Here's a look back at sports happenings on this date in history, Aug. 3:
1949: National Basketball Association is formed
1949 — The National Basketball Association is formed by the merger of the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Basketball Association of America (BAA). Maurice Podoloff, head of the BAA since its inception, is elected head of the new league. Six NBL teams join the ten BAA teams, plus an expansion team in Indianapolis, to form the NBA.
Representatives of the National Basketball League and Basketball Association of America, shake hands after agreeing to a merger of the two circuits into an 18-team organization to be known as the National Basketball Association, Aug 3, 1949, New York. Grouped around the smiling Maurice Podoloff, center, are left to right: Ike Duffey, Leo Ferris, Ned Irish, and Walter Brown. (AP Photo/John Lent)
1996: Andre Agassi, Dream Team, women's 400-meter relay team win Olympic gold
1996 — Andre Agassi, the Dream Team and the U.S. women’s 400-meter relay team win Olympic gold medals, while the American men’s 400 relay settles for silver. With Carl Lewis idled by a coach’s decision and Leroy Burrell injured, the men’s 400 team is shocked by Canada — the first time the U.S. lost the event at the Olympics.
America's Andre Agassi returns to Spain's Sergi Bruguera to win the gold at the Stone Mountain Tennis Center Saturday Aug. 3, 1996. Agassi won 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 at the Centennial Olympic games. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
2003: Annika Sorenstam completes career Grand Slam
2003 — Annika Sorenstam completes a career Grand Slam at the Women’s British Open, beating Se Ri Pak by a stroke in a thrilling head-to-head showdown.
Annika Sorenstam, from Stockholm Sweden, tees off on the fourth tee during the third round of the LPGA Tour Championship at Trump International Golf Club on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Mitchell)
2006: Driver Cristiano da Matta needs surgery after race car collides with deer on track
2006 — Champ Car driver Cristiano da Matta needs surgery to remove a ruptured blood vessel in his head after his race car collides with a deer that wandered onto the track during a test session at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Cristiano da Matta talks to the media during a news conference at Homestead-Miami International Speedway in Miami, Friday, March 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
2012: Michael Phelps rallies to win 100-meter butterfly at London Games
2012 — Michael Phelps rallies to win the 100-meter butterfly for his third gold of the London Games and No. 17 of his career. The American, next-to-last at the turn, closes strong to finish in 51.21 seconds, just ahead of Chad le Clos of South Africa and Evgeny Korotyshkin of Russia. It’s Phelps’ third consecutive win in the event at the Olympics, and his 21st career medal. Missy Franklin sets a world record in the 200 backstroke for the 17-year-old’s third gold in London. Also, 15-year-old Katie Ledecky — the youngest member of the U.S. team — nearly breaks the world record while winning the 800 freestyle, denying Britain’s Rebecca Adlington a repeat before her home fans.
United States' Michael Phelps celebrates after winning gold in the men's 100-meter butterfly swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Friday, Aug. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
2013: Katie Ledecky, 16, wins fourth gold at world swimming championships
2013 — Sixteen-year-old Katie Ledecky wraps up a brilliant performance at the world swimming championships with her fourth gold medal and second world record. The youngster turns it on over the final four laps of the 800 freestyle to win in 8 minutes, 13.86 seconds and take down the mark of 8:14.10 set by Britain’s Rebecca Adlington at the 2008 Olympics.
Katie Ledecky of the United States leaves the pool after winning the gold medal in the Women's 800m freestyle final at the FINA Swimming World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013. Ledecky won in a new world record time of 8:13.86. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
