Highlights
The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Transnistria
Transnistria is unilaterally proclaimed a Soviet republic; the Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev declares the decision null and void.
Marcus Ericsson
Marcus Ericsson, Swedish race car driver
Alfonso García Robles
Alfonso García Robles, Mexican politician and diplomat, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1911)
Xenia Knoll
Xenia Knoll, Swiss tennis player
Robert Holmes à Court, South African-Australian businessman and lawyer (born 1937)
The 7.7 Mw Nicaragua earthquake affected the west coast of Nicaragua. With a Ms–Mw disparity of half a unit, this tsunami earthquake triggered a tsunami that caused most of the damage and casualties, with at least 116 killed. Typical runup heights were 3–8 meters (9.8–26.2 ft).
Barbara McClintock, American geneticist and botanist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1902)
Swissair Flight 111 crashes near Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia; all 229 people on board are killed.
The UN's International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda finds Jean-Paul Akayesu, the former mayor of a small town in Rwanda, guilty of nine counts of genocide.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Christian Bethancourt
Christian Bethancourt, Panamanian baseball player
Gyasi Zardes
Gyasi Zardes, American footballer
Emiliano Martínez
Emiliano Martínez, Argentine footballer
Ella Toone
Ella Toone, English footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
M.A.N.T.I.S.
"Tango Blue" (Season 1, Episode 2) aired on 1994-09-02.
The Late Show with David Letterman
"Kevin Kline, Lee Marek, Hootie and the Blowfish" (Season 1994, Episode 141) aired on 1994-09-02.
The Mask
"Sister Mask" (Season 1, Episode 5) aired on 1995-09-02.
Svengoolie
"U.F.O." (Season 1, Episode 27) aired on 1995-09-02.
"ArenaBowl VIII: #3 Arizona Rattlers at #1 Orlando Predators" (Season 1994, Episode 1) aired on 1994-09-02.
"Billy Dean, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood" (Season 1995, Episode 22) aired on 1995-09-02.
"Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears" (Season 1996, Episode 1) aired on 1996-09-02.
"Chuck Norris, Anthony Clark, Jewel" (Season 1996, Episode 137) aired on 1996-09-02.
"Tic Track Toe / Lucky All-Star" (Season 2, Episode 2) aired on 1997-09-02.
"Vicki Lawrence" (Season 1997, Episode 111) aired on 1997-09-02.
"Steven Seagal, Brittany Starr, Beck" (Season 1997, Episode 141) aired on 1997-09-02.
"Dangerous Lumber / Mr. Hyunh Goes Country" (Season 3, Episode 2) aired on 1998-09-02.
"Brad Sherwood, Karen Maruyama, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles" (Season 1, Episode 5) aired on 1998-09-02.
"Roger Ebert Should Lay Off the Fatty Foods" (Season 2, Episode 11) aired on 1998-09-02.
"Terry Bradshaw, Jesse Jackson" (Season 1998, Episode 135) aired on 1998-09-02.
Total Request Live had teenagers calling in around the clock. Here's what was charting:
The #1 most requested video on TRL on this date in 1999
#2 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#3 on TRL — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#4 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#5 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#6 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#7 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#8 on TRL — 98 Degrees, "The Hardest Thing"
#9 on TRL — Lauryn Hill, "Ex-Factor"
#10 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
By Year
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