2003–04 Libyan Premier League, Promotion/Relegation Playoff
This was played between the 3rd-placed side in the Libyan Second Division, Al Shat, and this season's 12th-placed side, Al Charara. The winner would compete in next season's Libyan Premier League, while the loser would compete in the 2004–05 Libyan Second Division.


2003–04 Libyan Premier League, Promotion/Relegation Playoff
Al Shat are therefore promoted to next season's Libyan Premier League.


2003–04 Liechtenstein Cup
The 2003–04 Liechtenstein Cup was the fifty-ninth season of Liechtenstein's annual cup competition. Seven clubs competed with a total of sixteen teams for one spot in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup. Defending champions were FC Vaduz, who have won the cup continuously since 1998.


2003–04 Liga Alef
The 2003–2004 Liga Alef season saw Maccabi Hadera (champions of the North Division) and Maccabi Be'er Sheva (champions of the South Division) winning the title and promotion to 2004–05. However as Maccabi Hadera folded during the following summer, eventually second placed Maccabi Tirat HaCarmel was promoted instead. During the summer Maccabi Kiryat Gat was demoted to Liga Alef, and Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Hen was promoted to Liga Artzit as well.


2003–04 Liga Alef
At the bottom, following a series of reprieves, caused by Maccabi Hadera and Hapoel Bat Yam folding and Maccabi Kiryat Gat being demoted to Liga Alef, only one club, Hapoel Migdal HaEmek was automatically relegated to Liga Bet.


2003–04 Liga Artzit
The 2003–04 Liga Artzit season saw Ironi Nir Ramat HaSharon win the title and promotion to Liga Leumit alongside runners-up Hapoel Acre. Hapoel Tira and Hapoel Beit She'an were relegated to Liga Alef.


2003–04 Liga Artzit
Beitar Avraham Be'er Sheva who had been relegated from Liga Leumit the previous season and were due to play in Liga Artzit in 2003–04, folded in the summer of 2003. Their place was taken by Hapoel Marmorek, the best runners-up in Liga Alef.


2003–04 Liga Bet
The 2003–04 Liga Bet season saw Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi, Hapoel Afula, Hapoel Qalansawe and Hapoel Bnei Lod win their regional divisions and promoted to Liga Alef.


2003–04 Liga Bet
At the bottom, Maccabi Bir al-Maksur (from North A division), Hapoel Bnei Nazareth (from North B division), M.M. Giv'at Shmuel and Maccabi Montefiore (from South A division) were all relegated to Liga Gimel. However, Beitar Acre (from North A division), Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel (from North B division), Maccabi Yehud (from South A division), Maccabi Kiryat Ekron and Hapoel Oranit (from South B division), which finished in the relegation zone, were all reprieved from relegation, after several vacancies were created in Liga Bet for the 2004–05 season, mostly due to withdrawals and mergers of clubs.


2003–04 Liga Gimel
The 2003–04 Liga Gimel season saw 99 clubs competing in 8 regional divisions for promotion to Liga Bet.


2003–04 Liga Leumit
The 2003–04 Liga Leumit season saw Hapoel Haifa win the title and promotion to the Premier League. Runners-up Hapoel Nazareth Illit were also promoted to the Premier League for the first time in their history.


2003–04 Liga Leumit
Bottom-placed Hapoel Ramat Gan were relegated to Liga Artzit. Tzafririm Holon were also due to be relegated, but were reprieved after Maccabi Kiryat Gat were demoted to Liga Alef due to financial difficulties.


2003–04 Liga Nacional de Hockey Hielo season
The 2003–04 Superliga Espanola de Hockey Hielo season was the 30th season of the Superliga Espanola de Hockey Hielo, the top level of ice hockey in Spain. Six teams participated in the league, and CH Jaca won the championship.


2003–04 Ligat Nashim
The 2003–04 Ligat Nashim was to be the sixth season of women's league football under the Israeli Football Association. However, the league was interrupted after the clubs went on strike in protest over discrimination in budget allocation and financial difficulties. and although the league resumed after a month of strike, eventually the league was abandoned.


2003–04 Ligat Nashim
The season is also noticeable due to the inclusion of Ironi Ariel, who lost all of its matches without scoring a goal. The team worst defeat came of the hands of Maccabi Holon, 0–48 (initially given as a 0–50 loss), with striker Silvi Jan scoring 15 goals. The club also registered a 0–32 loss to ASA Tel Aviv University, with Meital Dayan scoring 17 goals.


2003–04 Ligat Nashim, League table
The league was abandoned after playing the 11th round, which was due to be the last before the play-offs, involving the top 6 teams. At the time of abandonment, 6 regular season matches were still due to be completed.


2003–04 Ligue 1
Olympique Lyonnais won Ligue 1 season 2003–04 of the French Association Football League with 79 points.


2003–04 Ligue 2
The Ligue 2 season 2003–04, organised by the LFP was won by AS Saint-Étienne and saw the promotions of AS Saint-Étienne, SM Caen and FC Istres, whereas ASOA Valence, Besançon RC and FC Rouen were relegated to National.


2003–04 Lithuanian Hockey League season
The 2003–04 Lithuanian Hockey League season was the 13th season of the Lithuanian Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in Lithuania. Six teams participated in the league, and SC Energija won the championship. SC Energija received a bye until the finals, as they played in the Latvian Hockey League.


2003–04 Liverpool F.C. season
The 2003–04 season was Liverpool's 112th season in existence and their 42nd consecutive year in the top-flight. This article covers the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 May 2004. Liverpool finished the FA Premier League season in fourth place.


2003–04 Liverpool F.C. season, Season summary
Liverpool finished the season in fourth position in the Premier League in what was to be Gérard Houllier's last in charge of Liverpool. He was replaced by Rafael Benítez at the end of the season after six years in charge.


2003–04 Liverpool F.C. season, Players, First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2003–04 Liverpool F.C. season, Players, Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2003–04 Liverpool F.C. season, Players, Reserve squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2003–04 Livingston F.C. season
Season 2003-04 saw Livingston compete in the Scottish Premier League. They also reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup and won the League Cup.


2003–04 Livingston F.C. season, Summary
Livingston finished 9th in the Scottish Premier League during Season 2003–04. They went on to win Co-operative Insurance Cup after defeating Hibernian in the final and reached the semi final of the Scottish Cup losing to Celtic.


2003–04 Livingston F.C. season, Summary, Managers
Livingston started the season under Márcio Máximo who had been appointed during the summer. On 14 October 2003 he resigned as manager and was replaced by David Hay who led the club to their Co-operative Insurance Cup win.


2003–04 Logan Cup
The 2003–04 Logan Cup was a first-class cricket competition held in Zimbabwe from 12 September 2003 – 12 April 2004. It was won by Mashonaland, who won three of their six matches to top the table with 78 points.


2003–04 Los Angeles Clippers season
The 2003–04 NBA season was the Clippers' 34th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 20th season in Los Angeles. During the offseason, the Clippers signed free agents Bobby Simmons and former All-Star forward Glen Rice. However, after 18 games, Rice was released. With the Clippers starting from scratch again as they celebrated their 20th season in L.A., they hired Mike Dunleavy, Sr. as their new head coach. Under Dunleavy, the Clippers played slightly around .500 with a 22–25 start as of February 6.


2003–04 Los Angeles Clippers season
However, after co-hosting the 2004 NBA All-Star Game at the Staples Center with the Lakers, the young Clippers struggled badly as they won just six games, and posted a 13-game losing streak near the end of the season. The Clippers would slowly sink down the standings, coming to rest once again at the bottom of the Pacific Division with a 28–54 record. Following the season, Quentin Richardson signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns.


2003–04 Los Angeles Clippers season, Transactions
The Clippers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2003-04 season.


2003–04 Los Angeles Kings season
The 2003–04 Los Angeles Kings season was their 37th National Hockey League season. The Kings placed third in their division, 11th overall in their conference, and failed to qualify for the playoffs due to a season-ending, 11-game losing streak.


2003–04 Los Angeles Kings season, Regular season, Final standings
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.


2003–04 Los Angeles Kings season, Regular season, Final standings
Divisions: CE – Central, PA – Pacific, NW – Northwest


2003–04 Los Angeles Kings season, Regular season, Final standings
P –  Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y –  Clinched Division; X –  Clinched Playoff spot


2003–04 Los Angeles Kings season, Transactions
The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 2003–04 season.


2003–04 Los Angeles Kings season, Draft picks
Los Angeles' picks of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee on June 21, 2003.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season
The 2003–04 NBA season was the Lakers' 56th season in the National Basketball Association and 44th in the city of Los Angeles.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season
The Lakers entered the season following a disappointing second-round loss to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in the 2003 playoffs. During the offseason, the Lakers signed star free agents Karl Malone and Gary Payton and re-signed free agent power forward Horace Grant. Following these acquisitions, the Lakers became the instant favorites to win the NBA title.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season
Despite major acquisitions, key moves, and becoming overnight title favorites, the Lakers would run into major setbacks to begin the season. During the 2003 off-season, superstar guard Kobe Bryant had been accused of sexual assault in Colorado. Media attention surrounding the case would prove to be an ongoing distraction for the team, and Bryant missed games during his trial. In addition, Bryant's feud with superstar center Shaquille O'Neal reached a peak during the season, as both players criticized each other in the media. Payton struggled with coach Phil Jackson's triangle offense, and Malone missed significant time due to injuries.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season
Despite the setbacks, the Lakers finished the season with a 56–26 overall record, good enough to clinch the second seed in the Western Conference en route to the playoffs. In the playoffs, they defeated the Houston Rockets, the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, and the Minnesota Timberwolves to earn the franchise its 28th appearance in the NBA Finals. The Lakers entered the Finals against the Detroit Pistons as favorites. This was the third meeting between the Lakers and the Pistons in the NBA Finals, after both franchises met in 1988 and 1989, with each winning in both years respectively. However, the underdog Pistons' strong defense and teamwork propelled them to their third championship in franchise history, and the star-studded Lakers would collapse in five games. After the season, Jackson was fired and O'Neal (who requested a trade) was dealt to the Miami Heat.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season, NBA Finals, Series Summary
The Finals were played using a 2-3-2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage. This is only used in the Finals, all other playoff games are held in a 2-2-1-1-1 format (the team with home court advantage starts).


