1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Meeting with Mao
They figured that it was humiliating enough that the National Security Adviser was with the President at this historic meeting, but the Secretary of State was not. To add on top of that the fact that the Special Assistant to the National Security Adviser was there as a third person but the Secretary of State was not was too much, even for them. The Chinese clearly must have been puzzled by this, but they readily went along with this request.


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Meeting with Mao
Although Nixon was in China for a week, this would be his only meeting with the top Chinese leader.


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Meeting with Mao
Unknown to Nixon and the rest of the American diplomats at the time, Mao was in poor health and he had been hospitalized for several weeks up to only nine days before Nixon's arrival. Nevertheless, Mao felt well enough to insist to his officials that he would meet with Nixon upon his arrival. Upon being introduced to Nixon for the first time, Mao, speaking through his translator, said to Nixon: "I believe our old friend Chiang Kai-shek would not approve of this".


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Meeting with Mao
The meeting lasted for about an hour. I remember distinctly, coming out of the meeting somewhat disappointed. I was impressed with the physical impact of Mao. It was also clear that this man was tough, ruthless, and came from a peasant background, in contrast to the elegant, Mandarin quality of Zhou Enlai. However, I thought that the conversation was somewhat episodic and not very full. Kissinger had sort of the same reaction as I did.


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Meeting with Mao
Mao was speaking, as he usually did, in simple brush strokes, whereas we were used to the formal, elegant and somewhat lengthy presentations of Zhou Enlai. Mao would just throw in a few sentences; a few brush strokes. He went from topic to topic in rather a casual way. ... However, as we thought about it, and certainly by the end of the trip, we realized in fact that Mao had put in a very skillful performance.


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Meeting with Mao
In his understated and unorthodox way he had set forth the main lines of Chinese policy, he had made clear the features that he considered very important, and that other things could fall into place. Mao was self-deprecating, even though he had a tremendous ego. He had some humor. He had gotten through his agenda purposefully, even though it seemed casual and episodic. He had managed to cover the main points. I still don't think that it was one of the great conversations of all time. However, I think that Mao was much more purposeful and skillful than we gave him credit for at first.


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Meeting with Mao
Nixon held many meetings with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai during the trip, which included visits to the Great Wall, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. Nixon's porcelain swans statue, a gift to Mao, was presented along the way in the gift-giving ceremony. After his trip, the United States and the PRC governments issued the Shanghai Communiqué, a statement of their foreign policy views and a document that has remained the basis of Sino-American bilateral relations. Kissinger stated that the U.S. also intended to pull all its forces out of the island of Taiwan. In the communiqué, both nations pledged to work toward the full normalization of diplomatic policy.


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Results
The Chinese agreed to a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question. The statement enabled the U.S. and PRC to temporarily set aside the "crucial question obstructing the normalization of relations" concerning the political status of Taiwan and to open trade and other contacts. However, the U.S. continued to maintain official relations with the government of the Republic of China in Taiwan and did not break off until 1979, when the U.S. established full diplomatic relations with the PRC.


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Results
While in Shanghai, Nixon spoke about what this meant for the two countries in the future:


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Results
This was the week that changed the world, as what we have said in that Communique is not nearly as important as what we will do in the years ahead to build a bridge across 16,000 miles and 22 years of hostilities which have divided us in the past. And what we have said today is that we shall build that bridge.


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Results
Nixon and his aides carefully planned the trip to have the biggest possible impact on television audiences in the United States. The media coverage of the trip was overwhelmingly positive. Later interviews with correspondents who traveled with the President show how eager they were to be on the trip, which some labeled the most important summit meeting ever.


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Results
John T. Downey and Richard Fecteau, CIA operatives who were held captive in China from November 1952, were released after Nixon's visit to China.


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Results, Aftermath
Nixon's visit to China was well-planned. The media presented Nixon communicating with Chinese government officials, attending dinners, and being accorded tours with other people of influence.


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Results, Aftermath
Max Frankel of The New York Times received the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for his coverage of the event.


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Results, Aftermath
The visit inspired John Adams' 1987 opera Nixon in China. It was also the subject of a PBS documentary film, American Experience: Nixon's China Game.


1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, Travel to China, Results, Aftermath
Nixon's visit played a role in leading to the September 1972 Japan-China Joint Communiqué. In his discussion with Japanese PM Kakuei Tanaka,  Mao Zedong said, "I told Nixon, 'I voted for you when you ran for President. You still don't know.'"


1972 visit by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to the Soviet Union
In March 1972, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, president of Pakistan, visited the Soviet Union to help normalize formal relations between the two countries. Bhutto engaged in substantive discussions with Soviet leaders in Moscow, including meeting with Chairman Alexei Kosygin and Secretary-General Leonid Brezhnev.


1972 visit by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to the Soviet Union
Even before being elected on a socialist platform in 1971, Bhutto had spoken of the necessity of independent foreign policy and stronger relations with the Soviet Union, which had been fractured during the direct war with India and the Indo-Soviet Treaty.


1972 visit by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to the Soviet Union
The meeting was marked as a reconciliation between the states and as a restoration of industrial co-operation. It also signaled a wider shift towards an independent foreign policy, in particular to reduce Pakistan's dependence on the United States.


1972 visit by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to the Soviet Union
Held from 2 March till 5 March 1972, the meeting also strengthened trade between the two states. Trade was increased from 36.2 million rubles (Рубль) to 92.3 million rubles. The repercussions of Bhutto's visit were vast, including the ₨.4.5 billion worth of Pakistan Steel Mills established in Karachi, the Guddo Thermal Power Plant, and Pakistan's official departure from the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO).


1972 visit by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to the Soviet Union
In 1974, Bhutto again visited Moscow as part of a goodwill mission, aimed at strengthening ties. That visit yielded mixed results: the Pakistan Steel Mills were established and inaugurated in 1985; however, the closer ties with China, difficulties with India and Afghanistan, and the discovery of Soviet arms negatively impacted relations between Pakistan and Soviet Union. Relations between the two countries would quickly sour after Bhutto was deposed and executed by the pro-American General Zia ul Haq, who aligned Pakistan with the US in support of the Afghan Mujahideen to resist the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979–1988.


1972 Úrvalsdeild, Overview
It was contested by 8 teams, and Fram won the championship. ÍBV's Tómas Pálsson was the top scorer with 15 goals.


1972–1973 Cypriot ecclesiastical coup attempt
The Ecclesiastical coup is the name given to the events staged by three bishops of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus against the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III, in the period from March 1972 to July 1973.


1972–1973 Cypriot ecclesiastical coup attempt, Background
At the session of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus held on 2 March 1972, Metropolitan Gennadios (Machairiotis) of Paphos, Metropolitan Anthemos (Machairiotis) of Kition and Metropolitan Kyprianos (Kyriakides) of Kyrenia tabled a motion proposing that Archbishop Makarios III resign the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus. They held that the holding of  secular office by a cleric was against the canons of the Church. The Synod released an announcement reporting the position of the bishops, and stating that the Archbishop would announce his response at a later time.


1972–1973 Cypriot ecclesiastical coup attempt, Background
Makarios issued his response on 19 March. In it he accused the three bishops of having conspired among themselves and with other people outside the church, hinting at the Junta of the Colonels ruling Greece at the time, and at George Grivas, leader of the EOKA guerrilla organization, who had secretly returned to Cyprus.


1972–1973 Cypriot ecclesiastical coup attempt, Background
Makarios argued that the office of President of the Republic of Cyprus could not be called secular at a time when the Orthodox Greeks of Cyprus were struggling for their national survival, and that in the circumstances the holding of secular office did not confer on the Archbishop any personal reward, but was an onerous and bitter duty which he could not shirk.


1972–1973 Cypriot ecclesiastical coup attempt, Background
The bishops maintained their position and the crisis continued. It finally came to a climax after the unopposed re-election of Makarios to the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus on 8 February 1973. The three bishops summoned Makarios to account for himself before an extraordinary session of the Holy Synod which they called for 7 March 1973. Makarios replied on 6 March, stating that the Synod the three bishops had called was unconstitutional and therefore any decision it reached would be invalid. The three bishops met among themselves and decided to defrock Makarios.


1972–1973 Cypriot ecclesiastical coup attempt, Background
Makarios called a Major Synod comprising representatives from all Orthodox Patriarchates. They all responded, except the Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate whose seat is in Istanbul, Turkey. The Major Synod convened on 5–6 July 1973. It decided to annul the defrocking of Makarios, and to call the three bishops to audience so they could express their views. The three bishops refused to attend the Major Synod, which convened again on 14 July and defrocked them.


1972–1973 Cypriot ecclesiastical coup attempt, Return of the bishops in the 1974 secular coup
When Makarios was forced to flee the island after the military coup of 15 July 1974, the three defrocked bishops entered the limelight again. The coup leaders, having appointed Nikos Giorgades Sampson as President of the Republic, also installed Gennadios as the new Archbishop of Cyprus. Sampson was sworn in as president in a ceremony conducted by Gennadios in the presence of Kyprianos and Anthemos. However, the coupist government collapsed on 23 July as a result of the Turkish military invasion of Cyprus on 20 July.


1972–1973 Cypriot ecclesiastical coup attempt, Return of the bishops in the 1974 secular coup
Glafkos Klerides, as Speaker of the House of Representatives, constitutionally took over the powers of the President in the absence of Makarios, but agreed to be sworn in as President before Gennadios, an action which Klerides's detractors suggest was indicative of a pro-coupist orientation on his part at the time. With the return of Makarios to the Presidency and the Archbishopric in December 1974, the three defrocked bishops faded from the political scene.


1972–1973 Mark Twain Awards
The Mark Twain Readers Award is given annually to a book for children in grades four through six.


1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency
1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency refers to the period after the independence of Bangladesh when left-wing insurgents, particularly the Gonobahini fought against the government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.


