u/KrispyBeaverBoy

Send a name or two and the year in the comments, then we will read through, compile a list, make it reader friendly and publish. Our goal is to have at least one name from every year.

Old Timers: we need ya on this one to fill out the 60's 70's and into the 80's. So tell that HOA meeting that you might be a few minutes late and give us some good answers!

An example of a response might be:
Terrell Owens--2008.
Or
Brian Bosworth-1987

Just suggestions.

Thanks for contributing, and let the shade rain forth!

Conflicting accounts exist about the story: Team statistician Harvey Pollack, Jack of all trades with the Warriors franchise for 60 years, claims he took the ball from the referee and brought it to the locker room after the game.

14 year old fan Kerry Ryman also believes he got his hands on the famous leather orb as he detailed in a 2012 NBATV documentary:

"When he (the referee) bounced the ball on the court, I don't know why, but I took the ball. And up the steps I went. I took it home because I wanted to play with it. And when I got home, my parents weren't too happy with what I did."

Neither of them have ever been able to account for what happened to the ball in the days, weeks, or years after the most incredible scoring output in NBA history.

Apparently, an auction company tried to sell what they thought was the ball in 2000, but the sale was voided after authenticity questions arose.

Will we ever track down one of the greatest pieces of missing memorabilia in the world of sports?

"I'll make you my girlfriend...You're sweet. I can't wait for you to kiss me with those big lips of yours."

These were the words of Mike Tyson to Donovan 'Razor' Ruddock at a press conference prior to their March, 1991 bout.  

He'd later go on to offer his version of an apology before the two squared off in the ring: "What can I say? I'm a crass guy."

Ruddock spoke to the press about Tyson's bizarre behavior and comments:

>"I've never heard any other champions say anything like that.

>'I don't like the way he acts, I don't like the way he talks,' Ruddock said. 'As a matter of fact, I think it would be a good thing if I knocked him out because of the young kids who look up to him -- who don't know the difference.

>'We have enough bad kids in the world. We don't need more Mike Tysons.'

Unfortunately, Ruddock couldn't make good on his vision of flooring the self-proclaimed 'baddest man on the planet.'  Tyson benefitted from a controversial stoppage in the 7th round of their fight, sparking a brief riot in the ring between Ruddock's handlers and Tyson's.

The two would meet again just three months later that June (unheard of these days) and Tyson would again emerge victorious--this time in a more closely contested 12 round decision. 

These suggestive comments weren't the only smoke coming from Tyson's overheating engine at the time.  He had been accused of making lewd suggestions to a TV production assistant before going on-air, and chasing a lady who left their date early in Las Vegas by instructing his limo driver to follow her taxi. 

He'd already concluded a violent marriage with actress Robin Givens in 1989 which lasted less than a year.  It shouldn't come as a surprise that Tyson was accused of raping Desiree Washington, an 18-year old Ms. Black America contestant a month after the 2nd Ruddock fight in July, 1991. He would be convicted in 1992 and serve three years behind bars. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raM9QG1v2vU

I wonder if any of the Bills players from that era still wear their AFC Championship rings (like Ray Finkel).

All that aside--still a beautiful card.

Not the first time this has appeared on the page, but we liked the Fleer presentation.

Photo: Sports Illustrated

Like--how did this happen??

Have to go with Arizona beating the great Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the 9th inning in Game 7 at the 2001 World Series.

The Yankees had won four straight, and Rivera had successfully converted 24/25 postseason save opportunities at that point, and was carrying a 0.70 era.

Still stunning.

How did they know??

Hope others have experienced this too.

Elway made these remarks to his agent, Marvin Demoff after being selected by the Baltimore Colts first overall in the 1983 NFL Draft. He even threatened to play baseball for the NY Yankees, who had drafted him in the 1981 MLB draft--six spots ahead of future hall of famer Tony Gwynn.

All of this was documented on a season 2 episode of ESPN's 30 for 30: Elway to Marino.

Garbage collector. Talk about throwing away your career! (Pause for applause).

Elway would go on to win two Super Bowls at the end of his career after losing the first three he appeared in.

As for Marino--he played in only one during his second season--a loss to San Francisco.

Speaking of losses, Baltimore not only lost John Elway, but their entire franchise, which up and left in 1984. It wouldn't be until 1996 that the NFL returned to Charm City.

Raging Bull, a film detailing the events of Jake Lamotta's tumultuous life, opens with a particularly violent scene. Before the final round against fellow light heavyweight Jimmy Reeves , LaMotta's corner puts him on notice: knock the other guy out or you're losing the fight, Jake.

Lamotta charges out of the corner(as was his style) and proceeds to brutally batter his exhausted opponent, sending him to the mat four times before the final bell rung. Zach Morris must've made the rules, because you could be saved by the bell in those days, and Reeve's corner scrapes what was left of their fighter off the canvas as the fight mercifully ends.

In total, Reeves had taken five unplanned trips to the floor in the last two rounds courtesy of the Raging Bull. The referee announces the decision victory for Reeves amid a chorus of throaty boos and ensuing violence. The scene then fades as the organist dutifully rings out the National Anthem to restore order.

But was this all drummed up for cinematic effect? A dressed up, glorified version of a fight that would now be fit to open a Hollywood blockbuster?

On the contrary---this was all facts. Sometimes the source material is so strong that there needn't be any fabrication or embellishment made to the story when its translated to the silver screen.

The U.P. I, as appearing in the Troy Daily News, summed up the events nicely in their coverage the following day:

"An irate, howling mob of boxing fans stormed into the ring at the Cleveland arena last night to protest against the decision in favor of Jimmy Reeves of Cleveland in his 10 round fight against Jake Lamotta of New York. An organist helped quiet the riot by playing the Star Spangled Banner.

Lamotta, Italian-Jewish lightweight, smashed Reeves through the ropes and knocked him down five times in the final round. When the decision in favor of Reeves was announced, the fans began to boo and shout, and in short order had piled into the ring, pushing, yelling and gesturing at the officials.

Several fans surrounded boxing commissioners Tris Speaker (yes, that Tris Speaker) and Charley Bethel and started throwing punches. The police were unable to clear the ring or restore order of any sort until the organist swung into the National Anthem."

LaMotta's First Loss

The crowd of 8,500 lost their minds, and according to the Buffalo News the next day, "one angry ringsider rushed at the referee and struck him."

Boxrec's printed summary of the events paint a poetic portrait of the pugilists: "For seven rounds, Reeves pounded LaMotta from pillar to post. The situation changed dramatically in the last three rounds. In round nine Reeves went through the ropes for a nine-count. In the tenth he was down four times, twice from exhaustion and twice from LaMotta's punches."

LaMotta would lose again to Reeves, this time without the ensuing bedlam, before finally knocking him out for the win in 1943.

Later, Reeve's widow would sue the filmmakers for compensation after they used her late husband's image in the film. It all proved futile, as the 4.2 million dollar lawsuit was eventually dismissed.