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season, NBA Finals, Background
The Lakers had a star-studded lineup that included offseason acquisitions Karl Malone and Gary Payton as well as mainstays Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. Malone and Payton were perennial All-Stars; Payton had led the Seattle SuperSonics to the Finals in 1996, while Malone's Utah Jazz reached the Finals in 1997 and 1998. However, both had been defeated by Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. By 2003, Malone and Payton were in the latter stages of their respective careers and were no longer playing on championship-contending teams. Both Malone and Payton took pay cuts to sign with the Lakers in an effort to win a championship.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season, NBA Finals, Game One
Considered to be a stunning upset by most of the NBA world, the Detroit Pistons managed to defeat the Lakers with imposing defense. Defensively clamping down on everyone but Bryant and O'Neal, the Pistons managed to hold everyone else to a total of 16 points.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season, NBA Finals, Game One
The Pistons trailed the Lakers 41–40 at halftime, but a 10–4 surge capped by Billups's 3-pointer gave the Pistons the lead. O'Neal's foul trouble furthered the scoring gap, with the Pistons leading by 13 points early in the fourth quarter.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season, NBA Finals, Game Two
The second game was close throughout the first half, but in the third quarter Detroit would score 30 points, cutting the deficit 68–66. However, at the end of the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant's 3-point shot at 2.1 seconds to go would tie the game at 89–89. The Lakers and Pistons would then go to overtime, with the Lakers outscoring the Pistons 10–2.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season, NBA Finals, Game Three
Thursday, June 10, 2004, 14:31 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season, NBA Finals, Game Three
The Pistons beat Los Angeles by 20 in their first NBA Finals appearance together at The Palace of Auburn Hills since 1989 to take a 2–1 lead in the series. The 68 points scored by the Lakers set a franchise record for the fewest points scored in a playoff game. Previous night, a group of overzealous Pistons fans made it difficult for the Lakers to get their rest by harassing them until 4am at their hotel in nearby Birmingham. Fans were screaming outside the building until management at the hotel called the police.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season, NBA Finals, Game Four
Sunday, June 13, 2004, 14:49 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season, NBA Finals, Game Four
Again, the Pistons defeated the Lakers, although this time by eight, to take a 3–1 series advantage.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season, NBA Finals, Game Five
Tuesday, June 15, 2004, 14:32 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.


2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers season, NBA Finals, Game Five
In Game 5, the Pistons won their first championship since 1990, and Larry Brown finally won his title. The Pistons defense had overcome the high-scoring Laker offense, winning the game by 13, winning the series 4-1, and also ending a long Laker dynasty that lasted for many years. The game saw the end of Phil Jackson's first run as the coach (he returned for the 2005-06 season), and saw O'Neal, Payton, and Malone's last games in Laker uniforms (O'Neal and Payton were both acquired by the soon-to-be NBA Champions Miami Heat and Malone retired).


2003–04 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team
The 2003–04 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team represented the University of Louisville in the 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Rick Pitino and the team finished the season with an overall record of 20–10.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season
The 2003–04 season was the 118th season in the history of Luton Town Football Club, and club's 83rd consecutive year in the Football League. Luton finished in tenth place, a surprising success considering the financial issues that afflicted the club. Despite being placed in administrative receivership for the majority of the season following a turbulent change of ownership and having a rigorous transfer embargo imposed as a result, signing players only with the Football League's special dispensation, the club accrued more points than in the previous campaign.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season
The lack of spending power meant that numerous youth team players were promoted to the first-team squad, such as Kevin Foley, Curtis Davies, Keith Keane, and Leon Barnett; as well as players with no previous professional football experience, like Enoch Showunmi. These players would go on to form a crucial part of the Luton side in later years.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season
This article covers the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Background
The previous season had seen consolidation for Luton after their drop into the basement division of English league football in 2001, with the club finishing the 2002–03 season in ninth place. Stability did not last for long, however, as the end of the season saw controversy erupt after an unidentified consortium gained control of the club, later revealed to be headed by businessman John Gurney.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Background
Gurney's first act was the sacking of successful managerial duo Joe Kinnear and Mick Harford, subsequently followed by a phone-poll to determine the next manager. Former Luton player and Hartlepool United manager Mike Newell was announced as the winner on 23 June 2003, though it is widely believed that Kinnear accumulated the most votes, only to reject a return to the club as he refused to work with Gurney.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Background
In terms of playing staff, the end of the last season had seen six released; goalkeepers Carl Emberson and Mark Ovendale, defenders Duncan Jupp, Alan Kimble and Aaron Skelton, and striker Carl Griffiths. No replacements had been brought in, leaving Luton with a compact squad, albeit with a number of talented young players.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, July
With the fallout surrounding the takeover still occurring, including the fact that players and staff had not been paid for two months, managing director John Gurney was summoned by the Football League to explain the situation. Striker Tony Thorpe voiced his thoughts on the matter, stating that the supporters needed to get behind the players and turn out for the first game of the season, responding to the fact that thousands of fans were deliberately not buying season tickets in an attempt to force the new owners out of the club. Defender Chris Coyne expressed a different view, praising the supporters for standing up for themselves and the club even though it meant he was not being paid.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, July
On 11 July, the Football League met with Gurney and expressed "grave concern that the new owners... have been unable to satisfy [The League] of the club's financial stability going forward." As a result, Luton were placed under a transfer embargo and all payments due to the club from the authorities, such as sponsorship money and television rights, were to be withheld. In the weeks before this, Luton's supporters' trust, Trust in Luton, had devised a strategy to acquire shares in the club's major creditor, Hatters Holdings.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, July
Hatters Holdings, now majority-owned by Trust in Luton, deliberately placed the club into administrative receivership on 14 July to successfully force out John Gurney after a turbulent 55 days in charge. As a result, supporters began buying tickets again and the club hastily arranged friendly matches against Fulham, Hitchin Town and an Arsenal XI before the season began on 9 August. Despite ridding the club of Gurney, the club remained financially insecure and still had a transfer embargo in place, meaning Luton could only sign players on free transfers or on loan and, even then, only with dispensation from the authorities.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, August and September
After being sacked alongside Joe Kinnear eight weeks earlier, Mick Harford returned to Luton on 6 August as Director of Football. Harford and manager Mike Newell had previously played together at Luton in 1986 and 1987, during the club's most successful period in the top division of English football.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, August and September
A day before the season began, Luton were granted special dispensation from the Football League to sign a goalkeeper and an outfield player on loan. While the club elected to use youth team goalkeepers Rob Beckwith and Dean Brill, they did sign Portsmouth winger Courtney Pitt on a one-month loan. Pitt played in the opening game against Rushden & Diamonds as Luton won 3–1, Tony Thorpe scoring twice. A 2–1 victory in the next league game over Stockport County left Luton as early leaders of the Second Division.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, August and September
On 22 August, Tony Thorpe joined Luton's rivals Queens Park Rangers for a £50,000 fee. It proved to be a transfer that angered many Luton supporters due to a combination of Thorpe's comments earlier in the season urging fans to get behind the team, QPR's status as Luton's rivals, and the fact that the club received such a small fee for a player perceived to be worth much more. The same day, as a result of funds being freed up by Thorpe's move, Luton signed young Coventry City striker Gary McSheffrey on a one-month loan.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, August and September
The next three games saw two losses and a win. On 6 September, the club signed 21-year-old striker Enoch Showunmi on non-contract terms following special dispensation to sign an outfield player after captain Kevin Nicholls was injured for three months. Showunmi, who had no professional football experience and had previously played only for eleventh-tier club Willesden Constantine, had been on trial with Luton since August. Only one further win followed in September, leaving the club in fourteenth place in the table. Both McSheffrey and Pitt signed one-month extensions to their loans in late September, and the club allowed striker Dean Crowe, who had been injured for much of the past year, to join Third Division club York City on loan for a month.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, August and September
Luton progressed to the second round of the League Cup, where they faced Premier League club Charlton Athletic. After a 4–4 draw at extra-time, earning praise from Charlton manager Alan Curbishley, Luton lost 8–7 on penalties.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, October and November
Goalkeeper Rob Beckwith was suspended after being sent off in a 3–0 defeat to Oldham Athletic, meaning Luton had only one goalkeeper in the form of 18-year-old Dean Brill for an upcoming match with Wycombe Wanderers. They signed former player Nathan Abbey on non-contract terms on 10 October from Stevenage Borough to cover Brill's position.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, October and November
The club endured a mixed month in the league during October, recording two wins, two draws and two losses, including a 6–3 defeat to AFC Bournemouth, as well as progressing to the second round of the Football League Trophy. An injury to regular striker Steve Howard pushed Adrian Forbes into a first-team role, where he excelled with six goals in six games, winning the award for October's top scorer in the division.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, October and November
In terms of transfers, Luton extended Gary McSheffrey's loan for a further month after he had scored eight goals in thirteen games and Nathan Abbey left after two weeks, the club signing experienced goalkeeper Marlon Beresford from Bradford City as a replacement on a three-month contract. Beresford joining meant that a player had to leave to satisfy the transfer embargo, and Courtney Pitt subsequently returned to Portsmouth after two months on loan.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, October and November
November saw the team go unbeaten in the league, with wins also in the Football League Trophy and FA Cup. Adrian Forbes continued his goalscoring form, hitting four goals in six games as Luton moved to tenth in the table, one point from the play-off places. The successful run of form coincided with welcome news for the club off the pitch, with confirmation from the Companies Court on 21 November that the administrators now had the power to sell the club to an appropriate bidder, safeguarding the future of Luton Town. On 28 November, a bid from a company called Bill Tomlins Sport Management was received, with the administrators intending to meet with representatives in early December to progress the sale.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, December and January
The team's good form continued into December, with two wins, a draw and one loss in the league leaving them in seventh place. Southend United knocked the club out of the Football League Trophy early in the month, but Luton did progress to the third round of the FA Cup with a 2–0 win over Rochdale. Gary McSheffrey left the club on 3 December with Luton unable to extend his loan further than the 93-day maximum.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, December and January
January began with Luton beating Bradford City 2–1 in the FA Cup, ensuring the club reached the fourth round of the competition for the first time since the 1994–95 season. Two consecutive 2–2 draws left the club in ninth place in the league, but a 1–0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers in front of Kenilworth Road's biggest crowd of the season on 24 January knocked Luton out of the FA Cup.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, December and January
Marlon Beresford left Luton on 26 January at the expiration of his contract, signing for divisional rivals Barnsley. Three days later, Luton signed a replacement in the form of Danish goalkeeper Morten Hyldgaard on a free transfer from Scottish Premier League side Hibernian until the end of the season.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, February, March and April
Luton had a strong February in the league, picking up 13 out of a possible 18 points and moving into a play-off position. This set of results saw manager Mike Newell win the Manager of the Month award and striker Enoch Showunmi rewarded as Player of the Month. Earlier in the month, following a hat-trick in a 4–1 win over Brentford, Showunmi had signed a two-and-a-half-year professional contract.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, February, March and April
On 13 February, preferred bidder Bill Tomlins stated that he hoped Luton would be out of administration within a week, assuming the handover of the club went smoothly. However, no news was heard for over a month, which only then confirmed that the transfer of ownership of the club was planned to take place on 31 March.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, February, March and April
On the pitch, Luton started March in a similar fashion to February with a draw and a win to place themselves in sixth position, just inside the play-offs, with twelve games left to play. However, the club soon slipped down the league, with a loss and two draws pushing them into mid-table. Irish defender Kevin Foley, a regular in the Luton first-team despite officially being classed as a youth player, agreed a two-and-a-half-year professional contract on 10 March.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, February, March and April
The end of the month also saw the closure of the transfer window, and the club released striker Dean Crowe, who had made only two starts all season. Crowe subsequently joined Oldham Athletic. With Crowe's wages freed up, Luton signed Rushden & Diamonds captain and left-back Paul Underwood on a free transfer following the League's approval.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, February, March and April
In terms of financial issues, the planned date for transfer of ownership on 31 March passed without event, with the future of the club still in the balance. A series of statements throughout April informing that Luton Town would be out of administration "soon" also failed to yield any immediate positive outcome.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, February, March and April
A poor run of results saw Luton pick up only one win from seven games in April, with a 2–1 defeat to Wrexham on 24 April confirming that the play-offs were mathematically out of reach.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, May and June
A win and loss in the final two games in early May meant that Luton finished the season in tenth place, seven points away from a play-off place. Given the financial constraints placed on the team and chaotic conditions surrounding ownership, the season exceeded most supporter and pundit expectations.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, May and June
On 12 May Bill Tomlins, head of the consortium buying Luton Town, confirmed the Football League had formally approved the purchase of the club from administrative receivership. Tomlins committed himself to building a new stadium on land purchased by previous chairman Mike Watson-Challis, with plans to open it in 2006. He also praised Trust in Luton for saving the club in July 2003.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, May and June
Goalkeeper Morten Hyldgaard left the club on 14 May at the expiration of his contract, as did youth players Matthew Judge and Parys Okai. On 21 May, Luton turned down a bid from Sheffield Wednesday for top scorer Steve Howard. Initially, the bid was reported as being accepted, but it later came to light that a forged fax had been sent to Sheffield Wednesday apparently accepting the offer, while the official response from Luton had been to reject it. A day later, defender Chris Coyne and midfielder Steve Robinson both signed two-year contract extensions.


