2012 Event Israel launches four airstrikes in response to multiple rockets being fired across the border. The airstrikes kill two Salafist jihadist militants and wound one other in the northern Gaza strip 1997 Event Les Alexander, owner of Houston Rockets buys NHL's Edmonton Oilers 1995 Event 49th NBA Championship: Houston Rockets sweep Orlando Magic in 4 games 1994 Event Cleveland Cavaliers 1st game at Gund Arena, lose to Hous Rockets, 100-98 1994 Event 48th NBA Championship: Houston Rockets beat New York Knicks, 4 games to 3 1993 Event Houston Rockets tie NBA record of 15-0 start 1986 Event 40th NBA Championship: Boston Celtics beat Hous Rockets, 4 games to 2 1981 Event 35th NBA Championship: Bost Celtics beat Houston Rockets, 4 games to 2 1980 Event Calvin Murphy (Rockets) begins longest NBA free throw streak of 78 1975 Event Summit in Houston opens - Rockets beat Milwaukee Bucks, 104-89 1975 Death Ian Hunter, actor and writer (Rockets Galore, Ziegfield Girl), dies at 75 1974 Birthday Othella Harrington, NBA forward for the Houston Rockets 1973 Birthday Rodrick Rhodes, NBA forward for the Houston Rockets 1973 Birthday Serge Zwikker, NBA center for the Houston Rockets 1973 Birthday Joe Stephens, NBA forward for the Houston Rockets 1971 Birthday Matt Maloney, NBA guard for the Houston Rockets 1970 Birthday Robert Horry, NBA forward, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets 1970 Birthday Sam Mack, NBA forward and guard, Houston Rockets, Vancouver Grizzlies 1969 Birthday Sam Cassell, NBA guard, New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets 1968 Birthday Brent Price, NBA guard, Houston Rockets, Washington Bullets 1968 Birthday Emanual Davis, NBA guard for the Houston Rockets 1968 Birthday Chucky Brown, NBA forward, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks 1967 Birthday Eldridge Recasner, NBA guard, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets 1967 Birthday Jaren Jackson, NBA guard and forward, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs 1967 Birthday Matt Bullard, NBA forward, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks 1965 Birthday Mark Bryant, NBA forward and center, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets 1965 Birthday Kenny Smith, NBA guard for the Houston Rockets 1963 Birthday Mario Elie, NBA forward and guard for the Houston Rockets 1963 Birthday Charles Barkley, Leads Ab, NBA forward, Phoenix, Rockets, Gold Medal 1996 Olympics 1963 Birthday Hakeem Olajuwon, NBA center for the Houston Rockets 1963 Birthday Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, Nigeria, NBA center, Rockets, Gold Medal 1996 Olympics 1962 Birthday Kevin Willis, NBA center for the Houston Rockets 1962 Birthday Clyde "Glide" Drexler, NBA Guard, Houston Rockets, Port Trailblazers 1960 Birthday Ralph Sampson, NBA center, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets 1960 Birthday Sleepy Floyd, born in Gastonia, North Carolina, professional basketball player, guard, played for Georgetown University, the New Jersey Nets, the Houston Rockets 1959 Birthday Eddie Johnson, NBA guard and forward, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers 1958 Birthday Larry Smith, born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, professional basketball player, coach, played forward/center for Alcorn State University, played for NBA's Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, credited as best rebounder in the 1980's, coached Anaheim Arsenal 1957 Birthday Charles Jones, NBA forward for the Houston Rockets 1946 Birthday Don Chaney, NBA player for the Houston Rockets/coach, Detroit Pistons 1944 Event 1st V-2 rockets land in London and Antwerp 1920 Event New York Times editorial (falsely) reports rockets can never fly 1918 Event Goddard demonstrates tube-launched solid propellant rockets 1806 Event British forces lay siege to French port of Boulogne using Congreve rockets, invented by Sir William Congreve
