We are tied to the calendar.

Whenever something monumental happens, we immediately commit the date to memory.

Sports fans are no different. That's why those On This Date in Sports History lists are a popular read.

I remember the date of each Super Bowl loss by the Buffalo Bills. Ask me the date the Cleveland Indians lost Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, and I can rattle it off for you — Oct. 26. That date also is when I set the world record for most F-bombs preceding the name Jose Mesa bellowed in a 30-second span. You can look it up.

Throw a birthday into the mix and the memories start flowing like Washington Nationals losses.

Here are a few of my sports birthday memories:

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June 22, 2008 — Cito Gaston gets his first win as Toronto Blue Jays manager in 11 years in an 8-5 win in Pittsburgh.My gastrointestinal tract gets its first major test of structural integrity in 11 years in the all-you-can-eat section at PNC Park.•

June 22, 2003 — The Pittsburgh Penguins select goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury with the first overall pick in the NHL draft.I wonder, "What? Harry Derrière wasn't available?"•

June 22, 1994 — The United States defeats Columbia 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup — the first USA win since 1950.I take my shirt off, twirl it wildly and slide across the kitchen floor when I beat my roommate in Madden '93 after falling behind 34-0 at halftime.•

June 22, 1990 — The Atlanta Braves fire manager Russ Nixon and replace him with general manager Bobby Cox.I get ejected from a backyard Wiffle Ball game for arguing balls and strikes.•

June 22, 1983 — India beats England by six wickets in a cricket showdown. The Pirates consider signing the winning bowler.Before a Little League game, I jam to "Electric Avenue" by England's own Eddy Grant, then come a home run shy of hitting for the cycle.The next day, I listen to the radio all afternoon in the hopes of hearing the song again (back then, there were no fancy iPods to dial up a song on a whim — oh, the humanity!) before finally hearing it an hour before my next game. I go 0-for-4 at the plate with four strikeouts. My reggae dreams are shattered.•

June 22, 1982 — George Brett goes 2-for-3 and drives in the game-winning run to beat the Oakland Athletics.I write a letter to Brett that congratulates him on his great career, his great season so far and wishes he and his hemorrhoids well. A month later, Brett writes back thanking me for my concern about his health, insures me his "problems" are all "behind him" and includes an autographed picture.•

June 22, 1971 — Kurt Bevacqua makes his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians and pioneers the porn-star mustache worn by virtually every player in the era.I make my debut as an infant, born in Cleveland, insuring a lifetime of sports agony.

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.