2003–04 Luton Town F.C. season, Review, May and June
On 27 May, youth players Curtis Davies, Rob Beckwith and Stephen O'Leary signed two-year professional contracts, while Michael Leary extended his own professional contract by a further two years. Defender Russell Perrett, who had been injured for the majority of the season, signed a one-year contract extension on 7 June. Ten days later, forward Adrian Forbes left the club on a free transfer to join Swansea City. On 23 June, goalkeeper Marlon Beresford agreed to return to Luton on a free transfer, with the deal taking place on 1 July at the opening of the transfer and player registration window. Midfielder Paul Hughes agreed to a two-year contract extension on 26 June, as Mike Newell continued to commit players to Luton for the next season.


2003–04 Luxembourg National Division
The 2003–04 Luxembourg National Division was the 90th season of top level association football in Luxembourg. The competition ran from 9 August 2003 to 16 May 2004 with Jeunesse Esch winning the title.


2003–04 Luxembourg National Division, Teams
The 2003–04 season saw the National Division's roster of twelve clubs include:


2003–04 Luxembourg National Division, Format
The twelve teams completed the round-robin by playing each other twice (once home and once away) by 4 April. Then, the league divided into three. The top four teams were separated from the rest and formed the  'Title group' . The bottom eight teams were then subdivided into two groups of four, titled  'Relegation group A'  and  'Relegation group B' . In the event, the top four were Jeunesse Esch, F91 Dudelange, FC Etzella Ettelbruck, and CS Grevenmacher.


2003–04 Luxembourg National Division, Format
In each of the three mini-leagues, each team played each of the three other teams in the mini-league twice (once home and once away). To these results were added the 22 results of the first stage. The overall points totals (and goal difference, etc.) were used to determine each club's position in its respective mini-league.


2003–04 Luxembourg National Division, Format
After calculating the final results after 28 games, Jeunesse Esch, the top team in the title group, was declared the league champion. The fourth-placed team in each of the relegation groups (FC Mondercange and US Rumelange in groups A and B respectively) was relegated to the Division of Honour.


2003–04 Luxembourg National Division, Format
This format is no longer used; the current season, 2006–07 uses a straightforward round-robin.


2003–04 Luxembourg National Division, European qualification
Luxembourg was assigned one spot in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, for the league champions; it was also assigned two spots in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup, for the runners-up and the winners of the Luxembourg Cup. As league champions, Jeunesse Esch qualified for the Champions League. F91 Dudelange qualified for the UEFA Cup as runners-up. In addition, as F91 Dudelange won the Luxembourg Cup and the other finalist (CS Pétange) was not a National Division team, the UEFA Cup spot assigned to the cup winners went to FC Etzella Ettelbruck, who finished third in the league.


2003–04 Luxembourg National Division, Team changes for 2004-05 season
The champions and runners-up of the Division of Honour, CS Alliance 01 and CS Pétange, were promoted automatically. FC Mondercange and US Rumelange were relegated.


2003–04 Macedonian First Football League
The 2003–04 Macedonian First League was the 12th season of the Macedonian First Football League, the highest football league of Macedonia. The first matches of the season were played on 8 August 2003 and the last on 30 May 2004. Vardar were the defending champions, having won their fifth title. The 2003-04 champions were Pobeda who had won their first title.


2003–04 Macedonian First Football League, Results
Every team will play three times against each other team for a total of 33 matches. The first 22 matchdays will consist of a regular double round-robin schedule. The league standings at this point will then be used to determine the games for the last 11 matchdays.


2003–04 Macedonian Football Cup
The 2003–04 Macedonian Football Cup was the 12th season of Macedonia's football knockout competition. FK Cementarnica 55 were the defending champions, having won their first title. The 2003–04 champions were FK Sloga Jugomagnat who won their third title after appearing in their eighth Final in nine seasons.


2003–04 Macedonian Football Cup, Second round
The first legs were played on 1 October and second were played on 22 October 2003.


2003–04 Macedonian Football Cup, Quarter-finals
The first legs were played on 26 November and second were played on 3 December 2003.


2003–04 Macedonian Football Cup, Semi-finals
The first legs were played on 10 March and the second on 15 April 2004.


2003–04 Macedonian Football Cup, Semi-finals
2–2 on aggregate. Sloga Jugomagnat won on away goals rule.


2003–04 Macedonian Second Football League
The 2003–04 Macedonian Second Football League was the twelfth season since its establishment. It began on 9 August 2003 and ended on 2 June 2004.