1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency
The government responded by forming the Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini, which began a crackdown on the general populace. The force became involved in numerous charges of human rights abuse including political killings, shooting by death squads, and rape.


1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency, Background
In 1972, Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal was formed when it split from Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the Bangladesh Awami League, under the leadership of Serajul Alam Khan, M. A. Jalil, ASM Abdur Rab and Shahjahan Siraj. Its armed wing, Gonobahini, led by Colonel Abu Taher and Hasanul Haq Inu, began an armed campaign against the government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in order to establish scientific socialism and a Marxist state.


1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency, Political killings
Anthony Mascarenhas states that by the end of 1973, the number of politically motivated murders in Bangladesh after independence was over 2000. The victims included some members of parliament and many of the murders were resulted of intra-party conflicts within the Awami League. The Gonobahini also killed numerous Bangladesh Chhatra League and Awami League members.


1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency, Political killings
On the other hand, Maoists such as Siraj Sikder of the Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party and Abdul Haq began attacking the government and people whom they considered "class enemies".


1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency, Political killings
The government responded by forming the Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini. Anthony Mascarenhas claimed that within three years, deaths of mostly Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal members reached 30,000, all of which were killed by the Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini.


1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency, End of insurgency
After being de facto ruler of the nation, Ziaur Rahman realized that the disorder set off by the soldiers' mutiny had to be suppressed firmly if discipline was to be restored in the army. Ziaur Rahman declared martial law, cracked down on the Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal, Abu Taher was sentenced to death and other party figures had various terms of imprisonment slapped on them.


1972–1975 Bangladesh insurgency, Legacy
Human Rights Watch states that institutionalized violence committed by the Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini during the insurgency, established the culture of impunity and widespread prevalence of abuses by security forces in independent Bangladesh.


1972–1979 (Vol. 2)
1972–1979 (Vol. 2), released in 1999 by Peace Records, is one of many compilations by American doom metal band Pentagram featuring material recorded during the 1970s. Comments by Pentagram frontman Bobby Liebling regarding Peace Records indicate that this album is a bootleg.


1972–1979 (album)
1972–1979 is the first of many compilations featuring 1970s material of American doom metal band Pentagram. It was released by Peace Records in 1993. Pentagram frontman Bobby Leibling stated in a 2004 interview with Hellride Music that he gave permission for 500 copies to be issued, but had not received any royalties for this release. Most of the material was later released by Relapse Records on the First Daze Here and First Daze Here Too compilations. The mix of "Smokescreen" included on the 1972-1979 LP is different from the version included on the Relapse compilations and was not released on any other compilation after 1993.


1972–73 1. Slovenská národná hokejová liga season
The 1972–73 1. Slovenská národná hokejová liga season was the 4th season of the 1. Slovenská národná hokejová liga, the second level of ice hockey in Czechoslovakia alongside the 1. Česká národní hokejová liga. 12 teams participated in the league, and TJ Lokomotíva Bučina Zvolen won the championship. TJ ZPA Prešov and VTJ Dukla Trnava relegated.


1972–73 1.Lig
Statistics of the Turkish First Football League for the 1972–73 season.


1972–73 1.Lig, Overview
It was contested by 16 teams, and Galatasaray S.K. won the championship.


1972–73 1re série season
The 1972–73 1re série season was the 52nd season of the 1re série, the top level of ice hockey in France. Chamonix Hockey Club won their 28th league title.


1972–73 A Group
Statistics of Bulgarian A Football Group in the 1972–1973 season.


1972–73 A Group, Overview
It was contested by 18 teams, and CSKA Sofia won the championship.


1972–73 ABA season
The 1972–73 ABA season was the sixth season of the American Basketball Association. The Pittsburgh Condors and The Floridians had folded, leaving the league with nine teams. However, the ABA decided to (for the first and only time) award an expansion franchise to Dr. Leonard Bloom (President and CEO of the United States Capital Corporation) for $1 million to play in San Diego, California, named the San Diego Conquistadors (however due to a feud they did not play in San Diego Sports Arena, instead playing at Peterson Gym).


1972–73 ABA season
Subsequently, this meant that the Memphis Tams (formerly the Memphis Pros) would move to the Eastern Division. Once again, the best regular season team did not win the ABA Finals, with the Indiana Pacers (who had the 4th best record), led by playoff MVP George McGinnis, winning the championship, 4 games to 3 over the Kentucky Colonels.


1972–73 AHL season
The 1972–73 AHL season was the 37th season of the American Hockey League. Twelve teams played 76 games each in the schedule. The Cincinnati Swords finished first overall in the regular season, and won the Calder Cup championship.


1972–73 AHL season, Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points;


1972–73 AHL season, Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


1972–73 Albanian Cup
1972–73 Albanian Cup (Albanian: Kupa e Shqipërisë) was the twenty-first season of Albania's annual cup competition. It began on August 1972 with the First Round and ended on May 1973 with the Final match. The winners of the competition qualified for the 1973-74 first round of the UEFA Cup. KS Vllaznia were the defending champions, having won their second Albanian Cup last season. The cup was won by KF Partizani.


1972–73 Albanian Cup
The rounds were played in a two-legged format similar to those of European competitions. If the aggregated score was tied after both games, the team with the higher number of away goals advanced. If the number of away goals was equal in both games, the match was decided by extra time and a penalty shootout, if necessary.


1972–73 Albanian Cup, Second round
In this round entered the 16 winners from the previous round. First and second legs were played on January 1973.


1972–73 Albanian Cup, Quarter finals
In this round entered the 8 winners from the previous round.


1972–73 Albanian Cup, Semifinals
In this round entered the four winners from the previous round.


1972–73 Albanian National Championship
The 1972–73 Albanian National Championship was the 34th season of the Albanian National Championship, the top professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1930.


1972–73 Albanian National Championship, Overview
It was contested by 14 teams, and Dinamo Tirana won the championship.


1972–73 Albanian National Championship, League table
Note: 'Traktori' is Lushnja, 'Labinoti' is Elbasani, '17 Nëntori' is Tirana, 'Lokomotiva Durrës' is Teuta


1972–73 Alberta Oilers season
The 1972–73 Alberta Oilers season was the Oilers' first season, as one of twelve inaugural franchises of the now-defunct World Hockey Association (WHA).


1972–73 Alberta Oilers season, Regular season
The Oilers victory over the Ottawa Nationals on October 11, 1972, was the first game in league history, with Ron Anderson scoring the first goal.


1972–73 Alberta Oilers season, Regular season
Jim Harrison led the team in scoring, with 39 goals and 86 points. On January 30, 1973, in an 11–3 defeat of the New York Raiders, Harrison set a major professional hockey record with 10 points (3G, 7A) in a single game. That feat was later matched by Darryl Sittler on February 7, 1976, in a National Hockey League game.


1972–73 Alberta Oilers season, Regular season
The Oilers posted a winning record in the regular season, with 38 wins, 37 losses and 3 ties. The Minnesota Fighting Saints finished with an identical record, so a single game playoff was contested to decide fourth place in the Western Division. The Fighting Saints defeated the Oilers 4–2 on a neutral site rink (in Calgary), ending the Oilers season.


1972–73 Alberta Oilers season, Schedule and results
Legend:   Win (2 points)  Loss (0 points)  Tie (1 point)


1972–73 Alberta Oilers season, Playoffs
The Oilers and the Minnesota Fighting Saints were tied at the end of the season. They had the same number of victories and points, and they had both won four games against each other. Subsequently, it was decided that the two teams would play a one-game playoff to decide the final spot in the playoffs, to be played in Calgary. The Oilers lost the game, and the Fighting Saints went on to play in the Quarterfinals.


1972–73 Alberta Oilers season, Player statistics, Skaters
Note: GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties In Minutes


1972–73 Alberta Oilers season, Player statistics, Skaters
†Denotes player traded to the Oilers mid-season. ‡Denotes player traded away mid-season. Statistics for all players reflect only games played with the Oilers.


1972–73 Alberta Oilers season, Player statistics, Goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average


1972–73 Alberta Oilers season, Awards and records
Four Oilers were selected to play in the mid-season All-Star Game on January 6:


1972–73 Alberta Oilers season, Transactions, Draft picks
The WHA General Player Draft was held on February 12–13, 1972 to stock each new WHA team with their initial rosters. The Oilers selected four NHL players with their "priority" selections:


1972–73 Alberta Oilers season, Transactions, Draft picks
Ullman and MacGregor would eventually play for the Oilers, but not for the 1972–73 season. Both were Edmonton-born players who finished their playing careers with the Oilers after long NHL careers.


1972–73 Alberta Oilers season, Transactions, Draft picks
The Oilers selected an additional 96 players in subsequent rounds of the draft. Of those, 22 players would play for the Oilers, 16 in the 1972–73 season.


1972–73 Algerian Championnat National
The 1972–1973 Algerian Championnat National was the 11th season of the Algerian Championnat National since its establishment in 1962. A total of 16 teams contested the league, with MC Alger as the defending champions.


1972–73 Algerian Cup
The 1972–73 Algerian Cup is the 11th edition of the Algerian Cup. Hamra Annaba are the defending champions, having beaten USM Alger 2–0 in the previous season's final.


1972–73 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
The 1972–73 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship was the third staging of the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1970-71.


1972–73 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
Bellaghy were the defending champions, however, they failed to qualify after being beaten by Ballinascreen in the Derry County Championship.


1972–73 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
On 24 June 1973, Nemo Rangers won the championship following a 4-16 to 0-10 defeat of St. Vincent's in the All-Ireland final replay at Semple Stadium. It was their first ever championship title.


1972–73 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The 1972-73 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship was the third staging of the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county club hurling tournament. The championship began on 26 November 1972 and ended on 9 December 1973.


1972–73 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
Blackrock of Cork were the defending champions, however, they failed to qualify after being defeated by St. Finbarr's in the opening round of the Cork Championship.


