In the year 1988..

 

 

Here's a flash from the past  (sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/, http://www.inthe80s.com/time1988.shtml)

Those in office at that time:

World population (http://www.ibiblio.org/lunarbin/worldpop)

June 1988: approx 5.1 billion

Aug 2008: approx 6.8 billion

Events

Undated 1988 Events:

    • CDs outsell vinyl for the first time ever.
    • Soviets leave Afghanistan
    • Jimmy Swaggart admits to being with prostitutes.
    • Summer Olympics in Seoul, South-Korea; Ben Johnson caught for steriods after setting a World Record in the 100 meter dash.
    • Pan Am Flight 103 explodes over Lockerbie, Scotland; Lybian terrorists are suspected of planting the bomb
    • Earthquake in the USSR
    • Bobby McFerrin tells everyone "Don't worry, be happy"
    • Prozac is introduced as an anti-depresent.
    • US advertising is permitted on Soviet TV
    • The first plutonium pacemaker is made.
    • World's longest undersea tunnel is completed. Work begins on the Chunnel which will then become the world's longest undersea tunnel.
    • Sonny Bono becomes Mayor in Palm Springs.
    • Robin Givens files for divorce from Mike Tyson
    • Benazir Bhutto becomes the first woman to head an Islamic nation
    • McDonalds in the USSR (might have been 1989)
    • Long Island beaches close due to medical waste coming ashore July 6th.
    • Iran-Iraqi war ends in August.
    • Human Genome project begins. 

 


A statue, located outside Rexall Place in Edmonton, of Gretzky hoisting the Stanley Cup, which he won four times with the Oilers. 

A statue, located outside Rexall Place (formerly Northlands Coliseum) in Edmonton, of Gretzky hoisting the Stanley Cup, which he won four times with the Oilers.

"The Trade"

Two hours after the Oilers won the Stanley Cup in 1988, Wayne learned from his father that the Oilers were planning to deal him to another team. Walter had known for months, but kept it from Wayne so as to not upset him. According to Walter, Wayne was being "shopped" to Los Angeles, Detroit, New York, and Vancouver. According to Wayne, Pocklington needed money as his other business ventures were not doing well, and had gone "sour" on Wayne and wanted to move him. At first Gretzky did not want to leave Edmonton, but he later received a call from Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall while on his honeymoon asking permission to meet and discuss the deal. Wayne informed McNall that his prerequisites for a deal to take place were that Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski join him as teammates in Los Angeles. After the details of the trade were finalized by McNall and Pocklington, one final condition had to be met: Gretzky had to call Pocklington and request a trade.

On August 9, 1988, in a move that heralded significant change in the NHL, the Oilers traded Gretzky, along with McSorley and Krushelnyski, to the Los Angeles Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, $15 million in cash, and the Kings' first-round draft picks in 1989 (later traded to the New Jersey Devils—New Jersey selected Jason Miller), 1991 (Martin Rucinsky), and 1993 (Nick Stajduhar)."The Trade", as it came to be known, upset Canadians to the extent that New Democratic Party House Leader Nelson Riis demanded that the government block it,and Pocklington was burned in effigy outside the Northlands Coliseum.Gretzky himself was considered a "traitor" by some Canadians for turning his back on his adopted hometown, his home province, and his home country; his motivation was widely rumoured to be the furtherance of his wife's acting career.

Edmontonians bore no grudge against Gretzky. On his first appearance in Edmonton after the trade—a game that was nationally televised in Canada—he received a four-minute standing ovation.[ The arena was sold out, and the attendance of 17,503 was the Oilers' biggest crowd ever to that date. Large cheers erupted for his first shift, his first touch of the puck, his two assists and for Mark Messier's body check of Gretzky into the boards.After the game, Gretzky took the opportunity to confirm his patriotism: "I'm still proud to be a Canadian. I didn't desert my country. I moved because I was traded and that's where my job is. But I'm Canadian to the core. I hope Canadians understand that. After the 1988–89 season, a life-sized bronze statue of Gretzky was erected outside the Northlands Coliseum, holding the Stanley Cup over his head (picture shown above, to the right).

 

 

 

 


The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was one of the most well-known events of the 1980s. 

Although it actually occurred in 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was one of the most well-known events of the 80s

 


XV Olympic Winter Games
Ben Johnson (center) in 1988
Brian Orser carrying the Canadian flag at the opening ceremonyS-rail at the bottom of the same terrain park at Timberline Lodge ski area


The Stampede CorralThis terrain park begins with three jumps.

 

The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Calgary, Alberta,

Highlights

Brian Orser carrying the Canadian flag at the opening ceremonyThe Games were opened by The Right Honourable Jeanne Sauvé, 45th Governor General of Canada, on behalf of the Queen of Canada, Elizabeth II at McMahon Stadium.

Matti Nykänen from Finland dominated ski jumping events, winning three gold medals.
Dutch speed skater Yvonne van Gennip won three gold medals, setting two world records.
Alberto Tomba from Italy won two gold medals in alpine skiing.
Two competitors, Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards of Great Britain in ski jumping and the Jamaica national bobsled team, entered their respective competitions with little experience and less chance of winning any medals. However, the determination of these novices to compete, in spite of being outmatched by their competitors, won the affection of the spectators and the media alike, which sometimes overshadowed the actual winners. They were hailed as demonstrating the true Olympic spirit as playing for the simple thrill of competition. The story of the bobsledding team was made into a 1993 Disney comedy film called Cool Runnings that was directed by Jon Turteltaub.
The Super G alpine skiing event for both men and women made its Olympic debut.
Curling, freestyle skiing, short track speed skating and Paralympic skiing were demonstration events.
For the first time, the Winter Olympics were extended to 16 days, the long track speed skating events were held indoors on a covered rink, the alpine events took place on artificial snow, and warm Chinook winds not only threatened to cancel events, but sent a ski jumper flying into a camera tower.
For the first time, the Closing Ceremony was held in the same main Olympic stadium as the Opening Ceremony at McMahon Stadium.