2003–04 Magyar Kupa
The 2003–04 Magyar Kupa (English: Hungarian Cup) is the 64th season of Hungary's annual knock-out cup football competition.


2003–04 Major Indoor Soccer League season, League standings, Scoring leaders
GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points


2003–04 Maltese First Division
The Maltese First Division 2003–04 (known as MIA First Division 2003–04 for sponsorship reasons) started on 13 September 2003 and finished on 9 May 2004. Marsa and Mosta were relegated from Maltese Premier League. Tarxien and San Gwann were promoted from Maltese Second Division with the latter (San Gwann) having won a promotion playoff against Vittoriosa. St.Patrick were the champions while Lija were runners-up. Both were promoted to Maltese Premier League. Tarxien and Rabat were relegated to Maltese Second Division with the former having just clinched promotion only to go straight down again.


2003–04 Maltese First Division, Participating teams
The Maltese First Division 2003–04 was made up of these teams:


2003–04 Maltese Premier League
The 2003–04 Maltese Premier League (known as the MIA Premier League for sponsorship reasons) was the 24th season of the Maltese Premier League, and the 89th season of top-tier football in Malta. The league started on 22 August 2003 and finished on 9 May 2004. Sliema Wanderers successfully defended last season's league triumph, equalling Floriana's league title record of 25 championships.


2003–04 Maltese Premier League, Teams
The following teams were promoted from the First Division at the start of the season:


2003–04 Maltese Premier League, Teams
From the previous Premier League season, the following teams were relegated to the First Division:


2003–04 Maltese Premier League, Second round, Championship Pool
The teams placed in the first six positions in the league table qualified for the Championship Pool, and the points obtained during the first round were halved (and rounded up) before the start of second round. As a result, the teams started with the following points before the second round: Sliema Wanderers 21 points, Birkirkara 18, Hibernians 17, Marsaxlokk 16, Floriana and Pietà Hotspurs 14.


2003–04 Maltese Premier League, Second round, Relegation Pool
The teams which finished in the last four league positions were placed in the Relegation Pool and at the end of the round the two lowest-placed teams were relegated to the First Division. The points obtained during the first round were halved (and rounded up) before the start of second round. As a result, the teams started with the following points before the second round: Valletta 12 points, Balzan Youths 9, Msida Saint-Joseph 5 and Ħamrun Spartans 2.


2003–04 Maltese Second Division
The 2003–04 Maltese Second Division (also known as MIA Second Division 2003-04 due to sponsorship reasons) started on 27 September 2003 and ended on 3 May 2004.


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season
The 2003–04 season was Manchester City Football Club's second consecutive season playing in the Premier League, the top division of English football, and its seventh season since the Premier League was first created with Manchester City as one of its original 22 founding member clubs. Overall, it was the team's 112th season playing in a division of English football, most of which have been spent in the top flight.


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, Season review
After finishing ninth during the club's final season at 80-year-old Maine Road, Manchester City's debut season at the City of Manchester Stadium was a major disappointment. A ninth-place finish had not been good enough to earn City an opportunity to play in the UEFA Cup but the team was rewarded with that opportunity anyway due to being awarded a "Fair Play" slot in the UEFA Cup competition this season. City reached the second round proper of the competition thanks to aggregate victories against The New Saints and Lokeren, but exited the competition on the away goals rule after two draws against Polish club Groclin.


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, Season review
Having embarked on a new era for the club by signing a host of experienced players in the summer, such as Claudio Reyna and Steve McManaman, to combine with such burgeoning talents coming through from the MCFC youth academy as Stephen Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips, City started their season very brightly with three wins in five games, sending them near the top of the table.


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, Season review
They were still in the top-half of the table after winning five, drawing three and losing three of their first 11 games, with three notably big wins: a 3–0 opening-game away win at Charlton Athletic, a 4–1 home victory over Aston Villa and a 6–2 thumping of Bolton Wanderers. However, a dreadful 3–0 home defeat against unlikely opponents Leicester City in November started a gradual downturn in form and City then ended up battling against relegation.


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, Season review
At one point, City went on a run of winning only one game out of 18 league and cup matches played, sparking media rumours of unrest in the squad. Survival in the Premier League was not confirmed until City won their 36th game of the league season. That victory meant that City were six points ahead of the relegation places, but the club's survival was effectively confirmed due to it having a far superior goal difference to Leicester, Leeds and Wolves, who were relegated.


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, Season review
Perhaps the most memorable game played by Manchester City during this season was the FA Cup fourth round replay fixture against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane which featured what many people consider to be one of the most extraordinary comebacks in the history of the competition. City fell three goals behind during the first half, had Nicolas Anelka substituted due to injury and Joey Barton was sent off during half-time for verbally abusing the referee.


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, Season review
Despite having one man less than their opponents during the second half, City came all the way back to win 4–3 and reach the next round. Rookie Icelandic goalkeeper Árni Arason made a key double save and Jon Macken scored the winning goal. In the next round, a Manchester derby at Old Trafford, City lost 4–2 to exit the competition.


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, Team kit
There was a change in the producer of the team kits for this season, with Reebok replacing the previous season's supplier, Le Coq Sportif. The shirt sponsorship was provided by the financial and legal services group First Advice who had also been the sponsors for the previous season.


2003–04 Manchester City 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.


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, First-team squad, Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, Historical league performance
Prior to this season, the history of Manchester City's performance in the English football league hierarchy since the creation of the Premier League in 1992 is summarised by the following timeline chart – which commences with the last season (1991–92) of the old Football League First Division (from which the Premier League was formed).


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, Competitive games, Premier League, Results summary
Last updated: 15 May 2004 (end of season). Source: Premier League results 2003–04


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, Competitive games, Premier League, Points breakdown
Points against "Big Four" teams: 4 Points against promoted teams: 3


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, Competitive games, Premier League, Biggest & smallest
Biggest home wins: 6–2 vs. Bolton Wanderers, 18 October 2003 000000000000000005–1 vs. Everton, 15 May 2004 Biggest home defeat: 0–3 vs. Leicester City, 9 November 2003 Biggest away win: 0–3 vs. Charlton Athletic, 17 August 2003 Biggest away defeat: 3–0 vs. Newcastle United, 22 November 2003 Biggest home attendance: 47,304 vs. Chelsea, 28 February 2004 Smallest home attendance: 44,307 vs. Charlton Athletic, 7 January 2004 Biggest away attendance: 67,645 vs. Manchester United, 13 December 2003 Smallest away attendance: 16,124 vs. Fulham, 20 September 2003


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, Competitive games, UEFA Cup
Final aggregate score 1–1 with Groclin progressing on away goals rule


2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season, Goal scorers, League Cup and FA Cup
Information current as of 15 May 2004 (end of season)


2003–04 Manchester United F.C. season
The 2003–04 season was Manchester United's 12th season in the Premier League, and their 29th consecutive season in the top division of English football.


2003–04 Manchester United F.C. season
United started the season by winning the 2003 FA Community Shield and then secured a record eleventh FA Cup with a 3–0 win over Millwall at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. However, the club surrendered the Premier League title to unbeaten champions Arsenal, with a second-half dip in league form coinciding with Rio Ferdinand starting an eight-month ban from football due to a missed drugs test and restricting United to a third-place finish.


2003–04 Manchester United F.C. season
New to the United side were Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, Brazilian 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning midfielder Kléberson, American goalkeeper Tim Howard, Cameroonian midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba and French striker David Bellion.


2003–04 Manchester United F.C. season
United's UEFA Champions League and League Cup dreams ended in the last 16, with the European exit being particularly painful as a last minute goal by eventual champions Porto put them out of the competition and denied them an eighth successive Champions League quarter-final.


2003–04 Manchester United F.C. season, Transfers
United's first departure of the 2003–04 season was David Beckham, who left Old Trafford after ten years with the Red Devils. On 7 July, forward Danny Webber joined Watford. A month after Webber's departure, Argentinian midfielder, Juan Sebastián Verón joined United's rivals Chelsea. Two days later, English forward Jimmy Davis died in a car crash.


2003–04 Manchester United F.C. season, Transfers
Coming in during the summer transfer window were French forward David Bellion, Cameroonian midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba, American goalkeeper Tim Howard, Brazilian midfielder Kléberson, and Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo.


2003–04 Manchester United F.C. season, Transfers
Leaving in the winter transfer window was Alan Tate, who joined Swansea City. First-choice goalkeeper Fabien Barthez rejoined Marseille in April, while Danny Pugh joined Leeds United in late May, in exchange for Alan Smith.


2003–04 Manchester United F.C. season, Transfers
Arriving in the winter transfer window was Louis Saha, who signed from Fulham on 23 January for a fee of £12.82 million. Alan Smith joined United on 26 May from Leeds United in exchange for Danny Pugh (see above). Gabriel Heinze joined United on 11 June from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £6.9 million.


2003–04 Mansfield Town F.C. season
During the 2003–04 English football season, Mansfield Town Football Club competed in the Football League Third Division where they finished in 5th position with 75 points, reaching the 2004 Football League Third Division play-off Final where they lost on penalties to Huddersfield Town.


2003–04 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team
The 2003–04 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represented the University of Maryland in the 2003–2004 college basketball season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The team was led by head coach Gary Williams and played their home games at the Comcast Center. They won the 2004 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament—the first Maryland team to do so since 1984—and advanced to the round of 32 in the 2004 NCAA Basketball Tournament.