1972–73 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
On 9 December 1973, Glen Rovers won the championship after a 2-18 to 2-08 defeat of St. Rynagh's in the All-Ireland final. It was their first ever championship title.


1972–73 Allsvenskan (men's handball)
The 1972–73 Allsvenskan was the 39th season of the top division of Swedish handball. 10 teams competed in the league. IF Saab won the regular season and also won the playoffs to claim their second Swedish title. IF Guif and IFK Lidingö were relegated.


1972–73 Alpha Ethniki
The 1972–73 Alpha Ethniki was the 37th season of the highest football league of Greece. The season began on 17 September 1972 and ended on 3 June 1973. Olympiacos won their 18th Greek title and their first one in six years.


1972–73 Alpha Ethniki
The point system was: Win: 3 points - Draw: 2 points - Loss: 1 point.


1972–73 Arad County Championship
The 1972–73 Arad County Championship was the 5th season of the Liga IV Arad, the fourth tier of the Romanian football league system. Crișana Sebiș was crowned as county champion and promoted to 1973–74 Divizia C.


1972–73 Arsenal F.C. season
During the 1972–73 English football season, Arsenal F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.


1972–73 Arsenal F.C. season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1972–73 Aston Villa F.C. season
The 1972–73 English football season was Aston Villa's 73rd season in the Football League, this season playing in the Football League Second Division. Under manager Vic Crowe  Aston Villa won promotion in the previous season as champions with a record 70 points, and thus ended their two-year spell in the Third Division. By the end of the decade they would be firmly re-established as a First Division club.


1972–73 Athenian League
The 1972–73 Athenian League season was the 50th in the history of Athenian League. The league consisted of 46 teams.


1972–73 Athenian League, Premier Division
The division featured two new teams, promoted from last season's Division One:


1972–73 Atlanta Flames season
The 1972–73 Atlanta Flames season was the inaugural season for the Flames' franchise.


1972–73 Atlanta Flames season, Regular season
When it was first announced that Atlanta would have an NHL franchise many hockey observers thought that a team based in the southern United States was a ludicrous and foolish move, especially since the talent pool had been diluted by repeated expansion and the upstart WHA. Nevertheless, the team quickly began front office operations, naming young St. Louis Blues assistant general manager Cliff Fletcher as general manager. Soon after, Fletcher had found the team its first coach: former Canadiens star forward Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion.


1972–73 Atlanta Flames season, Regular season
The team was a pleasant surprise in its first season on the ice, its success built on new star goaltenders Dan Bouchard and Phil Myre, solid defensemen such as Randy Manery and Pat Quinn, and forwards Rey Comeau, (captain) Keith McCreary, Larry Romanchych and Bob Leiter. Despite its inexperience as a team, the Flames were quite successful in the beginning of their rookie season, posting a 20–19–8 record by January 19, 1973, off the success of their young goaltending tandem. However, they lost 19 of their last 31 games, finishing out of the playoffs.


1972–73 Atlanta Flames season, Regular season
Part of the problem as that in defiance of all geographic reality, the Flames were placed in the West Division—saddling them with some of the longest road trips in the league—and ultimately, the team's excellent defense and goaltending were sabotaged by its lack of goalscoring, finishing second worst in the NHL in that category. However, their 65 points were 35 better than the Islanders, who toiled at the bottom of the East Division.


1972–73 Atlanta Flames season, Player statistics, Skaters
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


1972–73 Atlanta Flames season, Player statistics, Skaters
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Atlanta. Stats reflect time with the Flames only. ‡Traded mid-season


1972–73 Atlanta Flames season, Player statistics, Goaltending
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average


1972–73 Atlanta Flames season, Transactions
The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1972–73 season.


1972–73 Atlanta Hawks season
The 1972–73 NBA season was the Hawks' 24th season in the NBA and fifth season in Atlanta. The team moved their home games from the Alexander Memorial Coliseum to The Omni Coliseum. The Hawks registered a 46–36 record during the regular-season, but went 2–4 against the Boston Celtics in postseason.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season
The 1972–73 Australian region cyclone season was an above-average tropical cyclone season, in terms of activity. Additionally, it is also the deadliest tropical cyclone season recorded in the Australian region, with Cyclone Flores killing an estimated 1,650 people alone, making Flores the single-deadliest tropical cyclone recorded in the entire Southern Hemisphere.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Ivy-Beatrice
Tropical Cyclone Ivy developed over the eastern Indian Ocean on December 7. The cyclone entered the southwest Indian Ocean basin after crossing 80°E and was renamed Beatrice.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Jean
On January 10, Jean developed northwest of Western Australia. It strengthened into a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone, before being last noted on January 17.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Kerry
At Wickham on 21 January 1973 more than 30 houses were partly unroofed and some houses received major damage. There was no damage to buildings in Dampier, Roebourne or Karratha as the cyclone crossed the coast well to the east. Kerry passed close to a number of oil-drilling rigs causing damage and lost productivity time that cost over one million dollars. Maximum recorded gust was 140 km/h at Cape Lambert.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Leila-Gertrude
Tropical Cyclone Leila formed offshore Western Australia on January 21. Moving generally westward, the storm crossed 80°E on January 23 and was renamed Gertrude.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Adeline
Tropical Cyclone Adeline developed in the Gulf of Carpentaria on January 27. Moving south-southwestward, Adeline made landfall near the Northern Territory-Queensland border, shortly before dissipating on January 29.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Maud
Tropical Cyclone Maud existed offshore Western Australia from January 28 to January 31.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Kristy
Tropical Cyclone Kristy developed southwest of the Solomon Islands on February 24. Heading generally southward, Kristy dissipated well east of New South Wales on March 1.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Leah
The next system, Cyclone Leah, formed near the coast of Western Australia on February 27. Moving southwestward, Leah eventually dissipated on March 11.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Madge
Cyclone Madge originated in the vicinity of the Solomon Islands on February 28. Tracking west-southwestward, Madge struck the Cape York Peninsula early on March 4. By late the following day, the cyclone made landfall near Numbulwar, Northern Territory. Moving across Northern Territory and Queensland, Madge emerged into the Indian Ocean on March 10. The storm headed generally westward for the next several days, until dissipating on March 18.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Nellie
On March 13, Cyclone Nellie formed offshore Queensland. It moved generally west-southwestward before dissipated on March 23.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Bella
Cyclone Bella developed over the Arafura Sea on March 20. It struck North Territory before dissipating on March 25.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Paula
The next system, Cyclone Paula, formed southwest of Indonesia on March 26. Paula moved southwestward and dissipated about six days later.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Flores
The strongest tropical cyclone of the season developed in the Banda Sea on April 26. The storm peaked with a barometric pressure of 950 mbar (28 inHg). The storm struck the island of Flores before dissipating on April 29. Widespread destruction of houses, schools, and bridges was reported in four of the island's districts. 53 on Flores were killed, and 21 perished in the sinking of a Timorese fishing ship, the Oarbiru. Additionally, over 1,500 fisherman were reported lost at sea. The area's remoteness kept information about the cyclone's effects from reaching the news for over a month. The storm killed a total of 1,650 people, making it the deadliest tropical cyclone recorded in the Southern Hemisphere.


1972–73 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcelle
Marcelle, the final tropical cyclone of the season, developed well west of Indonesia on April 29. The storm struck near Busselton, Western Australia late on May 7. Marcelle dissipated well south of Australia about two days later.


1972–73 Austrian Hockey League season
The 1972–73 Austrian Hockey League season was the 43rd season of the Austrian Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in Austria. Eight teams participated in the league, and EC KAC won the championship.


1972–73 Austrian football championship, Overview
It was contested by 16 teams, and FC Wacker Innsbruck won the championship.


1972–73 Baltimore Bullets season
In the 1972–73 NBA season, their tenth and final season in Baltimore, Maryland, the Bullets were led by seventh-year head coach Gene Shue and won a third consecutive Central Division title.


1972–73 Baltimore Bullets season
Prior to the season in June, forward Elvin Hayes was acquired in a trade from the Houston Rockets, for forward Jack Marin and draft picks. In the 1972 draft in April, Baltimore selected point guard Kevin Porter in the third round. After a slow start, the Bullets had a strong 10–4 record in December. In the playoffs, they faced their playoff rivals the New York Knicks, and fell in five games in the conference semi-finals; the Knicks went on to win the NBA title.


1972–73 Baltimore Bullets season
Following the season, the Bullets made a short move to the new Capital Centre in Landover, a suburb east of Washington, D.C., and became the Capital Bullets. The Bullets would later play 35 regular season games in Baltimore from the 1988–89 through 1996–97 seasons.


1972–73 Banks Trophy
The 1972–73 Banks Trophy was the inaugural edition of what is now the Regional Super50, the domestic limited-overs cricket competition for the countries of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). It was the only season of the competition to carry that name.


1972–73 Banks Trophy
Four teams contested the tournament – Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. The Combined Islands, the only other team in West Indian domestic cricket at the time, did not participate, as the Windward Islands were playing a multi-day fixture against the touring Australians at the same time. The Banks Trophy was played as a knock-out tournament over a single weekend, from 13 to 15 April 1973. All matches were played at Kensington Oval, in Bridgetown, Barbados, and had a duration of 40 overs. In the tournament final, Barbados narrowly defeated Guyana, winning by only nine runs. A number of players in the Banks Trophy went on to play a key role in the West Indian team that won the inaugural World Cup in 1975.


1972–73 Bayernliga
The 1972–73 season of the Bayernliga,  the third tier of the German football league system in the state of Bavaria at the time, was the 28th season of the league.


1972–73 Bayernliga, Overview
The league champions FC Augsburg, winning their first Bayernliga title, were promoted to the Regionalliga Süd. FC Augsburg formed four years earlier in a merger of BC Augsburg and the football department of TSV Schwaben Augsburg, would go on to win the Regionalliga Süd in the following season and narrowly miss out on Bundesliga promotion.


