Hall of Famer, Kenny “Snake” Stabler: Oakland Raiders Quarterback (1970-1979), Alongside Coach John Madden
Photographed below is legendary Hall-of-Famer Kenny “Snake” Stabler, pictured alongside his coach, John Madden. Before joining the NFL as the quarterback for the Oakland Raiders, Stabler played football for the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa. Though no one is 100% sure how exactly this famous footballer player got his nickname, Stabler always says that it originated from a comment made by his high school football coach Denzil Hollis, who said, “Damn, that boy runs like a snake,” as he watched Stabler weave in and out on the football field.
Stabler is most known for bringing the Raiders a Super Bowl XI victory in 1976. Throughout the ‘70s, Stabler’s career blossomed. In 1974, he was named NFL’s Most Valuable Player, and was even selected to hold the honorable title as a quarterback on the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team! Though Stabler passed away in July of 2015, his legacy continues to live on in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, an honor which the late football player earned posthumously in 2016, just a year after his death.
Babe Ruth, 1927
George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. is remembered as one of the legends of the game. With a 22-season career, the New York Yankees’ star outfielder began his long career as a wondrous left-handed pitcher. But funnily enough, he actually made his debut with the Boston Red Sox. Pictured here is a rare photo of Ruth with the Red Sox during one of their practices. No one knew at the time what kind of career Ruth would go on to have.
With 714 career home runs, 2,062 bases on balls, and a slugging percentage of .690, there are some stats that even the modern-day greats can’t contest. Regarded as one of the greatest sportsmen in all of American history, Ruth is also considered the best player of all time. He remained a part of American culture and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Andre, The Giant
Andre the Giant was a wrestling legend with legions of fans all over the world. He stood a staggering 7ft 4in tall and weighed over 500 lbs. He used his size and skills to fight three or four opponents and defeat some WWE heavy hitters, including big-name stars like Hulk Hogan and King Kong Bundy. He was also well known for Fezzik, the good-hearted giant, in the iconic film “The Princess Bride,” which earned him plenty of new fans.
Andre the Giant suffered from a condition in which his body had an excess of human growth hormone, and this is the reason for his enhanced proportions and deep voice. Sadly, he passed away from heart failure in 1993 when he was only 46 years old.
Riding the 1960s
The Flower Power days were not all about colors, music, boundaries, and flares. They were also about riding bikes and daring. Before all the amateur pranksters began filming their stunts for TV, Evel Knievel was the ultimate daredevil. Pictured here, Evel Knievel tried to jump over the fountains at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. This was outrageous at the time and never done before.
The jump was around 141 feet, and unfortunately, Knievel didn’t make it. Knievel crashed and wound up in a coma for 28 days. But what resulted from his failed stunt and ensuing coma was more fame, and Knievel became more popular than ever.
Boston Marathon
In 1967, did you know that the famous Kathrine Switzer was flagged down by a bunch of organizers during her Boston Marathon? Yes! That’s right. In this photo, we can see those exact people halting her from crossing the finish line. Of course, in their desperate attempt to do so, it only proved unsuccessful, and she ended up becoming the first Swiss woman to cross the Boston Marathon finish line.
Fortunately, none of these sexist situations are no longer applicable to this day, and nothing can stop a woman from attempting a feat like this. You go, girl!