2003–04 Meistriliiga (ice hockey) season
The 2003-04 Meistriliiga season was the 14th season of the Meistriliiga, the top level of ice hockey in Estonia. Five teams participated in the league, and HK Panter-Hansa Sport Tallinn won the championship.


2003–04 Memphis Grizzlies season
The 2003–04 NBA season was the Grizzlies' ninth season in the National Basketball Association, and their third season in Memphis. It was also the final season playing their home games at the Pyramid Arena. They moved into FedExForum the next season. During the offseason, the Grizzlies signed free agent James Posey. After two unsuccessful seasons ever since they moved to Memphis, the Grizzlies finally played around .500 holding a 9–8 record as they acquired Bonzi Wells from the Portland Trail Blazers in early December. However, the team struggled posting a 7-game losing streak at the end of the month. Despite this, the Grizzlies continued to played their best basketball posting an 8-game winning streak in January, and winning 13 of their 15 games in March, as they made the playoffs for the first time in their franchise history, finishing fourth in the Midwest Division with a 50–32 record.


2003–04 Memphis Grizzlies season
Pau Gasol continued to lead the team in scoring, rebounds and blocks, and 70-year old head coach Hubie Brown was named Coach of The Year. However, the Grizzlies lost in the first round of the playoffs, losing four games straight to the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.


2003–04 Mercyhurst Lakers women's ice hockey season
The 2003–04 Mercyhurst Lakers women's ice hockey team represented Mercyhurst College in the 2003–04 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season.


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season
Mersin İdmanyurdu (also Mersin İdman Yurdu, Mersin İY, or MİY) Sports Club; located in Mersin, east Mediterranean coast of Turkey in 2003–04. The team participated in Second League Category A for 2nd time in the league's 3rd season. Mersin İdmanyurdu football team has finished 2003–04 season in 15th place in Second League Category A. Mersin idmanyurdu participated in 2003–04 Turkish Cup and eliminated at second round.


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season
Macit Özcan was club president. MİY started to season with Yücel İldiz as the head coach. After 4th round Mehmet Şahan became the head coach. In the mid-season Levent Eriş took over the management of the team. Ufuk Talay was the most appeared player (33), while top goalscorer was Taner Demirbaş (15).


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2003–04 TFF First League participation
In 2003–04 season Mersin idmanyurdu has participated in Second League Category A (the league has been played under the name of "Second League Category A" between 2001–02 and 2005–06; "TFF League A" in 2006–07; and "TFF First League" since 2007–08. Also sponsor names have been included in various seasons.). 18 teams attended in the league. Winners, runners-up and play-off winners were directly promoted to 2004–05 Süper Lig. Bottom three teams were relegated to 2003–04 TFF Second League.


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2003–04 TFF First League participation, Results summary
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2003–04 Second League Category A season league summary:


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2003–04 TFF First League participation, League table
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2003–04 Second League Category A season place in league table.


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2003–04 TFF First League participation, League table
(C): Champions;   (P): Promoted to 2004–05 Süper Lig;   (R): Relegated to 2004–05 TFF Second League.


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2003–04 TFF First League participation, Results by round
Results of games MİY played in 2003–04 Second League Category A by rounds:


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2003–04 TFF First League participation, First half
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2003–04 Second League Category A season first half game reports is shown in the following table. Kick off times are in EET and EEST.


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2003–04 TFF First League participation, Second half
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2003–04 Second League Category A season second half game reports is shown in the following table. Kick off times are in EET and EEST.


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2003–04 TFF First League participation, Second half
In the half season, player Ahmet Arslaner (Elazığspor) left the team, Volkan Öztürk (Adanaspor) was transferred in.


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2003–04 Turkish Cup participation
2003–04 Turkish Cup was played for 42nd time as Fortis Türkiye Kupası for sponsorship purposes. This season Cup was played by 48 teams in one-leg elimination system in 3 elimination rounds prior to quarter-finals. Trabzonspor won the cup for the 7th time. Mersin İdmanyurdu participated in the cup and eliminated at first elimination round.


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2003–04 Turkish Cup participation, Cup track
The drawings and results Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) followed in 2003–04 Turkish Cup are shown in the following table.


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2003–04 Turkish Cup participation, Game details
Mersin İdmanyurdu (MİY) 2003–04 Turkish Cup game reports is shown in the following table. Kick off times are in EET and EEST.


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, Management, Club management
Macit Özcan, then mayor of Mersin city was president of the club.


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, Management, Coaching team
Yücel İldiz was head coach at the start of the season. He took over the team in the mid of previous season. But, after 4th round he was replaced with Mehmet Şahan. In the mid-season Levent Eriş became the head coach. He coached the team until the end of the season.


2003–04 Mersin İdmanyurdu season, 2003–04 squad
Appearances, goals and cards count for 2003–04 Second League Category A and 2003–04 Turkish Cup games. 18 players appeared in each game roster, three to be replaced. Only the players who appeared in game rosters were included and listed in order of appearance.


2003–04 Mestis season
The 2003–04 Mestis season was the fourth season of the Mestis, the second level of ice hockey in Finland. 12 teams participated in the league, and KalPa won the championship.


2003–04 Miami Heat season
The 2003–04 NBA season was the 16th season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association. This season saw the team draft future All-Star and 3-time NBA Champion Dwyane Wade with the fifth overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, while acquiring forward Lamar Odom from the Los Angeles Clippers. Before the season began, head coach Pat Riley resigned, but he would later return midway in the 2005–06 season and help guide the Heat to their first ever NBA championship. Under new head coach Stan Van Gundy, the Heat stumbled out of the gate losing their first seven games.


2003–04 Miami Heat season
However, the team would play .500 basketball for the remainder of the season winning 14 of their final 17 games. Despite posting a mediocre 42–40 record, the Heat entered the playoffs as the #4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Wade had a stellar rookie season averaging 16.2 points per game, and was selected to the All-Rookie First Team.


2003–04 Miami Heat season
The first round series pitted the Heat against the New Orleans Hornets, then in its second season of existence. The Heat would go on to defeat New Orleans in seven games. They advanced to the Conference Semi-finals for the first time since 2000. However, they went no further as they fell to the top-seeded Indiana Pacers in six games.


2003–04 Miami Heat season
Following the season, Odom, second-year forward Caron Butler, and Brian Grant were all traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for big man Shaquille O'Neal after being bad blood with Kobe Bryant after blaming him for losing in the finals to the underdog Detroit Pistons.


2003–04 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team
The 2003–04 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Spartans played their home games at Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan. They were coached by Tom Izzo in his ninth year as head coach. MSU finished the season with a record of 18–12, 12–4 to finish in a tie for second place in Big Ten play. The Spartans received a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh consecutive year where they lost in the First Round to Nevada.


2003–04 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Previous season
The Spartans finished the 2002–03 season with an overall record of 22–12, 10–6 to finish in fifth place in the Big Ten. Michigan State received a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their sixth straight trip to the Tournament, and advanced to the Elite Eight, their fourth trip to the Elite Eight under Tom Izzo.


2003–04 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
The Spartans were led by sophomore Paul Davis (15.9 PPG, 6.2 PRG, 2.0 APG) and juniors Chris Hill (13.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.9 APG) and Kelvin Tolbert (10.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.0 PAG). The Spartans began the season ranked No. 3 in the country and faced a difficult non-conference schedule. MSU fell on the road to No. 6 Kansas in the second game of the season.


2003–04 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
Two wins followed the loss before a murderer's row of a schedule which included three straight losses to No. 6 Duke, in overtime to No. 14 Oklahoma at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and to No. 8 Kentucky at Ford Field in the Basketbowl. The Spartans followed this losing streak by losing two of their final four non-conference games including at No. 17 Syracuse and dropped out of the rankings. They finished the non-conference slate at 5–6.


2003–04 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
After a loss to open Big Ten play to No. 21 Wisconsin, the Spartans recovered to win seven of their next eight and six of their last seven Big Ten games. They finished in a tie for second place in the Big Ten at 12–4 and 17–10 overall. A win over Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals was followed by a third loss of the season to No. 17 Wisconsin.


2003–04 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Season summary
The Spartans received a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the tournament for the seventh consecutive year. But, for the second time in three years, the Spartans were knocked out in the First Round, this time by Nevada.


2003–04 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The 2003–04 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference. Under the direction of head coach Tommy Amaker, the team finished tied for fifth in the Big Ten Conference. The team earned a fifth place seed and advanced to the semifinals of the 2004 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. The team won the 2004 National Invitation Tournament.


2003–04 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The team was unranked for all eighteen weeks of Associated Press Top Twenty-Five Poll, and it also ended the season unranked in the final USA Today/CNN Poll. The team had a 1–2 record against ranked opponents, with the lone victory coming against #12 Wisconsin 71–59 on February 22 at Crisler Arena.


2003–04 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
Colin Dill and J. C. Mathis served as team co-captains, and Lester Abram and Bernard Robinson, Jr. shared team MVP honors. The team's leading scorers were Daniel Horton (415 points), Bernard Robinson, Jr. (411 points) and Lester Abram (405 points). The leading rebounders were Robinson (194), Courtney Sims (161) and Graham Brown (139).


2003–04 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
Courtney Sims won the Big Ten Conference statistical championship for blocked shots with a 2.00 average in all games. The team led the conference in rebounding margin with a 3.4 average margin in conference games as well as blocked shots with a 4.31 team average in conference games.


2003–04 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
In the 2004 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at the Conseco Fieldhouse from March 11–14, Michigan was seeded fifth and earned a first round bye. Then, in the second round they defeated number 4 Iowa79–70 before being defeated by number 1 Illinois 74–60.


2003–04 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
On March 16, 2004, Michigan defeated Missouri 65–64 at Crisler Arena in the first round of the 2004 National Invitation Tournament. Then, Michigan defeated Oklahoma 63–52 and Hawaii 88–73 on March 22 and March 24 at Crisler Arena, respectively. At the final four in New York City at Madison Square Garden, the team defeated Oregon 78–53 in the semifinals on March 30 and Rutgers 62–55 to win the championship on April 1.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season
During the 2003–04 season, Middlesbrough participated in the FA Premier League.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Team kit and sponsors
Middlesbrough were sponsored by Dial-a-Phone, the team's kit was produced by Errea. The home shirt consisted of a plain red shirt, red shorts and red socks with white trim. The away strip was mainly navy blue with maroon shoulders, navy shorts and navy socks, with maroon detailing.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review, League review
Middlesbrough had an appalling start to their season, losing four of their first five games (their worst start since the 1984–85 season) and taking only one point. This set the foundations for a very patchy season.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review, League review
Middlesbrough hovered around the relegation spots for the first third of the season. However, they eventually found some form through November and December and went unbeaten for eight games which took them away from the relegation zone.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review, League review
Middlesbrough's form was again inconsistent after Christmas, but they managed to pick up enough points to finish in a respectable 11th place.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review, Domestic cup review
The league cup campaign was the highlight of the season for Middlesbrough. It was one that would bring them their first major trophy in their 128-year history.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review, Domestic cup review
It started in late September with a home match against Brighton and Hove Albion and Boro low down in the league due to a terrible start. Middlesbrough made hard work of it against lower league opposition, but managed to scrape through with a 94th minute extra-time goal from Malcolm Christie.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review, Domestic cup review
The next round saw Boro comfortably beat Wigan Athletic 2–1 away with goals from Maccarone and Mendieta to set up a fourth round home match against Everton.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review, Domestic cup review
The match against Everton was a closely contested affair, which ended 0–0 after extra time - penalties were needed to decide the winner. Middlesbrough won the shoot-out 5–4, with Mark Schwarzer saving from Leon Osman and Mendieta converting the winning penalty.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review, Domestic cup review
The quarter finals saw Middlesbrough face Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Spurs led most of the match through a first-minute Darren Anderton goal. It took an 86th-minute equaliser from Michael Ricketts to send the game into extra time. No goals were scored in extra time, meaning Boro had a penalty shoot out for the second successive round. The shoot out went into sudden death, but after Mauricio Taricco's penalty hit the post, Franck Queudrue converted his penalty to win the game.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review, Domestic cup review
Boro's semi final was a two legged match against a youthful Arsenal team. The first leg went Middlesbrough's way with them taking a 1–0 lead thanks to a Juninho goal. Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger chose a few more experienced players for the vital second leg, but to no avail: Boro won 2–1 on the night for a 3–1 aggregate win.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review, Domestic cup review
The final was on 29 February 2004 against Bolton Wanderers at the Millennium Stadium. The game started in the best way possible for Boro, with goals from Joseph Desire-Job and Bolo Zenden giving them an early 2–0 lead. A mistake from Mark Schwarzer let Kevin Davies get one back, and the score remained 2–1 at half time. Both teams had chances to score in the second half, but the score stayed the same, giving Boro their first ever major trophy.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Season review, Domestic cup review
The FA Cup campaign wasn't as successful. After a comfortable 2–0 win at home to Notts County, Boro were drawn against Arsenal in the fourth round. They lost the match 4–1 sending them out of the competition.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Squad, Senior squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Squad, Senior squad, Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Premier League results
Note: Results are given with Middlesbrough score listed first. Man of the Match is according to .


2003–04 Middlesbrough F.C. season, Player statistics, Appearances / Discipline
Appearance and disciplinary records for 2003-04 league and cup matches.


2003–04 Midland Football Alliance
The 2003–04 Midland Football Alliance season was the tenth in the history of Midland Football Alliance, a football competition in England.


2003–04 Midland Football Alliance, Clubs
The league featured 19 clubs from the previous season, along with five new clubs:


2003–04 Midland Football Combination
The 2003–04 Midland Football Combination season was the 67th in the history of Midland Football Combination, a football competition in England.


2003–04 Midland Football Combination, Premier Division
The Premier Division featured 18 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs:


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season
The 2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season was the team's 11th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). After making it to the 2003 Stanley Cup Final and losing in the seventh game, the team placed fourth in the Pacific Division and 12th in the Western Conference, thereby failing to qualify for the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs.


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Offseason
In the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, the Ducks selected Ryan Getzlaf with their first first-round pick, 19th overall, and Corey Perry with their second first-round pick, 28th overall.


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Offseason
Forward Steve Rucchin was named team captain following Paul Kariya's departure to the Colorado Avalanche via free agency.


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Regular season
The departure of Franchise player Paul Kariya marked another new era which had many fans angered as well as worried about the teams near future repeating the on-ice success. Signing Sergei Fedorov and Vaclav Prospal in the summer relieved most of the fans' fear.


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Regular season
Both players delivered as expected but scoring decreased for several reasons: Mike Leclerc played only 10 games, Rob Niedermayer played only 55 games, though enjoying a good season and Andy McDonald stayed healthy but had trouble repeating his performance after missing half of last season due to a concussion; Chistov suffered from "sophomore jinx" collecting only 2 goals and Jason Krog could not repeat another season like the one he had before. Rookie Joffrey Lupul had a wonderful rookie campaign with a bright future ahead. Overall, while the team had more potential scoring depth, several players fell short to enjoy and repeat the scoring touch they showed last season.


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Regular season
The Defense performed well enough but J.-S. Giguere failed at times to play the way he did the year before allowing soft goals. Later that season Back-up goalie Martin Gerber saw more ice time challenging Giguere for the number one spot and nearly outperforming him.


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Regular season
Playing away from home did not do them well as the Mighty Ducks won 19 games at home but only 10 games on the road.


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Regular season, Final standings
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Regular season, Final standings
Divisions: CE – Central, PA – Pacific, NW – Northwest


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Regular season, Final standings
P –  Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y –  Clinched Division; X –  Clinched Playoff spot


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Playoffs
The Ducks missed the playoffs, despite making it to the Stanley Cup Finals the previous year against the eventual champions, the New Jersey Devils.


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Transactions
Traded Todd Reirden to the Phoenix Coyotes for future consideration on January 17, 2004


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Transactions
Acquired Martin Škoula from the Avalanche for Kurt Sauer and a 4th round pick on February 21, 2004.


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Transactions
Acquired Petr Shastlivy from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Todd Simpson on February 4, 2004.


2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season, Draft picks
Anaheim's draft picks at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee.


2003–04 Millwall F.C. season
During the 2003–04 English football season, Millwall competed in the Football League First Division, the second tier of English football.


2003–04 Millwall F.C. season, Season summary
Despite having spent the previous seasons chasing promotion to the Premiership, Mark McGhee left Millwall by "mutual consent" in October with the club just six points behind league leaders Sheffield United with 14 games played. His replacement, player-manager Dennis Wise, led Millwall to a final 10th place, four points off the play-offs. The club enjoyed greater success in the FA Cup, reaching the final for the first time in their history, to face Manchester United. Millwall, who were missing 16 players through injury and suspension, were unable to create many opportunities and lost 3-0 to a United side which had finished third in the Premier League that season.


2003–04 Millwall F.C. season, Season summary
Curtis Weston, a boyhood United fan, became the youngest player to ever appear in an FA Cup final when he came on a substitute for Wise in the 89th minute. Weston, aged 17 years 119 days, beat the 125-year-old record previously held by James F. M. Prinsep, who appeared in the 1879 final for Clapham Rovers aged 17 years and 245 days; Weston defeated Prinsep's record by 126 days.


2003–04 Millwall F.C. season, Season summary
As United had already qualified for the Champions League, Millwall gained European qualification for the first time in their history, entering the UEFA Cup in the first round.


2003–04 Millwall F.C. season, Kit
Strikeforce remained Millwall's kit sponsors. London-based stationery retailer Ryman became kit sponsors.


2003–04 Millwall F.C. season, Players, First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2003–04 Millwall F.C. season, Players, Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2003–04 Millwall F.C. season, Players, Reserve squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2003–04 Millwall F.C. season, Awards
At the end of the season, defender Darren Ward was named the club's player of the year.


2003–04 Milwaukee Bucks season
The 2003–04 NBA season was the Bucks' 36th season in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Bucks acquired Joe Smith from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Under new head coach Terry Porter, the Bucks played around .500 for most of the first half of the season. At midseason, the team traded Tim Thomas to the New York Knicks for Keith Van Horn. The young Bucks managed to play well as Michael Redd, who continued to show improvement had a breakout season averaging 21.7 points per game, while being selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game.


2003–04 Milwaukee Bucks season
However, after holding a 33–27 record as of March 3, the Bucks lost eight of their next nine games, but still managed to make the playoffs despite finishing fourth in the Central Division with a 41–41 record. Top draft pick T.J. Ford made the All-Second Rookie Team. However, the Bucks did not make it out of the first round once again, losing to the eventual champions, the Detroit Pistons, in five games.


2003–04 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs women's ice hockey season, Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; A= Assists; PTS = Points; GW = Game Winning Goals; PPL = Power Play Goals; SHG = Short Handed Goals


2003–04 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season
The Golden Gophers accumulated an overall record of 30–4–2, and a 19–3–2 WCHA record in the 2003–04 campaign. The Golden Gophers swept the WCHA honors, winning the regular season championship and the WCHA Final Five with a 4–2 win over state rivals Minnesota-Duluth.


2003–04 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season, Regular season
The Gophers went undefeated in the first half of the season, posting a 13–0–1 record. The Golden Gophers were the top team in the country for 18 of the 23 weeks in both the U.S. College Hockey Online and USA Today polls.


2003–04 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season, Postseason
On March 28, 2004 Halldorson and the Golden Gophers defeated Harvard, 6–2, to win their first NCAA Championship and her third national championship in six years.


2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves season
The 2003–04 NBA season was the 15th season for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association. The season is one of the most memorable in Timberwolves history. During the offseason, the Timberwolves signed free agents Michael Olowakandi and Trenton Hassell. With a Western Conference-best 58-24 finish, the Wolves set the franchise record for wins, and won its first and only division championship. Power forward Kevin Garnett averaged 24.2 points, a league-high 13.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.2 blocks per game, winning the regular season Most Valuable Player Award.


2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves season
In the first round of the playoffs, the Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets in five games, which was their first ever win in a playoff series. The Wolves were then pushed to the limit in the semifinals by the Sacramento Kings, who they narrowly defeated in a deciding seventh game. In the Western Conference Finals, they faced the Los Angeles Lakers, who had defeated them in last season's First Round in six games. The Lakers team, known for its all-star starting lineup of Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Karl Malone, defeated the Wolves in six games, then would go on to lose in the NBA Finals to the Detroit Pistons in five games.


2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Minnesota also acquired 4-time All-Star Latrell Sprewell in the off-season. The arrival was seen as controversial as Sprewell was known for his choking incident with then-Warriors head coach P.J. Carlesimo, though also for helping the 8th-seeded New York Knicks to  the NBA Finals in 1999. Sam Cassell, who was known for winning two championships with the Houston Rockets, and his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he helped guide the Bucks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001, also was acquired to join Garnett, forming a "Big 3". Garnett, Cassell, and coach Flip Saunders represented the Western Conference in the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. The 2004 All-Star game was Cassell's only All-Star appearance in his career.


2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves season
As of 2021, this remains the only season the Timberwolves have ever won a playoff series; Minnesota would not make the playoffs again until 2018, losing in the first round.


2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves season, Player statistics, Regular season
* – Stats with the Timberwolves. ^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.


2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves season, Player statistics, Playoffs
† – Minimum 20 field goals made. ^ – Minimum 5 three-pointers made.


2003–04 Minnesota Wild season
The 2003–04 Minnesota Wild season was the team's fourth season in the National Hockey League (NHL).


2003–04 Minnesota Wild season, Off-season, NHL draft
The 2003 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee. After finishing the 2002–03 season with a 42–29–10–1 record, the Wild were awarded the 20th pick in the draft. Despite figuring fourth in the NHL for the previous season with only 178 goals allowed, and scoring only 198 goals, general manager Doug Risebrough selected defenseman Brent Burns in the first round.


2003–04 Minnesota Wild season, Regular season, All-Star Game
The 2004 NHL All-Star Game was held on February 8, 2004, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, home the Wild. The Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 6–4.


2003–04 Minnesota Wild season, Regular season, Final standings
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.


2003–04 Minnesota Wild season, Regular season, Final standings
Divisions: CE – Central, PA – Pacific, NW – Northwest


2003–04 Minnesota Wild season, Regular season, Final standings
P –  Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y –  Clinched Division; X –  Clinched Playoff spot


2003–04 Minnesota Wild season, Playoffs
Despite an incredible playoff run the previous year in 2002–03, the Wild failed to qualify for the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs.


2003–04 Minnesota Wild season, Player statistics, Forwards
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes


2003–04 Minnesota Wild season, Player statistics, Defensemen
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes


2003–04 Minnesota Wild season, Player statistics, Goaltending
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average


2003–04 Moldovan "A" Division
The 2003–04 Moldovan "A" Division season is the 13th since its establishment. A total of 16 teams are contesting the league.


2003–04 Moldovan "B" Division
The 2003–04 Moldovan "B" Division (Romanian: Divizia B) was the 13th season of Moldovan football's third-tier league. There are 27 teams in the competition, in two groups, 14 in the North and 13 in the South.


2003–04 Moldovan National Division
The 2003–04 Moldovan National Division (Romanian: Divizia Națională) was the 13th season of top-tier football in Moldova.


2003–04 Moldovan National Division, Overview
It was contested by 8 teams and Sheriff Tiraspol won the championship.


2003–04 Montreal Canadiens season
The 2003–04 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's 95th season of play, 87th in the National Hockey League. The Canadiens returned to the playoffs this season and made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals after winning the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins, 4–3, before being eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4–0.


2003–04 Montreal Canadiens season, Regular season, Heritage Classic
The Heritage Classic was an outdoor ice hockey game played on November 22, 2003, in Edmonton, Alberta, between the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens. It was the second NHL outdoor game and the first regular season outdoor game in the history of the NHL, and was modeled after the success of the "cold war" game between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University in 2001.


2003–04 Montreal Canadiens season, Regular season, Heritage Classic
The first NHL game to be played outdoors was in 1991 when the Los Angeles Kings played the New York Rangers in an exhibition game outside Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The event took place in Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium in front of a crowd of 57,167, the largest number of people to ever watch a live NHL game, despite temperatures of close to −18 °C, −30 °C (−22 °F) with wind chill. It was held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Edmonton Oilers joining the NHL in 1979.


2003–04 Montreal Canadiens season, Regular season, Heritage Classic
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) television broadcast also set the record for most viewers of a single NHL game with 2.747 million nationwide. This was the first NHL game broadcast in HDTV on CBC.


2003–04 Montreal Canadiens season, Regular season, Heritage Classic
The Canadiens won the game by a score of 4–3.


2003–04 Montreal Canadiens season, Regular season, Final standings
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.


2003–04 Montreal Canadiens season, Regular season, Final standings
Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast


2003–04 Montreal Canadiens season, Regular season, Final standings
Z –  Clinched Conference; Y –  Clinched Division; X –  Clinched Playoff spot


2003–04 Montreal Canadiens season, Roster
Forwards:11 - Saku Koivu15 - Darren Langdon17 - Jason Ward20 - Richard Zednik22 - Steve Begin24 - Andreas Dackell25 - Chad Kilger26 - Pierre Dagenais27 -


2003–04 Montreal Canadiens season, Roster
Alexei Kovalev32 - Gordie Dwyer34 - Jim Dowd35 - Tomas Plekanec37 - Niklas Sundstrom38 - Jan Bulis46 - Benoit Gratton71 - Mike Ribeiro73 - Michael Ryder76 - Jozef Balej81 - Marcel Hossa82 - Donald Audette88 - Chris Higgins90 - Joe Juneau94 - Yanic PerreaultDefencemen:5 - Stephane Quintal8 - Mike Komisarek28 - Karl Dykhuis43 - Patrice Brisebois44 - Sheldon Souray51 - Francis Bouillon52 - Craig Rivet65 - Ron Hainsey79 - Andrei MarkovGoaltenders:30 - Mathieu Garon60 - Jose Theodore


2003–04 Moroccan Throne Cup
The Moroccan Throne Cup was won by FAR de Rabat, who beat Wydad AC in the final.


2003–04 Moroccan Throne Cup, Final
This article about sports in Morocco is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .


2003–04 Motherwell F.C. season
The 2003–04 season was Motherwell's 6th season in the Scottish Premier League, and their 19th consecutive season in the top division of Scottish football.


2003–04 Motherwell F.C. season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2003–04 Munster Rugby season
The 2003–04 Munster Rugby season was Munster's third season competing in the Celtic League, alongside which they also competed in the Heineken Cup. It was Alan Gaffney's first season as head coach.


2003–04 Munster Rugby season, 2003–04 squad
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.


2003–04 Munster Rugby season, 2003–04 Celtic League
Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows:


2003–04 NBA season
The 2003–04 NBA season was the 58th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Detroit Pistons defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 4–1 in the 2004 NBA Finals.


2003–04 NBA season, Events
This was the final season for the original two-division format in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, before each of the conferences added a third division the following season. As a result, this would also be the final season for the NBA Midwest Division, as the Minnesota Timberwolves were that division's last champion, the only division title the franchise has won in their twenty-nine seasons in the NBA.


2003–04 NBA season, Events
The All-Star Game was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The West won 136-132; Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal was named Most Valuable Player.


2003–04 NBA season, Events
For the first time in 21 years the Portland Trail Blazers did not make the playoffs, ending the second longest streak in NBA history. For the first time in 20 years the Utah Jazz did not make the playoffs, ending the third longest streak in NBA history.


2003–04 NBA season, Events
The Houston Rockets played their first game at the Toyota Center. They reached the playoffs for the first time since 1999 and lose to eventual Conference champions Lakers in five games marked the only playoff appearance of Steve Francis NBA career.