1972–73 Bayernliga, Overview
Runners-up ESV Ingolstadt qualified for the German amateur championship, where the club was eliminated by eventual winners SpVgg Bad Homburg in the semi-finals.


1972–73 Bayernliga, Overview
The bottom three teams in the league were directly relegated. For FC Lichtenfels it marked the end of 27 consecutive seasons in the league, having been promoted to the Bayernliga in 1946. Lichtenfels would never return to the Bayernliga again while of the other two clubs, ASV Neumarkt would win direct promotion back to the league the following season and 1. FC Nürnberg Amateure would return in 1980.


1972–73 Bayernliga, Overview
Norbert Knopf of FC Herzogenaurach was the top scorer of the league with 30 goals, the second time he finished as the best scorer of the league after 1970–71.


1972–73 Bayernliga, Table
The 1972–73 season saw four new clubs in the league, ASV Herzogenaurach, BSC Sendling and 1. FC Bayreuth, all promoted from the Landesliga Bayern, while ESV Ingolstadt had been relegated from the Regionalliga Süd to the league.


1972–73 Bayernliga, Table
Ingolstadt had been playing in the Regionalliga for the previous four seasons after a Bayernliga championship in 1968, while Bayreuth returned after having been relegated from the league in 1970. Sending had last played in the Bayernliga in 1958 while Herzogenaurach was promoted to the league for the first time.


1972–73 Belgian First Division
Statistics of Belgian First Division in the 1972–73 season for association football clubs in Belgium.


1972–73 Belgian First Division, Overview
It was contested by 16 teams, and Club Brugge K.V. won the championship.


1972–73 Birmingham City F.C. season
The 1972–73 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 70th in the Football League and their 39th in the First Division, to which they were promoted as Second Division runners-up in 1971–72. After spending much of the season in the lower reaches of the table, eight wins and a draw from the last ten matches brought them up to tenth position in the 22-team division. They entered the 1972–73 FA Cup at the third round proper and lost in that round to Swindon Town, and entered the League Cup in the second round, eliminated in the fourth by Blackpool.


1972–73 Birmingham City F.C. season
Twenty-seven players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were fourteen different goalscorers. Centre-forward Bob Latchford played in all but one of the 48 first-team matches over the season, and finished as leading goalscorer with 20 goals, of which 19 came in league competition. The home attendance in First Division matches never fell below 30,000.


1972–73 Blackpool F.C. season
The 1972–73 season was Blackpool F.C. 's 65th season (62nd consecutive) in the Football League. It was also the 75th anniversary season of their debut in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing seventh.


1972–73 Blackpool F.C. season
Blackpool's third and final appearance in the Anglo-Italian Cup ended at the fourth-round stage.


1972–73 Blackpool F.C. season
Bob Stokoe resigned as manager in November, to take charge at Sunderland. He was succeeded by Harry Potts.


1972–73 Blackpool F.C. season
Alan Suddick was the club's top scorer, with thirteen goals (ten in the league, one in the FA Cup and two in the League Cup). Alan Ainscow was the joint-top scorer in the league.


1972–73 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team
The 1972–73 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team represented Boise State College during the 1972–73 NCAA University Division basketball season. The Broncos were led by eighth-year head coach Murray Satterfield, and played their home games on campus at Bronco Gymnasium in Boise, Idaho.


1972–73 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team
They finished the regular season at 11–15 overall, with a 5–9 record in the Big Sky Conference, sixth in the standings. Satterfield resigned in mid-January when the Broncos were 6–8 (0–2 in Big Sky), and assistant Bus Connor was promoted.


1972–73 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team
No Broncos were named to the all-conference team. There was no conference tournament, which debuted three years later in 1976.


1972–73 Boston Bruins season
The 1972–73 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 49th season in the NHL.


1972–73 Boston Celtics season
The 1972–73 Boston Celtics season was their 27th in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics finished the season with the best record in the league, and currently in franchise history, at 68–14. Third-year forward Dave Cowens won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tiny Archibald. They also won the Atlantic Division for the second consecutive season.


1972–73 Boston Celtics season
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics lost to the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks.


1972–73 Bradford City A.F.C. season
The 1972–73 Bradford City A.F.C. season was the 60th in the club's history.


1972–73 Bradford City A.F.C. season
The club finished 16th in Division Four, reached the 4th round of the FA Cup, and the 2nd round of the League Cup.


1972–73 Brentford F.C. season
During the 1972–73 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. The early-season departures of goalscorers John O'Mara and Bobby Ross and 15 consecutive away league defeats led to Brentford's relegation straight back to the Fourth Division.


1972–73 Brentford F.C. season, Season summary
Brentford's promotion to the Third Division at the end of the 1971–72 season meant that the club would compete in the third-tier for the first time since 1965–66. Self-imposed financial austerity since the club's relegation to the Fourth Division had enabled the club's large debts to be paid off, but despite promotion and increasing attendances, manager Frank Blunstone would again be forced to maintain a small playing squad. Blunstone turned down the chance to become assistant manager at Everton during the off-season.


1972–73 Brentford F.C. season, Season summary
Released in the wake of the promotion were defender Steven Tom, midfielder Brian Turner and winger Gordon Neilson and in came amateur goalkeeper Paul Priddy, midfielders David Court and Alan Murray, winger David Jenkins and Stewart Houston's loan was turned into a permanent transfer for a £15,000 fee. The Brentford youth team was also reactivated after being disbanded due to the budget cuts of 1967, with Kevin Harding, Richard Poole and Graham Pearce being taken on as apprentices. Gary Huxley would win an England Youth cap during the season.


1972–73 Brentford F.C. season, Season summary
Despite losing and drawing the first two league matches of the season, three consecutive wins put Brentford in 2nd position by 2 September 1972. 10 days later, forward John O'Mara, the previous season's Gallagher's Divisional Footballer Of The Year, was sold to Third Division rivals Blackburn Rovers for a club-record £50,000 fee. Given that Chelsea had recently paid Southend United £100,000 for 25-goal forward Bill Garner, it was felt amongst the Brentford supporters that O'Mara had been sold cheaply. The loss of O'Mara's goals and the departure of captain Bobby Ross shortly afterwards contributed a great deal to Brentford's relegation at the end of the season, given that the two players had scored over half of Brentford's goals during the previous campaign.


1972–73 Brentford F.C. season, Season summary
By early October 1972, Brentford were in the bottom-six of the Third Division, but a profit of nearly £80,000 from the first eight league matches of the season and the £50,000 from the sale of John O'Mara allowed manager Frank Blunstone to pay £10,000 for Carlisle United forward Stan Webb. By mid-December, Blunstone had just 12 fit players available and despite spending over a further £25,000 on attackers Roger Cross, Barry Salvage and Andy Woon, Brentford's slide towards relegation continued through the early months of 1973.


1972–73 Brentford F.C. season, Season summary
The mid-season signings failed to help arrest the slump and Brentford were relegated after taking just two points from the final six matches of the season. Aside from the lack of goals (winger John Docherty top-scored with 8), Brentford lost 15 consecutive away league matches during the season, a new club record.


1972–73 British Home Championship
The 1972–73 British Home Championship international Home Nations football tournament was, like its predecessor in 1972, a victim of The Troubles in Northern Ireland which had erupted following Bloody Sunday the previous year. As with the previous year in the rugby union 1972 Five Nations Championship, threats were made by Republican activists against visiting British teams, which in this year meant England and Wales. To prevent violence but keep the tournament running, Northern Ireland's "home" games were transferred to Goodison Park, the home of Everton F.C. in Liverpool in England. This step meant that Ireland played just a short ferry ride from Belfast (where the match was originally scheduled) in a city with a substantial Irish population, but where the police were able to exercise a greater measure of control over who was able to attend.


1972–73 British Home Championship
The shift to England did not substantially hinder the Irish, who claimed a rare and respectable second place behind England, who achieved yet another whitewash of their near neighbours. Beating the Irish in Liverpool to match Scotland's win over Wales, England then inflicted defeat on the same team at Wembley, whilst the Irish recovered from their first game to beat the Scots in Scotland. In the final two games, Northern Ireland beat Wales, setting up a close encounter in the final game, in which the winner would take the tournament but a draw would benefit the Irish. The game was a close encounter, made more interesting by an English 5–0 thrashing of Scotland two months earlier in a testimonial match celebrating one hundred years of international football. England however, eventually triumphed by a single goal from Martin Peters, winning the trophy for another year.


1972–73 British Ice Hockey season
The 1972–73 British Ice Hockey season featured the Northern League for teams from Scotland and the north of England and the Southern League for teams from the rest of England.


1972–73 British Ice Hockey season
Dundee Rockets won the Northern League and Altrincham Aces won the Southern League. Whitley Warriors won the Icy Smith Cup.


1972–73 Buffalo Braves season
Despite finishing with a worse record than their previous 2 seasons, their 21–61 record was good enough for 3rd place. The Braves showed improvement under new Coach Jack Ramsay. Rookie center Bob McAdoo provided the silver lining by winning the Rookie of the Year Award with 18.0 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game.


1972–73 Buffalo Braves season
During the fifth game of the season versus the Boston Celtics on October 20, 1972, the team set an NBA record which still stands for most points in a single quarter with 58, and still managed to lose 126-118.


1972–73 Buffalo Braves season, Player statistics
Note: GP= Games Played; MPG = Minutes per game; FG% = Field goal percentage; FT% = Free throw percentage; RPG = Rebounds per game; APG = Assists per game; PPG = Points per game


1972–73 Buffalo Braves season, Transactions
The Braves were involved in the following transactions during the 1972–73 season.


1972–73 Buffalo Sabres season
The 1972–73 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' third season of operation in the National Hockey League. The team made it to the playoffs for the first time, but lost in the first round to Montreal, four games to two.


1972–73 Buffalo Sabres season, Offseason
The Sabres added future Hall of Fame defenseman Tim Horton in the intra-league draft. In the Amateur Draft, the Sabres picked defenseman Jim Schoenfeld as their first-round pick, fifth over-all.


1972–73 Buffalo Sabres season, Schedule and results, Playoffs
The 1972–73 season saw the Sabres qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time. The team would ultimately lose to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Canadiens in 6 games. After falling behind three games to none the Sabres won two straight to earn a final home game that was memorable for the "Thank you Sabres" chant from the end of the game.


1972–73 Buffalo Sabres season, Player statistics
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;


1972–73 Buffalo Sabres season, Farm teams
The 1972–73 AHL season was a successful one for the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Swords. The Swords would finish first overall in the regular season with a 54–17–5 record. They would go on to win the Calder Cup in the playoffs losing only 3 games in the 3 round best-of-7 event. It would be the only championship won by the team in its short existence.


1972–73 Bulgarian Cup
The 1972–73 Bulgarian Cup was the 33rd season of the Bulgarian Cup (in this period the tournament was named Cup of the Soviet Army). CSKA Sofia won the competition, beating Beroe Stara Zagora 2–1 in the final at the Vasil Levski National Stadium.


1972–73 Bulgarian Hockey League season
The 1972–73 Bulgarian Hockey League season was the 21st season of the Bulgarian Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in Bulgaria. Seven teams participated in the league, and HK CSKA Sofia won the championship, making it their 16th win at the time. HK CSKA Sofia also won the championship 2 seasons prior and would go on to win the next 2 seasons as well.


1972–73 Bundesliga
The 1972–73 Bundesliga was the tenth season of the Bundesliga, West Germany's premier football league. It began on 16 September 1972 and ended on 9 June 1973. FC Bayern Munich were the defending champions.


1972–73 Bundesliga, Competition modus
Every team played two games against each other team, one at home and one away. Teams received two points for a win and one point for a draw. If two or more teams were tied on points, places were determined by goal difference and, if still tied, by goals scored. The team with the most points were crowned champions while the two teams with the fewest points were relegated to their respective Regionalliga divisions.


1972–73 Bundesliga, Team changes to 1971–72
Borussia Dortmund were relegated to the Regionalliga after finishing in 17th place. They were accompanied by Arminia Bielefeld, who were demoted by the DFB for playing a key role in the 1971 match fixing scandal (although their playing record would have relegated them anyway). Both teams were replaced by Wuppertaler SV and Kickers Offenbach, who won their respective promotion play-off groups.


1972–73 Bundesliga, Champion squad
Defenders: Franz Beckenbauer (34 / 6); Johnny Hansen  (34 / 1); Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck (34 / 1); Paul Breitner (32 / 4); Gernot Rohr (3); Günther Rybarczyk (2). Midfielders: Uli Hoeneß (34 / 17); Franz Roth (32 / 5); Franz Krauthausen (29 / 4); Rainer Zobel (28 / 2). Forwards: Gerd Müller (33 / 36); Bernd Dürnberger (31 / 3); Wilhelm Hoffmann (24 / 9); Edgar Schneider (16 / 3); Hans Jörg (3); Herbert Zimmermann (1). (league appearances and goals listed in brackets)


1972–73 Bundesliga, Champion squad
On the roster but have not played in a league game: Manfred Seifert; Zlatko Škorić ; Matthias Obermeier; Georg Weiß; Wolfgang Sühnholz; Martin Wildgruber.


1972–73 CHL season
The 1972–73 CHL season was the tenth season of the Central Hockey League, a North American minor professional league. Four teams participated in the regular season, and the Omaha Knights won the league title. The league played an inter-locking schedule with the Western Hockey League.


1972–73 California Golden Seals season
The 1972–73 California Golden Seals season was the California Golden Seals' sixth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Seals were hit particularly hard by defections to the new World Hockey Association, dropping 12 points from the previous year and returning to the basement of the West Division. The Seals had the second worst record in the National Hockey League with a 13–55–10 record, the only team they finished ahead of was the expansion New York Islanders. Making things even worse was that they finished behind the one of the two expansion clubs that season, the Atlanta Flames.


1972–73 California Golden Seals season, Player statistics, Skaters
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes


1972–73 California Golden Seals season, Player statistics, Skaters
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Seals. Stats reflect time with the Seals only. ‡Traded mid-season


1972–73 California Golden Seals season, Player statistics, Goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W=  Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average


1972–73 California Golden Seals season, Transactions
The Seals were involved in the following transactions during the 1972–73 season:


1972–73 Cambridge United F.C. season
The 1972–73 season was Cambridge United's 3rd season in the Football League.


1972–73 Cambridge United F.C. season
Cambridge had a fine season finishing in 3rd position and thus gaining promotion to the Third Division after only three seasons in the Football League.


1972–73 Cardiff City F.C. season
The 1972–73 season was Cardiff City F.C. 's 46th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing twentieth.


1972–73 Cardiff City F.C. season
The season also saw Cardiff-born Phil Dwyer, who would go on to break the club's appearance record, make his debut for the club.


1972–73 Cardiff City F.C. season, Players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1972–73 Carlisle United F.C. season
For the 1972–73 season, Carlisle United F.C. competed in Football League Division Two.


1972–73 Carolina Cougars season
The 1972–73 Carolina Cougars season was the 4th season of the Cougars in the American Basketball Association. The Cougars finished 2nd in points per game with 115.6 points per game and 5th in points allowed with 110.7 points per game. By the time the season was half over, the team was 28–14, with a season best eleven game winning streak occurring during that span, while they went 29–13 in the second half. The biggest losing streak was 4, which occurred after they had already won over 50 games.


1972–73 Carolina Cougars season
They clinched the best record in the Eastern Division after beating the San Diego Conquistadors on March 25, 1973, with their 57th victory, is tied for 9th most by a team in one ABA season. In the playoffs, they beat the New York Nets in five games to go to the Division Finals with a chance to go to the ABA Finals. But the Cougars failed to advance, losing to the Kentucky Colonels in seven games, with the final one in their home court.


1972–73 Carolina Cougars season, Awards and honors
1973 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on February 6, 1973)


1972–73 Celtic F.C. season
During the 1972–73 Scottish football season, Celtic competed in Scottish Division One.


1972–73 Challenge Cup
The 1972–73 Challenge Cup was the 72nd staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup.


1972–73 Challenge Cup
The final was contested by Featherstone Rovers and Bradford Northern at Wembley.


1972–73 Challenge Cup
Featherstone Rovers beat Bradford Northern 33-14 at Wembley in front of a crowd of 72,395.


1972–73 Challenge Cup
The winner of the Lance Todd Trophy was the Featherstone scrum-half, Steve Nash.


1972–73 Challenge Cup
Cyril Kellett scored 8-conversions for Featherstone Rovers, the most in a Challenge Cup Final until it was equalled by Iestyn Harris in 1999.


1972–73 Chester F.C. season
The 1972–73 season was the 35th season of competitive association football in the Football League played by Chester, an English club based in Chester, Cheshire.


1972–73 Chester F.C. season
Also, it was the 15th season spent in the Fourth Division after its creation. Alongside competing in the Football League the club also participated in the FA Cup, Football League Cup and the Welsh Cup.


1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season
The 1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 47th season in the NHL, and the club was coming off their third consecutive first-place finish in 1971–72, as they finished on top of the West Division with a 46–17–15 record, tying a club record with 107 points. The Hawks swept the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL quarter-finals before they were swept by the New York Rangers in the semi-finals.


1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season
During the off-season, the Black Hawks lost Bobby Hull to the Winnipeg Jets in the newly created World Hockey Association, who signed him to the first $1 million contract in hockey history. The NHL also expanded once again, as the New York Islanders joined the East Division, while the Atlanta Flames were placed in the West.


1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season
Chicago, dealing with the loss of Hull, got off to a quick start of the season, winning their first four games, before sliding into a slump that saw their record fall to 7–7–2. The club broke out of its slump, won 14 of the next 18 games, and took hold of the top spot in the West Division. The Hawks then cruised to their fourth-straight first-place finish, as they had a record of 42–27–9, earning 93 points, which was their lowest point total since missing the playoffs in the 1968–69 season.


1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season
Offensively, the Black Hawks were led by Jim Pappin, who had a career season, scoring 41 goals and 92 points. Pit Martin earned 61 assists and 90 points, while Dennis Hull scored 39 goals and 90 points. Stan Mikita earned 83 points despite missing 21 games due to injuries. Bill White lead the defense, registering 47 points, while Pat Stapleton scored 10 goals and 31 points. Rookie Phil Russell had a team-high 156 penalty minutes, and had a +31 rating, which tied him with Mikita for the team lead.


1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season
In goal, Tony Esposito led the club with 32 victories and a 2.51 GAA, along with four shutouts while appearing in 56 games. Backup goaltender Gary Smith won 10 games while having a 3.54 GAA.


1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season
The Hawks opened the playoffs against the St. Louis Blues, who had a record of 32–34–12, earning 76 points, while placing fourth in the West Division. The series opened with two games at Chicago Stadium, and the Black Hawks easily defeated the Blues in the series opener, winning 7–1, before shutting out St. Louis, 1–0, in the second game to take an early series lead.


1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season
The series shifted to the St. Louis Arena for the next two games; however, Chicago took a 3–0 series lead, winning 5–2 in the third game, but the Blues avoided the sweep, winning 5–3 in the fourth game. Chicago returned home for the fifth game, and easily took care of St. Louis, thumping the Blues 6–1 to win the series.


