Abebe Bikila became the first Ethiopian marathon runner to defend his Olympic title successfully. His first gold medal performance happened during the 1960 Rome Summer Olympics, where he ran the course barefoot, as we can see in the picture. As a seasoned runner, he was used to running without shoes.
Abebe won gold again in the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 1964, four years later. Nowadays, the thought of running barefoot is unimaginable, never mind a marathon!
In one of the biggest Super Bowl setbacks, Joe Namath and his team, the underdog Jets offense picked apart the esteemed Colts defense on their way to a 16-7 victory. It proved to be the Jets' only Super Bowl victory. Namath was named MVP of the game. Since Namath retired, The Jets have yet to find a permanent quarterback.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos
They were raising their fists in a gesture for equality during the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. The atmosphere around the 1968 games was full of tension regarding social injustices taking place across the globe. With this display, they tried to draw international awareness to racial discrimination and bigotry in the United States.
American sprinters Smith and Carlos (gold and bronze respectively) also took off their shoes to raise awareness for poverty and injustice in America. To some, this move was criticized as a political stunt in an otherwise apolitical event. Others maintained the two athletes were civil heroes who used their platform for good.
Ted Williams' Bat
Ted Williams was unmistakably the face of the Red Sox and the greatest overall hitter in baseball history. Ted did it all, except winning a world series. As a true American hero, he also a fighter pilot in World War II and the War with Korea.
He procured over 500 home runs and has the highest on-base percentage of all time. Following the Korean War, Williams almost effortlessly transitioned back to baseball as if he never left.
The Black Sox of 1919
The biggest scandal to upset Major League Baseball happened in 1919. The Chicago White Sox deliberately lost the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. At that point in time, Chicago was one of baseball's best clubs, but they were also one of the most troubled. Despite being a formidable team, players complained at how little they were being paid, so when a local mobster suggested the White Sox fix the World Series for some extra money, some players were eager as can be.
Eight players in total were found guilty of throwing the series and were banned for life from playing baseball, and they were also forbidden from being elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This kept the White Sox persistently positioned in the second spot for the favorite baseball team in Chicago.