1988–89 Lancashire Cup
This was Wigan’s fifth appearance, and fourth consecutive victory in a run of four victories and five appearances in five successive years. The attendance was the fifth in five years to reach almost 20,000, and the receipts set a new record, exceeding the previous record by approximately £4,500.


1988–89 Lancashire Cup, Background
This season the total number of entrants remained at the 16 level. With this full sixteen members there was no need for “blank” or “dummy” fixtures or any byes.


1988–89 Lancashire Cup, Competition and Results, Final, Teams and Scorers
Scoring - Try = four (4) points - Goal = two (2) points - Drop goal = one (1) point


1988–89 Lancashire Cup, Notes and comments
1 * The first Lancashire Cup match to be played by the newly renamed club Chorley Borough2 * The first Lancashire Cup match to be played at Carlisle's new stadium 3 * Knowsley Road was the home ground of St. Helens from 1890 to 2010. The final capacity was in the region of 18,000, although the actual record attendance was 35,695, set on 26 December 1949, for a league game between St Helens and Wigan


1988–89 League Cup (rugby league)
The 1988–89 John Player Special Trophy was the eighteenth season for the competition (named as such due to sponsorship from John Player & Sons).


1988–89 League Cup (rugby league)
Wigan won the final, beating Widnes by the score of 12-6. The match was played at Burnden Park, Bolton, Greater Manchester. The attendance was 20,709 and receipts were £94874.


1988–89 League Cup (rugby league), Background
This season saw no changes in the  entrants, no new members and no withdrawals, the number remaining at thirty-sixHuddersfield dropped the  "Barracuda" suffix and the  ground reverted to the traditional Fartown name, much to the relief of most of the fans - and - Springfield Borough moved to Chorley after only one season and re-branded themselves Chorley Borough, playing at Victory Park, the home of Chorley FC


1988–89 League Cup (rugby league), Competition and Results, Final, Teams and Scorers
Scoring - Try = four (4) points - Goal = two (2) points - Drop goal = one (1) point


1988–89 League Cup (rugby league), Competition and Results, Prize Money
As part of the sponsorship deal and funds, the  prize money awarded to the competing teams for this season is as follows :-


1988–89 League Cup (rugby league), Competition and Results, Prize Money
Note - the  author is unable to trace the award amounts for this season. Can anyone help ?


1988–89 League Cup (rugby league), Notes and comments
1 * Wigan St Patricks are a Junior (amateur) club from Wigan2 * Elland are a Junior (amateur) club from the Halifax area of Yorkshire3 * Runcorn Highfield forfeited home advantage for a larger gate.


1988–89 League Cup (rugby league), Notes and comments
Runcorn Players were also in dispute and the club fielded a very reduced strength team comprised a number of trialists and reserves (and coach Bill Ashurst, (an  ex Wigan player) who came out of retirement especially to play, and was disappointedly sent off 12 minutes after coming off the subs bench)4 * A Wigan record victory in this tournament5 * The highest score, highest score by home team and highest winning margin in the  competition, between all clubs to date6 * RUGBYLEAGUEproject and Widnes official archives give the  score as 37-12 but Wigan official archives gives it as 37-2   7  * Burnden Park was the home of English football club Bolton Wanderers from 1895 to 1997.


1988–89 League Cup (rugby league), Notes and comments
It hosted the 1900-01 FA Cup Final replay in which Tottenham Hotspur beat Sheffield United 3.1. The record attendance was for a 6th round F A Cup match with Stoke City (Stanley Matthews played for Stoke at the time) at which, although the ground capacity was set at 70,000, an estimated 85,000 fans crowded in, and when two crush barriers broke, the result was 33 fans killed and another 400 injured. The capacity at closure was a mere 25,000


1988–89 League Cup (rugby league), Notes and comments, General information for those unfamiliar
The council of the Rugby Football League voted to introduce a new competition, to be similar to The Football Association and Scottish Football Association's "League Cup". It was to be a similar knock-out structure to, and to be secondary to, the Challenge Cup.


1988–89 League Cup (rugby league), Notes and comments, General information for those unfamiliar
As this was being formulated, sports sponsorship was becoming more prevalent and as a result John Player and Sons, a division of Imperial Tobacco Company, became sponsors, and the competition never became widely known as the "League Cup" The competition ran from 1971-72 until 1995-96 and was initially intended for the professional clubs plus the two amateur BARLA National Cup finalists. In later seasons the entries were expanded to take in other amateur and French teams.


1988–89 League Cup (rugby league), Notes and comments, General information for those unfamiliar
The competition was dropped due to "fixture congestion" when Rugby League became a summer sportThe Rugby League season always (until the onset of "Summer Rugby" in 1996) ran from around August-time through to around May-time and this competition always took place early in the season, in the Autumn, with the final usually taking place in late January The competition was variably known, by its sponsorship name, as the Player's No.6 Trophy (1971–1977), the John Player Trophy (1977–1983), the John Player Special Trophy (1983–1989), and the Regal Trophy in 1989.


1988–89 League of Ireland First Division
The 1988–89 League of Ireland First Division season was the fourth season of the League of Ireland First Division.


1988–89 League of Ireland First Division, Overview
The First Division was contested by 10 teams and Drogheda United F.C. won the division.


1988–89 League of Ireland Premier Division
The 1988–89 League of Ireland Premier Division was the fourth season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The Premier Division was made up of 12 teams.


1988–89 League of Ireland Premier Division, Overview
The Premier Division was contested by 12 teams and Derry City F.C. won the championship.


1988–89 Leeds United A.F.C. season
During the 1988–89 season, Leeds United A.F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division. It was Leeds' seventh season in the second tier since relegation from the First Division in 1982.


1988–89 Leeds United A.F.C. season, Season summary
Following two seasons in and just outside of the promotion play-off places, Leeds made a poor start to the season, taking six points from the first six games. A League Cup victory against Peterborough United was not enough to prevent manager and former team captain Billy Bremner from being sacked. Howard Wilkinson was appointed as the new manager on 10 October after a brief caretaker stint by Peter Gunby.


1988–89 Leeds United A.F.C. season, Season summary
Leeds rose to mid-table by December and sat in 6th by mid-February, losing only two league matches in that time. The turnaround stalled in late February and early March as a winless streak saw the team fall back to 12th in the league table. Wilkinson brought Gordon Strachan, Chris Fairclough, and Carl Shutt into the lineup, and Leeds climbed the table back to 6th by 1 April. Although these new players would be involved in the successes of subsequent years, this season's resurgence did not last, and Leeds took just 11 points from the last eight games to finish the campaign in 10th.


1988–89 Leeds United A.F.C. season, First team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1988–89 Leicester City F.C. season
During the 1988–89 English football season, Leicester City F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.


1988–89 Leicester City F.C. season, Season summary
In the 1988–89 season, Leicester failed to put consecutive wins in the league for the first time since the 1977–78 relegation season from the top flight. The only highlight in the league for the Foxes was a 2-0 win over champions Chelsea which delayed their promotion celebrations and also ending their 27 match unbeaten run. Leicester's 15th-place finish meant the Foxes finished in the bottom half of the Second Division for a second season running, which they hadn't done since 1951.


1988–89 Leicester City F.C. season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1988–89 Libyan Premier League
Following are the statistics of the Libyan Premier League for the 1988–89 season. The Libyan Premier League (Arabic: دوري الدرجة الأولى الليبي) is the highest division of Libyan football championship, organised by Libyan Football Federation. It was founded in 1963 and features mostly professional players.


1988–89 Liga Alef
The 1988–89 Liga Alef season saw Hapoel Tirat HaCarmel (champions of the North Division) and Hapoel Rishon LeZion (champions of the South Division) win their regional divisions and promotion to Liga Artzit. The confirmation of Hapoel Tirat HaCarmel's promotion was delayed as the final round match between Maccabi Ahi Nazareth (who could overtake Hapoel Tirat HaCarmel) and Beitar Nahariya was abandoned. The IFA disciplinary committee ruled that Ahi Nazareth were responsible to the abandonment and set the match result to 2–0 to Beitar Nahariya.


1988–89 Liga Alef
At the bottom, Hapoel Tira, Hapoel Kiryat Ata (from the North division), Hapoel Ramla and Hapoel Beit Shemesh (from the South division) relegated to Liga Bet.


1988–89 Liga Artzit
The 1988–89 Liga Artzit season saw Hapoel Ramat Gan win the title and promotion to Liga Leumit. At the other end of the table, Hapoel Bat Yam and Hapoel Yehud relegated to Liga Alef. However, after the season finished Beitar Ramla was found guilty in match fixing and was relegated to Liga Alef while Hapoel Bat Yam was reprieved.


1988–89 Liga Artzit
At the end of the season, Liga Artzit expanded from 14 to 16 clubs, as Liga Leumit reduced in size from 14 to 12 clubs.


1988–89 Liga Bet
The 1988–89 Liga Bet season saw Ironi Ashdod win their regional divisions and promoted to Liga Alef.


1988–89 Liga Bet
At the bottom, Beitar Kiryat Gat and Hapoel Yeruham (from South B division) were all automatically relegated to Liga Gimel.


