Whether it's divine intervention or simple genetic determination, there is a select group of men and women who are physically gifted enough to become world class athletes.
Some use those gifts to secure a college education, while others parlay them into millions of dollars on the professional level. But, no matter their skill level, all are more than capable of producing moments that will live on, not as examples of excellence, but those of hilarious futility.
Remembered for all time as famous sports bloopers, where lapses in attention, common sense or physical dexterity intersect with fate to create indelible incidents.
Of course, we as fans, live for these foibles. After all, we, who are not so gifted, revel in the fact that our heroes are sometimes saddled with feet of clay or heads of cement. We enjoy knowing those sometimes arrogant mega-millionaires can fail like the rest of us, and on a much more brightly lit stage.
Professional and amateur sports are rife with unforgettable bloopers. Anyone watching television sports come of age remembers the opening montage to ABC's Wide World of Sports. While very few ever knew his name, the image of that ski jumper falling on the ramp, tumbling through the air and crashing to earth will always be the benchmark of performance disaster.
Yet, famous sports bloopers can also gain wide recognition because of the popularity of the sport involved. The National Football League enjoys enormous fan support and, thus, a long history of head-shaking gaffes.
Miami Dolphins placekicker Garo Yepremian was one of the pioneers of the sidewinding soccer-style approach to kicking. But, he's just as notable for his inability to throw the football. During a game in the 70's, a botched kick found Yepremian with the ball in his hands with designs on throwing for the score instead. What followed was a bumbling attempt that ended with him flailing at air with an empty hand.
Football also brought us the Dallas Cowboy's Leon Lett, who is as renowned for his mental misadventures as his physical prowess. In one game, while approaching the end zone on a sure touchdown run, he slowed up to begin an early celebration and Buffalo's Don Beebe closed from behind to knock the ball loose and nullify the score. In another game, after a blocked field goal attempt, Lett ran after what would have been a dead ball, skidded in the snow, touched the ball and made it live again. The opposition recovered and eventually scored a touchdown.
Major League Baseball's Jose Canseco is famous for his steroid use, but his misfires on the field are nearly as legendary. His list of famous sports bloopers is topped by the fly ball that bounced off his head and over the fence for a home run.
While these instances of comedy can't erase the many more of physical brilliance, they do make us appreciate the humanity of those who, on their best days, display sometimes superhuman abilities.
Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about famous sports bloopers, please visit Sports Bloopers Site for current articles and discussions.
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