2004 New England Patriots season, 2004 New England Patriots Schedule, Game summaries, Week 17: vs. San Francisco 49ers
The teams exchanged punts to start the second half. The Patriots then marched downfield, bolstered by a 26-yard run by Dillon that put him over the 100 yard mark for the 9th time on the season. Brady then threw a screen pass to Deion Branch, which Branch took to the end zone to put the Patriots in front at 14–7. After an exchange of punts, the 49ers entered Patriots territory on a long run by Kevan Barlow and a Dorsey pass to Curtis Conway. However, the drive ended when Maurice Hicks fumbled and Patriots linebacker Tully Banta-Cain recovered. Dillon would then score from 6 yards out to cap another great day rushing and seal a 21–7 victory. The win gave New England its second consecutive 14–2 season.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Divisional Round vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts entered the game with the league's top offense, with Peyton Manning having thrown for 49 touchdowns during the regular season and the Colts having scored 49 points against Denver in their first playoff game. Meanwhile, the Patriots came into the game after having a first round bye. Just as in the previous year's postseason meeting between the Patriots and Colts, the game was played in a New England snowstorm.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Divisional Round vs. Indianapolis Colts
Both teams defenses dominated early, as the first five possessions of the game ended in punts. But after that, the Patriots put together a 16-play, 78 yards scoring drive that took 9:07 off the clock. They lost a touchdown when Corey Dillon's 1-yard score was overturned by a penalty, but Adam Vinatieri kicked a 24-yard field goal to give them a 3–0 lead. The next time New England got the ball, a 42-yard run by Dillon set up another Vinatieri field goal, increasing the Patriots lead to 6–0.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Divisional Round vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts responded with a drive to New England's 39-yard line, but linebacker Tedy Bruschi ended it by ripping the ball out of the hands of running back Dominic Rhodes and gaining possession himself. After a Patriots punt, Manning led the Colts 67 yards, but was nearly intercepted in the end zone by Asante Samuel. Samuel dropped the interception, allowing Mike Vanderjagt to kick a field goal, cutting the score to 6–3 going into halftime.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Divisional Round vs. Indianapolis Colts
But the Patriots dominated the second half, holding the ball for nearly all the time in regulation with two long drives. After an exchange of punts, they drove 87 yards in 15 plays on a drive that consumed 8:16 and ended with Brady's 5-yard touchdown pass to David Givens. At the end of the Colts next drive, Hunter Smith's 54-yard punt pinned New England back at their own 6-yard line. Sparked by a third down catch by Kevin Faulk to start the drive, the Patriots slowly marched down the field on a 14-play, 94-yard drive that ate up another 7:24.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Divisional Round vs. Indianapolis Colts
Dillon rushed for 35 yards and caught a pass for 9 on the drive, including a 27-yard run on third down and 8, while Brady finished it with a 1-yard quarterback sneak, giving the Patriots a 20–3 lead with just over 7 minutes left in the game. Then two plays after the ensuing kickoff, safety Rodney Harrison stripped the ball from Reggie Wayne and Bruschi recovered it, allowing his team to take more time off the clock. Indianapolis responded with a drive to the Patriots 20-yard line, but Harrison intercepted Manning's pass in the end zone with 10 seconds left, as overjoyed fans taunted Manning with a sustained chant of "Cut that meat!" in reference to a MasterCard commercial their now-defeated rival had filmed.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Divisional Round vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Patriots dismantled the league's highest scoring team by forcing three turnovers and holding them to just 276 yards and 3 points, their lowest point total since their opening game of the 2003 season. Peyton Manning suffered his seventh loss in Foxborough, even though he had more yards passing than Brady did in the game. Manning had thrown for a record 49 touchdowns during the regular season, but the Colts did not find the end zone in the game.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Divisional Round vs. Indianapolis Colts
Just like the previous year, the snow appeared to help the New England defense blight Manning, as the Patriots limited the Colts quarterback to 238 passing yards with 1 interception and no touchdowns, and Edgerrin James to just 39 rushing yards. The Patriots also held possession of the ball for 37:43, including 21:26 in the second half and recording three long scoring drives that each took over 7 minutes off the clock. Dillon, playing in his first career playoff game after suffering through 7 losing seasons as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, rushed for 144 yards and caught 5 passes for 17 yards.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, AFC Championship at Pittsburgh Steelers
The game-time temperature of 11 °F (−12 °C) made it the second-coldest game ever in Pittsburgh and the coldest ever in Steel City playoff annals. However, it was the Patriots that handed Ben Roethlisberger his first loss as a starter after a 14-game winning streak, the longest by a rookie quarterback in NFL history, as the Steelers became the second NFL team ever to record a 15–1 record and fail to reach the Super Bowl. The Patriots converted four Pittsburgh turnovers into 24 points, while committing no turnovers themselves. The Patriots' win also prevented an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl from being played, as well as the first to feature a team led by a rookie starting quarterback.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, AFC Championship at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers never recovered from their poor performance in the first quarter. Patriots defensive back Eugene Wilson intercepted Roethlisberger's first pass of the game on his own 48-yard line, setting up Adam Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal to take a 3–0 lead. Pittsburgh responded with a drive to the Patriots 39-yard line. But then running back Jerome Bettis lost a fumble while being tackled by Rosevelt Colvin and linebacker Mike Vrabel recovered it. On the next play, Tom Brady threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to receiver Deion Branch.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, AFC Championship at Pittsburgh Steelers
With 1:28 left in the first quarter, the Steelers cut their deficit to 10–3 with Jeff Reed's 23-yard field goal. But after an exchange of punts, Branch caught a 45-yard reception on Pittsburgh's 14-yard line. Two plays later, Brady threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to David Givens. Then on the Steelers ensuing drive, safety Rodney Harrison intercepted a pass from Roethlisberger and returned it 87 yards for a touchdown, giving the Patriots a 24–3 halftime lead.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, AFC Championship at Pittsburgh Steelers
New England was forced to punt on the opening drive of the third quarter, and Antwaan Randle El returned the ball 9 yards to the Steelers 44-yard line. Then on the Steelers ensuing possession, he caught two passes for 46 yards as they drove 56 yards in five plays. Bettis finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, cutting their deficit to 24–10. It looked like New England would have to punt again, as a Clark Haggans sack of Brady left the Patriots with 3rd and 17 in their own territory.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, AFC Championship at Pittsburgh Steelers
Brady's 3rd down throw fell incomplete, but Aaron Smith was called for holding Kevin Faulk, giving the Patriots a first down. Brady then found Givens inside the Steeler 40-yard line, however he initially was ruled to have fumbled and Pittsburgh to have possession. Bill Belichick successfully challenged the call, and a Steelers personal foul moved the ball to the Pittsburgh 25-yard line. Corey Dillon then scored on a 25-yard touchdown run, making the score 31–10.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, AFC Championship at Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh tried to come back, driving 60 yards in ten plays and scoring with Roethlisberger's 30-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward on a 4th down and 5. Then after forcing a punt, Randle El returned the ball 22 yards to the Steelers 49-yard line. On their ensuing drive, Ward's 26-yard reception on the last play of the third quarter set up Reed's second field goal, making the score 31–20 with 13:32 left in the game.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, AFC Championship at Pittsburgh Steelers
However, the Patriots took over the rest of the quarter. They responded with a 49-yard drive that took 5:26 off the clock and ended with Vinatieri's 31-yard field goal. Then two plays after the ensuing kickoff, Wilson intercepted another pass from Roethlisberger at New England's 45-yard line. The Patriots subsequently marched down the field on another long scoring drive, taking 5:06 off the clock. Branch capped it off with a 23-yard touchdown run on a reverse play, giving the Patriots a 41–20 lead. The Steelers responded with Roethlisberger's 7-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress on their next drive, but by then there was only 1:31 left in the game.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, AFC Championship at Pittsburgh Steelers
Brady completed 14 of 21 passes for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns. Dillon rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown. Branch caught 4 passes for 116 yards, rushed for 37 yards, and scored two touchdowns. Roethlisberger threw for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns, and rushed for 45 yards, but was intercepted 3 times. Ward caught 5 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Super Bowl XXXIX at Philadelphia Eagles
On the first drive of the game, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb fumbled while being sacked by New England linebacker Willie McGinest, and the Patriots recovered the ball at Philadelphia's 34-yard line. Fortunately for the Eagles, coach Andy Reid's instant replay challenge overruled the fumble; officials ruled that McNabb had been down by contact before the ball came out of his hands. Later in the quarter after each team had punted twice, McNabb completed a 30-yard pass to Terrell Owens, with a roughing the passer penalty adding 9 yards, moving the ball inside the Patriots 20-yard line.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Super Bowl XXXIX at Philadelphia Eagles
However, linebacker Mike Vrabel sacked McNabb for a 16-yard loss on the next play. On the following play, the Eagles once again appeared to turn the ball over: McNabb's pass was intercepted in the end zone by Patriots defensive back Asante Samuel, but it was nullified by an illegal contact penalty on linebacker Roman Phifer, moving the ball back inside the 20 and giving the Eagles a first down. However, McNabb's second chance was wasted as he threw an interception to safety Rodney Harrison on the next play.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Super Bowl XXXIX at Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles defense then forced New England to a three-and-out on their ensuing possession, and Philadelphia got great field position by receiving the punt at the Patriots 45-yard line. But once again, they gave up another turnover: tight end L.J. Smith lost a fumble while being tackled by defensive back Randall Gay, and Samuel recovered the ball at the 38.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Super Bowl XXXIX at Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles defense once again forced New England to punt, and got the ball back at their own 19-yard line. Aided by a pair of completions from McNabb to receiver Todd Pinkston for gains of 17 and 40 yards, the Eagles drove 81 yards in 9 plays and scored on McNabb's 6-yard touchdown pass to Smith, taking a 7–0 lead with 9:55 left in the second quarter. It was the first time New England trailed during the entire postseason.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Super Bowl XXXIX at Philadelphia Eagles
On their ensuing drive, the Patriots moved the ball to the Eagles 4-yard line, mainly on plays by Corey Dillon, who caught two screen passes for 29 yards and rushed for 25. But quarterback Tom Brady fumbled the ball on a fake handoff and Philadelphia defender Darwin Walker recovered it. However, the Eagles could not take advantage of the turnover and had to punt after 3 plays. Eagles punter Dirk Johnson's punt went just 29 yards, giving the Patriots the ball at Philadelphia's 37-yard line.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Super Bowl XXXIX at Philadelphia Eagles
The Patriots then drove 37 yards to score on Brady's 4-yard pass to receiver David Givens with 1:10 remaining in the period, tying the game 7–7 by halftime. It was only the second halftime tie in Super Bowl history and the first time both of the game's first 2 quarters ended tied.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Super Bowl XXXIX at Philadelphia Eagles
On the opening drive of the second half, Patriots receiver Deion Branch caught 4 passes for 71 yards on a drive that ended with Brady's 2-yard pass to Vrabel, who lined up at the tight end spot on the play. The Eagles later tied the game with 3:39 left in the third period with a 74-yard, 10-play drive that was capped by McNabb's 10-yard touchdown pass to running back Brian Westbrook. For the first time in Super Bowl history, the game was tied going into the fourth quarter.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Super Bowl XXXIX at Philadelphia Eagles
Early in the final period, the Patriots put together a 9-play, 66-yard scoring drive that was keyed by 3 plays from running back Kevin Faulk, who caught 2 passes for 27 combined yards and rushed once for 12. Dillon capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Patriots a 21–14 lead. Then after forcing another Eagles punt, Branch's 19-yard reception and a roughing-the-passer penalty on Philadelphia defensive lineman Corey Simon set up kicker Adam Vinatieri's 22-yard field goal with 8:43 left in the game to increase the score 24–14.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Super Bowl XXXIX at Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles responded by advancing to the New England 36-yard line on their next drive, but it ended with no points after linebacker Tedy Bruschi intercepted a pass from McNabb at the Patriots 24-yard line. After forcing New England to punt, Philadelphia got the ball back at their own 21-yard line with 5:40 left in the game.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Super Bowl XXXIX at Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles then drove 79 yards in 13 plays to cut their deficit to 24–21 with McNabb's 30-yard touchdown pass to receiver Greg Lewis. However, the drive consumed 3:52 of the clock, and only 1:55 remained in the game by the time Lewis scored. Because of this, many sportswriters later criticized the Eagles for not immediately going to a no-huddle offense at the start of the possession. (Two days after the game, some Eagles players revealed that McNabb was so sick that he had trouble calling the plays.)