1988–89 Liga Leumit
The 1988–89 Liga Leumit season began in September 1988 and ended in June 1989. After the first two rounds of matches (26 matches) the league split into two groups; a Championship group of six clubs and a Relegation group of eight clubs, who played the other clubs in their group once more.


1988–89 Liga Leumit
Maccabi Haifa won their third title, whilst Hapoel Tiberias, Tzafririm Holon and Hapoel Tel Aviv (a year after winning the title) were all relegated. Benny Tabak of Maccabi Tel Aviv was the league's top scorer with 18 goals.


1988–89 Liga Nacional de Fútbol Femenino
The 1988–89 Liga Nacional de Fútbol Femenino was the inaugural edition of Spain's women's football premier league. The competition was contested by nine clubs, and took place from 4 December 1988 to 30 April 1989. Peña Barcelonista Barcilona became the first league champion with a one point margin over runner-up Parque Alcobendas.


1988–89 Liga Nacional de Hockey Hielo season
The 1988–89 Superliga Espanola de Hockey Hielo season was the 15th season of the Superliga Espanola de Hockey Hielo, the top level of ice hockey in Spain. Six teams participated in the league, and CG Puigcerda won the championship. The league had not been contested since 1985-86, with only junior competitions being held in those years.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season
The 1988–89 season was the 97th season in Liverpool F.C. 's existence, and was their 27th consecutive year in the First Division, and covers the period from 20 August 1988 to 26 May 1989.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season
The season was overshadowed by the Hillsborough disaster on 15 April 1989. 94 of the club's fans died that day in a crush on the terraces in the semi-final of the FA Cup; a 95th fan died three days later and the death toll eventually reached 96 nearly four years later when another fan died having never regained consciousness.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season
Liverpool won the rescheduled FA Cup semi-final and went on to win the trophy by beating Everton 3–2 in the final, but were then denied the double for the second season running in even more dramatic fashion than the previous season, when a last minute Arsenal goal gave the visitors a 2–0 win at Anfield and sent the league title to Highbury on goals scored.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season
They had spent much of the season on the fringes of the title race, frequently led by Arsenal and underdogs including Norwich City, Coventry City and newly promoted Millwall, but a late surge in form had seen them cruise back to the top of the league by the time of the penultimate league game.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, August
After an unhappy season in Italy with Juventus, Ian Rush returned to Anfield on 18 August in a £2.8million deal - a record fee paid by a British club, and the third time in three weeks the national record had been broken. However, the Reds were not alone in signing a top striker to prepare for a title challenge - their close neighbours Everton had paid the previous national record of £2.1million a few days earlier for West Ham United striker Tony Cottee. The challenge from a resurgent Manchester United was likely to be stronger as well following their £1.8million recapture of Mark Hughes.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, August
The season began on 20 August with a 2–1 win over Wimbledon, who had shocked them with a 1–0 win in the FA Cup final the previous May, in the FA Charity Shield. John Aldridge scored both of Liverpool's goals, and rather than relegate Aldridge to the bench on Rush's return, manager Kenny Dalglish altered the 4-4-2 formation to 4-3-3 in order for Rush, Aldridge and Beardsley to feature alongside each other in what was undoubtedly the finest attacking line-up in English football, complemented by wingers John Barnes and Ray Houghton.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, August
Aldridge was on target again on the opening day of the season (27 August) as Liverpool triumphed 3–0 over Charlton Athletic at Selhurst Park and Aldridge grabbed all three goals.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, September
September was a slightly disappointing month for the Reds, who began it well with a 1–0 home win over Manchester United at Anfield and finished it with an impressive 3–1 win at Southampton, but in between they were held to 1-1 draws by Aston Villa at Villa Park and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. After five league games, they were second in the league behind Norwich City.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, September
As September ended, the Football League Cup quest began for Liverpool in the second round with a 1–0 home win over Walsall.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, October
October brought more frustration for a Liverpool side who lost 2–1 at home to struggling Newcastle United at the beginning of the month, and were also beaten by Luton Town and Nottingham Forest before the month was out. On the positive side, they did manage a league win - 2–0 away to West Ham United at the end of the month - and also managed to eliminate Walsall in the League Cup.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, October
However, they had slipped to fourth in the First Division which was still being led by Norwich City, who had an eight-point lead over Liverpool and a six-point lead over second placed Arsenal. Millwall, in their first season in the top flight, were springing many surprises as they occupied third place, while regular contenders Nottingham Forest completed the top five. However, the much anticipated title challenge from Manchester United and Everton was not yet transpiring, as both clubs were in the bottom half of the table.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, October
Midfielder Jan Mølby was jailed for three months on a drink-driving charge on 17 October.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, November
November was another month of underachievement for Liverpool, who were unbeaten in four games but only managed to win two of them, and ended the month still only fourth in the league, though they had managed to cut the gap between themselves and leaders Norwich City to six points. Arsenal and Millwall were still second and third respectively. After managing to eliminate Arsenal in the League Cup third round, Liverpool's quest for the trophy ended in the fourth round when they were thrashed 4-1 by relegation threatened West Ham United at Upton Park.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, December
December brought yet more frustration for the Reds, who managed a 1–0 win at Derby County on Boxing Day, but could only manage 1–1 draws with Everton and Arsenal, and suffered a 1–0 home defeat to Norwich City. However, they were now standing third in the league, with new leaders Arsenal six points ahead of Liverpool and a point ahead of second placed Norwich City. Millwall's surprise challenge was continuing as they ended 1988 in fourth place, while Everton's resurgence had taken them to fifth place.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, December
On a more positive note, Jan Molby was available for selection again at the beginning of the month after serving half of his prison sentence for drink-driving.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, January
1989 began on a disappointing note for Liverpool, who were beaten 3-1 by Manchester United on New Year's Day at Old Trafford in a game dominated by 19-year-old United midfielder Russell Beardsmore. This left Liverpool fifth in the table and just one point and one place ahead of Alex Ferguson's improving side. They were now nine points behind leaders Arsenal and second placed Norwich City, and two points behind Millwall and Everton.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, January
The FA Cup quest began at Brunton Park on 7 January, when Liverpool eliminated Fourth Division Carlisle United 3–0. Three weeks later they met Millwall in the fourth round at The Den and won 2–0, but their dreams of a unique second double were still looking doubtful as a less than brilliant month, including a 2-2 draw away at relegation threatened Sheffield Wednesday after being 2-0 down, meant they were still fourth in the league and nine points adrift of leaders Arsenal, who had a game in hand. Norwich City were still second and Coventry City had now leapfrogged them to occupy third place, though Everton had suffered another setback and now stood ninth.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, February
February was a quiet month at Anfield, as bad weather restricted them to just two first team games. The first, at St James' Park in the league, saw them draw 2–2 with struggling Newcastle United and fail to improve on their fifth place standing. The second, however, gave more cause for celebration as Liverpool took on Hull City in the FA Cup fifth round at Boothferry Park and came away as 3-2 winners.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, March
March saw what were arguably Liverpool's finest performances of the season yet. They were victors in all six league games, the best game being a 5–0 home win over Luton Town on 14 March, and a 1–0 home win over Derby County on 29 March meant that they ended the month in third place - five points behind leaders Arsenal and with a game in hand. Norwich City were still second, but the Reds were just two points behind them. Millwall and Nottingham Forest completed the top five, while Manchester United and Everton were heading for mid table mediocrity after giving the Reds a serious run for their money earlier in the season.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, March
The FA Cup quarter-final on 18 March saw the Reds take on Third Division underdogs Brentford at Anfield, and any talk of a giant killing feat was quickly silenced as the Reds triumphed 4–0. This gave them a semi-final clash with Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough on 15 April.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, April
The events at the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough on 15 April overshadowed Liverpool's season - and in general the whole English football season - as it became the worst tragedy to hit English sport and the worst day of Liverpool's history. A crush of Liverpool fans in the Leppings Lane end of the stadium as the game kicked off turned into a scene of carnage as it became apparent that people were being injured, and after six minutes the match was cancelled.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, April
It was soon clear that people were dying, while those lucky enough to survive managed to escape by climbing over the security fences (against which many of the dead and injured were crushed) and others managed to haul themselves to safety in the seated area above the behind-goal standing zone. Within a couple of hours, there was talk of more than 30 deaths, and by the evening it was clear that the death toll was well over double that number. 94 fans died that day - 93 at the stadium and a 94th on their way to hospital.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, April
The death toll reached 95 on 19 April when 14-year-old Lee Nichol died in hospital from his injuries. A 96th fan - Tony Bland - died in March 1993 after being in a coma for nearly four years. For a while, it looked as though the 1988-89 FA Cup would be cancelled in memory of the victims, but it was soon decided that the competition would continue.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, April
In the league, the Reds managed comfortable wins over Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall to go top of the table above Arsenal on goal difference. However, there was no league action that month after the Hillsborough tragedy.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, May
Liverpool's first competitive game after the tragedy at Hillsborough finally came on 3 May, when they drew 0–0 with Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. By now, Arsenal had overtaken them and built up a five-point lead with four games remaining, though Liverpool had a game in hand. However, the next four league games were all won by Liverpool and they entered the final game of the season with a three-point lead over Arsenal.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, May
Their opponents in the final game of the season were Arsenal at Anfield, and only a win with a margin of two or more goals would see Arsenal prise the league title away from Liverpool. As 90 minutes loomed, Arsenal had a 1–0 lead but if it stayed that way Liverpool would seal the title by a single goal. However, Arsenal midfielder Michael Thomas scored with the last kick of the game and Arsenal sealed the league title by the narrowest possible margin.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, May
Due to the Hillsborough tragedy, the English league season had been extended by two weeks and this meant that several clubs - including Liverpool - played twice after the FA Cup final.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, May
The rescheduled FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest was staged at Old Trafford on 7 May, and Liverpool won 3–1. This booked them their second all-Merseyside final with Everton in four seasons. John Aldridge, Liverpool's leading scorer that season, opened the scoring in the fourth minute, and Everton failed to respond until the 89th minute when Stuart McCall jabbed in a late equaliser to force extra time.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, May
Aldridge had come off in the 73rd minute to be replaced by Ian Rush, who restored Liverpool's lead in the 95th minute, only for Stuart McCall to respond with his second goal in the 102nd minute to equaliser once again. However, Rush scored the winner two minutes later, meaning that he had scored twice in both of the all-Merseyside FA Cup finals.


1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season, Diary of the season, May
Had Liverpool won the league title as well, they would have become the first team to repeat the double. But as had happened the previous season (when they had won the league title but been pipped to the FA Cup in the final) they were beaten to this unique honour at the final hurdle.


1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers season
The 1988-89 Los Angeles Clippers season was their 19th season in the NBA, and their 5th season in Los Angeles.


1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers season, Transactions
The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1988–89 season.


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season
The 1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, was the Kings' 22nd season in the National Hockey League. It saw the Kings finish second in the Smythe Division with a record of 42-31-7, for 91 points.


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season
The 1988–89 season was the first for the great Wayne Gretzky in a Kings uniform. He had come over in a shocking trade with the Edmonton Oilers in the off-season (see below). Paced by Gretzky, Los Angeles led the league in goal scoring, with a total of 376 goals scored. In the playoffs, the Kings upset the Oilers, Gretzky's former team, in seven games in the Smythe Division Semi-finals before being swept in the Smythe Division Finals by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames in four straight games.


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season
This was also the first season that the Kings wore their silver and black uniforms, which they would wear until the 1997–98 season. In the off-season, they had changed their team colours to silver and black from gold and purple, which were more associated with their co-tenants at the Great Western Forum, the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers. They had also unveiled a new logo that reflected the new team colours.


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, Offseason, Wayne Gretzky trade
On August 9, 1988, in a move that drastically changed the dynamics of the NHL, the Oilers traded Gretzky (along with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski) to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, $15 million in cash and the Kings' first-round draft picks in 1989 (Jason Miller), 1991 (Martin Rucinsky) and 1993 (Nick Stajduhar). "The Trade", as it came to be known, upset Canadians to the extent that New Democratic Party House Leader Nelson Riis demanded that the government block it and Peter Pocklington was burned in effigy.


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, Offseason, Wayne Gretzky trade
Gretzky himself was considered a "traitor" by some Canadians for turning his back on his adopted hometown, his home province and his home country; his motivation was widely rumoured to be the furtherance of his wife's acting career. Others believe it was Pocklington who instigated the trade, seeking to benefit personally from the transaction.


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, Regular season
On October 6, 1988, Wayne Gretzky made his debut as a member of the Los Angeles Kings in a game against the Detroit Red Wings. Gretzky scored on his first shot, and contributed 3 assists in an 8-2 victory. In Gretzky's first season with the Kings, he led the team in scoring with 168 points on 54 goals and 114 assists, and won his ninth Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player. He led the Kings to a second-place finish in the Smythe Division with a 42–31–7 record (91 points), and they ranked fourth in the NHL overall.


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, Regular season
Gretzky's first season in Los Angeles saw a marked increase in attendance and fan interest in a city not previously known for following hockey. The Kings, who then played their home games at the Great Western Forum, named Gretzky their captain (a position he held until his trade to St. Louis in 1996) and boasted numerous sellouts on their way to reaching the 1989 playoffs.


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, Regular season, Season standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, Regular season, Season standings
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, Player statistics, Forwards
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, Player statistics, Defencemen
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, Player statistics, Goaltending
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, Transactions
The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1988–89 season.


1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, Playoffs, Smythe Division Semi-finals
The Kings faced Gretzky's old team, the Oilers, in the first round of the 1989 playoffs. They fell behind 3 games to 1, but rallied to take the series in seven games, helped in no small part by nine goals from Chris Kontos, a little-known player who had just recently been called up from the minor leagues. However, the Kings were quickly swept out of the playoffs in the second round by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames.


1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season
The 1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 43rd season of the franchise, 41st in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 29th in Los Angeles. The Lakers entered the season as the two-time defending NBA champions. The Lakers finished with a 57–25 regular season recorded, earning them the top playoff seed in the Western Conference. After marching undefeated through the first three rounds, the Lakers were seen as the favorites in the 1989 NBA Finals, in a rematch against the Detroit Pistons, who they defeated in last season's NBA Finals in a hard fought seven games. However, after injuries to their starting backcourt of Magic Johnson and Byron Scott, the Lakers were swept by the Pistons in four games. After the finals concluded, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar announced his retirement after twenty seasons.


1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season
The 1988–89 season marked an end to a run of eight consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances for the Lakers, the most since the 1968–69 Boston Celtics, as in the following season, the Lakers would lose in the Conference Semifinals to the Phoenix Suns in five games.


1988–89 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball team
The 1988–89 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball team represented Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana as members of the American South Conference during the 1988–89 season. The Bulldogs were led by head coach Tommy Joe Eagles. Louisiana Tech finished second in the American South regular season standings (6–4), but would earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament by winning the conference tournament championship. After defeating La Salle in the opening round, the Bulldogs lost to No. 1 seed Oklahoma in the second round.


1988–89 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team
During the 1988–89 season, the Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team scored 24 wins and 8 losses. They played in the Metro Conference and finished in the "Sweet Sixteen" of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. Their player Pervis Ellison won several individual awards.


1988–89 Loyola Marymount Lions men's basketball team
The 1988–89 Loyola Marymount Lions men's basketball team represented Loyola Marymount University during the 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Lions were led by fourth-year head coach Paul Westhead. They played their home games at Gersten Pavilion in Los Angeles, California as members of the West Coast Conference.


1988–89 Loyola Marymount Lions men's basketball team
LMU led the nation in scoring (112.5 points per game) for the second consecutive year. Junior All-American Hank Gathers became the second player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in scoring (32.7) and rebounding (13.7) in the same season.


1988–89 Luton Town F.C. season
During the 1988–89 English football season, Luton Town F.C. competed in the Football League First Division, in which they finished 16th to secure an eighth successive season at this level. They were holders of the League Cup for this season and maintained their defence of the trophy to the final, where they were beaten by Nottingham Forest.


1988–89 Luton Town F.C. season
Despite being League Cup holders, Luton did not compete in the UEFA Cup this season due to the continuation of the ban on English clubs in European competitions arising from the Heysel disaster of 1985.


1988–89 Luton Town F.C. season, Season summary
Luton were unable to build on their top-ten finishes of the two previous seasons and finished the season in 16th, just two points clear of relegation. Luton did manage to reach the League Cup final for the second season running, but were unable to defend the cup as they were beaten 3-1 by Nottingham Forest. Survival was achieved on the final day of the season with a 1-0 home win over Norwich City; this was the first of three successive seasons where Luton would secure First Division on the final day of the season before finally being relegated in 1992.


1988–89 Luton Town F.C. season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1988–89 Luton Town F.C. season, Results
Key: 1D = First Division FAC = FA Cup LC = League Cup FMC = Full Members Cup


1988–89 Luxembourg National Division
The 1988–89 Luxembourg National Division was the 75th season of top level association football in Luxembourg.


1988–89 Maccabi Haifa F.C. season
The 1988–89 season was Maccabi Haifa's 31st season in the Liga Leumit, and their 8th consecutive season in the top division of Israeli football.


1988–89 Maccabi Haifa F.C. season
The season was a great success for the club winning the league and coming extremely close to winning the State Cup to go with it.


1988–89 Magyar Kupa
The 1988–89 Magyar Kupa (English: Hungarian Cup) was the 49th season of Hungary's annual knock-out cup football competition.


1988–89 Major Indoor Soccer League season
The 1988–89 Major Indoor Soccer League season was the eleventh in league history and would end with the San Diego Sockers repeating as MISL champions. It was the Sockers' seventh indoor title in eight NASL and MISL seasons. The Sockers would win seventh games in both the semifinals and championship series.


1988–89 Major Indoor Soccer League season, Recap
The league very nearly did not make it to the fall of 1988 as both labor negotiations and rising costs threatened to fold the league. The St. Louis Steamers, Minnesota Strikers, Cleveland Force and Chicago Sting dropped out over the course of the summer. Plans for a 60-game schedule were scrapped, and a new labor agreement was signed on July 16.


1988–89 Major Indoor Soccer League season, Recap
The remaining seven teams would play a 48-game schedule that would see the top five teams qualify for the playoffs. The fourth and fifth-place teams would play each other, while the first-place team would play the winner in the league semifinals. The second and third-place teams played in the other semifinal, and the semifinal winners would play in the league championship series.


1988–89 Major Indoor Soccer League season, Recap
After the season, the Los Angeles Lazers  folded and new franchises were placed in St. Louis and Cleveland for the 1989-90 season.


1988–89 Major Indoor Soccer League season, Regular Season Schedule
The 1988–89 regular season schedule ran from November 4, 1988, to April 18, 1989. At 48 games, it was a decrease of eight games per team compared to the previous season.


1988–89 Major Indoor Soccer League season, Regular Season Player Statistics, Scoring leaders
GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points


1988–89 Major Indoor Soccer League season, Regular Season Player Statistics, Leading goalkeepers
Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses


1988–89 Major Indoor Soccer League season, Playoff Player Statistics, Scoring leaders
GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points


1988–89 Major Indoor Soccer League season, Playoff Player Statistics, Leading goalkeepers
Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses


1988–89 Maltese Premier League
The 1988–89 Maltese Premier League was the 9th season of the Maltese Premier League, and the 74th season of top-tier football in Malta. It was contested by 9 teams, and Sliema Wanderers F.C. won the championship.


1988–89 Manchester City F.C. season
The 1988–89 season was Manchester City's second consecutive season in the second tier of English football, the Football League Second Division.


1988–89 Manchester City F.C. season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season
The 1988–89 season was Manchester United's 87th season in the Football League, and their 14th consecutive season in the top division of English football. Despite finishing second in the 1987–88 season, Manchester United did not play in the UEFA Cup in 1988–89 due to the ban on English clubs in Europe since the Heysel stadium disaster.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season
Former Manchester United striker Mark Hughes returned to the club following spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, finishing the season as PFA Player of the Year and also as United's joint top scorer alongside Brian McClair with 16 goals in all competitions.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season
United had tried to sign midfielder Paul Gascoigne from Newcastle United in the close season, but lost out to Tottenham Hotspur.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season
17-year-old winger Lee Sharpe was signed from Torquay United and became a semi-regular player, appearing either as a left-back or a left-winger. Full -back Lee Martin, who had made his debut at the end of the previous season, became a regular choice on either side of defence during the season. Striker Mark Robins made his debut early in the season and turned out 10 times for the first team, starting just once.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season
Young midfielder Russell Beardsmore scored and set up two goals in United's 3–1 win over Liverpool on New Year's Day, in one of his first appearances for the senior side. Midfielders Deiniol Graham and Tony Gill also broke into the first team during the season, but made only occasional appearances, and Gill suffered a broken ankle which would eventually force him into retirement. 19-year-old winger Giuliano Maiorana was signed from non-league Histon and played six times for the first team, including a highly promising performance in a 1–1 home draw with Arsenal in the league.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season
Also new to the squad was goalkeeper Jim Leighton, who conceded just 35 goals in 38 league games and kept 15 clean sheets. Mid -season signings were defender Mal Donaghy from Luton Town and winger Ralph Milne from Bristol City. It was the final season at the club for Gordon Strachan, who left in March, and was followed at the end of the season by the departures of Norman Whiteside and Paul McGrath, while Remi Moses retired due to injury.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season
United had a slow start in the league, including a nine-match winless run incorporating eight draws and a defeat, from September to November, followed by a mid-season run of strong form which lifted them from mid table to the top three, before a run of disappointing results to the season dragged them down to 11th place in the final table. They suffered an early exit from the League Cup and lost their final chance of silverware in March when they were beaten by Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford in the FA Cup quarter-finals.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season
By the end of the season, it was clear the United squad needed further strengthening to push for honours in 1989–90. For several months, United had been strongly linked to the signature of English international midfielder Neil Webb, who had expressed his desire to leave Nottingham Forest after four successful seasons. A deal was soon agreed to sign the player, along with a deal to sign Norwich City midfielder Mike Phelan.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Pre-season
Manchester United talisman Mark Hughes returned to Old Trafford in 1988 after spells in Europe with Barcelona and Bayern Munich for a club record fee of £1.8 million. But Ferguson's other high-profile target, Paul Gascoigne, turned down an opportunity to move to Manchester United despite a verbal agreement between Ferguson and the player and a Maltese holiday paid for by the United manager. Ferguson signed Jim Leighton from former club Aberdeen for £750,000 in order to fill the goalkeeping void left by the retiring Gary Bailey, the underperforming Chris Turner and the injury-prone Gary Walsh.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Season performance
Manchester United's inconsistency was highlighted early on, recording three consecutive wins; following the 2–0 victory over West Ham United towards the end of September, before failing to record another one until early December, ten games later. Manchester United also recorded six wins from seven games between Boxing Day 1988 and 11 February 1989 before their league season faltered, recording just three more victories in the season.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Season performance
With the club failing to achieve in the league, many fans began to realise that the cups would be the only realistic opportunity for silverware. They needed three games to defeat Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup Third Round, before hitting four past Oxford United in the next round. United's three biggest attendances for the season came in the FA Cup, highlighting its importance to the fans, though the campaign eventually ended in defeat at the hands of Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side in the quarter finals.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Season performance
Manchester United were also unsuccessful in the season's League Cup; after confidently defeating Rotherham United over two legs, they lost 2–1 to Wimbledon at Plough Lane and were knocked out of the competition.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Events of the season
Before the season began, Paul Gascoigne snubbed Manchester United in favour of a national record move from Newcastle United to Tottenham Hotspur for £2 million, and there was also talk of a similar fee being paid for PSV Eindhoven sweeper Ronald Koeman, who helped the Netherlands win UEFA Euro 1988.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Events of the season
Norman Whiteside and Paul McGrath had been transfer listed at the end of the previous season but the lack of interest in them disappointed Alex Ferguson, who had re-signed striker Mark Hughes from FC Barcelona and brought in goalkeeper Jim Leighton from Aberdeen as successor to Sheffield Wednesday bound Chris Turner. Gordon Strachan agreed terms with Lens of France for a £100,000 transfer, but the deal fell through. Paul McGrath then came off the transfer list at his own request.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Events of the season
On 24 September 1988, Ferguson gave debuts to 17-year-old winger Lee Sharpe and 19-year-old striker Mark Robins in the 2–0 home win over West Ham United in the First Division. This saw United occupy fifth place in the league, level on points with Southampton, a single point behind defending champions Liverpool and newly promoted Millwall, and three points behind surprise leaders Norwich City. However, a 10-match winless league run (8 draws and 2 defeats) followed , dragging them to 11th place in the table by 27 November. The winless streak ended on 3 December with an impressive 3–0 home win over Charlton Athletic.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Events of the season
While United were on their winless streak, they sold out of favour striker Peter Davenport to Middlesbrough for £700,000. They also failed in their Football League Cup quest when they lost 2–1 to Wimbledon at Plough Lane. Brian McClair scored their only goal of the game, while both of Wimbledon's goals were scored by former United striker Terry Gibson.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Events of the season
Alex Ferguson continued to build for the future in November by making a £20,000 move for 21-year-old midfielder Paul Dalton from non-league Brandon United. He also signed 22-year-old winger Giuliano Maiorana from non-league Histon for £30,000.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Events of the season
Five days before Christmas, Jean Busby, wife of legendary former manager and current club president Sir Matt, died after a long illness at the age of 80.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Events of the season
A thrilling clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford on New Year's Day was dominated by 19-year-old midfielder Russell Beardsmore, who scored his first goal for the club and lifted them to sixth in the league, while Liverpool were fifth, and Arsenal and Norwich City were level at the top of the league.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Events of the season
Soon after this successful result, Manchester United were reported to be among the clubs interested in signing Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Neil Webb, who was told by manager Brian Clough that he could leave the City Ground for around £1.5 million after stating that he did not want to sign a new contract.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Events of the season
By 11 February, United were third in the league thanks to a 2–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday that completed a four-match winning run in the First Division, though they were still 11 points behind leaders Arsenal (who had a game in hand) and 8 points behind second placed Norwich City.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Events of the season
Manchester United reached the FA Cup quarter-finals (for the first time since they won the competition four years ago) with a 1–0 home win over AFC Bournemouth in the fifth round replay. , but their last chance of silverware ended when they lost 1–0 at home to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup quarter-final.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Events of the season
Their form in the final weeks of the league campaign was dismal, as they finished 11th at the end of a season which had begun with such high hopes. Alex Ferguson remained determined to turn his side into title contenders, and just after the season ended he joined the race to sign England winger Trevor Steven, who had been put on the transfer list by Everton. , but was beaten to his signature by Rangers.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Events of the season
A £600,000 offer for Fiorentina and Sweden defender Glenn Hysén was accepted, but he opted to join Liverpool instead.


1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season, Events of the season
Several other high-profile names were also mentioned in the media as Ferguson attempted to strengthen his squad. These included West Ham United midfielder Paul Ince, Southampton winger Danny Wallace, Nottingham Forest midfielder Neil Webb and Norwich City midfielder Mike Phelan.


1988–89 Mansfield Town F.C. season
The 1988–89 season was Mansfield Town's 52nd season in the Football League and 18th in the Third Division they finished in 15th position with 59 points.


