Famous Leap Year Events
In the No. 1 Billboard best-selling song of this leap year, Justin Bieber advises his ex that “if you think that I’m still holdin’ on to somethin’/You should go and love yourself.”
2016
This NBA superstar, known as His Airness, has the highest recorded vertical jump in NBA history, reaching 48 inches.
Michael Jordan
“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” short story was an early literary success for this well-known American novelist.
Mark Twain
Dewey defeats Truman? This famous newspaper thought so in an infamous 1948 headline.
Chicago Tribune
Maybe a steamroller would have worked better? We all believed for a month or two that if we stayed home, we would be helping do this.
Flatten the Curve
“Do you believe in miracles? Yessssssss!” was the unforgettable catch-phrase of this leap year’s most remarkable sporting achievement.
1980
The quadruple version of this forward-take-off figure skating jump was only landed in competition for the first time two years ago, but countless top skaters have a handle on the triple version.
The Axel
“The race is not always to the swift” is the moral of this fable involving one animal known for leaping and one, um, not.
"The Tortoise and the Hare"
You say potato, I say…. This Indiana senator and challenged speller became vice president in 1988.
Dan Quayle
In the early depths of the pandemic, she promised TikTokkers she’d make a cup of coffee for your head because it’ll get you up and going out of bed. (A bonus point if you can spell her name.)
Beabadoobee
The Best Picture of this leap year features one of the most memorable and difficult-to-film scenes in movie history, with Charlton Heston’s Magnificent Arabians competing against his former friend’s and now enemy’s Black Devils at the Roman Colosseum.
1960
Javier Sotomayor of Cuba has been the world record-holder in this track and field event for more than three decades, achieving 8 feet, one-quarter inch.
The high jump
Hop to it! This animal known for its jumping is the largest marsupial on Earth.
the kangaroo
After winning the historic 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama gave his victory speech to hundreds of thousands of people in this Chicago location.
Grant Park
We’re going to…oh, wait, we’re already here. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated Miami for the 2020 NBA Championship in this famous location.
Disney World
Guess me, maybe? Here’s a video clue featuring the No. 2 song in this clearly much more innocent leap year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhb03MsjCdw
(from 1:16 till 1:57)
2012
Got game? Here’s a video clue showing not only a great wall-climbing ninth-inning catch by DeWayne Wise 15 years ago in Chicago, but one that helped save this truly rare baseball event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk9nLy-A0qI
(first 21 seconds)
A perfect game
Nothing borderline about it: This medium-sized herding dog can jump six feet.
Border Collie
“Talk less! Smile more! Don't let them know what you're against or what you're for!” sings this ill-fated presidential election candidate in the play “Hamilton.”
Aaron Burr
Will you forgive my soul/When you're too wise to trust me and too old to care? sang Taylor Swift and The National in this Evermore duet described by a critic as "a lonely waltz down a Brooklyn boardwalk.”
"Coney Island"
The first modern toga party? In this leap year, Athens, Greece, resumed the ancient tradition of the Olympic Games
1896
The one NFL play that symbolized the transition of championship greatness from Dallas to San Francisco in 1982 is known only as The Catch on a play thrown by Joe Montana and brought down by this leaping receiver.
Dwight Clark
“Always let your conscience be your guide,” this supporting character tells the protagonist in what is – no lie! – the only Disney animated film with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Jiminy Cricket
This former president, chiseled into history, ran as an independent party candidate and earned more votes than the incumbent, even though both lost.
Theodore Roosevelt
New York City residents and others around the country clapped at this hour for front-line health workers courageously seeking to save lives as the coronavirus spread.
7 pm