1976 — Caitlyn Jenner (now), Bruce Jenner (then) Wins Decathlon
Before becoming a reality television star alongside her ex-wife, Kris Jenner, and famous children — the Kardashians — Caitlyn Jenner (born Bruce Jenner) was an Olympic hero. In 1976, Jenner competed in the men’s decathlon at the Summer Olympics in Montreal. Jenner won the gold medal in grand fashion, winning with a world-record score and memorably running around the track with the American flag in celebration. Jenner would go on to become a huge star, and later on advocate for transgender rights.
1974 — Rumble in the Jungle
To many, The Rumble in the Jungle is the greatest sporting event of the 20th century. On October 30, 1974, undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion George Foreman defended his title against Muhammad Ali in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). The bout pitted two of the greatest boxers of all-time against one another — and the world was certainly watching. At the time, the fight was the most-watched live television broadcast of all-time. Some estimates state that the fight was watched by up to one billion people around the world. In Round 8, Ali — the underdog — knocked out the champ to win the belt. Ali wouldn’t lose a fight for another four years.
1960s — Jack Nicklaus’ Master(s) Class
When it comes to golf, only one man has his name mentioned in the same breath as Tiger Woods. That man is Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus’ 18 Major victories are the most all-time — three more than Woods — resulting in The Golden Bear being a true sports legend. Famously, Nicklaus won the Masters six times. In 1965, Nicklaus captured his second green jacket following a historic weekend. The Golden Bear shot 17 under par — winning the tournament by nine strokes. Nicklaus’ score of -17 remained the best ever at the Masters until Woods shot -18 in 1997. In 2020, Dustin Johnson set a new record with a score of -20.
1963-1975 — UCLA Men’s Basketball Dynasty
The greatest dynasty in the history of collegiate sports — and arguably in all of sports history — was the UCLA Bruins basketball team between 1963 and 1975. Under the coaching expertise of the legendary John Wooden, UCLA dominated college basketball for more than a decade. To kick off the dynasty, the 1963-64 Bruins went 30-0 and captured the NCAA Championship. Following a second title the following year, UCLA came up short in 1965-66…a brief blip for the program. UCLA would go on to win seven straight National Championships. At one point, the Bruins won 88 games in a row. The Bruins were denied an eighth-straight title in 1973-74, but they bounced back to win their 10th title in 12 years the following season.
1967 — Joe Namath’s Super Bowl Guarantee
In 1967, the first AFL–NFL World Championship Game took place. Known retroactively as Super Bowl I, the game pitted the Kansas City Chiefs (AFL) against the Green Bay Packers (NFL). Green Bay won, 35-10. The next season, the Packers took down the Oakland Raiders by a score of 33-14. So, when Super Bowl III came around, the AFL’s New York Jets were a massive underdog. Pitted against the Baltimore Colts — who boasted the NFL’s best defense and second-best offense — the Jets were all but counted out by the country. In advance of the game, Jets’ QB Joe Namath made a shocking guarantee, “We’re gonna win the game. I guarantee it.” In one of football’s biggest upsets, the Jets made good on Namath’s prediction and defeated the Colts, 16-7.
1968 — Tommie Smith and John Carlos Take a Stand
The image above is one of the most iconic pictures in the history of the United States. The setting was the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. The event, the men’s 200-meter race. Tommie Smith (center) won the race with a world-record time of 19.83 seconds. John Carlos (right) took home the bronze with a blazing time of 20.10. Upon stepping onto the podium, Smith and Carlos each raised a black-gloved fist during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner”. The two Olympians used the moment to protest inequalities in America. The shot of the two champions has become an iconic image for civil rights in America.
1974 — Move Over, Babe
On May 25, 1935, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, a man named Babe Ruth launched the 714th home run of his career. Of course, that would be the final homer Ruth hit as a Major Leaguer. Ruth would remain the home run king for nearly 40 years. The man that broke his mark? Hank Aaron. The all-time great hit No. 715 on April 8, 1974, in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
1967 — The Super Bowl Is Born
January 15, 1967, two teams met in Los Angeles for football’s ultimate battle — the Super Bowl. For the first time ever, the AFL and NFL agreed to pit their respective champions against one another to determine the best football team in the world. Representing the AFL, the 11-2-1 Kansas City Chiefs. The NFL’s participant, the 12-2 Green Bay Packers. Due to the intensity surrounding the two rival leagues, the Super Bowl was viewed as an incredibly important event for both leagues. Through two quarters, the Chiefs held their own and entered the break down just 14-10. However, the Packers dominated the final 30 minutes. Green Bay outscored its AFL foe 21-0 in the second half to claim the first Super Bowl title.
