On this day 6 June 1959 (Exactly 60 years ago) Former Ghanaian professional boxer, Sumoo Pappoe ‘Love’ Allotey, who won the Ghanaian featherweight title, and British Commonwealth lightweight title beat compatriot Joe Tetteh for the Ghanaian Featherweight Title in Accra.
On this day 6 June 2015 (Exactly 4 years ago) FC Barcelona were crowned European champions for the fifth time – and the fourth in ten years – after beating Juventus 3 – 1in Berlin.
In an unusually open start to a final, Juve might have scored themselves before Barça did, Ivan Rakitić rounding off a slick passing move in the fourth minute. For a while the roof looked set to fall in on Juve, Gianluigi Buffon producing a sensational stop to deny Daniel Alves – yet the Italian champions were nothing if not obdurate and drew level ten minutes into the second half through Álvaro Morata. Now it was Barcelona under pressure, but Luis Suárez restored their advantage and, with Juve throwing everything forward, Neymar blasted in a third with the final kick of the game.
Goals Scored
Ivan Rakitic (4)
Luis Suarez (68)
Neymar (90+7)
On this day 6 June 2018 (Exactly a year ago) LeBron James eclipsed Michael Jordan’s record (109) for most 30-point games in NBA playoff history in Cleveland’s Game 3 Finals loss to Golden State.
LeBron James produced another 30-point playoff game in Game 3 of the NBA Finals , giving him 110 postseason games with at least 30 points and passing Hall of Famer Michael Jordan for most 30-point games in the playoffs.
James, playing in his 238th playoff game, needed more games than Jordan, who appeared in 179 games.
Elsewhere at the French Open
On this day 6 June 2015(Exactly 4 years ago) Serena Williams won a dramatic French Open final against Czech 13th seed Lucie Safarova to claim her 20th Grand Slam title.
The American, ranked number one, needed two hours and one minute to win 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 at Roland Garros.
Safarova, playing her first Grand Slam final, led by a break in the decider but Williams won the last six games.
On this day 6 June 2010 (Exactly 9 years ago) Rafael Nadal won the French Open for the fifth time and made amends for the previous year’s defeat by Robin Soderling as he swept past the Swede in straight sets to regain the title.
Nadal saved all eight break points he faced to come through 6-4 6-2 6-4 in two hours 18 minutes at an overcast Roland Garros and secure his seventh Grand Slam title.
“I played my best match against you,” Nadal told Soderling during the trophy ceremony. “If not, it’s going to be impossible to beat you.”
Nadal then told the crowd in French that it was “the most emotional day in my career.
On this day 6 June 2009 (Exactly 10 years ago) Svetlana Kuznetsova beat fellow Russian and World number one Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-2 for the French Open final.
On this day 6 June 2004 (Exactly 15 years ago) Gastón Gaudio of Argentina beat countryman Guillermo Coria 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8-6 for his lone major title.
On this day 6 June 1999 (Exactly 20 years ago) Andre Agassi won his 1st and only French title; beat Andrei Medvedev of the Ukraine 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
On this day 1998 (Exactly 21 years ago) Arantxa Sánchez Vicario of Spain beat Monica Seles 7-6, 0-6, 6-2 for her 4th and last career Grand Slam singles title and 3rd French title.
On this day 6 June 1992 (Exactly 27 years ago) Yugoslavian star Monica Seles retained her French Open title; beat Steffi Graf of Germany 6-2, 3-6, 10-8.
On this day 6 June 1987 (Exactly 32 years ago) 17 year old German Steffi Graf beat World number one Martina Navratilova 6-4, 4-6, 8-6; Graf’s first Grand Slam victory
On this day 6 June 1982 (Exactly 37 years ago) Mats Wilander of Sweden won his first career Grand Slam title; beat Guillermo Vilas of Argentina 1-6, 7-6, 6-0, 6-4.
On this day 6 June 1981 (Exactly 38 years ago) Czech teenager Hana Mandlíková beat Sylvia Hanika of Germany 6-2, 6-4 for her only French singles crown.
On this day 6 June 1971(Exactly 48 years ago) Defending champion Jan Kodeš of Czechoslovakia beat Ilie Năstase of Romania 8-6, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 to the French Open title.
On this day 6 June 1970 (Exactly 49 years ago) Record Grand Slam singles champion Margaret Court beat Helga Niessen Niessen of Germany 6-2, 6-4 for 2nd leg of her successful Grand Slam.
By George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah
