In the year New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde was born…
- The Daily Show aired for the first time on Comedy Central
- Nintendo 64 was released in Japan
- The Ramones performed their last show
- The OJ Simpson civil trial began
- Steve Jobs’ company NeXT was bought by Apple, which he also founded
Tupac Shakur was shot and killed at the age of 25.
To this day, people are trying to prove he’s still alive.
AND in the worlds of movies, music and sports…
Movies
Comedy
Happy Gilmore, Swingers, Kingpin, Matilda, 101 Dalmatians, Don’t Be A Menace in South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Tin Cup, The Nutty Professor, Bio-Dome, The Cable Guy, Beautiful Girls, The First Wives Club, That Thing You Do, Striptease, Jack, Multiplicity, Kazaam, The Birdcage, Beavis and Butthead Do America, Down Periscope, The Stupids, Black Sheep, Bulletproof, One Fine Day, Spy Hard, Sgt. Bilko AND…
Space Jam
Action/Thriller
Scream, Independence Day, The Rock, Escape from LA, A Time to Kill, From Dusk Till Dawn, Twister, The Craft, Fear, Eraser, Broken Arrow, The Long Kiss Goodnight, The Ghost and the Darkness, The Frighteners, Chain Reaction, Ransom, Executive Decision, The Fan, Last Man Standing, Maximum Risk, AND…
Mission Impossible
Drama
Trainspotting, Jerry Maguire, The English Patient, Romeo + Juliet, Sling Blade, Sleepers, Secrets and Lies, Shine, Michael Collins, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Evita, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Kolya, Bullet, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Jude, Mother Night, Phenomenon, Gotti, Emma, Before and After, The Juror, Fly Away Home, Marvin’s Room, AND…
Fargo
The 69th Academy Awards
Best Actor
- Tom Cruise, Jerry Maguire
- Ralph Fiennes, The English Patient
- Woody Harrelson, The People vs. Larry Flynt
- Billy Bob Thornton, Sling Blade
- Geoffrey Rush, Shine – Winner
(The first of 4 nominations for Geoffery Rush. His latest was in 2011 for The King’s Speech)
Best Supporting Actor
- William H. Macy, Fargo
- Armin Mueller-Stahl, Shine
- Edward Norton, Primal Fear
- James Woods, Ghosts of Mississippi
- Cuba Gooding Jr., Jerry Maguire – Winner
(Cuba Gooding Jr. won the only time he was nominated)
Best Actress
- Brenda Blethyn, Secrets & Lies
- Diane Keatin, Marvin’s Room
- Kristin Scott Thomas, The English Patient
- Emily Watson, Breaking the Waves
- Frances McDormand, Fargo – Winner
(Frances McDormand has been nominated 3 other times, most recently for North Country in 2006)
Best Supporting Actress
- Joan Allen, The Crucible
- Lauren Bacall, The Mirror Has Two Faces
- Barbara Hershey, The Portrait of a Lady
- Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Secrets & Lies
- Juliette Binoche, The English Patient – Winner
(Juliette Binoche was nominated once more in 2001 for Chocolat)
Best Picture
- Fargo
- Jerry Maguire
- Secrets & Lies
- Shine
- The English Patient – Winner
(The English Patient won 9 of the 12 Oscars it was nominated for, including best Director)
Music
Rock Albums
Hip Hop Albums
Pop Albums
Billboard Year-End Top 25 Songs
- “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” – Los del Rio
- “One Sweet Day” – Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
- “Because You Loved Me” – Celine Dion
- “Nobody Knows” – The Tony Rich Project
- “Always Be My Baby” – Mariah Carey
- “Give Me One Reason” – Tracy Chapman
- “The Crossroads” – Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
- “I Love You Always Forever” – Donna Lewis
- “You’re Makin’ Me High / “Let It Flow” – Tony Braxton
- “Twisted” – Keith Sweat
- “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)” – Quad City DJ’s
- “Missing” – Everything but the Girl
- “Ironic” – Alanis Morissette
- “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” – Whitney Houston
- “Follow You Down” / “Til I Hear It From You” – Gin Blossoms
- “Sittin’ Up in My Room” – Brandy
- “How Do U Want It”/”California Love” – 2Pac featuring K-Ci & JoJo / Dr Dre
- “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” – Celine Dion
- “Change the World” – Eric Clapton
- “Hey Lover” – LL Cool J
- “Loungin” – LL Cool J
- “Insensitive” – Jann Arden
- “Be My Lover” – La Bouche
- “Name” – Goo Goo Dolls
- “Will You Save Your Sould” – Jewel
Sports
Baseball
League Leaders
Offensive
Average: Alex Rodriguez (SEA) – .358
Hits: Lance Johnson (NYM) – 227
Home Runs: Mark McGwire (OAK) – 52
RBI: Andres Galarraga (COL) – 150
OPS: Mark McGwire (STL) – 1.198
Stolen Bases: Kenny Lofton (CLE) – 75
Pitching
Wins: John Smoltz (ATL) – 24
ERA: Kevin Brown (FLA) – 1.89
Strikeouts: John Smoltz (ATL) – 276
Complete Games: Pat Hentgen (TOR) – 10
Shutouts: Pat Hentgen (TOR) – 3
Saves: Jeff Brantley (CIN) & Todd Worrell (LAD) – 44
MVP
AL – Juan Gonzalez (TEX)
NL – Ken Caminiti (SD)
CY Young
AL – Pat Hentgen (TOR)
NL – John Smoltz (ATL)
Rookie of the Year
AL – Derek Jeter (NYY)
NL – Todd Hollandsworth (LAD)
World Series
New York Yankees over the Atlanta Braves (4-2)
Basketball
NCAA
Final Four:
(1) Kentucky (1) UMass (4) Syracuse (5) Mississippi State
National Championship
(1) Kentucky over (4) Syracuse 76-67
NBA
League Leaders
Points Per Game: Michael Jordan (CHI) – 30.4
Rebounds Per Game: Dennis Rodman (CHI) – 14.9
Assists Per Game: John Stockton (UTAH) – 11.2
All-NBA Team
Afernee Hardaway (ORL)
Michael Jordan (CHI)
Karl Malone (UTAH)
Scottie Pippen (CHI)
David Robinson (SA)
MVP – Michael Jordan (CHI)
Rookie – Damon Stoudamire (TOR)
NBA Finals
Chicago Bulls over Seattle Supersonics (4-2)
Football
NCAA
Heisman Trophy – Danny Wuerffel, Florida
National Championship
(3) Florida over (1) Florida State 52-20 in the Sugar Bowl
NFL
League Leaders
Passing Yards: Mark Brunell (JAX) – 4,367
Passing Touchdowns: Brett Favre (GB) – 39
Passer Rating: Steve Young (SF) – 97.2
Rushing Yards: Barry Sanders (DET) – 1,553
Rushing Touchdowns: Terry Allen (WAS) – 21
Receiving Yards: Isaac Bruce (STL) – 1,338
Receiving Touchdowns: Michael Jackson (BAL) & Tony Martin (SD) – 14
Receptions: Jerry Rice (SF) – 108
AP MVP – Brett Favre (GB)
Super Bowl XXXI
Green Bay Packers over New England Patriots 35-21
Hockey
League Leaders
Goals: Mario Lemieux (PIT) – 69
Assists: Ron Francis (PIT) & Mario Lemieux (PIT) – 92
Points: Mario Lemieux (PIT) – 161