1988–89 McNeese State Cowboys basketball team
The 1988–89 McNeese State Cowboys basketball team represented the McNeese State University during the 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cowboys, led by head coach Steve Welch, played their home games at Burton Coliseum and were members of the Southland Conference. They finished the season with a record of 16–14, 9–5 in Southland play. They won the 1989 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament to earn an automatic bid in the 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament as No. 16 seed in the Midwest region. They lost in the first round to No. 1 seed Illinois, 77–71.


1988–89 Memphis State Tigers men's basketball team
The 1988–89 Memphis State Tigers men's basketball team represented Memphis State University as a member of the Metro Conference during the 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.


1988–89 Memphis State Tigers men's basketball team
The Tigers received an at-large bid to the 1989 NCAA Tournament and finished with a 21–11 record (8–4 Metro).


1988–89 Mexican Primera División season, Overview
It was contested by 20 teams, and América won the championship.


1988–89 Mexican Segunda División season
The 1988–89 Segunda División was the 40th season of the Mexican Segunda División. The season started on 2 September 1988 and concluded on 18 July 1989. It was won by Potros Neza.


1988–89 Miami Heat season
The 1988–89 Miami Heat season was Miami's inaugural season in the NBA. The Miami Heat were the first of two expansion teams to play in the state of Florida over a two-year period. The expansion included three other franchises in Charlotte, Minnesota, and Orlando. The Heat were able to select Syracuse star center Rony Seikaly in the NBA draft. The Heat made their debut on November 5 in a losing effort to the Los Angeles Clippers by a score of 111-91 at the Miami Arena. Rory Sparrow made the first basket in franchise history.


1988–89 Miami Heat season
The Heat lost an NBA record 17 games to start their inaugural season. On December 14, they won their first game of the season by beating the Clippers in Los Angeles by a score of 89-88. Five games later, the Heat won their first game ever at home when they beat the Utah Jazz, 101-80. The Heat finish their first season with a 15-67 record. The club's leading scorer was Kevin Edwards, who averaged 13.8 points per game.


1988–89 Miami Heat season
Despite their location, the NBA placed the Heat in the Midwest Division of the Western Conference. This meant that the Heat were forced on some of the longest and farthest road trips in the NBA in 1988-89 as their closest divisional opponent was the Houston Rockets which were located over 950 miles away.


1988–89 Miami Heat season, Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average


1988–89 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team
The 1988–89 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played their home games at Jenison Field House in East Lansing, Michigan and were members of the Big Ten Conference. They were coached by Jud Heathcote in his 13th year at Michigan State. This season marked the Spartans' final season of basketball at Jenison Fieldhouse before moving to their current venue, the Breslin Center, the following season. The Spartans finished the season 18–15, 6–12 in Big Ten play to finish in eighth place. Michigan State did receive a bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they beat Kent State, Wichita State, and Villanova to reach the semifinals at Madison Square Garden. In the semifinals, they lost to Saint Louis. In the third place game, they lost to UAB in overtime.


1988–89 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Previous season
The Spartans finished the 1987–88 season with an overall record of 10–18, 5–13 to finish in eighth place in Big Ten play.


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The 1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1988–89 season. The head coach was Bill Frieder, who was dismissed before the 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and replaced by assistant Steve Fisher. They played their home games at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan as members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 30–7, 12–6 in Big Ten play to finish in third place. The Wolverines received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed in the Southeast region.


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
They defeated Xavier and South Alabama to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. In the Sweet Sixteen, they defeated No. 5-ranked North Carolina and Virginia to advance to the Final Four. In the Final Four, they defeated fellow Big Ten member and No. 3-ranked Illinois to advance to the National Championship game. There they defeated No. 11 Seton Hall in overtime to win the school's first and, to date, only National Championship.


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, Previous season
The Wolverines finished the 1987–88 season 26–8, 13–5 in Big Ten play to finish in second place. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed. There they defeated Boise State and Florida to advance to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to North Carolina.


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, Season summary
The team was ranked all eighteen weeks of the season in the Associated Press Top Twenty Poll where it began the season at number three, ended at number ten and peaked at number two. and it also ended the season ranked tenth in the final UPI Coaches' Poll.


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, Season summary
The team repeated as the national statistical champion in team field goal percentage (56.6%, 1325 of 2341). During the season the team set numerous national and conference records. Glen Rice set the current Big Ten single-game three-point field goals percentage record against Wisconsin on February 25, 1989 (100% most made, 7 of 7). He also broke Mike McGee's Big Ten career points record with 2442, but that was eclipsed in 1993, although it remains the school record.


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, Season summary
The team set the following current Big Ten records: single-season points (3393), single-season field goals made (1325), single-season field goals attempted (2341), single-season field goal percentage (.566), single-season field goals percentage (conference games only, .561, 606 of 1,080), and single-season assists (745). Rice and Mark Hughes served as team co-captains and Rice earned team MVP. Rice was also recognized as a consensus All-American. Dave Balza was student manager.


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, Season summary
Rice's 949 points established the current school single-season record, surpassing Cazzie Russell's 1966 record of 800. He also set the current school single-season field goals record of 363, surpassing Mike McGee. He set the current single-season three-point field goal percentage record of 51.56%, surpassing Gary Grant's previous season mark of 48.53%. Additionally, he set the school record for career and single-season three-point shots made with 135 and 99, respectively, that would last for ten years and eight years, respectively.


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, Season summary
He also set the current single-game field goal percentage record of 100% (7-for-7) against Wisconsin on February 25, 1989, surpassing Garde Thompson's 8-for-9 1986 performance. Loy Vaught also broke the Michigan single field goal percentage record of 62.18% that he set the prior year by reaching a 66.12%, which would stand as the record until 1995. For the third year in a row, the team established a new Michigan single-season scoring record with 3393 points. For the last of five consecutive seasons, the team set the school record for single-season field goal percentage on with a 56.6% (1325-for-2341) performance.


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, Season summary
This continues to be the school record. The team also set the current school single-season three-point field goal percentage record of 46.8%  (196-for-419), surpassing the 1987 record, while setting a school record for three-point field goals made of 196 that would last until 1997. The team set the current school single-season free throws made record of 547, which surpassed the 1977 mark of 510.> For the third of three consecutive seasons, the team set the school single-season total assist record with a total of 745, surpassing the prior total of 694 and establishing the current record. Rice ended his career with 134 games played, which surpassed Gary Grant's 1988 school record of 129 games. Vaught would surpass this record the following year.


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, Season summary
The team earned numerous conference statistical championships. Rice won the scoring average championship for conference games only with a 24.8 average as well as the three-point shot championship with 55 in his conference games. Vaught won the field goal percentage title with a 67.7% mark. Terry Mills won the blocked shots championship with a 1.22 average in conference games. In addition, the team won scoring offense (87.8), scoring margin (10.3), field goal percentage (56.1%) and three-point field goals made (103).


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, Season summary
During the six-game championship tournament run, Rice set the current NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament single-tournament records for points (184), field goals made (75), and three-point field goals made (27) as well as the career record for three-point field goal percentage (minimum 30 made, 56.5%, 35–62). In addition, Rumeal Robinson set the current championship game assists record (11 on April 3, 1989, vs. Seton Hall in overtime) as well as the current final four two-game assist record of 23. The team also set the final four two-game assist record of 42, which would be broken the following year.


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, Season summary
In the 64-team NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, number three seeded Michigan won the tournament by defeating the fourteen-seeded Xavier Musketeers 92–87, the six-seeded South Alabama 91–82, the two-seeded North Carolina, who had ousted them the prior two years, 92–87, the five-seeded Virginia 102–65, the one-seeded Illinois 83–81 and three-seeded Seton Hall 80–79 in overtime. Against North Carolina, the team set the school record of 13 three-point field goals made, which would last until February 22, 1998.


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, Season summary
They became the first team in school history to win 30 games. They held the wins record until the 2018 team won 32 games making it to the Final Four. The team continues to rank second in NCAA history in single-season team field goal percentage: 56.6% (1325 of 2341).


1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, Team players drafted into the NBA
Five players from this team were selected in the NBA Draft.


1988–89 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball team
The 1988–89 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball team represented Middle Tennessee State University during the 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Blue Raiders, led by fifth-year head coach Bruce Stewart, played their home games at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and were members of the Ohio Valley Conference. They finished the season 23–8, 10–2 in OVC play to win the regular season championship. In the OVC Tournament, they defeated Eastern Kentucky and Austin Peay to receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 13 seed in the Southeast region, they defeated Florida State in the First Round before losing in the Second Round to Virginia.


1988–89 Middlesbrough F.C. season
During the 1988–89 English football season, Middlesbrough finished third from bottom in the Football League First Division and were relegated after just one season.


1988–89 Middlesbrough F.C. season
After a decent first half of the season, having occupied seventh place in November, they won just one of their last 17 League matches and fell into the relegation places on the final day of the season after losing 1–0 to Sheffield Wednesday. Bernie Slaven was one of the First Division's top scorers with 15 goals in the League, but Peter Davenport scored just four times after signing from Manchester United.


1988–89 Middlesbrough F.C. season
Middlesbrough were eliminated from both the FA Cup and the League Cup at the round they entered each competition. They were beaten by lower league opposition, Grimsby Town and Tranmere Rovers respectively.


1988–89 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Squad, Appearances and goals
Appearance and goalscoring records for all the players who were in the Middlesbrough F.C. first team squad during the 1988–89 season.


1988–89 Midland Football Combination
The 1988–89 Midland Football Combination season was the 52nd in the history of Midland Football Combination, a football competition in England.


1988–89 Midland Football Combination, Premier Division
The Premier Division featured 15 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs:


1988–89 Millwall F.C. season
During the 1988–89 English football season, Millwall F.C. competed in the Football League First Division. This was Millwall's 62nd season in the Football League, and first ever season in the top tier of English football, after achieving promotion from the Second Division as Champions in 1987–88.


1988–89 Millwall F.C. season, Season summary
Millwall had won promotion to the First Division for the first time in their history as Second Division champions at the end of the 1987–88 season, and were among the pre-season favourites for relegation, but defied the odds and were top of the First Division by the beginning of October, having won four of their first six league games. By Christmas, they were still an impressive fifth in the league, but finished 10th at the end of the season after failing to win any of their final 10 games. Perhaps the only low point of the season was being defeated by arch-rivals West Ham United twice during the season, although Millwall still outperformed their local rivals for the first time in decades, as the Hammers were relegated in 19th place.


1988–89 Millwall F.C. season, Season summary
Millwall finished one place above Manchester United, one of the pre-season title favourites, and spent much of the season in a higher position than other teams who failed to emerge as title contenders after being among the pre-season favourites, including Everton and Tottenham Hotspur – who both eventually finished slightly above Millwall.


1988–89 Millwall F.C. season, Season summary
Millwall's high placing owed much to the strike partnership of Teddy Sheringham and Tony Cascarino.


1988–89 Millwall F.C. season, Season summary
In his autobiography, Sheringham said of the season, "It was a crazy exhilarating time. There we were, little Millwall, in our first season in the First Division and topping the table until about March. Everybody said it couldn't last and of course it couldn't and it didn't, but we gave them all a good run for their money. We were beating the best teams when we shouldn't and getting away draws to which we had no right."


1988–89 Millwall F.C. season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1988–89 Milwaukee Bucks season
The 1988–89 NBA season was the Bucks' 21st season in the NBA. After finishing the regular season with 49 wins and 33 losses, the Bucks defeated the Atlanta Hawks in the opening round of the 1989 NBA Playoffs. It marked the last time the Bucks would advance to the second round until 2000–01. In the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Bucks were swept by the eventual champions Detroit Pistons. It was the very first season for the Bucks playing in the Bradley Center, after the team moved there from the Milwaukee Arena, otherwise known as "The Mecca". Following the season, Terry Cummings was traded to the San Antonio Spurs and Sidney Moncrief retired.


1988–89 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team
The 1988–89 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team represented the University of Minnesota during the 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by third-year head coach Clem Haskins, the Golden Gophers advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and finished with a 19–12 record (9–9 Big Ten).


1988–89 Minnesota North Stars season
The 1988–89 was the North Stars' 22nd season. It saw the North Stars finish in third place in the Norris Division with a record of 27 wins, 37 losses, and 16 ties for 70 points. They lost the Division Semi-finals in five games to the St. Louis Blues.


1988–89 Minnesota North Stars season, Regular season, Final standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against


1988–89 Minnesota North Stars season, Regular season, Final standings
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.


1988–89 Minnesota North Stars season, Player statistics, Forwards
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


1988–89 Minnesota North Stars season, Player statistics, Defencemen
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


1988–89 Minnesota North Stars season, Player statistics, Goaltending
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average


1988–89 Missouri Tigers men's basketball team
The 1988–89 Missouri Tigers men's basketball team represented the University of Missouri as a member of the Big Eight Conference during the 1988–89 NCAA men's basketball season. Led by head coach Norm Stewart, the Tigers finished second in the Big Eight regular season standings, won the Big Eight conference tournament, and were the No. 3 seed in the Midwest region of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers advanced to the Sweet Sixteen and finished with an overall record of 29–8 (10–4 Big Eight).


1988–89 Montreal Canadiens season
The 1988–89 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 80th season of play. The Canadiens finished first in the Adams Division, as well as the Prince of Wales Conference, with a 53–18–9 record for 115 points. The team finished second overall in the league behind the Calgary Flames, who had 117 points. Montreal defeated the Hartford Whalers, Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs before meeting the Flames in the Stanley Cup Finals. Calgary took the series 4–2, clinching the Cup in Game 6 on the Canadiens' vaunted home ice, the Montreal Forum. This marked the only time that a visiting team defeated the Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup on Forum ice.


1988–89 Montreal Canadiens season
The Canadiens were coached by Pat Burns and captained by Bob Gainey.


1988–89 Montreal Canadiens season, Regular season
For the third straight season, the Canadiens allowed the fewest goals in the NHL (218), were the least penalized team (326 short-handed situations) and allowed the fewest power-play goals (58).


1988–89 Montreal Canadiens season, Regular season, Final standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals againstNote: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.


1988–89 Montreal Canadiens season, Player statistics, Forwards
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes


1988–89 Montreal Canadiens season, Player statistics, Defencemen
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes


1988–89 Montreal Canadiens season, Player statistics, Goaltending
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average


1988–89 Montreal Canadiens season, Playoffs, Stanley Cup finals
The Stanley Cup Finals was decided between the top two teams during the 1988–89 NHL regular season. Captain Lanny McDonald scored the second Flames goal in Game 6. This turned out to be the last goal in his Hockey Hall of Fame career because he retired during the following off-season. Doug Gilmour scored two goals in the third period, including the eventual game and Cup winner to cement the victory for the Flames.


1988–89 Moroccan Throne Cupe
The 1988–89 season of the Moroccan Throne Cup was the 33rd edition of the competition.


1988–89 Moroccan Throne Cupe
Wydad Athletic Club won the competition, beating Olympique de Khouribga 2–0 in the final, played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Wydad Athletic Club won the cup for the 5th time in their history.


1988–89 Moroccan Throne Cupe, Competition, Final
The final took place between the two winning semi-finalists, Wydad Athletic Club and Olympique de Khouribga, on 6 March 1989 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.


1988–89 NBA season
The 1988–89 NBA season was the 43rd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Detroit Pistons winning the NBA Championship, sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers. This was the first season of the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets.


1988–89 NBA season, Expansion
The League expands from twenty-three to twenty-five franchises,  with new expansion teams in Charlotte and Miami.


1988–89 NBA season, Expansion
The Heat began its season as a member of the Western Conference despite its geographical position, enduring its longest road trips when playing Western Conference teams. It also began the season 0–17, at the time the worst start in NBA history. The Hornets finished at 20–62. Such records are typical of expansion NBA franchises in their initial seasons, with 15–67 being the poorest record repeated by the Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Rockets, and Mavericks, as well as the Heat. The Sacramento Kings were belatedly moved to the Pacific Division in their fourth season after leaving Kansas City.


1988–89 NBA season, Playoffs
Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics.


1988–89 NBA season, NBA awards
Note: All information on this page were obtained on the History section on


1988–89 NBA season, NBA awards, Player of the week
The following players were named NBA Player of the Week.


1988–89 NBA season, NBA awards, Player of the month
The following players were named NBA Player of the Month.


1988–89 NBA season, NBA awards, Rookie of the month
The following players were named NBA Rookie of the Month.


1988–89 NBA season, NBA awards, Coach of the month
The following coaches were named NBA Coach of the Month.


1988–89 NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team
The 1988–89 NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team represented North Carolina State University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference during the 1988–89 men's college basketball season. It was Jim Valvano's 9th season as head coach.


1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
The 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings was made up of two human polls, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various other preseason polls.


1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1988 and ended with the Final Four at the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington on April 3, 1989.


1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Season outlook, Pre-season polls
The top 20 from the AP Poll and Coaches Poll during the pre-season.


1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Coaching changes
A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.


1988–89 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season
The 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began in October 1988 and concluded with the 1989 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on April 1, 1989 at the St. Paul Civic Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. This was the 42nd season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 94th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.


1988–89 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the season.


1988–89 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Scoring leaders
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


1988–89 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Leading goaltenders
The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.


1988–89 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Leading goaltenders
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average


1988–89 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings
Two human polls comprise the 1988–89 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. The AP poll is currently a poll of sportswriters, while the USA Today Coaches' Poll is a poll of college coaches. The AP conducts polls weekly through the end of the regular season and conference play, while the Coaches poll conducts a final, post-NCAA tournament poll as well.


1988–89 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season
The 1988–89 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season began in October 1988 and concluded on March 25 of the following year. This was the 16th season of Division III college ice hockey.


1988–89 NCAA football bowl games
The 1988–89 NCAA football bowl games were a series of post-season games played in December 1988 and January 1989 to end the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. A total of 17 team-competitive games, and two all-star games, were played. The post-season began with the California Bowl on December 10, 1988, and concluded on January 21, 1989, with the season-ending Senior Bowl.


1988–89 NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs for the 1988 season began on December 24, 1988. The postseason tournament concluded with the San Francisco 49ers defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII, 20–16, on January 22, 1989, at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Participants
Within each conference, the three division winners and the two wild card teams (the top two non-division winners with the best overall regular season records) qualified for the playoffs. The three division winners were seeded 1 through 3 based on their overall won-lost-tied record, and the wild card teams were seeded 4 and 5. The NFL did not use a fixed bracket playoff system. In the first round, dubbed the wild-card playoffs or wild-card weekend, the fourth seed wild card hosted the fifth seed. All three division winners from each conference then received a bye in the first round.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Participants
The second round, the divisional playoffs, had a restriction where two teams from the same division cannot meet: the surviving wild card team visited the division champion outside its own division that had the higher seed, and the remaining two teams from that conference played each other. The two surviving teams from each conference's divisional playoff games then meet in the respective AFC and NFC Conference Championship games, hosted by the higher seed. Although the Super Bowl, the fourth and final round of the playoffs, was played at a neutral site, the designated home team was based on an annual rotation by conference.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Schedule
Due to Christmas falling on a Sunday, the two wild card playoff games were held in a span of three days.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Schedule
In the United States, CBS televised the NFC playoff games, while NBC broadcast the AFC games and Super Bowl XXIII.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, December 24, 1988, AFC: Houston Oilers 24, Cleveland Browns 23
In a brutal game in which both teams combined for 22 penalties (13 for Houston, nine for Cleveland), including four personal fouls, Oilers cornerback Richard Johnson's interception set up kicker Tony Zendejas' game-clinching 49-yard field goal to give the Oilers a two-score lead with 1:54 left in the game. Houston won despite throwing three interceptions and losing their leading rusher Mike Rozier to injury after his first play of the game.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, December 24, 1988, AFC: Houston Oilers 24, Cleveland Browns 23
On the second play of the game, Browns defensive back Felix Wright intercepted a pass from Warren Moon and returned it 13 yards to the Oilers 33-yard line to set up a 33-yard field goal by Matt Bahr. Houston responded with a 91-yard drive that consumed 9:44 and ended on Moon's 14-yard touchdown pass to running back Allen Pinkett.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, December 24, 1988, AFC: Houston Oilers 24, Cleveland Browns 23
Then on the first play of Cleveland's next drive, Browns quarterback Don Strock, who was filling in for the injured Bernie Kosar and starting in a playoff game for the first time in his 16-season career, fumbled a snap and Oilers defensive lineman Richard Byrd recovered the ball. Strock sprained his wrist while going after the ball on the play, and was replaced by third-string quarterback Mike Pagel. Meanwhile, Houston scored on their first play after the turnover with Pinkett's 16-yard touchdown run, making the score 14–3. They had a chance to score again near the end of the half, but Wright picked off Moon's pass in the end zone.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, December 24, 1988, AFC: Houston Oilers 24, Cleveland Browns 23
Pagel, now leading the Browns offense in what turned out to be the only playoff game he would play in his 11-season career, led the Browns back 71 yards on a drive that had four consecutive plays end with penalties (including a brawl between the teams) to score on Bahr's second field goal of the day. Bahr added one more field goal before the end of the half to cut the score to 14–9 at halftime.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, December 24, 1988, AFC: Houston Oilers 24, Cleveland Browns 23
In the third quarter, a controversial blown call occurred when Houston QB Warren Moon attempted a backward pass at his own 7 yard line. The pass ricocheted off the intended receiver and fell incomplete. Cleveland linebacker Clay Matthews recovered the assumed lateral at the Oilers' 5 yard line and went into the end zone for an apparent touchdown. Instant replay clearly showed that Moon's pass had traveled backwards and the Browns should have been either awarded a touchdown with Matthews' recovery and advance into the end zone, or given possession of the ball at the Oilers' 5 yard line.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, December 24, 1988, AFC: Houston Oilers 24, Cleveland Browns 23
However, Houston was inexplicably granted possession of the ball at the 5 yard line, due to an inadvertent whistle stopping play, the very spot where referees agreed that Matthews had recovered the lateral for Cleveland. Later, Moon threw his third interception of the day, this one to Mark Harper, who returned it 17 yards with a facemask penalty against Alonzo Highsmith adding another 11. Cleveland took over on the Houston 11, and eventually scored on Pagel's 14-yard touchdown pass to Webster Slaughter that gave the Browns the lead, 16–14.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, December 24, 1988, AFC: Houston Oilers 24, Cleveland Browns 23
However, the Oilers marched on a 76-yard drive in which Moon completed passes to Jamie Williams and Drew Hill for gains of 14 and 18 yards, while Pinkett had a 27-yard carry. Rookie running back Lorenzo White capped it off with a 1-yard touchdown run. After that, the Oilers stopped Cleveland on their next two drives, including Johnson's interception that set up Zendejas' 49-yard field goal, giving them a 24–16 lead with less than two minutes left in the game.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, December 24, 1988, AFC: Houston Oilers 24, Cleveland Browns 23
With no two-point conversion option (that would not be adopted by the league until 1994), Cleveland needed two scores to come back. Pagel led the Browns 71 yards to score on his 2-yard touchdown pass to Slaughter, cutting the score to 24–23 with 31 seconds left. Cleveland attempted an onside kick, which they failed to recover, but got another chance due to an Oilers penalty. Then the Browns recovered, but had to do it over again due to a penalty against them. Finally on the third try, Cleveland was penalized for touching the ball before it went 10 yards, resulting in a penalty that gave Houston the ball and the win.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, December 24, 1988, AFC: Houston Oilers 24, Cleveland Browns 23
Pagel completed 17 of 25 passes for 179 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Wright had two interceptions.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, December 24, 1988, AFC: Houston Oilers 24, Cleveland Browns 23
This was the first postseason meeting between the Oilers and Browns.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Monday, December 26, 1988, NFC: Minnesota Vikings 28, Los Angeles Rams 17
Vikings safety Joey Browner recorded two interceptions in the first quarter to set up a two-touchdown lead that the Rams could never recover from. Browner also finished the game with seven tackles, had the Vikings' only sack of the day, and recovered a Rams onside kick attempt to seal the win.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Monday, December 26, 1988, NFC: Minnesota Vikings 28, Los Angeles Rams 17
Browner's first interception, on third and 17 from the Vikings 32, led to a 73-yard drive by Minnesota that featured Wade Wilson's 34-yard completion to reserve receiver Jim Gustafson and was capped by running back Alfred Anderson's 7-yard touchdown run. Then on the first play of the Rams next drive, Browner intercepted another pass from Jim Everett and returned it 14 yards to the Los Angeles 17-yard line, where Allen Rice took it in for a touchdown on the next play.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Monday, December 26, 1988, NFC: Minnesota Vikings 28, Los Angeles Rams 17
In the second quarter, the Rams had three chances to score, but only managed to get points once. First, Mike Lansford missed a 41-yard field goal attempt (later matched by a 44-yard miss by Minnesota's Chuck Nelson). Then they drove to a third and 1 on the Vikings 30 and were stopped for no gain on consecutive running plays. But just before halftime, Everett led the team 70 yards to cut the lead in half with his 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Damone Johnson.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Monday, December 26, 1988, NFC: Minnesota Vikings 28, Los Angeles Rams 17
Minnesota took the second half kickoff and moved the ball all the way to the end zone with a 1-yard touchdown run by Anderson, increasing their lead to 21–7. The Rams countered with a 33-yard field goal from Lansford, but in the fourth quarter, Wilson completed a 44-yard pass to Anthony Carter on the LA 5-yard line. On the next play, he threw a touchdown pass to tight end Carl Hilton, giving the team a 28–10 lead and essentially putting the game out of reach. The Rams managed one more touchdown with 1:11 left in the game on Everett's 11-yard pass to tight end Pete Holohan, but Browner recovered their onside kick attempt and the Vikings ran out the rest of the clock.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Monday, December 26, 1988, NFC: Minnesota Vikings 28, Los Angeles Rams 17
Wilson finished the game with 253 passing yards and a touchdown, while Carter caught four passes for 102 yards. Rams linebacker Kevin Greene had three sacks.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Monday, December 26, 1988, NFC: Minnesota Vikings 28, Los Angeles Rams 17
To date, this was the final NFL playoff game to take place on a Monday.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Monday, December 26, 1988, NFC: Minnesota Vikings 28, Los Angeles Rams 17
This was the sixth postseason meeting between the Rams and Vikings. Minnesota won four of the previous five meetings.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12
In a game known as the Fog Bowl, the Bears defeated the Eagles 20–12, in a contest in which a heavy, dense fog rolled over Chicago's Soldier Field during the second quarter and cut visibility to about 15–20 yards for the rest of the game.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12
Chicago scored first with quarterback Mike Tomczak's 64-yard touchdown pass to Dennis McKinnon. The Eagles responded by driving to the Chicago 26-yard line, but kicker Luis Zendejas missed a 43-yard field goal attempt. Philadelphia quickly got the ball back after linebacker Seth Joyner intercepted a pass from Tomczak on the next play and returned it 8 yards to the Bears 31-yard line. This time they managed to score with Zendejas' 42-yard field goal, but only after committing two costly mistakes: twice on the drive Philadelphia had touchdowns nullified by penalties, both on running back Anthony Toney.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12
The Bears then drove to the Eagles 33-yard line on their ensuing drive, but it stalled there and kicker Kevin Butler missed a 51-yard field goal attempt, giving the ball back to Philadelphia with great field position. Quarterback Randall Cunningham then led the Eagles down the field with two completions to fullback Keith Byars for gains of 13 and 24 yards. A few plays later, faced with 3rd and 32, Cunningham completed a 31-yard pass to Ron Johnson, bringing up 4th and 1 on the Bears 4-yard line.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12
Cunningham tried to convert the 4th down with a QB sneak, but after a chain measurement which took several minutes, officials ruled the ball short of a first down. The Eagles soon got another chance to score when Andre Waters forced a fumble from Cap Boso that was recovered by defensive back Wes Hopkins on the Chicago 15. Following another missed chance at a touchdown when rookie tight end Keith Jackson dropped a wide open pass in the end zone, Zendejas' 29-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7–6.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12
Philadelphia tackled Chicago returner Dennis Gentry on the 22 on the ensuing kickoff, but the kick had to be redone due to an offsides penalty on the Eagles. This proved to be hugely beneficial for Chicago, as on the second kick, Glen Kozlowski returned the ball 23 yards to the Philadelphia 44-yard line. A few plays later, Tomczak's 30-yard completion to Ron Morris gave Chicago a first down on the Eagles 4-yard line, and Neal Anderson ran for a touchdown on the next play to give them a 14–6 lead.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12
Then after forcing a punt, Thomas Sanders' 58-yard run set up a 46-yard field goal by Butler, increasing Chicago's lead to 17–6 with less than 2:03 left before halftime. At this point, a thick fog rolled on to field, obscuring vision so much that a CBS helicopter providing aerial coverage for the game was forced to land. Meanwhile, Philadelphia struck back with a 65-yard completion from Cunningham to Jackson that set up Zendejas' 30-yard field goal, making the score 17–9.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12
Philadelphia got another chance to score when linebacker Todd Bell intercepted a pass from Tomczak, giving the Eagles the ball on the Bears 42-yard line with just over 30 seconds left in the half. But this was taken away as Bears linebacker Mickey Pruitt intercepted Cunningham to bring an end to the following drive.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12
Philadelphia took the second half kickoff and drove to the Bears 12-yard line, only to lose the ball again when Cunningham threw a pass that went off the hands of Toney and was intercepted by Vestee Jackson, who returned the ball 51 yards to the Eagles 41-yard line. Chicago then drove to the 15, but also came up empty when Butler's field goal attempt went off the goal post.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12
Following a punt, Tomczak was knocked out of the game by a massive hit from Eagles lineman Reggie White, while defensive back Terry Hoage intercepted his pass and returned it 12 yards to the Chicago 18-yard line. Three plays later, Zededjas kicked a 35-yard field goal, making the score 17–12 with less than two minutes left in the third quarter.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12
Chicago, now led by Jim McMahon, responded with their next drive, converting a 23-yard run by Anderson into a 27-yard Butler field goal to go back up by 8 points, 20–12 with 12:34 left in the game. Philadelphia responded with a drive to the Bears 22, but on third down, a long sack by Sean Smith pushed them out of field goal range. The next time they got the ball, Maurice Douglass intercepted a pass from Cunningham, enabling Chicago to run out the rest of the clock.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12
Cunningham finished the game with 407 passing yards, but was unable to lead his team to a single touchdown and was intercepted three times. Other than a 64-yard touchdown pass, Tomczak was dominated the rest of the game by the Eagles defense, completing only 10 of 20 passes for 174 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Sanders rushed 8 times for 94 yards and caught a pass for 8. McKinnon finished the game with four receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown. Byars rushed for 34 yards and caught nine passes for 103 yards. Jackson caught seven passes for 142 yards.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12
This was the second postseason meeting between the Eagles and Bears. Philadelphia won the only prior meeting.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
Seattle's defense completely shut down Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason, the NFL's MVP and top rated quarterback during the season, as he completed just seven of 19 passes for 108 yards. But they were unable to contain Cincinnati on the ground. The Bengals recorded 254 rushing yards (126 of them and a touchdown from fullback Ickey Woods, a franchise postseason record, 72 from James Brooks, and 47 from Stanley Wilson), while holding the Seahawks to 18.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
Nearly half of Esiason's passing yards on the day came from two completions on their opening possession, a 30-yarder to Cris Collinsworth along the right sideline and a 23-yard leaping catch on the middle of the field by Eddie Brown, as the team consumed 5:49 with an 11-play, 85-yard drive and scored on Wilson's 3-yard touchdown run. Following an exchange of punts, Bengals cornerback Eric Thomas intercepted a long pass from Dave Krieg on the Bengals 25-yard line.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
Tight end Rodney Holman subsequently caught two passes for 20 yards and Brooks ripped off a 26-yard run as the team drove to a 14–0 lead on Wilson's second 3-yard touchdown run just over four minutes into the second quarter. Seattle was forced to a three-and-out on their possession, and Ira Hillary returned Ruben Rodriguez's 42-yard punt three yards to the Bengals 44-yard line. On the next play, Woods took a handoff and raced down the right sideline for a 30-yard carry to the Seattle 26.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
Then Brooks ran the ball in the opposite direction, rushing 17 yards to the 9. Wilson got the ball next, slicing through the middle for an 8-yard gain. The Seahawks defense managed to stuff Woods for no gain on the next play, but on third down, he scored a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Bengals a 21–0 lead with 7:40 left in the half.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
At the end of the next drive, the Seahawks finally got a chance to score when Hillary muffed a punt and defensive back Melvin Jenkins recovered for Seattle on the Bengals 24-yard line. Two plays later, Krieg's 14-yard completion to fullback John L. Williams (Seattle's longest gain of the half) brought up first down and goal. But on the next play, defensive tackle Tim Krumrie stripped the ball from Williams and defensive end Jim Skow recovered it to keep the score 21–0 at halftime. The Bengals had dominated the first half, massively outgaining Seattle in rushing yards (167–0), total yards (241–49), first downs (16–3), and time of possession (20:35–9:25).