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Super Bowl XXXIX at Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles failed to recover their ensuing onside kick attempt. The Patriots then played it safe by running the ball 3 times and forcing Philadelphia to use all of its timeouts. New England punter Josh Miller then pinned the Eagles back at their own 4-yard line with just 46 seconds left in the game. Philadelphia then tried one last desperate drive to win or tie the game. But on first down, McNabb was pressured into making a rushed pass to Westbrook at the line of scrimmage.


2004 New England Patriots season, Postseason, Results, Super Bowl XXXIX at Philadelphia Eagles
Instead of dropping the pass to stop the clock, Westbrook made the mistake of catching the ball and was immediately tackled for no gain, keeping the clock running and forcing the Eagles to run back to the line of scrimmage for their next play with no huddle. On second down, McNabb threw an incomplete pass intended for Owens. Finally on third down, McNabb threw a pass that went just over the outstretched fingertips of Smith and into the arms of Harrison for an interception with 9 seconds left, sealing the victory for the Patriots.


2004 New England Patriots season, Awards and honors, Pro Bowl selections
Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri and special teamer Larry Izzo were both named as starters to the 2005 Pro Bowl. Quarterback Tom Brady and defensive end Richard Seymour were elected as reserves; Seymour did not play in the game due to injury. Additionally, running back Corey Dillon and linebacker Tedy Bruschi were named as injury replacements, however, Dillon did not participate in the game due to injury.


2004 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary
This is the current revision of this page, as edited by JCC the Alternate Historian (talk | contribs) at 20:00, 18 July 2020 (Fixed linking with the 2000 and 2008 Democratic presidential primaries in New Hampshire.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this version.


2004 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary
The 2004 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary was held on January 27, 2004. Taking place eight days after the Iowa caucuses, it marked the second contest to take place during the Democratic party's 2004 primary season, as well as the first actual primary to take place.


2004 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary, Polling
Primary polling taken by American Research Group during the last few days of campaigning (January 23 to January 27, 2004) showed that former New Hampshire poll leader as well as national leader Howard Dean was steadily gaining ground to catch up to now front-runner John Kerry.


2004 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary, Polling
Tracking polling showed that Dean had been catching up to Kerry in the days before the primary, cutting Kerry's 18 point lead to 10 points in a matter of days. With Dean dropping and Kerry rising, it became apparent that the battle for 1st place in New Hampshire would be close. Also, for third place, Wesley Clark, John Edwards and Joe Lieberman were the only ones fighting for third. With Clark and Edwards both taking hits going into the primary, a Lieberman on the rise, the fight for 1st place and third place, according to polls would be intense.


2004 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary, Results
As results began to come in during Primary night, it became apparent Kerry had won the primary and was promptly projected the winner by several media outlets. Dean finished in second place. Clark and Edwards were in a dead-lock for third place, with both candidates at 12% during the night. Earlier returns showed Lieberman in a stronger position to tie with Clark and Edwards, allowing him to declare to his supporters that it was "a three-way split decision for third place."


2004 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary, Results
As final results were being tallied, Kerry won the primary with 84,277 votes and 38%, Dean finished second, with 57,761 and 26%, and Clark narrowly defeated Edwards for third place, with 27,314 votes and 12%. Lieberman had fallen back in the count and didn't even reach 10%.


2004 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary, Results, Exit Polling
Kerry won huge margins of support amongst almost all constituencies, with his only weak point amongst Republicans, who made up 4% of the voting block and was Lieberman's strongest point. Dean repeatedly came distant second or third for almost all categories of voters. Edwards defeated Clark amongst male voters as well as voters under 65, but only by a very tiny margin. Lieberman finished in a distant third in almost all categories except for Republicans, in which he nearly defeated John Kerry.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election
In 2004, Democrats made large gains in Concord, winning the governorship, adding 30 seats in the House, two seats in the Senate, winning an Executive Council seat in District 5 for the first time since the 1960s, one of many races won by Democrats for the first time in decades.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, Senate, District 1
John T. Gallus (R-Berlin) defeated Jerry Sorlucco (D-Littleton) by a vote of 15,822 (59.5%) to 10,748 (40.4%).


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, Hillsborough County, Hillsborough 19
Hillsborough 19 consists of the heavily Republican town of Merrimack, which showed during election day as all eight GOP candidates swept the Democratic slate to take the town's eight seats in Concord.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, Hillsborough County, Hillsborough 24
The 24th District of Hillsborough County, consisting of Nashua's mostly urban and Democratic Ward 6, was swept by the Democrats, including a dual primary sweep by David Campbell.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, Hillsborough County, Hillsborough 24
The only Republican running in Hillsborough 24 was City GOP Chairwoman Sandra Ziehm.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, Sullivan County, Sullivan 3
In the non-floterial first past the post district of Sullivan 3, which consists of the town of Sunapee, Republican Harry S. Gale defeated Democrat "Hometown" David Brown in the race to refill the seat of non-returning Republican incumbent Richard Leone.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, 2004/2005 special elections and current open seats
Due to the large number of seats in the House and the relative old age of the Representatives (the current average age is 66), many members often leave the House either from death or resignation.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, 2004/2005 special elections and current open seats, Strafford 3
After Michael Harrington was appointed as a member of the Public Utility Commission in November 2004, he vacated his seat in Strafford County District 3, which includes Barrington, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham and Strafford.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, 2004/2005 special elections and current open seats, Strafford 3
On March 8, 2005, Democrat Larry Brown of Milton defeated Republican Wilfred Morrison of Farmington 1,858 to 1,551, picking up a seat for the Democrats.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, 2004/2005 special elections and current open seats, Sullivan 4
The same day as the special election in Strafford District 3, a special election in Sullivan District 4, which consists of Unity, Lempster and Claremont, was held to replace the departure of Democrat Joe Harris.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, 2004/2005 special elections and current open seats, Sullivan 4
Republican challenger Phillip "Joe" Osgood defeated former Claremont mayor Ray Gagnon by a tally of 1,125 to 895.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, 2004/2005 special elections and current open seats, Hillsborough 1
In a surprising upset, Democrat Gilman Shattuck defeated former Hillsborough County Sheriff and Republican Walter Morse 669 to 601 on June 14, 2005.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, 2004/2005 special elections and current open seats, Hillsborough 1
The two were competing for Republican Larry Elliot's seat in the largely Republican district of Hillsborough 1, consisting of the county's northwesternmost towns: Antrim, Hancock, Hillsborough and Windsor. After Shattuck's victory, Democrats held two of the district's three seats, a feat not copied since before the Civil War.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, 2004/2005 special elections and current open seats, Cheshire 3
In Cheshire District 3, consisting of the five wards of Keene, Stephanie Sinclair left her seat in mid-spring 2005 because she moved out of New Hampshire. The opening was filled on October 14, 2005 by Keene City Councilman Chris Coates, who received 250 votes while running unopposed. The Democrats kept the seat in the highly Democratic district, continuing their one-seat pickup from special elections after the 2004 general election.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, 2004/2005 special elections and current open seats, Hillsborough 10
On City Election Day, 2005 (November 8), Democrat Jean Jeudy defeated Republican Rob Fremeau, protecting the party's seat after the departure of Firefighter's Union President William Clayton in a special election in Hillsborough District 10, the State Representative district of Manchester's Ward 3.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, 2004/2005 special elections and current open seats, Hillsborough 10
Jeudy defeated Fremeau 508 to 322, keeping the Democrats in complete control of the ward's three seats. The election was largely overshadowed by the simultaneous mayoral race, where Frank Guinta upset incumbent Bob Baines.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, 2004/2005 special elections and current open seats, Grafton 6
The Democrats gained another seat as Jim Aguiar of Campton defeated Christopher Whitcomb of Rumney in the Grafton District 6 (Campton, Ellsworth, Orford, Rumney and Wentworth) special election on December 6, 2005. Aguiar won 558-526, replacing Republican John Alger, who died several weeks earlier.


2004 New Hampshire General Court election, House of Representatives, 2004/2005 special elections and current open seats, Rockingham 3
On January 24, 2006, Democrat John Robinson upset Republican Al Baldasaro 57% to 43% in the heavily Republican district of Rockingham 3, which consists of the towns of Londonderry and Auburn.


2004 New Hampshire Wildcats football team
The 2004 New Hampshire Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented the University of New Hampshire as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference during the 2004 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In its sixth year under head coach Sean McDonnell, the team compiled a 10–3 record (6–2 against conference opponents), finished fourth out of twelve teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference, and lost to Montana in the quarterfinal of the  NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs.


2004 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
The 2004 New Hampshire gubernatorial election occurred on November 2, 2004, concurrent with that year's presidential election. Democrat John Lynch, a multimillionaire businessman from Hopkinton, narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Governor Craig Benson of Rye, winning a two-year term. Benson was the first New Hampshire governor in 78 years to lose reelection after one term. Lynch was sworn in on January 6, 2005.


2004 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
To date, Benson is the most recent incumbent governor to lose reelection in any New England state.


2004 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary
The 2004 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary was held on June 8, 2004, and featured the two candidates who were still campaigning for the nomination: presumptive nominee Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts and congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio. Kerry won a landslide victory at 92% to Kucinich's 4%.


2004 New Mexico Democratic presidential caucuses
Senator John Kerry the frontrunner for the nomination yet again won by a landslide. Third place finisher Howard Dean 2 and a half weeks ago was leading former army general Wesley Clark 16% to 18%. Kerry got the endorsement of Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico Diane D. Denish. Wesley Clark got the most endorsements out of anyone. He got Mayor of Santa Fe Larry Delgado, candidate for offices Roberto A. Mondragon, congressional candidate Richard Romero and the Albuquerque Tribune. Governor Howard Dean got an endorsement from a former senator Fred Harris and former governor Toney Anaya. Joe Lieberman yet again faced another disappointing showing in the primaries.


2004 New Mexico Lobos football team
The 2004 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico during the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. New Mexico competed as a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW), and played their home games in the University Stadium. The Lobos were led by seventh-year head coach Rocky Long.


2004 New Mexico State Aggies football team
The 2004 New Mexico State Aggies football team represented New Mexico State University in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Aggies were coached by head coach Tony Samuel, whose contract was not renewed after the season and played their home games at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico. They participated in their final season as members of the Sun Belt Conference as they would join the Western Athletic Conference.


2004 New Orleans Bowl
The 2004 Wyndham New Orleans Bowl featured the North Texas Mean Green and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. It was North Texas's fourth consecutive New Orleans Bowl appearance.


2004 New Orleans Bowl
Southern Miss quarterback Dustin Almond got Southern Miss on the board first with a 37-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Otho Graves, to give the Eagles an early 7–0 lead. Later in the first quarter, Dustin Almond scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to increase the lead to 14–0. In the second quarter, kicker Nick Bazaldua got North Texas on the board with a 24-yard field goal to make it 14–3. Before halftime, Darren McCaleb connected on a 45-yard field goal to give USM a 17–3 halftime lead.


2004 New Orleans Bowl
In the fourth quarter, linebacker Michael Boley returned an interception 62 yards for a touchdown to give Southern Miss a 24–3 lead. Sherron Moore added a 1-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 31–3. Quarterback Scott Hall threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Quinn to cut the lead to 31–10. That would be the final score of the game.


2004 New Orleans Saints season
The 2004 season was the New Orleans Saints' 38th in the National Football League (NFL). They matched their previous season's output of 8–8, and the team finished the season on a four-game winning streak, which was all the more remarkable because the Saints trailed at some point during every game. This record was equalled by the 2012 Cowboys, but before this season the 1978 Falcons and the 2002 Browns come closest to this record, winning eight games out of fifteen where they trailed at some point.


2004 New Orleans Saints season, Regular season, Schedule
During the 2004 regular season, the Saints' non-divisional conference opponents were primarily from the NFC West, although they also played the Minnesota Vikings from the NFC North, and the Dallas Cowboys from the NFC East. Their non-conference opponents were from the AFC West.


2004 New Year Honours
The New Year Honours 2004 were appointments by some of the Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebrations at the start of January.


2004 New Year Honours
The New Year Honours were announced on 31 December 2003 in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Barbados, Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, and Saint Christopher and Nevis,


2004 New Year Honours
The recipients of honours are displayed as they were styled before their new honours and arranged by the country (in order of precedence) whose ministers advised The Queen on the appointments, then by honour with grades i.e. Knight/Dame Grand Cross, Knight/Dame Commander etc. and then divisions i.e. Military and Civil, as appropriate.


2004 New Year Honours (New Zealand)
The 2004 New Year Honours in New Zealand were appointments by Elizabeth II in her right as Queen of New Zealand, on the advice of the New Zealand government, to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders, and to celebrate the passing of 2003 and the beginning of 2004. They were announced on 31 December 2003.


2004 New Year Honours (New Zealand)
The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour.


2004 New York City Marathon
The 2004 New York City Marathon was the 35th running of the annual marathon race in New York City, United States, which took place on Sunday, November 7. The men's elite race was won by South Africa's Hendrick Ramaala in a time of 2:09:28 hours while the women's race was won by Great Britain's Paula Radcliffe in 2:23:10.


2004 New York City Marathon
In the wheelchair races, Mexico's Saúl Mendoza (1:33:16) and Switzerland's Edith Hunkeler (1:53:27) won the men's and women's divisions, respectively. In the handcycle race, Australia's Todd Philpott (1:17:12) and Dutchwoman Angelique Simons (1:50:02) were the winners.


2004 New York City Marathon
A total of 36,513 runners finished the race, 24,563 men and 11,950 women.


2004 New York Democratic presidential primary
The 2004 New York Democratic presidential primary took place on March 2, 2004, also known as Super Tuesday.


2004 New York Film Critics Circle Awards
The 70th New York Film Critics Circle Awards, honoring the best in film for 2004, were announced on 13 December 2004 and presented on 9 January 2005.


2004 New York Giants season
The 2004 season was the New York Giants' 80th in the National Football League. After starting the season 5–2 the Giants lost eight games in a row before winning the final game of the season to finish 6–10, good enough for second place in the NFC East by tiebreaker.


2004 New York Giants season, Off-season
Former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin was hired to replace Jim Fassel, who was fired following the conclusion of the 2003 season. Departures: Kerry Collins, Brian Mitchell, Kenny Holmes, Brandon Short, Cornelius Griffin, Keith Hamilton, Michael Barrow, Matt Bryant.


2004 New York Giants season, Off-season, NFL draft
The Giants' poor record for 2003 resulted in their being tied with the San Diego Chargers, the Oakland Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals for the worst record in the league. By virtue of a series of tiebreakers, the Giants landed at the fourth pick in the draft and were forecast to select Robert Gallery, an offensive tackle from Iowa, or Ben Roethlisberger, a quarterback from Miami of Ohio, with the pick. Another scenario was also listed as a possibility, and would prove to be the move the Giants would make.


2004 New York Giants season, Off-season, NFL draft
Entering the draft, the consensus top pick was Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning. However, Manning had said prior to the draft that he did not want to play for the Chargers and would not sign with them if he was drafted. The Chargers would strike a deal with the Giants before the draft that would shape the future of both franchises. The Chargers would select Manning first overall, as they had intended to. The Giants would then draft quarterback Philip Rivers of North Carolina State, and then swap him and two 2005 draft picks for Manning.


2004 New York Giants season, Off-season, NFL draft
The Giants also selected former Boston College offensive guard Chris Snee, Auburn linebacker Reggie Torbor, and strong safety Gibril Wilson.


2004 New York Giants season, Regular season
Although the Giants had traded for Eli Manning, the season began with veteran quarterback and former league MVP Kurt Warner as the starter. After a season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Warner and the Giants enjoyed surprising success, starting a four-game winning streak that included road victories over the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. Following a Halloween rout of the Minnesota Vikings, 34–14, the Giants were 5–2, trailing the then-undefeated Philadelphia Eagles by just two games.


2004 New York Giants season, Regular season
The high-water mark of the Giants season came on November 7, when the Giants led the Bears 14–0 at the end of the first quarter. Over the rest of the game, though, the Giants turned the ball over five times, allowed the Bears to score 28 unanswered points (20 in the second quarter) and lost by a score of 28–21. After another loss, this time on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, Giants coach Tom Coughlin decided to replace Warner with Manning. The decision did not show immediate success, as the Giants turned the ball over ten times in the next four games, scoring a total of 37 points.


2004 New York Giants season, Regular season
Close losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Bengals followed, dropping the Giants to 5–10. The season did end with a slight possibility of succeeding, as the Giants rallied from a 16–7 fourth quarter deficit to end the season with a 28–24 victory over division rival Dallas Cowboys. Manning threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes, and Tiki Barber scored the game winner. The Giants finished 6–10, in a three-way tie for 2nd place in the NFC East with the Cowboys and the Redskins.


2004 New York Jets season
The 2004 New York Jets season was the franchise's 35th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 45th season overall, and the fourth under head coach Herman Edwards.


2004 New York Jets season
The season began with the Jets attempting to improve on their 6–10 2003 record. The Jets started the season by winning their first five games, which constituted a franchise record. They ultimately finished 10–6, and clinched the fifth seed in the playoffs, reaching the postseason for the third time in four seasons.


2004 New York Jets season
They upset the AFC West champion San Diego Chargers in the Wild Card round, winning in overtime 20–17, but would lose in the Divisional round to the Pittsburgh Steelers, also by a score 20–17 in overtime.


2004 New York Jets season, Offseason
The Jets signed former Arizona Cardinals cornerback David Barrett and offensive guard Pete Kendall, as well as Seattle Seahawks safety Reggie Tongue and Oakland Raiders linebacker Eric Barton. The Jets also traded for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Justin McCareins.


2004 New York Jets season, Offseason, NFL Draft
The Jets were granted the 12th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft by virtue of their 6–10 record in 2003. They used this pick to take linebacker Jonathan Vilma from the University of Miami. They were also granted the maximum four compensatory draft picks as a result of losing premium free agents before the 2003 season.


2004 New York Jets season, Schedule, Regular season
During the 2004 regular season the Jets’ non-divisional, conference opponents were primarily from the AFC North, although they also played the Houston Texans from the AFC South, and the San Diego Chargers from the AFC West. Their non-conference opponents were from the NFC West.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The major story heading into this game was the professional debut of Bengal quarterback Carson Palmer. However, the Jets’ offense, led by running back Curtis Martin, spearheaded the Jets’ victory. After an early fumble led to a Bengals touchdown, the Jets took the lead late in the first quarter and never trailed. Martin ran for 196 yards and a touchdown, as well as a touchdown reception, and was an opening day record for Jets running backs. Quarterback Chad Pennington, making his first opening day start in his career, threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns and was an efficient 20-for-27 passing.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 2: at San Diego Chargers
The Jets got out to a 20-point lead before holding off a second-half comeback by San Diego. Two Curtis Martin touchdowns helped stake New York to a 17–0 lead, which grew to 27–7 after a field goal and a touchdown pass from Chad Pennington to Jerald Sowell. The Chargers finally responded late in the third quarter with a four-yard touchdown run from LaDainian Tomlinson, followed by a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Drew Brees to Reche Caldwell. A one-yard touchdown pass from Pennington to Chris Baker in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach for San Diego.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 2: at San Diego Chargers
Martin’s 119 yards made him the Jets’ all-time rushing leader, passing Freeman McNeil's mark of 8,074 yards.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 4: at Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins were looking for their first win while the Jets were looking to stay undefeated. Midway through the first quarter, Santana Moss returned a punt 24 yards to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Curtis Martin. The Dolphins responded with 2 field goals. Leading 10–6 late in the 2nd quarter, Jets quarterback Chad Pennington was picked off by Arturo Freeman to set up a third Olindo Mare field goal and a 10–9 deficit.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 4: at Miami Dolphins
On Miami’s opening drive of the second half, quarterback Jay Fielder was intercepted by Donnie Abraham who returned in 66 yards for a touchdown putting the Jets ahead 17–9. That was all the cushion the Jets would need as the defense went on the force 3 more turnovers and hold on to beat the Dolphins keeping them undefeated at 3–0


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 5: vs. Buffalo Bills
The Jets looked to go 4–0, while the Bills looked for their first win of the year. The Jets started off strong with a 61-yard drive to the Bills 11, however Doug Brien’s 29-yard field goal attempt on 4th down was wide left. Both teams traded punts before the Jets went on a 79-yard drive which took 4:12 off the clock and ended on a Chris Baker 1-yard touchdown reception from Pennington. Both teams traded punts once again before the Jets advanced to the Bills 19 and Doug Brien nailed a 37-yard field goal seconds before halftime.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 5: vs. Buffalo Bills
With 6:56 left in the 3rd Pennington hit Wayne Chrebet on a 27-yard catch which set up a 36-yard field goal by Brien. After a Bills punt Pennington led the Jets down the field before he was intercepted by Jeff Posey. The Bills then advanced 53 yards before Bledsoe hit Mark Campbell on a 16-yard touchdown. After a Jets punt, Bledsoe led the Bills on a 63-yard drive capped off on a 46-yard Lee Evans touchdown giving them the 14–13 lead with 6:58 left in the game.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 5: vs. Buffalo Bills
However, the Jets wouldn’t go down and went on a 60-yard drive which ended on a game winning Doug Brien 38-yard field goal with 59 seconds left in the game. The Bills were able to get to their own 48-yard line before Bledsoe threw a game sealing interception to Terrell Buckley with 2 seconds remaining in the game.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 6: vs. San Francisco 49ers
After the 1–4 Niners jumped to a 14–0 lead, the Jets clawed back as Lamont Jordan and Curtis Martin touchdowns (marred by two failed 2-point attempts) iced a 22–14 Jets lead and a 5–0 record.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 7: at New England Patriots
The Jets’ win streak ended in a 13–7 finalé and the Patriots’ league-record win streak reached 21 as David Patten’s touchdown catch from Tom Brady wrapped up the second quarter. From there neither team could score: the second half saw seven punts, a Dan Klecko fumble, and a failed fourth down attempt by the Jets.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 8: vs. Miami Dolphins
The Jets hosted the Dolphins on Monday Night Football and rebounded from their first loss of the year to pummel Miami 41–14. Chad Pennington had three touchdown throws while Curtis Martin and Lamont Jordan added rushing scores; the Jets also intercepted Jay Fiedler twice.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 9: at Buffalo Bills
Willis McGahee led the Bills offense with 132 rushing yards and a touchdown as the Bills upended the Jets 22–17. Drew Bledsoe had 184 passing yards and a score (to Lee Evans) while Chad Pennington had one touchdown and one pick; he had to come out and former Cowboy Quincy Carter completed two passes, one of them a 51-yard score to Santana Moss.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 10: vs. Baltimore Ravens
With Carter starting for injured Pennington, the Jets rushed to a 14–0 early lead on two Curtis Martin touchdowns, but Kyle Boller led the Ravens to a 17–14 lead on two touchdowns to Clarence Moore. The Jets tied it and in overtime Matt Stover won it for the Ravens (20–17 final) from 42 yards out.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 11: at Cleveland Browns
On a fourth quarter touchdown to Justin McCareins, Quincy Carter got his first win since his last season in Dallas as the Jets edged the Browns 10–7. Jeff Garcia managed a three-yard score to Aaron Shea but managed only 88 passing yards.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 12: at Arizona Cardinals
Former Dallas Cowboys Quincy Carter of the Jets and Emmitt Smith of the Cardinals squared off in a 13–3 Jets win. Carter had a 69-yard touchdown to Santana Moss while Smith was held to just 21 yards amid four Cardinals turnovers (two of them interceptions by Josh McCown).


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 13: vs. Houston Texans
Chad Pennington returned and threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns as the Jets crushed the Texans 29–7, picking off David Carr twice.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 14: at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers’ win streak under rookie Ben Roethlisberger continued as “Big Ben” threw for just 144 yards (and was intercepted twice), but the Jets performed worse; the Steelers intercepted Chad Pennington three times and the Jets committed twelve penalties (to two for Pittsburgh) as the Steelers won 17–6. Jerome Bettis ran in one touchdown and threw once for ten yards.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 15: vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Jets exploded to five touchdowns, three by Chad Pennington with a missed PAT and two rushing scores by Curtis Martin to rout the Seahawks 37–14; they gained 482 yards of offense to 275 yards for the Seahawks.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 16: vs. New England Patriots
New York area media had been critical of the Jets for their inability to beat quality opponents; Kevin Mawae and Pennington were sharp in responses to media criticism (said Mawae following the Jets’ win over Houston, referencing New York’s earlier defeat of the Chargers, “San Diego is 9–3. We’re 9–3. Is San Diego not a good team?”), but they fell flat against the Patriots, themselves smarting from an ugly loss in Miami the week earlier. Tom Brady had two touchdowns and Pennington was picked off twice as the Patriots won 23-7; the loss prevented the Jets from clinching a playoff spot.


2004 New York Jets season, Regular season game summaries, Week 17: at St. Louis Rams
The Jets clinched a playoff spot despite failing 32–29 in overtime; they erased a 21–10 Rams lead as Chad Pennington and three Jets backs led by Curtis Martin’s 153 yards almost evenly split 361 yards in the air and on the ground. Marc Bulger managed by himself to outgain the entire Jet offense with 450 passing yards and three touchdowns despite two picks.


2004 New York Jets season, Playoffs, Wild Card Round: at San Diego Chargers
The Jets came into the game having lost 2 straight while San Diego was on a roll. The Jets started out the game well driving down the field on their opening drive only to see kicker Doug Brien miss a 33-yard field goal wide right. In the second quarter, Chargers quarterback Drew Brees found receiver Keenan McCardell for a 26-yard touchdown pass to give San Diego a 7–0. The Jets responded as Jets quarterback Chad Pennington found Anthony Becht for a 13-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.


2004 New York Jets season, Playoffs, Wild Card Round: at San Diego Chargers
New York kept the momentum into the 3rd quarter as Santana Moss pulled in a perfect 46-yard touchdown pass from Pennington to give the Jets a 14–7 lead. The teams traded field goals. Then San Diego got the ball back with under 5:00 to play. The Chargers drove down to the Jets 3-yard line but faced a 4th and goal at the 3. Brees’ desperation pass was knocked down for an apparent Jets’ victory.


2004 New York Jets season, Playoffs, Wild Card Round: at San Diego Chargers
However, a roughing the passer penalty on linebacker Eric Barton gave the Chargers a second chance, which they quickly seized as Brees found Antonio Gates for a 1-yard touchdown pass to send the game into overtime. 10 minutes into the extra period the Chargers were in position to win the game off the foot of rookie kicker Nate Kaeding. However, his 40-yard field goal sailed wide right as the Jets took advantage of their second chance driving down to the San Diego 8.


2004 New York Jets season, Playoffs, Wild Card Round: at San Diego Chargers
Doug Brien connected on a 28-yard field goal to give the Jets the win and in the process advancing them to the next round to face the Steelers. Pennington’s numbers were very impressive as he was 23 of 33 for 279 and 2 TDs. Brees was 31 of 42 for 319 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception.


2004 New York Jets season, Playoffs, Divisional Round: at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers were looking to make it 15 straight victories as they hosted the New York Jets in the AFC Divisional Round. Pittsburgh started out well as Jeff Reed hit a 45-yard field goal then Jerome Bettis plowed into the endzone from 3 yards out to give Pittsburgh a 10–0 lead. But New York stormed back. Following a field goal by kicker Doug Brien, Santana Moss took a punt return 75 yards for a touchdown to tie the game.


2004 New York Jets season, Playoffs, Divisional Round: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Then late in the third quarter Reggie Tongue intercepted Ben Roethlisberger and returned it 86 yards for a touchdown to give the Jets a 17–10 lead. Pittsburgh responded midway through the fourth quarter as Hines Ward scored on a shovel pass to tie the game. Chad Pennington and the Jets offense was shut down for most of the game however drove down the field on the ensuing drive only to see it come to a disappointing halt as Doug Brien’s 47 field goal attempt hit the crossbar and falling just short.


2004 New York Jets season, Playoffs, Divisional Round: at Pittsburgh Steelers
But on the very next play, Roethlisberger was picked  off by David Barrett. Doug Brien was given a chance to win the game on the last play of regulation but missed the 43-yard kick wide left sending the game into overtime. In overtime, Roethlisberger drove the Steelers 73 yards on 13 plays. Jeff Reed then connected on a 33-yard field goal, handing the Jets a defeat.


2004 New York Liberty season
The 2004 WNBA season was the eighth season for the New York Liberty.


2004 New York Liberty season, Dispersal Draft
Based on the Liberty's 2003 record, they would pick 4th in the Cleveland Rockers dispersal draft. The Liberty picked Ann Wauters.


2004 New York Liberty season, Regular season
Heading into its eighth WNBA season, the club acquired veteran Ann Wauters in the dispersal draft and Shameka Christon in the college draft. The Liberty opened the season with a 6-1 record. Despite the strong start, Pat Coyle replaced Richie Adubato as head coach. Under Coyle’s guidance, the team registered an 11-6 mark and secured their sixth playoff appearance.


2004 New York Liberty season, Regular season
There were injuries to starters Ann Wauters and Tari Phillips. The Liberty played to a sellout crowd for six games at the historic Radio City Music Hall. At Radio City Music Hall, the Liberty posted a 5-1 record. The reason for the relocation was that Madison Square Garden was hosting the 2004 Republican National Convention. In addition, the Liberty hosted another unique game: The Game at Radio City, which featured the USA Women’s Olympic team vs. a WNBA Select Team.


2004 New York Liberty season, Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points


2004 New York Mets season
The New York Mets' 2004 season was the 43rd regular season for the Mets. They went 71-91 and finished 4th in the NL East. They were managed by Art Howe. They played home games at Shea Stadium.


2004 New York Mets season, Regular season, Game log
Green indicates a win, red indicates a loss, and gray indicates a postponement.


2004 New York Mets season, The Final Montreal Expos Game
Back in 1969, the New York Mets played the Montreal Expos in their first ever game. The game was played in New York. The Montreal Expos final game was played in New York against the Mets as well.


2004 New York Mets season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


2004 New York Mets season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


2004 New York Underground Film Festival
These are the films shown at the 11th New York Underground Film Festival, held from March 10–16, 2004.


2004 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees' 2004 season was the 102nd season for the Yankees. The Yankees opened the season by playing two games against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Japan on March 30, 2004. The team finished with a record of 101-61, finishing 3 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. The 2004 season was the Yankees third straight season of 100+ wins, the first such instance in franchise history. New York was managed by Joe Torre.


2004 New York Yankees season
In the playoffs, the Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins, 3 games to 1, in the ALDS, before losing to the wild card Boston Red Sox, 4 games to 3, in the ALCS. The 2004 Yankees are notable as the only team in MLB history to lose a 7-game playoff series after taking a 3 games to none lead. This was the fourth straight year in which the Yankees lost to the eventual World Series champions in the postseason. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers (2016–19) have duplicated the same feat.


2004 New York Yankees season, Regular season, Season Summary, July
Derek Jeter dives into stands chasing and catching a pop up in the 12th inning of a 3 to 3 game against the Boston Red Sox, the play was later named the dive.


2004 New York Yankees season, Regular season, Season Summary, August
On August 31 the Yankees had their worst loss in history by run differential, losing 22–0 to the Cleveland Indians.


2004 New York Yankees season, Player stats, Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


2004 New York Yankees season, ALCS
The Yankees squared off against the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 American League Championship Series. This is the 2nd straight year these bitter rivals faced off for a trip to the World Series.


2004 New Zealand Music Awards
The 2004 New Zealand Music Awards was the 39th holding of the annual ceremony featuring awards for musical artists based in or originating from New Zealand. The awards were hosted by Jaquie Brown and Mikey Havoc at Aotea Centre on 22 September 2004. Eligible works were released between 1 January 2003 and 31 May 2004. The ceremony was screened on television channel C4 the following day.


2004 New Zealand Music Awards, Nominees and winners
Three new categories were introduced in 2004: Best Rock Album, the People's Choice Award and Airplay Record of the Year.


2004 New Zealand NBL season
The 2004 NBL season was the 23rd season of the National Basketball League. The Auckland Stars won the championship in 2004 to claim their eighth league title.


2004 New Zealand Warriors season
The 2004 New Zealand Warriors season was the 10th in the club's history. The club competed in Australasia's National Rugby League. The coach of the team was Daniel Anderson while Monty Betham was the club captain. Daniel Anderson resigned in June and was replaced by assistant coach Tony Kemp.


2004 New Zealand Warriors season, Jersey & Sponsors
The Warriors made no changes to their jersey design for the 2004 season.


2004 New Zealand Warriors season, Fixtures
The Warriors used Ericsson Stadium as their home ground in 2004, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.


2004 New Zealand Warriors season, Fixtures, Pre-season Trials
The Warriors played the St. George Illawarra Dragons in Hamilton.


2004 New Zealand Warriors season, Squad
Thirty five players were used by the Warriors in 2004, including seven players who made their first grade debuts. In addition PJ Marsh was in the squad but did not play a game due to a serious injury.


2004 New Zealand Warriors season, Other Teams
Players not required by the Warriors were released to play in the 2004 Bartercard Cup. These included Iafeta Paleaaesina, who played for the Hibiscus Coast Raiders, Brent Webb, who played for the North Harbour Tigers, Evarn Tuimavave, who played with the Marist-Richmond Brothers, Lance Hohaia, who played with the Waicoa Bay Stallions and the Eastern Tornadoes' Justin Murphy.


2004 New Zealand local elections
Triennial elections for all 74 cities, districts, twelve regional councils and all district health boards in New Zealand were held on 9 October 2004. Most councils were elected using the first-past-the-post method, but ten (of which Wellington City was the largest) were elected using the single transferable vote (STV) method. It was the first time that the STV method was available; the change came through successful lobbying by Rod Donald.


2004 New Zealand local elections, District health board elections
For the 2004 elections, single transferable vote was first used for all 21 district health boards (DHBs). In the 2001 elections (the inaugural elections for DHBs), first-past-the-post voting (FPP) was used based on local wards. From 2004 onwards, DHB candidates have been elected at large (i.e. across the whole voting area).


2004 New Zealand rugby league season
The 2004 New Zealand rugby league season was the 97th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the fifth season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Mt Albert Lions won the Cup by defeating the Marist Richmond Brothers 40–20 in the Grand Final.


2004 New Zealand rugby league season, International competitions
The New Zealand national rugby league team played Australia at North Harbour Stadium as part of the Tri-Nations tournament. The match was drawn 16-all. New Zealand finished third in the tournament, after failing to win in Great Britain. Earlier in the year New Zealand had lost the ANZAC Test 37–10 in Newcastle.


2004 New Zealand rugby league season, International competitions
New Zealand were coached by Daniel Anderson and for the Tri-Nations included; Vinnie and Louis Anderson, Roy Asotasi, Jason and Nathan Cayless, Alex Chan, Joe Galuvao, Dene Halatau, Shontayne Hape, David Kidwell, Wairangi Koopu, Ali Lauiti'iti, Thomas Leuluai, Francis Meli, Robbie Paul, Tony Puletua, Paul Rauhihi, Logan Swann, Motu Tony, Clinton Toopi, Matt Utai, Nigel Vagana, Lesley Vainikolo, Brent Webb, Paul Whatuira, captain Ruben Wiki, Jamahl Lolesi, Henry Fa'afili and Sonny Bill Williams. Sione Faumuina, Tevita Latu, Stephen Kearney and Jerry Seuseu played in the ANZAC Test but did not tour at the end of the year.


2004 New Zealand rugby league season, International competitions
New Zealand hosted the 2004 Pacific Cup which was played between New Zealand Māori, Fiji, Samoa, New Caledonia, Tonga and the Cook Islands. New Zealand Māori were coached by Tawera Nikau who was assisted by Terry Hermansson. The team included Aoterangi Herangi, Charlie Herekotukutuku, Herewini Rangi, Sonny Whakarau and Odell Manuel. During the season the New Zealand Māori Rugby League was put under New Zealand Rugby League administration after racking up $85,000 worth of debt.


