When it comes to sport, most of us think only of its most glorious attributes, such as skill, athletic ability, strategy and controlled competition. And these moments, even if wondrous, are usually expected on some level, and not considered to be out of the ordinary.
It’s also true, though, that sport can often mimic the less glorious side of life, and something unexpected will happen that leaves players, commentators and spectators wondering whether they have just witnessed reality or some elaborate work of fiction.
From outrageous goals and impossible comebacks to controversial decisions and moments of sheer madness, these are some of the craziest moments sport has ever produced.
Mike Tyson Bites Evander Holyfield – 1997
While professional boxing had produced numerous wild moments over the years, none are quite as bizarre as what transpired at the rematch between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on 28 June 1997.
The match descended into chaos during the third round. Tyson, frustrated by Holyfield's physical tactics and complaining about an earlier head clash, suddenly bit Holyfield's right ear during a clinch, removing a piece of the ear, which Tyson spat onto the canvas.Referee Mills Lane stopped the fight, deducted two points from Tyson and, after a medical examination, allowed the fight to resume.With the third round nearing its end, Tyson bit Holyfield's other ear and Lane stopped the fight and disqualified Tyson.
What followed was almost as chaotic as the biting itself, with Tyson attempting to confront Holyfield and members of his corner before security intervened. After severe disciplinary action, Tyson later apologised and said he had “snapped” after the head clash, but the incident had already become one of the most infamous moments not only in boxing, but in sporting history.
Maradona's Two Very Different Goals
Argentina great Diego Maradona was always known somewhat for producing both the sublime and the ridiculous during his career. Nowhere is this more apparent than the quarterfinal match against England at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
Within minutes, the Argentine produced two goals that could hardly have been more different.First came the infamous "Hand of God", when Maradona punched the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton. The goal stood, despite England's furious protests. Moments later, Maradona picked up the ball inside his own half, dribbled past a series of English defenders and scored one of the greatest solo goals in football history. FIFA later recognised it as the "Goal of the Century".
One player. Two goals. One controversial and one virtually perfect. It remains one of football's most extraordinary sequences.
Zidane's World Cup Headbutt
The 2006 World Cup final between France and Italy was already tense, but nobody expected it to end with one of football's most famous acts of indiscipline. France captain Zinedine Zidane, playing in his final professional match, suddenly headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest during extra time, with the scored tied 1-1. The referee showed Zidane a red card, meaning one of football's greatest players left the pitch with the World Cup trophy still undecided, creating one of the enduring images of the tournament.
The match ended 1-1 after the conclusion of extra time and Italy won 5-3 in the ensuing penalty shootout. Zidane's extraordinary departure.
The 1995 Rugby World Cup Final
Not every crazy sporting moment involves controversy. Sometimes the circumstances surrounding a match are almost too dramatic to believe.
In the 1995 Rugby World Cup final at Ellis Park, South Africa faced New Zealand in a match that carried enormous significance for a country emerging from Apartheid. South Africa won 15–12 after extra time, with flyhalf Joel Stransky kicking the decisive drop goal.
But the truly extraordinary moment came after the match, when SA President Nelson Mandela presented the Webb Ellis Cup to Springbok captain Francois Pienaar while wearing a Springbok jersey bearing Pienaar's number six. The image became a defining symbol of South Africa's attempt to unite through sport, and few sporting celebrations of the 2oth century have carried quite so much significance and resonance.
Cricket's Underarm Scandal
Cricket has produced plenty of strange moments, but Australia's infamous underarm delivery against New Zealand in 1981 remains almost impossible to beat.
New Zealand needed 6 runs from the final ball of a one-day international to tie the match. Australian captain Greg Chappell instructed his brother Trevor Chappell to bowl the final delivery underarm, rolling it along the ground so that New Zealand batsman Brian McKechnie could not hit a six- an action that was within the laws of cricket at the time, but rarely, if ever, used.
Australia won, but the decision was widely condemned as contrary to the spirit of the game. The incident became so notorious that the laws of cricket were subsequently changed to prevent similar deliveries.
Get Your Game On
The fact that sport can sometimes go off script and create crazy moments is part of the charm why fans love it. Perhaps that is what makes sport so addictive. You can analyse tactics, study statistics and predict outcomes, but none of it can account for everything that happens once competition begins.
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