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
Midway through the third quarter, Seattle drove deep into Bengals territory, aided by a 23-yard reception by Williams and a 24-yard pass interference penalty against Thomas on third and 21. But once again the Seahawks failed to score when defensive back Ray Horton broke up Krieg's pass on fourth down and goal from the 2-yard line. Cincinnati then drove to the Seattle 3-yard line, featuring a 24-yard catch by Holman, but they also turned the ball over on downs, as Woods was dropped for a 1-yard gain on fourth down and 2 with under a minute left in the third quarter.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
Early in the final quarter, after Krieg was intercepted by Solomon Wilcots, Jacob Green forced a fumble while sacking Esiason and defensive end Joe Nash recovered it. Now with the ball on the Bengals 31-yard line, Seattle attempted a fourth quarter comeback. Krieg started off the drive with a pair of completions to rookie receiver Brian Blades and tight end John Spagnola for gains of 17 and seven yards before eventually converting a fourth down and 3 with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Williams, cutting the score to 21–7 with 11:40 left in the game.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
Then after forcing a punt, Seattle drove 69 yards, including a 32-yard reception by Ray Butler, to score on Krieg's 1-yard touchdown run with 6:04 remaining. But Norm Johnson missed the extra point, keeping his team behind by two scores, 21–13. Later in the quarter, Cincinnati punter Lee Johnson essentially put the game away with a 43-yard kick that pinned Seattle back at their own 2-yard line with just over two minutes remaining, and the Seahawks turned the ball over on downs on their final drive.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
Williams finished the game with 11 receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown, along with 10 rushing yards.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
After the game, the Bengals accused Seattle of having their players fake injuries in an attempt to stop the game and counter Cincinnati's frequent use of the no-huddle offense. Nash and Ken Clarke both collapsed a total of six times during the game, all before third down plays. In each case they returned to play in the game.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
This ended up being the Seahawks’ last playoff game until 1999. This was also the last divisional playoff game contested in December.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 31, 1988, AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
This was the first postseason meeting between the Seahawks and Bengals.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 1, 1989, AFC: Buffalo Bills 17, Houston Oilers 10
Although both teams blew scoring chances throughout the game, the Bills dominated Houston for most of the time, blocking a punt, converting a turnover into the game-clinching field goal, and forcing a turnover on Houston's final drive to defeat a comeback attempt.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 1, 1989, AFC: Buffalo Bills 17, Houston Oilers 10
On their first drive of the game, Buffalo drove to the Oilers 18-yard line. But a bad snap on third down pushed them back to the 32 and Scott Norwood came up short on a 50-yard field goal attempt. Houston then moved the ball to the Bills 32, but Bruce Smith's 13-yard sack of quarterback Warren Moon on third down pushed them out of field goal range. On the ensuing punt, Greg Montgomery's kick was blocked by Buffalo safety Leonard Smith, allowing the Bills to take over on the Oilers 46.


1988–89 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 1, 1989, AFC: Buffalo Bills 17, Houston Oilers 10
Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly subsequently completed two passes to Trumaine Johnson for 28 yards on a 46-yard drive that ended with Robb Riddick's 1-yard touchdown run. Houston responded by driving 71 yards, with Moon completing a 21-yard pass to Drew Hill and Alonzo Highsmith rushing for a 31-yard gain, to score with a 35-yard field goal from Tony Zendejas. Following a punt, Houston threatened to score again with a drive to the Bills 25-yard line, but Smith blocked Zendejas' second field goal attempt and the score remained 7–3 at halftime.