1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season
Chicago's next opponent was the New York Rangers, who had finished the season with a 47–23–8 record, earning 102 points, and a third-place finish in the East Division. The Rangers defeated the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Boston Bruins in their first playoff series. Since the Black Hawks won their division, they were given home ice advantage in the series. The series opened up with two games at Chicago Stadium, but it was the Rangers who struck first, winning the series opener by a 4–1 score.


1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season
The Black Hawks rebounded in the second game, holding off New York for a 5–4 victory to even the series. The series moved to Madison Square Garden for the next two games, and it would be the Hawks who took control of the series, defeating the Rangers 2–1 and 3–1 to take a 3–1 series lead back to Chicago for the fifth game. The Black Hawks stayed hot, and easily beat the Rangers 4–1 to win the series and advance to the Stanley Cup finals for the second time in three years.


1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season
The Hawks opponent in the 1973 Stanley Cup finals was the Montreal Canadiens, who were the best team in the league during the regular season, as they had a 52–10–16 record, earning 120 points. The Canadiens had defeated the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers to earn a spot in the finals. The series opened at the Montreal Forum, and the powerful Canadiens easily won the first game by an 8–3 score, followed by a 4–1 win in the second game to take a 2–0 series lead.


1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season
The finals shifted to Chicago Stadium for the next two games, and the Hawks cut into the Canadiens series lead with a 7–4 victory in the third game. Montreal rebounded in the fourth game though, shutting out Chicago 4–0 to take a 3–1 series lead. The fifth game returned to Montreal; however, the Black Hawks stayed alive with a wild 8–7 victory, cutting the Canadiens lead to 3–2 in the series. In the sixth game back in Chicago, Montreal rebounded, defeating the Hawks, 6–4, to win the Stanley Cup.


1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks season, Draft picks
Chicago's draft picks at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.


1972–73 Chicago Bulls season
The 1972-73 NBA season was the Bulls' 7th season in the NBA.


1972–73 Chicago Cougars season, Player stats
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;


1972–73 Cleveland Cavaliers season
The 1972–73 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the third season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 32–50 record, finishing last in the Central Division and 6th Eastern Conference. This was the 2nd consecutive year with a total win increase. Lenny Wilkens led the team in assists and was named an All-Star.


1972–73 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Offseason, Trades
August 23: Guard Lenny Wilkens and forward Barry Clemens obtained from the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for guard Butch Beard.


1972–73 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Offseason, Trades
September 21: Cavaliers trade the rights to 1971 second-round draft choice Steve Hawes to the Houston Rockets in exchange for a future undisclosed draft choice.


1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders season
The 1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders season was the first season of operation of the new Cleveland Crusaders in the new World Hockey Association. The team qualified for the playoffs and won its first series, before losing in the Division semi-final.


1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders season, Player stats
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;


1972–73 Clydebank F.C. season
The 1972–73 season was Clydebank's seventh season in the Scottish Football League. They competed in the Scottish League Division Two where they finished 17th in the table, Scottish League Cup and Scottish Cup.


1972–73 Colchester United F.C. season
The 1972–73 season was Colchester United's 31st season in their history and their fifth successive season in the fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.


1972–73 Colchester United F.C. season
Manager Dick Graham resigned early in the new season, following two and four defeats wins in the opening six games of the campaign. Jim Smith was appointed his successor in early October, but his first win didn't arrive until mid-November. Colchester endured a very poor season, and were required to seek re-election after finishing 22nd in the league table.


1972–73 Colchester United F.C. season
Colchester suffered an early exit in the cup competitions as they were defeated in the first round of the League Cup by Gillingham, and the second round of the FA Cup by Bournemouth.


1972–73 Colchester United F.C. season, Season overview
Colchester United held its annual general meeting in September 1972. Following questioning of his tactics by a shareholder, an incensed Dick Graham tendered his resignation as manager. The club had achieved two wins in the first six games of the season, but the other four matches ended in defeat. Dennis Mochan was appointed caretaker manager until a permanent replacement could be found. He took charge of five games, but was unable to improve Colchester's fortunes, with two draws and three defeats in his five games at the helm.


1972–73 Colchester United F.C. season, Season overview
An unknown Jim Smith, then-manager of Northern Premier League side Boston United who had just led the team to the title, was appointed Graham's replacement. With Colchester bottom of the Football League after 13 matches with six points, Smith's influence gave United an initial boost, earning the Manager of the Month award for lifting the club off the bottom of the table.


1972–73 Colchester United F.C. season, Season overview
One of Smith's early pieces of business was signing his former Boston forward Bobby Svarc for £6,000 just before Christmas. However, his goalscoring influence did not immediately show, returning eight goals in 20 league outings. Fortunes did not improve for the U's as they finished the season in 22nd position and were required to seek re-election from the Football League. Colchester earned a maximum 48 votes from their fellow League clubs to retain Football League status for another season.


1972–73 Colchester United F.C. season, Squad statistics, Player debuts
Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.


1972–73 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team
The 1972–73 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team represented the University of Connecticut in the 1972–73 collegiate men's basketball season. The Huskies completed the season with a 15–10 overall record. The Huskies were members of the Yankee Conference, where they ended the season with a 9–3 record. The Huskies played their home games at Hugh S. Greer Field House in Storrs, Connecticut, and were led by fourth-year head coach Dee Rowe.


1972–73 Copa del Generalísimo
The 1972–73 Copa del Generalísimo was the 71st staging of the Spanish Cup. The competition began on 20 September 1972 and concluded on 29 June 1973 with the final.


1972–73 Coppa Italia
The 1972–73 Coppa Italia was the 26th Coppa Italia, the major Italian domestic cup. The competition was won by Milan.


1972–73 Coupe de France
The 1972–73 Coupe de France was its 56th edition. It was won by Olympique Lyonnais which defeated FC Nantes in the Final.


1972–73 Cuban National Series
The lions of Industriales won its fifth Cuban National Series, outdistancing Habana and two-time defending champion Azucareros over the 78-game season.


1972–73 Cupa României
The 1972–73 Cupa României was the 35th edition of Romania's most prestigious football cup competition.


1972–73 Cupa României
The title was won by Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea against Constructorul Galați.


1972–73 Cupa României, Format
In the first round proper, two pots were made, first pot with Divizia A teams and other teams till 16 and the second pot with the rest of teams qualified in this phase. Each tie is played as a single leg.


1972–73 Cupa României, Format
First round proper matches are played on the ground of the lowest ranked team, then from the second round proper the matches are played on a neutral location.


1972–73 Cupa României, Format
In the first round proper, if a match is drawn after 90 minutes, the game goes in extra time, and if the scored is still tight after 120 minutes, the team who played away will qualify.


1972–73 Cupa României, Format
From the second round proper, if a match is drawn after 90 minutes, the game goes in extra time, and if the scored is still tight after 120 minutes, then the team from the lower division will qualify. If the teams are from the same division, the winner will be established at penalty kicks.


1972–73 Cupa României, Format
In the final, if a match is drawn after 90 minutes, the game goes in extra time, and if the scored is still tight after 120 minutes, a replay will be played.


1972–73 Cupa României, Format
From the first edition, the teams from Divizia A entered in competition in sixteen finals, rule which remained till today.


1972–73 Cypriot Cup
The 1972–73 Cypriot Cup was the 31st edition of the Cypriot Cup. A total of 36 clubs entered the competition. It began on 13 May 1973 with the preliminary round and concluded on 17 June 1973 with the final which was held at GSP Stadium. APOEL won their 8th Cypriot Cup trophy after beating Pezoporikos Larnaca 1–0 in the final.


1972–73 Cypriot Cup, Format
In the 1972–73 Cypriot Cup, participated all the teams of the Cypriot First Division, the Cypriot Second Division and 8 of the 14 teams of the Cypriot Third Division (first eight of the league table; cup took place after the end of the league).


1972–73 Cypriot Cup, Format
The competition consisted of six knock-out rounds. In all rounds each tie was played as a single leg and was held at the home ground of the one of the two teams, according to the draw results. Each tie winner was qualifying to the next round. If a match was drawn, extra time was following. If extra time was drawn, there was a replay at the ground of the team who were away for the first game. If the rematch was also drawn, then extra time was following and if the match remained drawn after extra time the winner was decided by penalty shoot-out.


1972–73 Cypriot Cup, Format
The cup winner secured a place in the 1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup.


1972–73 Cypriot Cup, Preliminary round
In the preliminary round participated 8 teams of 1973–74 Cypriot Third Division.


1972–73 Cypriot Cup, First round
14 clubs from the 1973–74 Cypriot First Division and 12 clubs from the 1973–74 Cypriot Second Division were added.


1972–73 Cypriot First Division, Overview
It was contested by 14 teams, and APOEL F.C. won the championship. AC Omonia participated in the Greek championship as the previous year's champions. They finished in 18th position.


1972–73 Cypriot Second Division
The 1972–73 Cypriot Second Division was the 18th season of the Cypriot second-level football league. APOP Paphos FC won their 3rd title.


1972–73 Cypriot Second Division, Format
Fourteen teams participated in the 1972–73 Cypriot Second Division. All teams played against each other twice, once at their home and once away. The team with the most points at the end of the season crowned champions. The first team was promoted to 1973–74 Cypriot First Division. The last  team was relegated to the 1973–74 Cypriot Third Division.


1972–73 Cypriot Third Division
The 1972–73 Cypriot Third Division was the 3rd season of the Cypriot third-level football league. Neos Aionas Trikomou won their 1st title.


1972–73 Cypriot Third Division, Format
Fourteen teams participated in the 1972–73 Cypriot Third Division. All teams played against each other twice, once at their home and once away. The team with the most points at the end of the season crowned champions. The first team was promoted to 1973–74 Cypriot Second Division.


1972–73 Cypriot Third Division, Format, Point system
Teams received two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss.


1972–73 Czechoslovak Extraliga season
The 1972–73 Czechoslovak Extraliga season was the 30th season of the Czechoslovak Extraliga, the top level of ice hockey in Czechoslovakia. 10 teams participated in the league, and Tesla Pardubice won the championship.