2004 New Zealand rugby league season, International competitions
A New Zealand A side hosted New South Wales Country and, four months later, a Jim Beam Cup selection. The team included Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Paul Atkins, David Fisiiahi, Paul Fisiiahi, Misi Taulapapa, Karl Johnson, Corey Lawrie, captain Steve Buckingham, Simon Mannering, Daniel Vasau, Kane Ferris and Lee Tamatoa. They defeated the Country side 36-18 but lost to the Jim Beam Cup side 18–6.


2004 New Zealand rugby league season, International competitions
Both teams took on Auckland in warm up matches. Auckland were coached by Stan Martin and included Paul Fisiiahi, Karl Johnson, Misi Taulapapa, Herewini Rangi, Anthony Swann and Paul Atkins. Auckland defeated NSW Country 22-14 but lost to the Jim Beam Cup side 30–28.


2004 New Zealand rugby league season, International competitions
A Residents team had competed at the Rugby League World Sevens earlier in the year. Coached by Graeme Norton, that team included Daniel Floyd, Steve Matai, Regan Wigg, Shannon Stowers and Gary Tupou.


2004 New Zealand rugby league season, International competitions
The Russian team toured the South Island, playing matches against the Tasman Orcas, the West Coast, Southland and Otago. They lost to the Tasman Orcas 32–16 in the opening game of the tour.


2004 New Zealand rugby league season, International competitions
Sonny Bill Williams was named the New Zealand Rugby League's player of the year while referee Glen Black was named referee of the year.


2004 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, Bartercard Cup
The 2004 Bartercard Cup was the fifth season of the Bartercard Cup competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. There were two major team changes before the start of the season. In Auckland, the Manurewa Marlins were replaced by the Counties Manukau Jetz franchise. Some clubs who had previously been aligned with the Marlins became affiliated with the Eastern Tornadoes. Due to the changing boundaries, the Ellerslie club left the Tornadoes and joined with the Otahuhu Leopards to form the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards. Outside of Auckland the Taranaki Wildcats dropped out of the competition after two dreadful seasons. In their place the Waicoa Bay Stallions were formed, representing the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Coastlines districts. The Canterbury Bulls were again the only non-Auckland team to make the playoffs.


2004 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, Bartercard Cup, The Playoffs
The final was held at Ericsson Stadium, with the Fox Memorial Grand Final as a curtin raiser.


2004 New Zealand rugby league season, Australian competitions
The New Zealand Warriors competed in the National Rugby League competition. They finished 14th out of 15 teams and failed to make the playoffs.


2004 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
The Mt Albert Lions won the Fox Memorial trophy, defeating the Mangere East Hawks 14–10 in the final. Mangere East won the Rukutai Shield (minor premiership). The Ellerslie Eagles won the preseason Roope Rooster trophy.


2004 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Other Competitions
The Ngongotaha Chiefs defeated Ngaruawahia in Rotorua to win the Waicoa Bay championship.


2004 New Zealand rugby union tour of Europe
The 2004 New Zealand rugby union tour of Europe was a series of matches played in November–December 2004 in Italy, France and Great Britain by New Zealand national rugby union team


2004 New Zealand rugby union tour of Europe, Results
Italy: 15.Kaine Robertson, 14.Ludovico Nitoglia, 13.Walter Pozzebon, 12.Matteo Barbini, 11.Matteo Pratichetti, 10.Rima Wakarua, 9.Paul Griffen, 8.David dal Maso, 7.Mauro Bergamasco, 6.Aaron Persico, 5.Santiago Dellape, 4.Marco Bortolami (capt. ), 3.Salvatore Perugini, 2.Fabio Ongaro, 1.Andrea Lo Cicero,  – replacements: 16.Giorgio Intoppa, 17.Salvatore Costanzo, 18.Enrico Pavanello, 19.Silvio Orlando, 20.Pietro Travagli, 21.Luciano Orquera, 22.Gert Peens New Zealand: 15.Mils Muliaina, 14.Rico Gear, 13.Conrad Smith, 12.Tana Umaga (capt), 11.Joe Rokocoko, 10.Dan Carter, 9.Byron Kelleher, 8.Mose Tuiali'i, 7.Richie McCaw, 6.Jerry Collins, 5.Norm Maxwell, 4.Chris Jack, 3.Carl Hayman, 2.Anton Oliver, 1.Saimone Taumoepeau,  – replacements: 16.Corey Flynn, 17.Greg Somerville, 18.Ali Williams, 19.Steven Bates, 20.Jimmy Cowan, 21.Aaron Mauger, 22.Ma'a Nonu


2004 New Zealand rugby union tour of Europe, Results
Wales: 15.Gareth Thomas(capt. ), 14.Tom Shanklin, 13.Sonny Parker, 12.Gavin Henson, 11.Shane Williams, 10.Stephen Jones, 9.Dwayne Peel, 8.Michael Owen, 7.Colin Charvis, 6.Dafydd Jones, 5.Gareth Llewellyn, 4.Brent Cockbain, 3.Adam R. Jones, 2.Mefin Davies, 1.Gethin Jenkins,  – replacements: 16.Steve Jones, 17.Duncan Jones, 18.Ryan Jones, 19.Martyn Williams, 20.Gareth Cooper     –  No entry : 21.Ceri Sweeney, 22.Rhys WilliamsNew Zealand: 15.Mils Muliaina, 14.Doug Howlett, 13.Casey Laulala, 12.Aaron Mauger, 11.Joe Rokocoko, 10.Dan Carter, 9.Piri Weepu, 8.Mose Tuiali'i, 7.Richie McCaw (capt. ), 6.Rodney So'oialo, 5.Ali Williams, 4.Chris Jack, 3.Greg Somerville, 2.Keven Mealamu, 1.Tony Woodcock,  – replacements: 17.Carl Hayman, 20.Byron Kelleher, 21.Ma'a Nonu  –  No entry: 16.Anton Oliver, 18.Reuben Thorne, 19.Marty Holah, 22.Rico Gear


2004 New Zealand rugby union tour of Europe, Results
France: 15.Clément Poitrenaud, 14.Aurelien Rougerie, 13.Tony Marsh, 12.Brian Liebenberg, 11.Cedric Heymans, 10.Julien Peyrelongue, 9.Frederic Michalak, 8.Imanol Harinordoquy, 7.Olivier Magne, 6.Serge Betsen, 5.Jerome Thion, 4.Fabien Pelous (capt. ), 3.Pieter de Villiers, 2.William Servat, 1.Sylvain Marconnet,  – replacements: 16.Sebastien Bruno, 17.Olivier Milloud, 18.Pascal Pape, 19.Julien Bonnaire, 20.Mathieu Barrau, 21.Yannick Jauzion, 22.Christophe Dominici New Zealand: 15.Mils Muliaina, 14.Doug Howlett, 13.Conrad Smith, 12.Tana Umaga (capt. ), 11.Joe Rokocoko, 10.Dan Carter, 9.Byron Kelleher, 8.Rodney So'oialo, 7.Richie McCaw, 6.Jerry Collins, 5.Norm Maxwell, 4.Chris Jack, 3.Carl Hayman, 2.Anton Oliver, 1.Tony Woodcock,  – replacements: 16.Keven Mealamu, 17.Greg Somerville, 18.Ali Williams, 21.Aaron Mauger, 22.Ma'a Nonu     –  No entry: 19.Mose Tuiali'i, 20.Piri Weepu


2004 Newcastle City Council election
Elections were held to Newcastle City Council on 10 June 2004, coinciding with elections to the European Parliament. The entire complement of 78 seats in the City were contested due to major boundary changes that year. The Liberal Democrats ended thirty years of Labour control and the table below shows the composition of the council following the election.


2004 Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council election
Elections to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council were held on 10 June 2004. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour Party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.


2004 Nicholls State Colonels football team
The 2004 Nicholls State Colonels football team represented Nicholls State University in the 2004 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Colonels were led by first-year head coach Jay Thomas. They played their home games at John L. Guidry Stadium and were a member of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 5–5, 2–3 in Southland play to finish in fourth place.


2004 Nigerien general election
General elections were held in Niger in 2004; the first round of the presidential elections was held on 16 November, with a run-off held alongside National Assembly elections on 4 December. The presidential elections were won by Mamadou Tandja of the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD). The MNSD also emerged as the largest party in the National Assembly, winning 47 of the 113 seats.


2004 Nigerien general election, Electoral system
The President was elected using the two-round system. The 113 members of the National Assembly were elected by two methods; 105 from eight multi-member constituencies by proportional representation system and the remaining eight members in special single-member constituencies to ensure representation of national minorities.


2004 Nigerien general election, Results, President
No candidate won a majority of votes in the first round, and a second round was held on 4 December between the two leading candidates – incumbent president Mamadou and Mahamadou Issoufou. All four of the candidates eliminated in the first round backed Tandja in the second round, and Tandja won the elections with 65.53% of the vote. International and local observers declared the entire process as free, fair, and transparent.


2004 Nigerien general election, Aftermath
Following the election, MNSD-Nassara resumed its previous ruling coalition with junior partner Democratic and Social Convention, whose 22 seats give a 69-seat majority in the National Assembly.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment
The 2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment was a series of events that occurred during the 2004 Nippon Professional Baseball season that changed the landscape of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). In June of that season, the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes and the Orix BlueWave announced that, due to financial difficulties, the two teams planned to merge into one for the start of the 2005 season. Both teams were in the Pacific League (PL), and a merger between the two would result in a team imbalance with the PL's opposing league, the Central League (CL).


