THIS WEEK

BOXING  July 11, 2009  Boxer Arturo Gatti is found dead at his hotel while vacationing in Brazil with his wife. She is initially charged with homicide, but then released for lack of evidence. However, a 2nd autopsy performed later in Canada where the Italian-born pugilist was living, determined he died by strangulation. Gatti was a world champion in 2 lightweight classes, retiring in 2007 with a 40-9 record.

FOOTBALL  July 18, 1999  Miami Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson marries long-time girlfriend, Rhonda Rookmaaker, in the Florida Keys; he has two sons from a previous marriage. The illustrious football figure started coaching college in 1965 before moving to the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys (1989) and Miami Dolphins (1996). He won two consecutive Super Bowls with the former (XXVII, XXVIII).

GOLF  July 16, 1989  Betsy King claims the 44th annual U.S. Women’s Open Championship, firing 278 (-6) at the Indianwood Golf & Country Club in Orion Lake, Michigan. Winning by 4 strokes ahead of runner-up Nancy Lopez, it was the first of her two consecutive victories at the event and the second of her six major career titles. The Pennsylvania native turned pro in 1977 and retired in 2005 with 39 LPGA Tour wins.

BASEBALL  July 12, 1979  The Chicago White Sox hold a “Disco Demolition Night” at Comiskey Park during a double header with the Detroit Tigers. The event turns into a promotional fiasco as fans pelt debris and destroy the field while a box full of vinyl disco records is blown up by local radio disc jockey, Steve Dahl. The White Sox end up forfeiting the second game after the field is made unplayable.