1972–73 Czechoslovak First League, Overview
It was contested by 16 teams, and FC Spartak Trnava won the championship. Ladislav Józsa was the league's top scorer with 21 goals.


1972–73 DDR-Oberliga
The 1972–73 DDR-Oberliga was the 24th season of the DDR-Oberliga, the first tier of league football in East Germany.


1972–73 DDR-Oberliga
The league was contested by fourteen teams. Dynamo Dresden won the championship, the club's third of eight East German championships.


1972–73 DDR-Oberliga
Hans-Jürgen Kreische of Dynamo Dresden was the league's top scorer with 26 goals, the third of a record four top scorer finishes for Kreische, with him also winning the seasons East German Footballer of the year award.


1972–73 DDR-Oberliga
On the strength of the 1972–73 title Dresden qualified for the 1973–74 European Cup where the club was knocked out by Bundesliga champions FC Bayern Munich in the second round. It was the first time the East and West German champions were drawn against each other in an UEFA competition and resulted in a close contest, Bayern winning 7–6 on aggregate.


1972–73 DDR-Oberliga
Third-placed club 1. FC Magdeburg qualified for the 1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup as the seasons FDGB-Pokal winners and won the competition after a 2–0 final victory over AC Milan, the greatest success of any East German club in Europe. Second-placed FC Carl Zeiss Jena qualified for the 1973–74 UEFA Cup where it was knocked out in the second round by Ruch Chorzów while fourth-placed 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals, having previously overcome Fortuna Düsseldorf in the third round in another German East-West encounter.


1972–73 DDR-Oberliga, Table
The 1972–73 season saw two newly promoted clubs BSG Chemie Leipzig and FC Rot-Weiss Erfurt.


1972–73 DDR-Oberliga (ice hockey) season
The 1972–73 DDR-Oberliga season was the 25th season of the DDR-Oberliga, the top level of ice hockey in East Germany. Two teams participated in the league, and SG Dynamo Weißwasser won the championship.


1972–73 DFB-Ligapokal
The 1972–73 DFB-Ligapokal was the first season of the DFB Ligapokal. It began on 5 July 1972 and ended on 6 June 1973.


1972–73 DFB-Pokal
The 1972–73 DFB-Pokal was the 30th season of the annual German football cup competition. It began on 10 December 1972 and ended on 23 June 1973. 32 teams competed in the tournament of five rounds. As in the year before, the knock-out rounds were played over two legs, but the final was decided in a single game. In the memorable cup final, Borussia Mönchengladbach defeated 1. FC Köln 2–1 after extra time, with Günter Netzer substituting himself in before scoring the winning goal for Borussia.


1972–73 Dallas Chaparrals season
The 1972–73 Dallas Chaparrals season was the sixth and final season of the Chaparrals in the American Basketball Association. The Chaps failed to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, finishing dead last, though they missed the final playoff spot by just two games. Low attendance that had been a problem for most of their tenure led to an agreement from the owners to a San Antonio group led by Angelo Drossos, John Schaefer and Red McCombs.


1972–73 Dallas Chaparrals season
Part of this "lend-lease" deal involved the group being leased the team to play in San Antonio for three years, and if the team was not purchased by the end of the agreement (1975), it would be returned to Dallas. However, the first season in San Antonio turned out to be a roaring success, and the group decided to buy the team outright and keep the team in San Antonio, which managed to join the NBA when the two leagues merged in 1976. Dallas would not have a pro basketball season until 1980-81, when the Mavericks began play.


1972–73 Dallas Chaparrals season, Awards and honors
1973 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on February 6, 1973)


1972–73 Danish 1. division season
The 1972–73 Danish 1. division season was the 16th season of ice hockey in Denmark. Ten teams participated in the league, and Herning IK won the championship. IK Aalborg was relegated.


1972–73 Denver Rockets season
The 1972–73 ABA season was the sixth season of the Denver Rockets. They ended with a 47-37 record, good for third place. They lost in the Division Semifinals to the Indiana Pacers.


1972–73 Derby County F.C. season
During the 1972–73 English football season, Derby County F.C. competed in the Football League First Division. As the reigning champions of the First Division, Derby would represent England in the European Cup.


1972–73 Derby County F.C. season, Season summary
Derby County were unable to retain their title and finished in 7th place, one point off qualification for the UEFA Cup. This slump was in part due to the club's poor away form, winning only four matches away from home all season - one of the matches lost was a 5–0 defeat at Leeds United, the loss only serving to intensify the rivalry between Clough and United manager Don Revie. The club had better success in the European Cup, reaching the semi-finals before being knocked out by Juventus; Clough accused Juventus of bribing the match officials (describing the Italians as "cheating bastards" at the end of the first leg match in Turin).


1972–73 Derby County F.C. season, Season summary
At the end of the season, Kevin Hector was voted Derby's Player of the Year.


1972–73 Derby County F.C. season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1972–73 Derby County F.C. season, Transfers, In
Derby broke the English transfer record with the signing of half-back David Nish, from Midland rivals Leicester City, for £225,000.


1972–73 Detroit Pistons season
Following are the results of the 1972–73 season of the Detroit Pistons, the franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Detroit, Michigan. The 1972–73 NBA season was the Pistons' 25th season in the NBA and 16th season in the city of Detroit.


1972–73 Detroit Red Wings season
The 1972–73 Detroit Red Wings season was the franchise's 47th season of operation in the National Hockey League, 41st season as the Red Wings. The team placed fifth and missed the playoffs.


1972–73 Detroit Red Wings season, Player statistics, Regular season
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus-minus PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals;      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals-against average;  SO = Shutouts;


1972–73 Detroit Red Wings season, Draft picks
Detroit's draft picks at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.


1972–73 Divizia A
The 1972–73 Divizia A was the fifty-fifth season of Divizia A, the top-level football league of Romania.


1972–73 Divizia A, Champion squad
Goalkeepers: Mircea Constantinescu (10 / 0); Constantin Eftimescu (1 / 0); Iosif Cavai (12 / 0); Adrian Rămureanu (8 / 0). Defenders: Florin Cheran (16 / 0); Vasile Dobrău (27 / 0); Gabriel Sandu (28 / 0); Augustin Deleanu (23 / 0); Nicolae Petre (10 / 0); Alexandru Sătmăreanu (16 / 0); Vasile Cosma (6 / 1); Teodor Lucuță (5 / 0). Midfielders: Mircea Stoenescu (8 / 1); Cornel Dinu (23 / 2); Ion Batacliu (3 / 0). Forwards: Mircea Lucescu (28 / 12); Radu Nunweiller (30 / 7); Florea Dumitrache (26 / 15); Florian Dumitrescu (26 / 5); Alexandru Moldovan (25 / 2); Viorel Sălceanu (17 / 2); Doru Popescu (24 / 4); Marin Roșu (2 / 0). (league appearances and goals listed in brackets)


1972–73 Divizia B
The 1972–73 Divizia B was the 33rd season of the second tier of the Romanian football league system.


1972–73 Divizia B
The format has been maintained to two series, each of them having 16 teams. At the end of the season the winners of the series promoted to Divizia A and none of the teams relegated to Divizia C due to expansion of the league starting with the 1973–74 season.


1972–73 Divizia C
The 1972–73 Divizia C was the 17th season of Liga III, the third tier of the Romanian football league system.


1972–73 Divizia C, Team changes, Renamed teams
Chimia Suceava was renamed as CSM Suceava. ITA Pașcani was moved from Pașcani to Iași and was renamed as ITA Iași. Automobilul Focșani was renamed as Unirea Focșani. Șoimii Buzău was moved from Buzău to București and was renamed as Șoimii Tarom București. SUT Galați was renamed as Constructorul Galați. Dacia Galați was renamed as Oțelul Galați. Unirea Tricolor Brăila was renamed as Chimia Brăila. Metalurgistul Brăila was renamed as Viitorul Brăila. Comerțul Alexandria was renamed as Automatica Alexandria. Sporting Roșiori was renamed as CFR Roșiori. Gorjul Târgu Jiu was renamed as Cimentul Târgu Jiu. Foresta Susenii Bârgăului was moved from Susenii Bârgăului to Bistrița and was renamed as Foresta Bistrița. Politehnica Brașov was renamed as CSU Brașov. Independența Sibiu was moved from Sibiu to Cisnădie and was renamed as Independența Cisnădie.


1972–73 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team
The 1972–73 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team represented Drexel University during the 1972–73 men's basketball season. The Dragons, led by 2nd year head coach Ray Haesler, played their home games at the 32nd Street Armory and were members of the University–Eastern division of the Middle Atlantic Conferences (MAC).


1972–73 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team
The team finished the season 14–7, and finished in 5th place in the MAC University–Eastern Division in the regular season.


1972–73 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team
The 1972–73 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team represented Duke University in the 1972–73 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Bucky Waters and the team finished the season with an overall record of 12–14 and did not qualify for the NCAA tournament.


1972–73 Duleep Trophy
The 1972–73 Duleep Trophy was the 12th season of the Duleep Trophy, a first-class cricket tournament contested by five zonal teams of India: Central Zone, East Zone, North Zone, South Zone and West Zone.


1972–73 Duleep Trophy
West Zone won the title, defeating Central Zone in the final.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season
The 1972–73 season was Dumbarton's official centenary year and the 89th football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League, the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup. In addition Dumbarton played in the Drybrough Cup and the Stirlingshire Cup.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, Players
The first season back in the 'big time' for over 50 years began with very few changes to the playing staff.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, Players
All the first XI from the Second Division winning side had been retained, including Britain's top scorer for the past two seasons, Kenny Wilson. There were just three acquisitions made during the close season to bolster the defence– Willie Whigham came from Middlesbrough as back up for Lawrie Williams 'between the sticks', Denis Ruddy from neighbours Clydebank and most significantly former Celtic full back John Cushley from Dunfermline Athletic .


