On March 19, Michael Jordan returned to the basketball court

Today is Tuesday, March 19th, day 79 of 2024. There are 287 days left in the year.

Today’s historical highlights:

On March 19, 1995, after a 21-month hiatus, Michael Jordan returned to professional basketball with his former team, the Chicago Bulls. (He would go on to win three more NBA titles, in addition to the three he and the Bulls had already won.)

on this day:

In 1859, Charles Gounod’s opera “Faust” premiered in Paris.

1931, Nevada Governor. Fred B. Balzar signed a measure legalizing casino gambling in the state.

In 1942, during World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered men aged 45 to 64 (inclusive) to register for non-military duty.

(In 1945, during World War II, a Japanese dive bomber attacked the USS Franklin near Japan, killing 724 people (the ship was rescued).

In 1977, the series finale of “Mary Tyler Moore” aired on CBS, ending the sitcom’s seven-season run.

In 1987, televangelist Jim Bakker resigned as president of PTL Ministries amid a sex and money scandal involving former church secretary Jessica Hahn.

In 1991, Polish President Walesa arrived in Washington for his first state visit to the United States.

In 1997, artist Willem de Kooning, considered one of the greatest painters of the 20th century, died in East Hampton, New York, at the age of 92.

In 2003, President George W. Bush ordered war against Iraq. (Due to the time difference, the time in Iraq is the early morning of March 20.)

In 2007, a methane gas explosion occurred in a Siberian coal mine, killing 110 workers.

In 2012, the Justice Department announced it was opening an investigation into the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman. (No federal civil rights charges were filed; Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder after claiming self-defense.)

In 2013, Pope Francis officially began his ministry as the 266th Pope. During Mass at the Vatican, he received a ring symbolizing the papacy and a woolen stole reflecting his role as shepherd of a 1.2 billion-strong flock.

In 2020, President Donald Trump focused attention on the malaria drug chloroquine as a possible coronavirus treatment; the FDA issued a statement saying that “there are no FDA-approved therapies” to treat COVID-19.

In 2022, Russian troops pushed deep into Ukraine’s besieged and battered port city of Mariupol, where fierce fighting shut down a major steel plant and left the local government pleading with the West for more help.

Today’s birthday: Actress Renee Taylor turns 91. Actor Ursula Andress is 88 years old. Singer Clarence “Frogman” Henry was 87 years old. Singer Ruth Pointer (The Pointer Sisters) is 78 years old. Actor Glenn Close is 77 years old. Actor Bruce Willis is 69 years old. Actor comedy Mary Scheer is 61 years old. Playwright Neil LaBute is 61. Actor Connor Trinneer is 55 years old. Rock musician Gert Baetens (K’s Choice) is 54 years old. Rapper Bun B is 51 years old. Rock musician Zach Lind (Jimmy Eat World) is 48 years old. Actor Virginia Williams 46. Actor Abby Brameier 45 years old. Major League Baseball pitcher Clayton Kershaw is 36 years old. Actor Craig Lamar Traylor is 35 years old. Actor Philip Bolden is 29 years old.