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| Jackie Robinson’s 1950 contract made him the top-paid Brooklyn Dodger. |
1950: Jackie Robinson signs a contract for $35,000, making him the highest-paid Brooklyn Dodger in history to date.
1962: Jackie Robinson, in his first year of eligibility, becomes the first African-American elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
1964: CBS submits the winning bid of $14.1 million per year for the NFL regular-season TV rights for the 1964 and 1965 seasons.
1990: Bob Goodenow succeeds Alan Eagleson as NHLPA executive director.
1995: The Jacksonville Jaguars unveil the expansion 
team's game uniforms and new logo. Gold, teal and black remain the colors, but the Jaguars' logo makes a three-quarter turn so that it is more of a front shot of the animal rather than a profile. The new logo is an attempt to defuse a lawsuit filed by Jaguar Cars Ltd., which claimed that the NFL team's logo too closely resembled the registered trademark of the luxury sports car.
FOLLOW-THROUGH: Ford Motor Co. and the Jaguars reach an agreement a month later on a sponsorship package, which settled the lawsuit between the team and Jaguar Cars, a subsidiary of Ford.
1996: National Basketball Players Association Executive Director Simon Gourdine is ousted from his position by a unanimous vote of player representatives, just weeks after he was granted a contract extension by the NBPA's Executive Committee. Gourdine fell victim to resentment from players who attempted to decertify the union rather than accept the deal Gourdine negotiated with NBA Commissioner David Stern.
FOLLOW-THROUGH: In July 1996, Oakland attorney and former U.S. District Attorney Billy Hunter is selected as the new executive director.
1998: The Denver Broncos upset the Green Bay Packers 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII as NBC earns a 44.5 rating for the network's final NFL game. In his sign-off, NBC's Dick Enberg says: "For NBC Sports, Super Bowl XXXII is the end of our 32 years covering AFL-NFL action. NBC's been there from the start, from Joe Namath all the way to John Elway, from Curt Gowdy to those of us that had the honor of calling this game tonight. And on behalf of all of our crew, all the men and women who have brought you the sights and sounds of NFL football here on NBC since [1965], we want to thank you for your effort and for those of you who've watched."
1998: Voters in Dallas narrowly approve an increase in hotel and rental car taxes to help fund a $230 million arena for the Stars and Mavericks.
1999: Chicago Bears President Michael McCaskey introduces Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Dick Jauron as the team's new coach after mistakenly announcing the hiring of Arizona Cardinals assistant Dave McGinnis as coach two days earlier. Chicago media heavily criticizes McCaskey and the Bears for the aborted announcement regarding McGinnis, who became upset with the news of his hiring when, in fact, no deal had been signed. McCaskey: "That was an internal foul-up. We made a mistake, and I'm not going into details."
1999: IOC member Pirjo Haeggman from Finland resigns her position over reports that her former husband had accepted jobs arranged by bid committees in two cities. The resignation comes only days before IOC executive vice president Dick Pound's report on the Salt Lake City Olympics influence-peddling scandal is due to IOC members. Fourteen IOC members have resigned or face expulsion, a warning or further IOC investigation into their actions.
2000: Heico Cos. CEO Michael Heisley buys the Vancouver Grizzlies for $160 million from Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment. Heisley: "Why did I [choose] Vancouver? Honestly? It was because Vancouver was available to me and it ain't that easy to get an NBA basketball team."
FOLLOW-THROUGH: In 2001, Heisley moves the team to Memphis.
2000: Michael Jordan signs a five-year deal to become president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards.
FOLLOW-THROUGH: On Sept. 25, 2001, Jordan vacates his front-office position and agrees to a two-year contract to play for the Wizards. He fulfills his contract, though the Wizards fail to make the playoffs in either season. After the 2002-03 season, Wizards owner Abe Pollin and Jordan meet to discuss Jordan's future with the team, but the meeting ends with Pollin dismissing Jordan. "I am shocked by this decision and by the callous refusal to offer me any justification for it," Jordan said in a statement.
2000: MLB owners vote unanimously to give Commissioner Bud Selig the most power and authority for any MLB commissioner since 1920. Among Selig's expanded power is the ability to block trades, take away millions of dollars from wealthy teams and redistribute it, and fine teams as much as $2 million, up from $250,000.
