The July 4th weekend is time to celebrate America and so many of us do exactly that with sports.

Many of the great memories of sports happened on July 4th. In 1939 Lou Gehrig of the Yankees became the first baseball player ever to have his number retired. It wan on July 4, 1939 just weeks after discovering he had ALS that he delivered his famous farewell speech in which he said "Yet today I considered myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth."

In 1975 on July 4th Billie Jean King won a Wimbledon for the 6th and final time. She beat Evonne Goolagong 6-0 and 6-1.

Also in tennis on July 4th 1981 John McEnroe beat Bjorn Borg at Wimbledon ending Borg's 5 year domination of the at Wimbledon. McEnroe was the first American to win in England since 1975.

In 1984 on July 4th Richard Petty the King of NASCAR took the checkered flag for the 200th time as he won the Firecracker 400 in Daytona.

The World Cup soccer tournament came to America in 1994 setting attendance records and helping the sport of soccer skyrocket in the United States. Team USA did it's part by making the round of 16 but on July 4, 1994 lost 1-0 to Brazil the eventual champions.

In 2007 Joey Chestnut downed 66 hotdogs on July 4th to win his first of 8 hotdog eating championships. He upset the reigning champion Takeru Kobayashi who had won 6 straight times

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