During the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, a Palestinian terrorist group that went by the name of Black September held 11 Israeli Olympic team members hostage and shot them dead. A West German police officer was also killed during a crossfire between the terrorists and the German police.
An event meant to represent unity and sportsmanship ended with a tragic and bitter reminder that hatred can infiltrate the most joyful events. In 1973, the Israeli Mossad responded to the horrific massacre in a raid coined Operation Wrath of God, which targeted the main suspects.
Young Lance Armstrong
17-year-old Lance Armstrong, then a professional triathlete, appears to be exhausted but content after competing in the Jeep Triathlon Grand Prix in May 1988. Lance grew up playing a plethora of sports, including football and soccer. He started putting his focus on swimming as he approached his teens, and at the age of 13, he became a junior triathlete, and by 16, he was a pro triathlete. This athletic prodigy was ranked the top triathlete in the 19-and-under group in the 1987–1988 Tri-Fed/Texas.
Years later, Armstrong would eventually become the world's most renowned cyclist, winning 7 consecutive Tour de France races beginning in 1999. Unfortunately, he is also infamous for a very public doping scandal where he was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, and consequently, getting the titles revoked.
The Most Infamous Boxing Match
They say a picture says 1000 words. This one tells 1000 words about a battle that occurred on July 3, 1899. At the turn of the 20th century, we learn a lot about the recreational activities and fashion choices of naval officers. Boxing is certainly not a popular pastime, nor is the diaper-looking pair of shorts seen on the boxer on the left.
This amazing photo was taken by Edward H. Hart on the anniversary of the battle of Santiago, Cuba. Up until the early 1800s, Boxing was preserved in European countries; however, once it reached American shores, it sunk in and hit hard.
The Underdog Wins!
At 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m), Anthony Webb, also known as "Spud," is one of the shortest players to be drafted into the NBA. Although most basketball scouts recognized his talent, they predicted he would be great for The Harlem Globetrotters, or a European team. None of them expected to play in the NBA. Not only did Spud Webb prove them all wrong, but he made record-breaking achievements throughout his 12-season-long career in the NBA.
Webb was famous for his extraordinary 42 inches (1.06 m) vertical jump, which he used to his advantage on many occasions; one of his most memorable being during the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, when he played for the Atlanta Hawks. Ultimately Webb won that Slam Dunk Contest, taking home the gold, despite being one of the shortest players in NBA history.
The Winning Goal!
On August 8th, 1998, Mia Hamm celebrated the 101 goals of her career in the US Women's Soccer Team match against Russia, where her team beat their rivals 4-0. Hamm is widely regarded as the best woman soccer player of all time. In 2013, lucky #9, Mia Hamm, became the first woman to be inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame.
Pelé, who's one of (if not) the best soccer players in the history of the sport, once said about Hamm, “When I was playing, they said soccer was a man’s world and that women should remain on the sidelines. All I can say is, I am glad I never had to go up against Mia Hamm!” Respect!