(About the Series: Based upon my Conversation with guest Derek Meinecke, I’m going back in time to be in the stands at 10 sporting events. This week, it’s #3. You’re able to find links to the previous installments below.)
As I did in Number 9, I’m feeling compelled to get in the wayback machine and head to an Olympics. In this case, it’s the 1972 Munich Summer Games.
The reasons, to me at least, are self-evident.
First, it’s the historical significance of what transpired midway through these Games. Never before had something such as this occurred during the Olympics.
Late in the evening of September 5, the Black September terrorist organization broke into the Olympic Village and took 11 Israeli athletes, coaches, and staff hostage. Two of the hostages who initially resisted were killed immediately and, ultimately, the remaining nine were kiilled during a botched ambush at military airfield. The event became know as the Munich Massacre.
My 5-year-old self has hazy memories of being aware of this, likely because my parents were discussing it, but it was not until I was older and able to see ABC Sports host Jim McKay‘s emotional statements that the magnitude of the moment was fully realized. (Check out an interview several decades later with McKay at the end of this post.)
The next moment that’s only grown in lore over time was the Men’s Basketball Gold Medal Game between the United States and the Soviet Union. This side of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Cold War was about as hot as it ever was during the early 1970s and this game didn’t help cool it off.
The U.S. entered the game undefeated in Olympics history (63-0) but knew it would be challenged by the USSR squad that had been playing together for the better part of seven years.
The U.S. took a 50-49 lead on a pair of late free throws by Doug Collins when a series of events broke out that are really better viewed than read. Check them out in this video.
Ultimately, after the third time proved the charm for the USSR, Team USA skipped the medal ceremony and – to this day – continues to refuse its Silver Medal.
A third moment that is worth revisiting is the performance of American swimmer, Mark Spitz.
Spitz was Michael Phelps before Phelps. During the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Spitz won two Gold Medals, one Silver, and one Bronze, the California native had a Games’ for the ages in Munich when he won seven Golds (four individuals) each in World Record times.
As swimming is a first week competition, Spitz was finished competing by the time of the Munich Massacre referenced above. Spitz, who is Jewish, left the Games once the hostage sitution became known and was – reportedly – escorted out of the city by U.S. Marines and taken to London for his safety.
Finally, part of the impetus for me going back to these Games is to see then-17-year-old USSR gymnast, Olga Korbut. Much like Spitz, Korbut was a dominant force during these games. She won two individual Gold Medals (the Beam and the Floor Exercise), an individual Silver (the Uneven Bars), and the Team Gold.
Beyond highlight reels and seeing an injured Korbut during the 1976 Montreal Games, I have no recollection of her performances. To see her live would be tremendous.
Like I copped to during my previous trip to a German Olympic Games in Number 9, I realize this is not a singular event but my project, my rules, right? These two weeks in Munich would be fascinating from both an historical and competitive point of view. Throw in watching Dan Gable‘s undefeated and unscored upon run to a the Freestyle Wrestling Gold Medal and visiting these Games would be most memorable.
Previous Installments
- Number 10 – 1972 NLCS Game 5
- Number 9 – 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics
- Number 8 – 2007 One Hall of a Trip
- Number 7 – 1973 Secretariat’s Triple Crown Run
- Number 6 – 1980 Wimbledon Final Borg-McEnroe
- Number 5 – 1986 Jack Nicklaus’ Final Masters’ Win
- Number 4 – 1974 Hank Aaron’ 715th HR