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment
Soon, it was announced that a second merger was being explored between two of the remaining four PL teams. With the possibility of the PL losing a second team, discussion about possibly restructuring NPB's two-league system into one ten-team league began. PL and CL executives continued to discuss the merits of both systems until it was finally decided that the two-league system would remain intact and interleague play would be introduced in the 2005 season.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment
When the BlueWave and the Buffaloes first announced their merger plans, the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association (JPBPA) pledged to do everything possible to block the merger in order to protect the rights of NPB players. Leading up the a merger vote by team owners, the JPBPA filed two injunctions in an attempt to block the proposed merger and also began making preparations in anticpation of a labor strike.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment
After the injunctions were denied, players association decided that the players would refuse to play in all scheduled Saturday and Sunday games for the final three weekends in September unless three conditions were met by September 10: suspension of the BlueWave/Buffaloes merger for at least one year, assurance that there would be no further team mergers, and reduction of the fees required for setting up a new NPB team. Days later, the owners voted to approve the team merger.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment
The Friday before the first planned weekend strike, a last-minute agreement was reach between the two parties allowed the players to play through the weekend. The following week, team officials definitively told the JPBPA that a one-year freeze on the merger was impossible. Negotiations continued into Friday, however, no agreement was reached. A two-day strike occurred on Saturday and Sunday, September 18–19, 2004. All twelve games scheduled for that weekend were cancelled as a result of the strike. The following Thursday, with the strike set to continue the during the upcoming weekend, players and team management came to an agreement. Players agreed not to stage a strike for the second straight weekend after team representatives eased the rules of entry for new teams into the professional leagues and that one would be allowed to join the following season.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment
In late September, two Internet services companies, Livedoor and Rakuten, submitted applications to form a new team based in Sendai that would fill the void left by the merger. As the selection process progressed, both companies were given time to discuss their team and budget propositions before a panel of NPB executives. Livedoor, who had unsuccessfully attempted to purchase the Buffaloes from Kintetsu earlier in the year, announced that their new baseball club would be named the "Sendai Livedoor Phoenix", with former MLB and NPB player Tom O'Malley attached as manager and Katsunori Kojima as general manager.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment
Rakuten's new team planned to employ Marty Kuehnert and Yasushi Tao as general manager and manager, respectively, of their newly named "Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles" baseball club. In November, NPB selected Rakuten over Livedoor to create a new Pacific League team to be based in Sendai. It was the first time a new team, excluding cases of mergers or acquisitions, joined NPB since 1954.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, Background
Unlike Major League Baseball (MLB), Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) does not require teams to participate in any revenue sharing strategies that would help correct revenue imbalances between teams because of game attendance and television broadcasting contracts. These issues are problematic because the Yomiuri Giants, the league's most popular team, generates revenue much easier than any other team. Daily Yomiuri baseball reporter Jim Allen, for example, estimates that the Giants account for 40% of all NPB television broadcasting revenue, while the eleven remaining teams account for the other 60%. Compounding this issue, NPB employs a "reverse designation" draft system.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, Background
Instead of teams choosing players, as in MLB, players can choose what team they would like to play for. According to former Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles general manager Marty Kuehnert, the teams with the most money could offer amateur players money under the table in exchange for their pledge. Traditionally, NPB teams existed to advertise their parent company, unlike MLB teams that are businesses attempting to maximize their profits. With prime-time advertising spots being expensive in Japan, corporations bought NPB teams for the primary purpose of keeping themselves in the public eye for the entirety of a baseball season. For years, potential profits were secondary. The recession of the 1990s and 2000s started to change this mentality.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger
For several years leading up to 2004, the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes reported yearly losses of approximately $40 million due to a drop in home-game attendance, rising player salaries and an annual $10 million charge for the use of the Osaka Dome, their home field. Kintetsu Corporation, the railway company that owned the Buffaloes, announced in January 2004 that it was planning to put the team's name up for sale after the 2005 season in an effort to make the team more profitable. However, NPB commissioner Yasuchika Negoro denied Kintetsu's request and the plan was abandoned.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger
Later that year, Masanori Yamaguchi, president of Kintetsu, stated that the team had "no prospect of paying dividends (to the parent company)" in its current state. Meanwhile, the Orix BlueWave was also struggling to post a profit. The BlueWave's home-game attendance had been steadily declining after star player Ichiro Suzuki left the team to play in MLB in 2001, and the team finished the previous two seasons in last place. In June 2004, believing no one had any interest in purchasing the team, Buffaloes officials announced plans to merge with the BlueWave for the 2005 season. Yamaguchi saw the merger with Orix as the most realistic solution to both teams' financial problems. Later that same month, a panel of NPB executives accepted the proposed merger.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, Livedoor attempts to purchase the Buffaloes
Shortly after Kintetsu and Orix announced their plans to merge their two clubs, details emerged that Livedoor Company, an Internet services company, proposed purchasing the Buffaloes. Livedoor President Takafumi Horie confirmed that if Livedoor was to purchase the team, the Buffaloes would be kept independent in order to leave the current 12-team, two-league system intact. Kintetsu quickly issued a statement, however, stating that they had turned down the proposal from Livedoor. Days later, Kintetsu emphasized this sentiment at a press conference by categorically refusing to sell the Buffaloes to Livedoor. Even though the team's players favored the proposed purchase, Yamaguchi refused to even meet with Horie to discuss the proposal and stated that, “I wouldn’t accept such an idea” and “There isn’t even a 1% [possibility of selling the team to Livedoor]."


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, Livedoor attempts to purchase the Buffaloes
A month later, as Livedoor continued to struggle to buy the Buffaloes for reportedly up to 3 billion yen ($27.5M in 2004), Horie expressed interest in starting a new team if he was unable to complete the purchase. He acknowledged how difficult it was for a new owner to break into Japanese professional baseball but he vowed to do "whatever [he] could" to make it happen.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, One-league system proposed
Since its creation in 1950, NPB teams had been divided into two leagues: the Central League (CL) and the Pacific League (PL). The CL is the more popular of the two leagues thanks largely to the popularity of the Yomiuri Giants. In 2004, each league had six teams; both the Buffaloes and the BlueWave were Pacific League teams. The potential merger between the two clubs would drop the number of PL teams from six to five, which would then create a team imbalance between the two leagues.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, One-league system proposed
During a July 7 owners' meeting where the twelve team owners approved the Orix-Kintetsu merger, talk of a second pair of PL teams merging arose. At the meeting, Seibu Lions owner Yoshiaki Tsutsumi stated that another merger between two of the remaining four PL teams was being explored. Rumors then surfaced about an ongoing merger plan between the Chiba Lotte Marines and the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. Marines owner Akio Shigemitsu denied these rumors, however he made it clear that his team was open to the possibility. Eventually, it was revealed that Daiei had explored merger possibilities with both Seibu and Lotte and talks advanced with Lotte, however no agreement was ever reached.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, One-league system proposed
With the possibility of the PL losing a second team, discussion about possibly restructuring NPB's two-league system into one ten-team league began. Tsutsumi and Yomiuri Giants owner Tsuneo Watanabe favored the idea of combining the Central and Pacific Leagues into one league. Watanabe even outlined a plan for a new championship competition he dubbed the "Emperor’s Cup" that would replace the Japan Series if NPB was contracted to one league. His idea involved reducing the number of regular-season games to allow for a tournament that would pit teams against each other based on their geographic location. The regular-season winner and the tournament winner would then play each other to determine a champion.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, One-league system proposed
Meanwhile, senior adviser to the Hanshin Tigers Senichi Hoshino, who was manager of the club when they won the CL championship the previous year, argued to keep the current two-league format. He heavily criticized team owners for ignoring the voices of the players and fans, and it is believed that this criticism helped cause some team owners to abandon the movement toward one league. Not long after Hoshino's comments, Tigers team president Katsuyoshi Nozaki suddenly declared he was in favor of keeping the Central and Pacific League set-up and the team became the biggest supporter of the idea.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, One-league system proposed
Soon, the majority of the other CL teams also favored the current two-league system. After garnering the support of fellow CL teams the Yakult Swallows and the Yokohama BayStars, Tigers' executives planned a meeting with all of the Central League teams excluding the Giants to attempt to draft an agreement against the move to a one-league system. Tigers' president Katsuyoshi Nozaki proposed interleague play as a possible solution.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, One-league system proposed
He claimed that interleague play would allow Central and Pacific League teams to play each other an equal number of times so that it would seem that it was a one-league system, however the All-Star Series and the Japan Series could be saved. In the past, interleague play had been rejected by the CL teams because they did not want the PL teams to cut into the money they would receive from games played against the hugely popular Giants. Soon the last two CL teams, the Chunichi Dragons and the Hiroshima Carp, both expressed support for maintaining the two-league system, at least through the next season.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, One-league system proposed
PL executives then came out strongly in favor of the Giants' one-league system with Pacific League President Tadao Koike citing the difficulty in operating a league consisting of only five or even four teams. On July 26, NPB held a seven-hour meeting in order to talk about the merits of both proposals, however no agreement could be reached. The issue was again discussed during a meeting in mid-August, though again the twelve teams could not agree on a solution.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, One-league system proposed
During the meeting, all six PL teams reaffirmed that they were looking to move forward with their one-league plan if a second team merger occurred and ultimately brought the PL's team count from six to four, though no details of a second merger were disclosed. Most of the Central League teams requested that the Pacific League teams draw up a concrete timetable that explained the details of their plan to shift NPB into a one-league system so the issue could be further discussed during the next owners meeting on September 8.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, One-league system proposed
A week later, CL President Hajime Toyokura acknowledged that PL officials had informed him that they were working on specific plans for a second merger to present at a meeting a week later, however commissioner Yasuchika Negoro confirmed that nothing had yet been presented about a second merger plan and that he knew nothing about it. Citing history and tradition, Negoro also went on record to say that maintaining the two-league system was a priority for him.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, One-league system proposed
These comments came after meeting with Democratic Party of Japan policy chief Yoshito Sengoku and other lawmakers to discuss the state of Japanese professional baseball. Sengoku himself also opposed the shift to a single league and was leading a campaign to put forward a proposal to keep the two-league system. Public support also seemed to favor keeping the current system. In a nationwide telephone survey conducted by Kyodo News, around 74% of people in Japan were in favor of maintaining the current two six-team leagues with only 12% supporting a shift to one league.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, Merger approved
While NPB team owners and officials were discussing the possibility of a second team merger, fans and players were still opposing the first planned merger between the Kintetsu Buffaloes and the Orix BlueWave. After the merger plans were first announced in June, a group of supporters of the BlueWave turned in a petition signed by 17,800 fans who were in favor of maintaining the team's base in Kobe after the probable merger with the Kintetsu Buffaloes next season. Not long after, Buffaloes players began voicing opposition to the plans as well, stressing that all possibilities of keeping the team intact should be explored before a merger is decided upon.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, Merger approved
During the All-Star Series in mid-July, the Japanese baseball players' union, the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association (JPBPA), gathered and discussed the possibility of a players' strike at some time in the future if the owners refused to talk with the players. Buffaloes and BlueWave fans also assembled near the stadiums hosting the All-Star Series to collect signatures, with the intention of presenting petitions opposing the Kintetsu-Orix merger to baseball officials. By the end of July, the Giants' players association joined the Buffaloes', the Dragons', the BayStars', the Swallows' and the Tigers' to become the sixth team of twelve to hold a signature drive to oppose a move to a one-league format and the planned BlueWave and Buffaloes merger.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, Merger approved
On August 10, Kintetsu and Orix advanced merger plans by officially signing an agreement that outlined the basic details of the planned team merger, including that the new merged club would be run by a new company jointly owned by the parent companies of the two teams, 80% by Orix and the rest by Kintetsu. The next day, approximately 300 fans protested the merger by marching with signs and chantings slogans in Tokyo's Hibiya district. Days later, JPBPA members voted overwhelmingly for the right to strike as part of a bid to maintain the two-league system and prevent team mergers.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, Merger approved
Of about 750 members of the players’ union, 98% voted in favor of strike rights. Fewer than ten members opposed striking. The Japan Trade Union Confederation (RENGO) also supported the association by giving advice on how to set up a strike as well as labor-management negotiation strategies and how to effectively circulate petitions.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, Merger approved
The Kintetsu and Orix merger plan was finalized in late August when the two teams signed a formal contract. That same day, JPBPA filed for an injunction against the planned merger with the Tokyo District Court. The suit was filed by the JPBPA head Atsuya Furuta as well as Koichi Isobe and Takashi Miwa, who represented the players of Kintetsu and Orix, respectively. The association decided to take legal action after NPB officials either turned down or ignored a series of demands made by the JPBPA.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, Merger approved
These demands included establishing a special committee to handle contractual issues for the players affected by the merger, including club management and players’ representatives in any decision-making processes of such a committee, and to postpone the merger for at least one year to reassess its advisability.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, Merger approved
The documents filed with the court outlined the association's demands to establish a special committee that would meet and adopt resolutions before any decisions were made and to allow the JPBPA to conduct collective negotiations on a range of merger-related issues, as a large number of players would be expected to lose their jobs should the merger go through.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, Merger approved
Meanwhile, Pacific League President Koike quoted Giants president Watanabe as telling him that if the number of teams in the PL was reduced to four through team mergers, both the Central League and Pacific League should have five teams each, with the Giants moving to the PL to equalize the number of teams in each league. Commissioner Negoro addressed these statements, saying that NPB was not considering having the Giants switch leagues.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, Merger approved
He also stated that no decision had been made concerning whether Japanese baseball would contract to one league or keep the two-league system in some form, but that both options were being explored. Lions owner Tsutsumi, who had first revealed plans of a second PL team merger plan back in July, then denied recent reports that his club would merge with the Marines but offered no other details about the rumored second merger.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, Merger approved
NPB officials agreed to postpone the official merger vote that was planned to occur on September 8 pending a judgement on the JPBA's injunction request, however the Tokyo District Court rejected the association's request one week after it was submitted and the vote proceeded as planned. Following the District Court's decision, the association immediately appealed to the Tokyo High Court, however this appeal was also rejected several days later. The same day the association lost their injunction appeal, NPB executives met to discuss the merger and league realignment.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, Merger approved
The twelve owners voted and approved the Buffaloes and BlueWave merger plan, leaving the PL with five teams instead of six for the 2005 season. They also agreed to maintain the two-league format but would explore the idea of introducing interleague games for the next season. And finally, while they also agreed to reconsider the requirements for new teams to enter the leagues, they decided that they could not put off the merger plans for another season because of the dire financial circumstances of the Buffaloes, thus setting the stage for a player strike.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, Players strike
When the Orix BlueWave and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes announced their merger plans in June, JPBPA head and then-Yakult Swallows catcher Furuta vowed that his organization would do everything possible to block the merger in order to protect the rights of the 752 professional players in NPB. It was estimated that up to 100 players and team personnel could lose their jobs as a result of the merger. Furuta claimed that "Japanese baseball [was] at a crossroads” and it was "the most important time in [their] 70-year history".


