Today in history: June 21
Miami’s LeBron James capped his title bid with 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds as he led the Heat in a 121-106 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA Finals in five games.
1964: Edgar Ray Killen
In 1964, civil rights workers Michael H. Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James E. Chaney were slain in Philadelphia, Mississippi; their bodies were found buried in an earthen dam six weeks later. (Forty-one years later on this date in 2005, Edgar Ray Killen, an 80-year-old former Ku Klux Klansman, was found guilty of manslaughter; he was sentenced to 60 years in prison, where he died in January 2018.)
1977: Menachem Begin
In 1977, Menachem Begin (men-AH’-kem BAY’-gihn) of the Likud bloc became Israel’s sixth prime minister.
1982: John Hinckley Jr.
In 1982, a jury in Washington, D.C. found John Hinckley Jr. not guilty by reason of insanity in the shootings of President Ronald Reagan and three other men.
1997: WNBA
In 1997, the WNBA made its debut as the New York Liberty defeated the host Los Angeles Sparks 67-57.
2010: Faisal Shahzad
In 2010, Faisal Shahzad (FY’-sul shah-ZAHD’), a Pakistan-born U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty to charges of plotting a failed car bombing in New York’s Times Square. (Shahzad was later sentenced to life in prison.)
2012: LeBron James
Miami’s LeBron James capped his title bid with 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds as he led the Heat in a 121-106 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA Finals in five games.
2012: Richard Adler
Broadway composer-lyricist Richard Adler, 90, died in Southhampton, New York.
2017: Connor McDavid
Five years ago: Edmonton’s Connor McDavid won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player at the league’s postseason awards show in Las Vegas.
2021: Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball umpires began doing regular checks of all pitchers for tacky substances that could be used to doctor baseballs.
2021: Carl Nassib
Raiders defensive lineman Carl Nassib became the first active player in NFL history to publicly declare that he was gay. (Nassib would get support from his teammates and the Raiders, but was cut in March 2022 in a salary cap move.)
Things to know today: Jan. 6 panel to hear from Raffensperger; Biden considers gas tax holiday; your guide to the Westminster dog show. Plus, it's summer!