Flash Posted June 28, 2021 Share Posted June 28, 2021 Friends and I were jawboning about the most shocking events in our lifetimes involving athletes (BTW-I'm 65). Here are our top 3 in reverse order: #3) Magic Johnson press conference announcing his retirement from NBA due to contracting AIDS #2) Bruce Jenner transitioning to Caitlyn Jenner #1) The whole Aaron Hernandez saga. From All-Pro TE to murder conviction to suicide in prison. Honorable mention to Tiger Woods for multiple marital transgressions made light in a very public way and Kobe Bryant helicopter disaster. Feel free to add your own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 I would have Jenner down on my list - just not a big deal to me - but I would put Jordan retiring in his prime to go play baseball very high on my list. Magic is very much #1 for me. The Oakland A's / San Francisco world series with the earthquake is also up there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxbadger Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 Im thinking it's OJ Simpson. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flavum Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 Magic is #1. Everyone thought he’d be dead within a few years of when he announced it. Incredible how treatment advanced soon after. The 89 World Series is a good call The Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan thing was huge, if that counts. Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Middle Buffalo Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 Most shocking? That’s easy. It the Shockmaster’s WWE debut. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted June 29, 2021 Author Share Posted June 29, 2021 1 hour ago, Soxbadger said: Im thinking it's OJ Simpson. Completely forgot Simpson. Definitely top 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted June 29, 2021 Author Share Posted June 29, 2021 52 minutes ago, flavum said: Magic is #1. Everyone thought he’d be dead within a few years of when he announced it. Incredible how treatment advanced soon after. The 89 World Series is a good call The Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan thing was huge, if that counts. Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson Douglas KO of Tyson definitely among biggest upsets in memory. Up there with Miracle on Ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 1 hour ago, flavum said: Magic is #1. Everyone thought he’d be dead within a few years of when he announced it. Incredible how treatment advanced soon after. The 89 World Series is a good call The Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan thing was huge, if that counts. Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson Good call on tonya Harding. That was huge. I also might be biased - but that first dream team was something else (might be because I was a kid at that time - but man was that sweet). Not too 3 - but still that first time seeing all those superstars on one team destroying the rest of the world…yeah that was something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fathom Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 Kobe dying was pretty shocking 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 MJ's first retirement was a big one for me I haven't seen mentioned yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxbadger Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 1 hour ago, southsider2k5 said: MJ's first retirement was a big one for me I haven't seen mentioned yet. Delete this before Chisox realizes youve been ignoring him all these years haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 58 minutes ago, Soxbadger said: Delete this before Chisox realizes youve been ignoring him all these years haha lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 1 hour ago, Soxbadger said: Delete this before Chisox realizes youve been ignoring him all these years haha Who? Never heard of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyyle23 Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 MJ also coming back was a pretty huge story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 4 hours ago, fathom said: Kobe dying was pretty shocking I don't know why I had forgotten this - but you are right - it was a total stunner. I remember exactly where I was for that and oddly enough I also remember where I was when I heard Magic was retiring (because growing up a Bulls fan in socal - I had many debates with Laker fans at the time re: who was better (and at that point still in MJ's career - MJ wasn't the clear cut winner). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 Immediately thought of OJ Simpson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron883 Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 (edited) I'm too young to remember anything in the early to mid 90's. Malice in the Police was pretty big. Not top 3, but top 10 for sure. Seeing NBA players swinging at fans was wild. Edited June 30, 2021 by ron883 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quin Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 Even though I'm gonna guess none of us were around, I'm going to say Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, solely because up until it happened, I'm sure people figured it would probably get stopped in one way or another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 I’m late to the party but Ive been thinking about this. The three events that were so big I needed to call someone to talk about . . . Jack winning the Master’s in 1986 Magic’ announcement White Sox 2005 Close or considered. Miracle on Ice / Slow speed white Bronco chase / Jas started Soxtalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 Lisa left eye Lopez burning down Andre Risons house was pretty good. I have no idea how to spell his last name but greg louggainnis (? Greek spelling) HIV felt like it was covered for months, in a pretty disgusting way looking back. For me personally, Walter Payton dying was incredibly sad when I was a kid. I mostly missed him playing and just idolized his highlights especially as bears were terrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 Recency bias, but Rudy Gobert coming down with COVID on the same night as Tom Hanks pretty much shut down the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wegner Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 On 6/29/2021 at 9:56 PM, SoxAce said: Immediately thought of OJ Simpson. I remember being in a crowded sports bar with all the TVs following a White Bronco driving down the highway...surreal stuff there. Not to mention that whackass trial. Whose couch is Kato Kaelin sleeping on these days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 On 7/29/2021 at 7:48 AM, wegner said: I remember being in a crowded sports bar with all the TVs following a White Bronco driving down the highway...surreal stuff there. Not to mention that whackass trial. Whose couch is Kato Kaelin sleeping on these days? I was in the ER at Highland Park Hospital. We stayed and watched the chase. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTB Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 1. OJ Simpson…still resides in our consciousness as a country. 2. Miracle on Ice…what it did for the countries psyche at the time can’t be overstated. 3. Magic Johnson seems reasonable as do a few others, but the first two have stood the test of time and stand above the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Chappas Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 Barry Sanders & Calvin Johnson retiring in their prime from the same team Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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