Today in sports history: May 12 - All Black great Jonah Lomu welcomed into world

Jonah Lomu
Jonah Lomu Photo credit: Getty

The COVID-19 pandemic has wiped out most live sport all around the globe, but history will never be erased.

While you contemplate streaming yet another Netflix drama or rewatching another replay of your favourite sporting moments, here are some stories that were making news in years past on May 12.

1973

Newtown Jets replacement halfback Ken Wilson etches his name in the history books, landed a 68th-minute field goal to secure a 1-0 victory over St George at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 

This was the first (and only) 1-0 score in the history of the ARL/NRL rugby league premiership.

2001 

For the first time, the Super 12 semi-finals would take place without a New Zealand franchise, with a final-game win over the Crusaders in Dunedin not enough for the Highlanders to pip Queensland Reds for a playoff spot. 

Led by Wallaby pair George Gregan and Stephen Larkham, the Brumbies would defeat the Sharks 36-6 in the final to claim a first Super Rugby title. 

Currently, this is the only year no NZ teams made the semis, with only two other years (2007 & 2010) that none featured in the final.

Today in sports history: May 12 - All Black great Jonah Lomu welcomed into world
Photo credit: Getty

2007 

The Crusaders and Blues are eliminated in the Super Rugby semi-finals, after defeats to the Bulls and Sharks respectively. 

Derrick Hoggard scored all the Bulls' points from the boot in a 27-12 win over the Crusaders, while the Blues lost 34-18. 

2019 

Amanda Nunes
Amanda Nunes Photo credit: Getty

Brazilian Amanda Nunes batters American Raquel Pennington at UFC 224 in Rio, Brazil, to retain the bantamweight championship.

Nunes is regarded as the greatest women's combat sports artist of all time, after beating Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, Meisha Tate, Valentina Shevchenko (twice) and Cyborg Justino, all via knockout. 

The vicious striker ended the bout with Pennington late in the final round, closing out a near-flawless performance for the now 31-year-old.

Nunes' career record sits at 19-4, but she hasn't lost in six years. 

2019 

Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard Photo credit: Getty

Kawhi Leonard hits a corner buzzerbeater over Joel Embiid that bounced off the rim four times, before falling to give the Toronto Raptors a 92-90 NBA playoff victory over the 76ers.

The Game Seven miracle propelled the Raptors into the Eastern Conference final, where they took care of the Milwaukee Bucks, before Leonard would lead them to a first NBA championship against the Golden State Warriors.

A few months after playing a starring role in the finals, Leonard hooked up with Paul George at the Los Angeles Clippers on a multi-year deal. 

Birthdays 

1925 - Major League Baseball great Lawrence 'Yogi' Berra
1968 - American skateboarding legend Tony Hawk
1975 - All Blacks great Jonah Lomu, who scored 43 tries in 73 tests between 1994-2002.

Deaths (h2)

2000 - Adam Petty, the first fourth-generation driver in Nascar history, age 19, following a horror crash in New Hampshire

Newshub 12 months ago… 

Former WCW wrestler 'Silver King' dies during show

Silver King in action
Silver King in action Photo credit: Getty

A former WCW wrestler has reportedly died, after collapsing during a show in London.

'Silver King', who played the villain in the film Nacho Libre, alongside Jack Black, was performing at the Roundhouse in Camden, when the incident took place.

The wrestler, whose real name is Cesar Barron, is said to have died from a heart attack in the ring, while facing Warrior Youth, according to Mexican outlet Record.

The official Lucha Libre Twitter account tweeted a picture of the wrestler, captioned "Rest in Peace".