1 – Southern California, behind Matt Leinart, who threw for three touchdowns and caught another, pounds No. 4 Michigan 28-14 in the Rose Bowl, a victory that would give them a share of the national championship despite the results of the Sugar Bowl three days later.

Chris O'meara / AP LSU coach Nick Saban holds up the BCS trophy after the Tigers defeat Oklahoma 21-14 in the Sugar Bowl.

4 – The writers had voted USC No. 1 in the final regular-season poll, but the BCS puts Oklahoma and LSU in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, where the Tigers upset Heisman Trophy winner Jason White and the Sooners 21-14 to claim the BCS championship. The AP voters, however, make Southern California their champion and add fuel those who want a playoff system in college football.

4 - Colts quarterback Peyton Manning wins his first-ever playoff game, a 41-10 pasting of the Denver Broncos, who fall to 0-3 in the playoffs since the retirement of John Elway.

5 – Former major league relief pitcher Tug McGraw, who starred with the Mets and Phillies, dies of brain cancer at the age of 59.

6 – Paul Molitor and Dennis Eckersley are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. It is the first year of eligibility for both.

9 - Yinka Dare, 32, former New Jersey Nets center, dies of a heart attack.

12 – Roger Clemens ends his two-month retirement and signs a one-year, $5 million contract to join former Yankees teammate Andy Pettitte with his hometown Houston Astros.

Richard Carson / Reuters Roger Clemens holds his 7-year-old son Kody during a news conference, announcing his signing with the Astros.

16 – Michelle Wie, the 14-year-old golfing prodigy, plays in the PGA Tour's Sony Open in her home state of Hawaii on a sponsor’s exemption. She birdies two of the final three holes in her second round to finish at even par, 140, for the first two days. She misses the cut by one stroke, but her 68 is the lowest score ever posted by a woman in a PGA tournament. She is also the youngest-ever player to compete in a PGA Tour event.

18 – New England wins its 14^th straight game and advances to the Super Bowl with a 24-14 win at home against the Colts. Peyton Manning, despite a great season, throws for 237 yards and four interceptions.

18 - For the third straight season, the Eagles lose the NFC championship game, this time to the upstart Carolina Panthers. The final score is 14-3, and Donovan McNabb passes for just 100 yards.

28 - Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, NFL Hall of Fame running back, dies at the age of 80.

31 – The Pro Football Hall of Fame announces its 2004 inductees: John Elway, Barry Sanders, Bob Brown and Carl Eller.

31 – Top-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium needs three sets to beat Kim Clijsters in the year’s first major, the Australian Open.

Month-by-month look at 2004 January February March April May June July August September October November December

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