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, Players strike
In addition to submitting a court injunction to block the proposed merger, the association received the support of the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) leading up to the merger vote. The JFTC called on NPB to offer up a clear explanation as to why Livedoor's bid to buy the Buffaloes wasn't considered. Anticipating the possibility of a player strike, the JPBPA also consulted with the Major League Baseball Players Association on how to proceed. According to Furuta, however, Japanese baseball's possible strike situation was different from MLB's 1994 strike because the Japanese players had the support of their fans. By September, close to one million fans had signed petitions opposing the merger.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, Players strike
Furuta was skeptical of the losses reported by the teams but conceded that if the losses were accurate then player salaries would have to be adjusted accordingly. The players' association made several suggestions to improve the teams' financial situations, including relaxing the rules on how much player salaries could be reduced as well as proposing a luxury tax that would result in the reduction of player salaries. Furthermore, the JPBPA supported the two-league system, proposed interleague play and a fairer distribution of television broadcast revenue.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, Players strike
Days before the planned merger vote, the players' association decided that they would refuse to play all games scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays for the rest of September unless three conditions were met by September 10: suspension of the BlueWave/Buffaloes merger for at least one year, assurance that there would be no further team mergers, and reduction of the fees required for setting up a new NPB team. Despite this ultimatum, owners went ahead and approved the merger two days later.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, Players strike
The next day, team management and players met for six hours in Osaka looking to agree on a compromise deal in an attempt to avert a strike the next day, but failed to reach an agreement. On Friday, the next day and the final day before the proposed strike, a last-minute agreement was reach between the two parties that allowed the players to play through the weekend. The JBLPA conceded some demands once team representatives assured the players that there would be no further mergers and that negotiations on the other two issues would continue until September 17, the next day the players could strike under the association's plans.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, Players strike
On the following Thursday, during on-going negotiations, team officials definitively told the JPBPA that a one-year freeze on the BlueWave/Buffaloes merger, one of the three demands set by the association to avoid a strike, was impossible. Two Internet service companies had applied to start new Japanese baseball teams in the wake of the professional leagues losing a team, however NPB representatives maintained that the 2006 season would be the earliest a new team could enter. The players wanted any new teams ready for the next season.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, Players strike
Negotiations continued into Friday and lasted four hours past the 5 pm deadline, however, no agreement was reached and the players proceeded to stage the first and only strike in Japanese professional baseball history. The two-day strike occurred on Saturday and Sunday, September 18–19, 2004. All twelve games scheduled for that weekend were cancelled as a result of the strike. In place of these games, players instead staged a variety of events at stadiums and other venues. These events included autograph sessions, on-field baseball training, and opportunities for fans to meet players.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, Players strike
The following Thursday, with the strike set to continue the during the upcoming weekend, players and management came to an agreement. Players agreed not to stage a strike for the second straight weekend after team representatives eased the rules of entry for new teams into the professional leagues and that one would be allowed to join the following season. The two-day strike caused economic losses totaling approximately 1.89 billion yen (17.2 million in 2004), according to researchers from Osaka Prefecture University. Estimated attendance at the 12 games would have generated 1.68 billion yen through ticket, food and drink sales. Additionally, an estimated 200 million yen in broadcast revenue was lost from the two cancelled Yomiuri Giants games. Players received salary cuts totaling 190 million yen.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, Creation of a new team
After Livedoor had unsuccessfully attempted to purchase the Buffaloes from Kintetsu earlier in the year, Livedoor President Takafumi Horie indicated that he intended to start a new professional baseball team that would fill the void left by the merger of the Orix BlueWave and the Buffaloes. On September 17, Livedoor established a new professional team and applied for team ownership with NPB. Horie said that the team would be composed of players who were left jobless after the Buffaloes/BlueWave merger and would be based in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. One week later a second Internet services company, Tokyo-based Rakuten, also submitted a formal application to Japanese professional baseball to form a team. Like Horie, Rakuten president Hiroshi Mikitani also expressed a desire to locate his new team in Sendai.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, Creation of a new team
In early October, the public screening process to select one of the two companies and allow them form a new NPB team began. Both Livedoor and Rakuten were given an hour and a half to discuss their team and budget propositions before a panel of five Japanese baseball executives. The panel consisted of Central League chairman Hajime Toyokura and the head officials of the Yomiuri Giants, the Yokohama BayStars, the Seibu Lions and the Chiba Lotte Marines. The screening standards include the adequacy of the applications, the prospective continuity and stability of the planned baseball teams, the prospective financial standings of the applicants and planned teams, and their planned baseball facilities.


2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment, Creation of a new team
As screenings were held weekly through October, more details about each potential new team emerged. Livedoor announced that their baseball club would be named the "Sendai Livedoor Phoenix", with former MLB and NPB player Tom O'Malley attached as manager and Katsunori Kojima as general manager. Rakuten, likewise, announced Marty Kuehnert and Yasushi Tao as general manager and manager, respectively, of their newly named "Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles" baseball club. Both clubs planned play out of Miyagi Stadium. Upon registering the trademark for their name, Rakuten learned that Livedoor had registered an "eagles" trademark one day earlier. Livedoor allowed Rakuten to use the name, however, after it placed second behind "phoenix" in an internet poll that the company was using to determine the name of their team.