleigh on 9 of 12 counts of conspiracy to kidnap, in
timidate, and enslave migrant workers. The workers
were abducted from cities across the East Coast and
brought to work on a sweet potato farm in N.C.
Sports
Baseball
The St. Louis Cardinals, led by Lonnie and Ozzie
Smith, defeat the Brewers of Milwaukee 4 games to
3 in the World Series.
Football
The NFL held its first-ever player strike and it lasts
six weeks. The San Francisco 49ers win the shortened
season’s title with a victory of the Bengals of Cincin
nati in the Super Bowl. In college football, Clemson
wins its first national championship by defeating
Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. Also, Alabama’s Paul
"Bear" Bryant retires from football.
Basketball
The Lakers win their second title of the decade,
once again defeating the 76ers 4 game to 2. In college
hoops, freshman Michael Jordan hits a last-second
shot to lift the UNC Tar Hills to the national cham
pionship over the Hoyas of Georgetown.
Entertainment
"Chariots of Fire" wins the Academy Award for
best motion picture. "On Golden Pond" sports the top
two actors of the year in Henry Fonda and Katharine
Hepburn. At the box office, however, Eddie Murphy
and Nick Nolte ran away with "48 Hrs"; Jason came
back in "Friday the 13th Part 11"; the world met John
Rambo in "First Blood"; and Indiana JoneS wowed us
in "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
The year’s popular music included "Down Under"
by Men at Work, "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor,
"Other Woman" by Ray Parker, and "Truly" by Lionel
Ritchie.
Deaths
Henry Fonda, award-winning American actor,
died of heart disease August 13.
John Belushi, comedian and star of "Animal
House", "The Blues Brothers", as well as "Saturday
Night Live" died March 6 of a drug overdose.
Princess Grace of Monaco died in a car wreck
September 13.
Ingrid Bergman, award-winning actress, died of
natuTEil causes August 31.
First U.S. woman in space
On June 24, Sally K. Ride becamc the first
American woman in space when she took off on the
space shuttle "Challenger" for a six-day mission.
During the mission, crew members deployed two
satellites using the shuttle’s robotic arm.
Soviets down Korean
plane
A Korean jetliner, with 269 passengers, disap
peared from radar screens and ended up in Russian
air space. The Soviets, claiming it was a U.S. spy
plane, shot down the jetliner, killing all 269 pas
sengers. The United States denounced the action as
"barbarous."
U.S. invades Grenada
More than 1,900 Marines stormed the shores of
this tiny Caribbean island to help restore Democratic
institutions and defeat a band of what President
Reagan called "Cuban thugs." American troops
trounced the Cubans as easily as a 1st place sports
team might demolish a last place loser.
Sports
Football
The Washington Redskins, led by M.V.P. John
Riggins, defeat the Miami Dolphins 27-17 in the
Super Bowl. In college football, Penn State defeats
Georgia 27-23 in the Sugar Bowl to win the national
championship. Nebraska’s Mike Rozier wins the
Heisman Trophy.
Basketball
The Philadelphia 76ers beat the L.A. Lakers at
home, 115-108 to win the title. The Sixers are led by
Moses Malone and Julius "Dr. J" Erving. In college
hoops, N.C. State defeats the Cougars of Houston on
a last second tip-in to win the national championship.
Entertainment
In television, the last episode of "M*A*S*H"
ended an era of Hawkeye, Radar, and Hot Lips. The
show was seen by a record 125 million viewers in the
United States.
On the silver screen, the top movies were "Return
of the Jedi", "Terms of Endearment", and "Tender
Mercies."
1983 saw Michael Jackson smash the archives of
music history with the album "Thriller." Among other
awards, Jackson won Grammys for single ("Beat It"),
album, and vocalist of the year.
Deaths
Karen Carpenter, singer and song writer, died
February 4.
Tennessee Williams, author of "The Glass
Menagerie" and leading U.S. dramatist, died
February 25.
Muddy Water, famous American blues man, died
April 30.
David Niven, actor and star of several "Pink Pan
ther" films, died July 29.
George Halas, founder and owner of the NFL
Chicago Bears, died October 31.
Iran-Iraq war continues
The war over control of the Persian Gulf entered
its 5th year in 1984. The war took on a new look with
nothing being sacred, including strictly civilian posts.
An estimated 500,000 soldiers were reported to be
engaged in heavy fighting on both sides. Iraq control
led the skies while Iran’s land forces fought gallantly.
Soviets boycott Olympics
The Soviet Union and 14 other countries
boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
in retaliation for the U.S. boycott of the Moscow
games. Despite the boycott, the games were a
phenomenal success with over 150 million dollars in
ticket revenue in the United States alone.
The Games alone were a success. The summer saw
140 nations represented with a record total of 7,800
athletes participating. Major American victories
were recorded in a wide variety of fields. Greg
Louganis captured two gold medals in diving, while
Mary Lou Retton became America’s sweetheart by
leading the U.S. gymnastic team to a silver medal.
The men’s team won the gold, defeating China in a
dramatic finish.
Sports
Baseball
Peter Ueberroth, head of the U.S. Olympic com
mittee, becomes the commissioner of baseball.
Dwight Gooden is named N.L. Rookie of the Year.
Football
Walter Payton breaks Jim Brown’s all-time rush
ing yardage record and Eric Dickerson breaks O.J.
Simpson’s single season record in December. Doug
Flutie wins the Heisman and the Baltimore Colts
move to Indianapolis overnight.
Entertainment
On the tube, Bill Cosby had the screen burning up
with his new show "The Cosby Show." "Hill Street
Blues" continued its success and "Cheers" won an
Emmy for outstanding comedy.
The music scene was led by Prince, whose "Purple
Rain" album and film were fantastic smashes.
Soundtracks became big business with "Beverly Hills
Cop" and "The Breakfast Club" both producing
chart-topping hits. Bruce Springsteen, a New Jersey
hero, burst onto the national scene with "Born in the
U.S.A." The second British invasion began as groups
such as Wham U.K. and Frankie Goes to Hollywood
made their mark on the charts.
Deaths
Baby Fae died after a heart transplant from a
baboon failed. She survived 32 days before her death.
Marvin Gaye, musician, was shot to death by his
father. Gaye is best remembered for "Heard it
through the Grapevine" and "Sexual Healing."
John Rock, developer of the birth control pill, died
at the age of 94.