2003–04 NBA season, Events
Prior to the start of the season, Karl Malone and Gary Payton took major paycuts to leave their teams and join Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal on the Lakers for a chance at a possible NBA title. However, that title chase came to an end in the NBA Finals, as the Detroit Pistons won 4-1. The Minnesota Timberwolves, behind their "Big Three" of Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell, and Sam Cassell, amassed the best record in the Western Conference, and were expected to finally win a first round playoff series. They won two and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, which they lost to the Lakers. It would be their last playoff appearance until the 2017–18 season.


2003–04 NBA season, Events
LeBron James (1st overall to Cleveland), Carmelo Anthony (3rd overall to Denver), Chris Bosh (4th overall to Toronto), and Dwyane Wade (5th overall to Miami), among others, formed one of the strongest drafts in NBA history. Among the highly touted rookies, Anthony and Wade led their teams to the playoffs, and Wade's play pushed the Heat into the second round. James went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year. Anthony became the first NBA rookie to lead a playoff team in scoring since David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs during the 1989–90 season.


2003–04 NBA season, Events
The Memphis Grizzlies qualified for the postseason for the first time in the franchise's then 9 year history, dating back to their days in Vancouver. With a record of 50-32, it was also the first time they posted a winning season. It was also their final season played at Pyramid Arena.


2003–04 NBA season, Events
Tracy McGrady was the first scoring leader since Bernard King in 1984–85 whose team did not make the playoffs.


2003–04 NBA season, Events
General Motors ended its sponsorship deal with the NBA after this season (having rotated among all eight of its U.S. divisions, including Saturn and Hummer), after which Toyota would become the new official partner.


2003–04 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.


2003–04 NBA season, Awards, Players of the month
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month.


2003–04 NBA season, Awards, Rookies of the month
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month.


2003–04 NBA season, Awards, Coaches of the month
The following coaches were named the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month.


2003–04 NBL season
The 2003–04 NBL season was the 26th season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 12 teams contested the league. This season marked the first NBL season that featured the New Zealand Breakers, the first New Zealand team in the Australian competition. Also, the Canberra Cannons were replaced by the Hunter Pirates.


2003–04 NBL season, Regular Season
The 2003–04 Regular Season took place over 22 Rounds between 1 October 2003 and 29 February 2004.


2003–04 NBL season, Ladder
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win-loss record, the results in games played between the teams will determine order of seeding.


2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
The 2003–04 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.


2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2003, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 5, 2004 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Connecticut Huskies won their second NCAA national championship with an 82–73 victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.


2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Season outlook, Pre-season polls
The top 25 from the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls November 13, 2003.


2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Coaching changes
A number of teams changed coaches throughout the season and after the season ended.


2003–04 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings
Two human polls made up the 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings, the USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll and the USA TODAY/American Hockey Magazine Poll. As the 2003–04 season progressed, rankings were updated weekly. There were a total of 34 voters in the USA Today poll and 30 voters in the USCHO.com preseason poll with 40 voters in the rest of the polls. Each first place vote in either poll is worth 15 points in the rankings with every subsequent vote worth 1 fewer point.


2003–04 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season
The 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October 3, 2003 and concluded with the 2004 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on April 10, 2004 at the Fleet Center in Boston, Massachusetts. This was the 57th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 109th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team. The 2003-04 season was the inaugural year for the Atlantic Hockey Association after the discontinuation of Division I ice hockey sponsorship by the MAAC at the conclusion of the previous season.


2003–04 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Pre-season polls
The top 15 from USCHO.com/CBS College Sports and the top 15 from USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine.


2003–04 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.


2003–04 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Scoring leaders
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


2003–04 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.


2003–04 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


2003–04 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings
Two human polls comprise the 2003–04 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.


2003–04 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season
The 2003–04 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season began on October 18, 2003 and concluded on March 20 of the following year. This was the 31st season of Division III college ice hockey.


2003–04 NCAA football bowl games
The 2003–04 NCAA football bowl games were a series of 28 post-season games (including the Bowl Championship Series) played in December 2003 and January 2004 for Division I-A football teams and their all-stars. The post-season began with the New Orleans Bowl on December 16, 2003, and concluded on January 31, 2004, with the season-ending Gridiron Classic.


2003–04 NCAA football bowl games
A total of 28 team-competitive games, and two all-star games, were played. To fill the 56 available bowl slots, four teams with non-winning seasons participated in bowl games—all four had a .500 (6–6) season. While teams that did not have winning seasons were invited to bowl games, seven teams with winning records were left out: Northern Illinois (10–2); Connecticut (9-3); Marshall and Toledo (both 8–4);  Air Force and Akron (both 7–5); and South Florida (7–4).


2003–04 NCAA football bowl games, Poll rankings
The below table lists top teams (per polls taken after the completion of the regular season and any conference championship games), their win-loss records (prior to bowl games), and the bowls they later played in. The AP column represents rankings per the AP Poll, while the BCS column represents the Bowl Championship Series rankings.


2003–04 NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs for the 2003 season began on January 3, 2004. The postseason tournament concluded with the New England Patriots defeating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII, 32–29, on February 1, at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.


2003–04 NFL playoffs
Beginning with the 2003–04 season, the NFL changed the selection procedures regarding officials for playoff games. The league suspended the prior practice of assembling "all-star" officiating crews of highly rated individual officials. Instead, the league began using the entire crews that were highest rated during the regular season, preserving familiarity and cohesiveness in the officiating. The "all-star" crews were later resumed, beginning with the 2005–06 Conference Championships.


2003–04 NFL playoffs, Participants
Within each conference, the four 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 four division winners are seeded 1 through 4 based on their overall won-lost-tied record, and the wild card teams are seeded 5 and 6. The NFL does not use a fixed bracket playoff system, and there are no restrictions regarding teams from the same division matching up in any round.


2003–04 NFL playoffs, Participants
In the first round, dubbed the wild-card playoffs or wild-card weekend, the third-seeded division winner hosts the sixth seed wild card, and the fourth seed hosts the fifth. The 1 and 2 seeds from each conference then receive a bye in the first round. In the second round, the divisional playoffs, the number 1 seed hosts the worst surviving seed from the first round (seed 4, 5, or 6), while the number 2 seed will play the other team (seed 3, 4, or 5).


2003–04 NFL playoffs, Participants
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, is played at a neutral site, the designated home team is based on an annual rotation by conference.


2003–04 NFL playoffs, Schedule
In the United States, ABC broadcast the first two Wild Card playoff games. Fox then televised the rest of the NFC games. CBS broadcast the rest of the AFC playoff games and Super Bowl XXXVIII.


2003–04 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2004, AFC: Tennessee Titans 20, Baltimore Ravens 17
In a defensive struggle, Gary Anderson kicked the winning 46-yard field goal for the Titans with 29 seconds left. The winning kick was set up after a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Ravens offensive lineman Orlando Brown Sr. forced Baltimore to punt and enabled Tennessee to start its final drive from its own 37-yard line. Titans quarterback Steve McNair threw three interceptions. Meanwhile, the Ravens running back Jamal Lewis, the league's regular season rushing leader, was limited to 35 yards on 14 carries.


2003–04 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2004, AFC: Tennessee Titans 20, Baltimore Ravens 17
On the Titans opening drive of the game, McNair completed passes to Drew Bennett and Frank Wycheck for gains of 17 and 14 yards, while Eddie George rushed five times for 25 yards on a 10-play, 67-yard drive. Running back Chris Brown finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run to give Tennessee a 7–0 lead. The Ravens were forced to punt on their ensuing drive, but three plays later, safety Ed Reed tipped a pass from McNair into the arms of cornerback Will Demps, who returned it 56 yards for a touchdown.


2003–04 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2004, AFC: Tennessee Titans 20, Baltimore Ravens 17
Early in the second quarter, a 15-yard punt return from Titans receiver Derrick Mason gave his team the ball at the Ravens 35-yard line. McNair then led them to the 17-yard line, but Reed intercepted a pass from him and returned it 23 yards to the 29. After an exchange of punts, Ravens quarterback Anthony Wright completed four passes for 56 yards and rushed for 11, setting up a 43-yard field goal by Matt Stover giving Baltimore a 10–7 halftime lead.


2003–04 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2004, AFC: Tennessee Titans 20, Baltimore Ravens 17
Midway through the third quarter, McNair's 49-yard touchdown pass to Justin McCareins gave the Titans a 14–10 lead. Then in the fourth quarter, Tennessee defense back Samari Rolle intercepted a pass from Wright at the Ravens 30-yard line, setting up a 45-yard field goal from Anderson. But Wright led Baltimore back, completing five passes for 80 yards on their ensuing drive. Tight end Todd Heap caught three of Wright's passes for 55 yards, and finished the drive with a leaping 35-yard catch in the back of the end zone to tie the game.


2003–04 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2004, AFC: Tennessee Titans 20, Baltimore Ravens 17
After an exchange of punts, the Titans took the ball on their own 37-yard line and drove 35 yards to Ravens 28-yard line where Anderson's 46-yard field goal with 33 seconds left gave them the win. This would be the Titans last playoff win until 2017.


2003–04 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 3, 2004, AFC: Tennessee Titans 20, Baltimore Ravens 17
This was the second postseason meeting between the Titans and Ravens. Baltimore won the only previous meeting.