April 30, 2010
By Jon Cooper
ramblnwreck.com
When Georgia Tech sealed the deal on its come-from-behind 6-4 victory over Georgia Tuesday night at Turner Field, it gave the Yellow Jackets a series sweep of the Bulldogs.
While Tech has had great success over the years against UGA, it turns out that this season’s sweep was the first for the Joltin’ Jackets since 1994. That led to thinking, what were things like in 1994?
Here’s just a sampling of some of that year’s highlights. Enjoy the trip down memory lane.
• The unemployment rate was a mere 6.1 percent. It is now 10.2 percent.
• The cost of a first-class stamp was a bargain at $.29. It now costs $.44.
• The price of a gallon of regular gasoline was 1.03.
In the News…
• Georgia Republican New Gingrich is named speaker of the House.
• President Bill Clinton is forced to address issues of sexual harassment dating back to days as Governor of Arkansas. Former judge and independent prosecutor Kenneth Starr soon becomes an unlikely household name (Starr currently serves as President of Baylor University).
• The world’s population was 5.602 billion people. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 6.8 billion people currently inhabit the Earth.
• The White House launches a Web page. Coincidentally, Internet mass-marketing via e-mail was introduced, making the word “spamming” a part of the world’s lexicon.
• Yasir Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin share the Nobel Prize for Peace.
• Americans John F. Nash. John C. Harsanyi and Germany’s Reinhard Selten share the Nobel Prize for Economic Science.
• The world bids farewell to Richard Nixon, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Thomas “Tip” O’Neill, as well as entertainers Cab Calloway, John Candy, Burt Lancaster and Jessica Tandy.
In Movies…
• Steven Spielberg wins his first Oscar as a director for “Schindler’s List.”
• Tom Hanks takes home his second consecutive Oscar as Best Actor for “Forrest Gump.”
• Other hit movies include “Pulp Fiction,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Quiz Show,” and “Nobody’s Fool.”
In Music…
• “All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow wins for Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female.
• “Streets of Philadelphia” by Bruce Springsteen wins Best Rock Song and Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male.
• Other eye-opening Grammy winners include Pink Floyd (Best Rock Instrumental Performance, “Marooned”), Soundgarden (Best Hard Rock performance, “Black Hole Sun”, Best Metal Performance, “Spoonman”), Green Day (Best Alternative Performance, “Dookie”), Booker T and the MG’s (“Best Pop Instrumental Performance, “Cruisin'” – recognized only 32 years after their classic “Green Onions”), and the unexpected collaboration of Al Green and Lyle Lovett (Best Vocal Collaboration, “Funny How Time Slips Away”).
In TV…
• “ER” and “Friends” debut on NBC.
• “NYPD Blue” wins the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.
• Julianna Margulies, wins the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series as Nurse Carol Hathaway in “ER.” Christine Baranski wins for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Seres for Cybill. Both are currently on the CBS hit, “The Good Wife.”
• Kelsey Grammar and David Hyde Pierce win for Outstanding Lead and Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series as Dr. Frasier Crane and brother, Dr. Niles Crane in “Frasier.”
• Two years after being challenged by Vice President Dan Quayle, Murphy Brown – actually, Candice Bergan, who portrayed the character – wins the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
In Sports…
• The Atlanta Braves lose their star outfielder of the future for the season in Spring Training, when Chipper Jones tear the ACL in his left knee. There was no World Series that year, due to a players’ work stoppage.
• The Dallas Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills, 30-13, to win back-to-back Super Bowls. It was the Bills’ fourth loss in the Super Bowl, and marked their last appearance in it.
• Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets beat Pat Riley’s New York Knicks to win the NBA Championship. Viewership for Game Four of the series draws some 95 million television viewers – most likely getting a bump from those tuning in in to watch the infamous L.A.P.D.’s pursuit of O.J. Simpson and his white Ford Bronco.
• The New York Rangers end a 54-year drought – and put the “1940” chant to rest – by winning the Stanley Cup, beating the Vancouver Canucks in Game Seven.
• Nolan Richardson’s Arkansas Razorbacks knocked off Duke, 76-72, to win the NCAA Championship.
• Nebraska beat Miami, 24-17, to win the Orange Bowl and finish 13-0, clinching the National Championship.
In Georgia Tech Sports…
• Freshman Keith Brooking arrives on The Flats and has a superb season, but the Jackets endures a forgettable 1-10 year.
• Georgia Tech Baseball, beats Georgia 8-0, 13-2 and 14-1, to sweep the season series. Led by shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, catcher Jason Varitek and outfielder Jay Payton, the Yellow Jackets reach the Championship Game of the College World Series, but fall to Oklahoma.
• It marked a successful debut season for Head Coach Danny Hall.