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, July
The season opened on 29 July with the two top scoring sides in Scotland from the previous season meeting at Parkhead in a Drybrough Cup tie with Celtic just squeezing past Dumbarton 2–1 in front of 28,000 fans.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, August
On 7 August touring English Second Division side Carlisle United visited Boghead and after an entertaining game Dumbarton ran out 3–2 winners.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, August
The League Cup campaign began on 12 August and saw Dumbarton drawn against fellow First Division sides Hearts and Airdrie together with Second Division Berwick Rangers. With the top two qualifying from each section hopes were high that progress could be made and these hopes were enhanced when Hearts were defeated 1–0 at Boghead. Despite losing to Berwick Rangers midweek at Sheilfield by the same score, a 4–1 home win over Airdrie on 19 August put things back on track. The win was not without its issues as new signing John Cushley suffered a broken cheekbone, which would keep him out for a number of weeks, with Roy McCormack joining him on the injury list with a bruised ankle.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, August
Nonetheless two draws were subsequently earned – 2–2 against Berwick at home and 1–1 against Hearts at Tynecastle – and although the final qualifying tie against Airdrie at Broomfield on 30 August was lost 2–1, the 6 points gained was sufficient to go forward to the knock out stages.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, September
2 September marked Dumbarton's first league game in the top division for 50 years, but it was not to be a happy return. Partick Thistle at Firhill proved to be a tough team to crack and Dumbarton left having been defeated 4–1.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, September
A week later at Boghead, Falkirk were the visitors and with both sets of forwards goal shy the game ended in a tame 0–0 draw.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, September
On 16 September it was back to Tynecastle to meet Hearts, but this time on league business – and it was the home team who claimed the 2 points in a 1–0 win.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, September
Four days later Dumbarton entertained Dundee in the first leg of the second round in the League cup, and with the return of Cushley, the problems in front of goal over the past few weeks were forgotten as Dumbarton strolled to a 3–0 victory.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, September
The following Saturday Boghead was again the venue, with Aberdeen visiting on league duty. The new confidence appeared to be continuing as Dumbarton led 1–0 at halftime, but a second half fight back meant the Dons left with both points after a 2–1 win.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, September
The bad news continued through the weekend as it was announced that ace striker Kenny Wilson had been transferred to Carlisle United for a club record fee of £40,000. Kenny had signed from St Johnstone on a free transfer in July 1970 and had scored 87 goals in 101 appearances – his departure created a huge void which would be difficult to fill.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, September
And that was only too evident in the following league match on 30 September against Arbroath where the lack of an effective front man meant Dumbarton could only manage a 0–0 draw.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, September
The top of the league at the end of September looked busy with no fewer than four teams with 8 points – Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United. Dumbarton had yet to win and were in 15th place with 2 points.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, October
The departure of Kenny Wilson ensured that the Dumbarton management team were on the search for a suitable replacement, and an offer was made to Crystal Palace for the former Lisbon Lion Willie Wallace.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, October
While Wallace considered matters, Dumbarton played Dundee in the return leg of the second round in the League Cup. Unfortunately the Sons were unable to hold back a rampant Dundee who chalked up a 4–0 victory, to win the tie 4–3 on aggregate.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, October
On 7 October, Dumbarton made the journey to Muirton Park to play St Johnstone in the league. New boy Tom McAdam stepped up from the reserves and was one of the scorers in a 2–0 win – the first for Dumbarton in the league.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, October
The following week, Dumbarton entertained Dundee at Boghead. Willie Wallace had now joined and played a superb game on the wing, while teenager McAdam notched his second goal in two games in a 2–2 draw.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, October
On 21 October, it was a trip to Broomfield in a league game against Airdrie, and it was '3-for-3' for young McAdam together with a Roy McCormack double that snatched both points in a 3–2 win.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, October
In the final league game of October, Dumbarton attempted to get that elusive first league win at Boghead but a goal three minutes from time rescued a point for Hibernian in a 2–2 draw. Nevertheless, Tom McAdam kept his 'goal a game' run going.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, October
On 30 October Dumbarton played Alloa in a Stirlingshire Cup tie and won easily 4-2 – with that man McAdam notching his fifth goal in five games.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, October
So the league at the end of October saw Celtic on top with 15 points, one ahead of Dundee United. Dumbarton had climbed to 13th with 8 points.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, November
The first weekend in November saw Dumbarton visit Methil for a league game against East Fife. Unfortunately two uncharacteristic lapses by Lawrie Williams cost the Sons dearly and despite an 87th-minute goal from McAdam Dumbarton slipped to a 2–1 defeat.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, November
On 11 November it was a trip to Rugby park to play Kilmarnock, and after an eventless first half the home side looked to have wrapped up the points with two quick fire goals at the start of the second half, but McCormack and then McAdam scored to earn Dumbarton a point.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, November
A week later Dumbarton looked to break their winless league streak at home with a game against Morton, and despite two goals from Tom McAdam (9 goals in 8 games) the Sons had to settle for a 2–2 draw.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, November
The final league game of November was a visit to Ibrox where despite a McCormack equaliser 15 minutes into the second half, Rangers stamina proved too much as the game went on and they eventually won 3–1.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, November
So at the end of the month Celtic still were ahead on 23 points but pulling ahead – 4 points now in front of Hibernian. Dumbarton maintained 13th place with 10 points.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, December
A week after the Rangers game, Dumbarton faced the other half of the Old Firm at Boghead, but this time there was no question as to the outcome as Celtic outclassed the Sons from the start and ran out 6–1 victors.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, December
On 9 December Dumbarton appeared to be suffering from a hang over from the previous week and never got going against Ayr United at Somerset Park, losing out 2–0.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, December
The following week Motherwell visited Boghead and in a game which turned into a pantomime due to the state of the pitch, skills were at a premium and a 0–0 draw was probably a fair result.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, December
On the day before Christmas Eve, it was a visit to Tannadice and at half time Dundee United appeared to be giving their presents early as Dumbarton led by 2 own goals to 1. However, they were not to make the same mistakes in the second half, and eventually it was the home side who were to win 3–2.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, December
The final league game of 1972, and of Dumbarton's centenary year, was played out at Boghead against Partick Thistle. A home victory in the league was still proving elusive and at half time it looked like the wait may have to go on as the Jags led 2–1. However 3 goals in the second half brought the year to a satisfactory end with a 4–2 win.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, December
So as 1972 came to an end Celtic still headed the league with 28 points, but their lead over Hibernian had been cut to 2 points. Dumbarton had dropped to 14th place with 13 points, but importantly 6 points clear of relegation.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, January
The first game of 1973 saw the visit of Hearts to Boghead, but there was to be no continuation of home success as Dumbarrton suffered a 2–0 defeat.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, January
The team were to be hit with further bad news as it was announced that manager Jackie Stewart had agreed to take over at rivals St Johnstone. However assistant manager Alex Wright (formerly boss at St Mirren and Dunfermline) was the obvious choice to take over the reins.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, January
On 20 January Dumbarton visited Gayfield to face Arbroath in the league and in a game spoiled by the blustery wing it was the home team who came out on top 2–1.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, January
The final game of January saw the return of Jackie Stewart to Boghead with his new team St Johnstone and despite having most of the play Dumbarton could only manage a 1–1 draw. In fact it could have been worse had St Johnstone scored from a soft penalty awarded 16 minutes from time.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, January
So as January came to a close Rangers had taken over at the top with 35 points, 3 points ahead of Celtic but with 3 more games played. Dumbarton had now slipped to 16th with 14 points – perilously close to the relegation places just 2 ahead of Kilmarnock.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, February
The first game of February was a Scottish Cup third round tie against Cowdenbeath at Boghead. A 4–1 victory was recorded but it was not as comfortable as it looked as at 2–1 Cowdenbeath were still in the game until the 3rd and 4th goals were scored in the final 6 minutes.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, February
A midweek league tie was next on 6 February against Falkirk at Brockville, and in a game where defences were on top it was Falkirk who claimed a 2–0 victory.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, February
On 10 February Dundee was the destination on league business, and in a game which looked destined to finish 0–0 Dundee scored twice in 2 minutes with just 10 minutes left. Davie Wilson's 86th minute counter was not enough to save a point.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, February
With relegation worries prominent, Dumbarton made a double signing on 15 February, with Ross Mathie coming from Kilmarnock and Brian Heron from Motherwell for an estimated total fee of £25,000.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, February
These new signings had their first chance to show their skills in a midweek tie against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on 20 February but it was Aberdeen who ran out easy 6–0 winners. Relegation was fast becoming a reality.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, February
It was Scottish Cup fourth round business the following weekend with the visit of Partick Thistle to Boghead. Despite the gift of an own goal in the first minute, Dumbarton had to rely on an 81st-minute goal from Charlie Gallagher to salvage a 2–2 draw.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, February
Four days later the replay took place at Firhill and it was the home team who eased into the next round with a 3–1 win.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, February
The league at the end of February still saw Rangers on top with 39 points, with Celtic just 1 behind with a game in hand, while Dumbarton remained in 16th but only 1 point in front of Kilmarnock.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, March
As Alex Wright officially took over the manager's position, next up on 3 March was Hibernian at Easter Road in the league and the home team made no mistake handing out a 5–0 thrashing.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, March
The midweek game that followed took on great significance as it was against fellow strugglers Airdrie. A win would take Dumbarton out of the relegation places above Kilmarnock. However, the home frailties that had plagued most of the season returned, with Airdrie leaving with both points after a 5–3 victory.


1972–73 Dumbarton F.C. season, Story of the season, March
There was a further chance to ease relegation worries with a game against East Fife on 10 March. Dumbaton had all the play but a magnificent performance from the Fifers goalkeeper meant that just a 0–0 draw was achieved.