1972 — Perfect Dolphins
In 1971, the Miami Dolphins lost the Super Bowl. The following year, the Dolphins were out for revenge — and they were stacked. Six Hall of Famers. Top ranked offense. Top ranked defense. Two 1,000-yard rushers. The only perfect season in NFL history. The 1972 Miami Dolphins are iconic, and arguably the greatest team of all-time. Miami had two quarterbacks — Earl Morrall and Bob Griese — start games in ’72. Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris each rushed for over 1,000 yards and combined to score 18 TDs. In the postseason, Miami eked by its opponents. To reach the Super Bowl, Miami beat Cleveland (20-14) and Pittsburgh (21-17). To cap off their perfect season, the Dolphins took down the Redskins by one score, 14-7. Miami would go on to win the Super Bowl in ’73, as well. 50 years later, the ’72 Dolphins remain the only team to finish with an undefeated record.
1966 — England’s World Cup Triumph
Entering the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, only eight countries have ever hoisted the famed gold trophy throughout the tournament’s history. In 1966, England won its first and only World Cup to date. Before hosting the ’66 tournament, the furthest England had advanced in a World Cup was the quarterfinals (’54, ’62). In ’66, the Three Lions advanced out of their group with two wins and one draw — and conceded zero goals. After knocking off Argentina and Portugal in the QF and SF, respectively, England faced West Germany in the final. The Three Lions and the Germans played to a 2-2 draw in regular time — resulting in 30 extra-minutes of action. England’s Geoff Hurst scored two goals in extra-time — netting a hat trick for himself, and the World Cup for England.
1972 — Golden Mark Spitz
Before Michael Phelps, there was Mark Spitz. Four years before cementing his legacy as one of the greatest Olympians of all-time, Spitz won two gold medals at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. In ’72, the California native put together one of the greatest sporting feats the world has ever seen. Incredibly, Spitz won seven gold medals in Munich — and set seven world records in the process. Despite being only 22 at the time of his dominant showing, Spitz retired from competitive swimming following the ’72 Olympics. The icon attempted a comeback at the age of 41, but failed to qualify for the ’92 Summer Olympics.
1960s — Cassius Clay’s Time
Before the world came to know a man named Muhammad Ali, it was introduced to a young American boxer named Cassius Clay. In 1960, an 18-year-old Clay (now Ali) fought in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Rome Games. Showcasing an electric style and true command of the ring, Clay won the gold medal after defeating Poland’s Zbigniew Pietrzykowski. Clay turned pro shortly after the Olympics, and won the WBA, WBC, NYSAC and The Ring heavyweight titles just four years later when he defeated Sonny Liston. Following his triumph, Clay legally changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
1970 — Marshall Football
Unfortunately, some of the most iconic moments in sports are linked to tragedy. One day that will forever be remembered is November 14, 1970. On that fateful day, a flight carrying 37 members of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team, eight members of the coaching staff, 25 boosters, two pilots, two flight attendants, and a charter coordinator crashed less than one mile away from its destination. The devastating accident shook the nation to its core. In recent years, the 1970 Marshall football team has been remembered in two films — We Are Marshall (2006) and Marshall University: Ashes to Glory (2000).
1960 — Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Rudolph deserves more recognition. Born in Saint Bethlehem, Tennessee, Rudolph was a fighter from the very beginning. The 20th of 22 children from her father, Rudolph was born prematurely and went on to battle several serious illnesses as a youngster — including polio, pneumonia and scarlet fever. As a result of her fight with polio, Rudolph lost strength in her left leg and foot necessitating the use of a leg brace until the age of 12. Remarkably, Rudolph developed into an elite runner. At the age of 16, Rudolph won a bronze medal at the 1956 Olympics. Four years later, Rudolph won three gold medals — 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay — and set the world record in all three events.
1970 — Brazilian Dominance
To many experts, the 1970 Brazil team is the greatest football (soccer) team of all-time. Led by Pele, arguably the greatest footballer of all-time, Brazil dominated its competition at the World Cup. En route to their third World Cup triumph, Brazil won all three of its group stage games (4-1, 1-0, 3-2). In the knockout rounds, the Selecão turned it up a notch. In the quarterfinals, Brazil breezed past Peru, 4-2. In the penultimate game, Brazil defeated another South American power, Uruguay, 3-1. In the final against Italy, Pele kicked off the scoring with an 18th minute goal. Italy tied the game entering halftime, but the Seleção scored three goals after the 65th minute to run away from the Italians.
1960s — Rod Laver Grand Slam #2
Rod Laver is one of the greatest tennis players of all-time, that much cannot be debated. The Australian won 11 Grand Slams throughout his storied career. His first triumph came at the 1960 Australian Open, and he claimed his first Wimbledon in 1961. One year later, Laver pulled off a tremendous feat. The Australian won all four Grand Slam events — AO, Wimbledon, French Open, US Open. While that was a historic feat at the time, Laver topped himself seven years later. In 1969, at the age of 31, Laver once again captured all four Grand Slams in the same year. To this day, Laver is the only men’s singles player to complete a Grand Slam twice.
