References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 June 28.

2002 January 3 The University of Miami defeats Nebraska 37-14 in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to win college football's national championship. [23] January 4 The Saint Louis Cardinals agrees to a three-year, $27 million deal with Matt Morris. [56] January 8 Juan Gonzalez agrees to a $24 million, two-year deal with the Texas Rangers. [56] January 9 Billy Wagner signs a US$27 million deal with the Houston Astros. [56] January 13 In the AFC Divisional Playoffs the New England Patriots defeat the Oakland Raiders 16-13 in overtime at their home finale Foxboro Stadium. [23] January 14 Barry Bonds agrees to a five-year, $90 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. [56] January 16 Death of Bobo Olson, American boxer (born 1928). [23] January 17 Jermaine Dye agrees to a three-year extension worth $32 million to stay with the Oakland Athletics. [56] January 18 Scott Rolen signs the largest contract in team history, a $8.6 million, one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. [56] January 25 Thomas Junta kills junior coach Michael Costin during a fight at a junior hockey game in Massachusetts. [23] January 28 Death of Dick "Night Train" Lane, American football player (born 1928). [23] February 3 The New England Patriots beat the Saint Louis Rams 20-17, in NFL Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans. [23] February 9 (to February 24) The 19th Olympic Winter Games are held in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. [7] (February 8 [23]) February 10 In the 52nd NBA All Star Game the West defeated the East in Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center. [23] February 12 For the first time in its history, Major League Baseball owns a team after acquiring the Expos from Jeffrey Loria for $120 million. [56] February 14 Death of Nándor Hidegkuti, Hungarian footballer (born 1922). [23] February 16 Death of Walter Winterbottom, English football manager (born 1913). [23] February 20 Death of Willie Thrower, American football player (born 1930). [23] March 23 Death of Ben Hollioake, cricketer (born 1977). [23] March 25 Death of Kenneth Wolstenholme, British football commentator (born 1920). [23] April 1 Maryland defeats Indiana 64-52 to win the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. [23] April 13 Death of Desmond Titterington, Northern Irish racecar driver (born 1928). [23] April 15 Death of Byron White, American athlete and Supreme Court Justice (born 1917). [23] April 16 Death of Franz Krienbühl, Swiss speed skater (born 1929). [23] April 18 Death of Wahoo McDaniel, American football player and wrestler (born 1938). [23] May 1 Tevor Hoffman of the San Diego Padres establishes a new major league record for the most saves for one team: 321. [56] May 4 In Germany, BV Borussia Dortmund wins the Bundesliga title after a 2-1 victory over SV Werder Bremen. [23] May 7 Death of Seattle Slew, famous American racehorse (born 1974). [23] May 13 Death of Valeri Lobanovsky, Ukrainian football manager. [23] May 14 At the Latino-American Stadium, former US President Jimmy Carter throws the ceremonial first pitch of the Cuban League All-Star game. In warming up, Carter is coached by one-time big league pitching prospect, Fidel Castro. [56] May 18 Death of Davey Boy Smith, "The British Bulldog", professional wrestler (born 1962). [23] May 23 Irish Football Captain Roy Keane is sent home from the Training Camp in Saipan by Manager Mick McCarthy, after an argument over training arrangements. [23] Death of Sam Snead, American golfer (born 1912). [23] May 25 The Boston Celtics come back from 26 points down to defeat the New Jersey Nets in Game three of the National Basketball Association's Eastern Conference Finals. [23] May 26 Death of Mamo Wolde, Ethiopian runner (born 1932). [23] May 31 The 2002 FIFA World Cup begins, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. [23] June 1 The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Sacramento Kings 112-106, to win Game 7 of the National Basketball Association's 2002 Western Conference Finals. [23] Death of Hansie Cronje, South African cricketer (born 1969). [23] June 5 Hitting his 587th home run, Barry Bonds passes Frank Robinson becoming fourth on the all-time career home run list. [56] June 8 Serena Williams defeats her sister Venus Williams in straight sets to win the 2002 French Open. [23] June 12 The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the New Jersey Nets four games to zero to win the 2002 NBA Finals. [23] June 13 The Detroit Red Wings defeat the Carolina Hurricanes four games to one in the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals. [23] June 17 Death of Willie Davenport, American athlete (born 1943). [23] Death of Fritz Walter, German footballer (born 1920). [23] June 18 Death of Jack Buck, baseball announcer (born 1924). [23] June 22 Saint Louis Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile is found dead of a heart attack in his Chicago hotel room. [23] June 23 Death of Pedro 'El Rockero' Alcazar, Panamian boxer (born 1975). [23] June 26 Death of Jay Berwanger, American football player (born 1914). [23] June 30 Brazil defeats Germany in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. [23] July 5 Death of Ted Williams, baseball player, of cardiac arrest at age 83 (born 1918). [23] [56] July 25 Queen Elizabeth II opens the XVII Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. The Games run until August 4. [23] August 5 Death of Darrell Porter, baseball player (born 1952). [23] Death of Chick Hearn, American basketball announcer (born 1916). [23] August 12 Death of Enos Slaughter, baseball player (born 1916). [23] August 15 Death of Kyle Rote, American football player and coach (born 1928). [23] August 16 The Major League Players' Association announces a voting result of 57-0 to set an August 30 strike date. [56] August 23 Death of Hoyt Wilhelm, baseball player (born 1922). [23] August 26 The first video streaming coverage of a major league baseball game takes place on the internet. Approximately 30,000 fans visit MLB.com to see the New York Yankees defeat the Texas Rangers, 10-3. [56] August 30 Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announces the players union and owners have reached a settlement on a new four-year agreement, avoiding a strike. [56] September 11 Death of Johnny Unitas, American football player (born 1933). [23] September 18 Death of Bob Hayes, American athlete (born 1942). [23] September 22 The last baseball game is played at Cinergy Field, where the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds, 4-3. [23] October 14 The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat the Minnesota Twins to win the American League Championship in five games. [56] October 27 The Anaheim Angels defeat the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series of baseball to win the title. [23] [56] November 24 The Montreal Alouettes win the Canadian Football League Championship for the first time since relocating from Baltimore, defeating the host Edmonton Eskimos 25-16 in the 90th Grey Cup at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta. [23] November 28 Death of Norm McDonald, Australian rules footballer (born 1925). [23] December 18 Jeff Kent signs an $18.2 million, two-year contract with the Houston Astros. [56] December 29 In Cincinnati, Ohio, the Cinergy Field stadium is demolished. [23] December 30 Roger Clemens agrees to a $10.1 million, one-year deal with the New York Yankees. [56]