Head Coach John Wooden had a talent for winning. He led his teams to win a record 10 NCAA Championships. Their first undefeated season was in 1964 and was capped off by a 15-point victory against Duke University.
It would be John Wooden’s first of many championships and was UCLA’s first-ever basketball title. Wooden rightfully earned the title the “Wizard of Westwood,” and, to this day, UCLA has been trying to regain its glory from that era. Since he retired, UCLA has only managed to win one NCAA Championship, coming in 1995.
Ali's Gold Medal
The Summer Olympics of 1960 transpired in Rome and featured a young Muhammad Ali, who was still known as Cassius Clay back then. At the Olympics, Ali represented the US and he would later take his country to court to challenge his draft to the Vietnam War. It would the only Olympic games where Ali performed as an athlete, and he won 4-0 in the Light Heavyweight division by defeating the Polish boxer in the finals.
Many years later, after fighting for civil rights in America, Ali kindled the torch at the Atlanta Summer Games in 1996. Although he was a highly controversial figure back in those days, Ali is now considered an icon of the Civil Rights Movement.
Cy Young's Legendary Pitch
Cy Young was the man behind the most prestigious pitching award in MLB. For 22 seasons, the right-hander played in the Majors and won a record 511 games while capturing one World Series title.
Cy Young passed away in 1955 at age 88, and following his death, baseball introduced the Cy Young award just one year later, and it's bestowed every year to the best pitcher in baseball.
Wilt Chamberlain Sets a Record
Wilt, "The Stilt" Chamberlain, set the record as the only Basketball player to score 100 points in one game! Wilt also possesses the NBA record for most rebounds in a career at 23,924.
Wilt received numerous records and is considered as one of the more impressive players of his generation, but he only won two NBA championships. His teammates often criticized him for being too soft and not focused enough on winning.
The Dream Team
Larry Bird was a legend and has been celebrated as one of the greater Celtic players for the NBA of all time. To complement his 12 All-Star appearances, Bird had three championships and three MVP awards. He even shined on the international stage; in the photo, we see him relaxing alongside the court during the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Larry Bird was a member of the most extraordinary basketball team ever assembled, also known as the Dream Team. Next to him, we see Charles Barkley. A prominent player himself, Barkley won two Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996, but he never reached the summit of NBA success- winning the Finals.