1979 — Thurman Munson
As we mentioned earlier when discussing the 1970 Marshall football team, some of the most memorable moments in sports are linked to tragedy. On August 2, 1979, Thurman Munson lost his life in a plane crash. In addition to being a beginner pilot, Munson was a star catcher for the New York Yankees. Munson was a seven-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner, Rookie of the Year, and MVP. The star catcher helped lead the Yankees to two World Series victories — in the process becoming the only catcher in MLB postseason history to hit at least .300 (.357), have 20+ RBIs (22), and throw out 20+ runners (24). The Yankees honored their captain by retiring his No. 15 shortly after his death.
1966 — NFL/AFL Merger
On June 8, 1966, the National Football League and the American Football League announced that the two leagues would merge before the 1970 season to form one league with two conferences. For the next three seasons prior to the merger, the NFL and AFL would pit their respective champions against one another in what would ultimately become known as the Super Bowl. Of course, the Super Bowl has since become one of the most-watched events worldwide on a yearly basis.
1979 — Magic vs. Bird
If you are a fan of the NBA, you are aware that the most historic rivalry of all-time is the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Boston Celtics. Both the Lakers and Celtics have won 17 NBA Championships, and have gone head-to-head 12 times for the ultimate prize. Before Magic Johnson (Lakers) and Larry Bird (Celtics) galvanized the NBA in the 1980s, the two legends met in the 1979 NCAA Championship. Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores entered the title game with a perfect 33-0 record. Magic led Michigan State to a 25-6 record. Magic’s Spartans took a nine-point lead into halftime, and ultimately won by 11.
1966 — Texas Western’s Historic Win
The 1966 Texas Western men’s basketball team changed collegiate sports forever. Led by Hall of Fame head coach Don Haskins, the Texas Western Miners (now known as UTEP) became the first team with an all-black starting lineup to win the National Championship. The Miners won their first 23 games of the season before losing to Seattle by two points in the regular season finale. In the NCAA Tournament, the Miners beat No. 4 Kansas in the Elite Eight — and Utah in the Final Four. In the NCAA Final, Texas Western battled No. 1 Kentucky. At the time, Kentucky was an all-white program. The Miners took down Adolph Rupp’s team, 72-65. In 2007, the entire ’66 team was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
1970s — Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed Win Triple Crown
The 1970s was an electric time in horse racing. In the long history of horse racing, only 13 horses have won the Triple Crown — coming in first in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Ahead of the 1973 season, the most-recent Triple Crown winner was Citation in 1948. In ’73, Secretariat, known as the greatest racehorse of all-time, dominated the competition en route to the Triple Crown. We wouldn’t have to wait long for another TC winner — as Seattle Slew (’77) and Affirmed (’78) accomplished the feat in back-to-back years. After Affirmed, the world would have to wait until 2015 to witness the next Triple Crown triumph (American Pharoah).
1974 — NC State Basketball Interrupts a Dynasty
The 1974 NC State Wolfpack put an end to one of the best streaks in sports history. Entering the ’74 season, the UCLA Bruins had won seven-straight National Championships — and 9-of-10 overall. In the Final Four, NC State took on a UCLA squad that had seen its 88-game winning streak come to an end earlier in the season. Amazingly, the Wolfpack overcame a five-point deficit late in regulation and a seven-point hole in double-overtime to end UCLA’s championship run at seven titles. In the NCAA Final, NC State beat Marquette by 12 points.
1961 — Roger Maris Hits 61
Let’s get this out of the way — Barry Bonds is the home run king. Despite Roger Maris Jr.’s best attempts to convince the world that his dad remained the single-season home run leader until Aaron Judge broke his mark in 2022, that was simply not true. Still, Maris’ 61-HR season remains an incredible achievement. Many people believed that Babe Ruth’s 60-HR season would never be topped. However, Maris famously hit 61 home runs in 1961 to top the Babe’s record. The two-time MVP hit 30 or more HR in just two other seasons. His record would stand until 1998 — Mark McGwire (70) and Sammy Sosa (66) both broke Maris’ mark.
1976 — Nadia Comăneci Perfect 10
Nadia Comăneci is gymnastics. Before Simone Biles came around, Comăneci was often considered the greatest gymnast of all-time. At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal — the same Olympics which saw Caitlyn Jenner win the decathlon — Comăneci became the first gymnast to receive a perfect 10 score. Amazingly, Comăneci was awarded a perfect 10 on both the uneven bars and balance beam — and won three gold medals in total at the ’76 Games. Four years later, Comăneci won two more golds.
1976 — ABA Closes
From 1967-1976, the American Basketball Association competed against the National Basketball Association. The league featured numerous stars including the legendary Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving. In the league’s final season, Dr. J’s Nets won the ABA Finals. The four teams from the ABA that joined the NBA have combined to win five NBA Championships…all five belong to the San Antonio Spurs. The three other teams are the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets.