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What Were the Sports Highlights in May 1976, 1986, 1991 and 1996? May Sports Trivia  1976 • Phillie Mike Schmidt and Met Dave Kingman were leading in homers and whiffs. • Angel Cordero graced the cover of Sports Illustrated after riding Bold Forbes to a 2 to 5 favorite win beating Honest Pleasure for $165,000 at the Kentucky Derby. • Backstroker 6'6" John Naber was favored to win 3 gold medals at the Olympics. • Right Wing Reggie Leach blitzed Boston and propelled the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals. • Julius Erving aka Dr. J. had the right prescription for Denver and the Nets prospered in the first of four games of the ABA championships. 1986 • In National Hockey League playoffs the upstart New York Rangers ousted the Washington Capitals who had fallen four games to two with goalie John Vanbiesbrouck playing an incredible game. • In further NHL playofffs the Calgary Flames forced the champion Edmonton Oilers to a seventh game where the Flames won by a third period goal that was passed from Edmonton's rookie defenseman Steve Smith and deflected into the Oiler's net off the back of goaltender Grant Fuhr's leg. • Boston's Roger Clemens graced the cover of Sports Illustrated and set a Major League record when he fanned 20 Mariners in nine innings. • At 54 an ageless Bill Shoemaker took Ferdinand for a masterful ride at Churchill Downs to win his fourth Kentucky Derby. • With goaltender Patrick Roy stopping the puck the Montreal Canadiens ousted the New York Rangers and had a chance to win the Stanley Cup in the NHL playoffs. • Milwaukee overcame its years of playoff frustration by deep-sixing the 76ers to advance to the conference finals. • Snow Chief driven by Alex Solis stormed back from his defeat in the Kentucky Derby with a four length victory in the Preakness Stakes. 1991 • The Lowly Minnesota North Stars stunned the mighty Chicago Blackhawks who were number one in the regular season and the St. Louis Blues number two in the regular season to win the NHL's Norris Division Crown giving them the nickname of the "Cinderfellas". They had been 27-39-14 in regular season and 8-4 in the post season. • Boston's Roger Clemens kept blowing them away as he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. • Strike The Gold came from behind and outside to win the 117th Kentucky Derby in a final time of 2:03 1 3/4 length ahead of Best Pal and Mane Minister. • Thirty four year old Larry Bird struck his head on the Boston Garden floor and was out for several seconds but still managed to lead the Celtics to victory over the upstart Indianna Pacers in the fifth and deciding game in the first round Eastern Conference playoff series. • The Bulls took a 3-1 NBA playoff lead over the Phillys. • The Minnesota North Stars took a 2-1 lead over the Pittsburg Penguins in the Stanley Cup final series. • Hansel, whose trainer was Frank Brothers and jockey Jerry Bailey, won the Preakness Stakes after finishing 10th in the Kentucky Derby. 1996 • In the NHL's fiercest first round of the playoff series, the Blues upended the Toronto Maple Leafs. • Jerry Bailey riding Grindstone and Chris McCarron riding Cavonnier rushed into line together at Churchill Downs at the Kentucky Derby making it too close to call and an agonizing 4.5 minute wait before Grindstone was called the winner. • Guard Gary Payton led the Sonics into the Western semis against the Rockets. • The Chicago Bulls beat the New York Knicks with Michael Jordan overcoming back spasms to score 44 points in the NBA playoffs. • The favored Red Wings saw their Stanley Cup hopes being dashed by the Blues as they were down 3-2 in the second round series. • In further NHL action Ken Wregget, Pittsburg's goalie had been the surprise of post season as the Penguins propelled into the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Rangers. • In NBA playoffs Shaquille O'Neal elevated his game and Orlando took command against Atlanta. Utah got tough and seized a 3-1 series lead against San Antonio.
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