What is your favorite sports related photo? Since I have 3, I ask for more than one from each of you, but if only one is really meaningful to you, then post one. Obviously, unless you can link to yours, you will have to describe it. Describe as well why it means so much to you, what causes it to be memorable to you. Was it the particular event, the athlete(s) involved, or the art of the photograph itself? Those of you who have something out of the ordinary, but not generally regarded as a sport, please use this to help others see what you see. (One example could be a photograph of Sir Edmund Hillary actually on Everest. Another could be one I saw in Sports Illustrated of two weightlifters walking away after a contest; one was a 300+lb superheavyweight, the other lifted at about 130 lbs., literally 1/3 the size of his behemouth friend. As they walked away, you could see the bigger man leaning to the side talking to his fellow lifter.) Further, it doesn't have to be anyone important, in the public sense. National Geographic once had a picture of two Turkish wrestlers straining, both in a centuries old tournament held in central Turkey every year. Your favorite could be the joy of a Special Olympic athlete thrilled just to run, or the look on a spectator's face at any event.

My first one was the Christmas issue of Esquire magazine, almost certainly 1962. On the cover, in full color, wearing a Santa hat complete with white fur trim and ball, was the face of a baleful Sonny Liston, the newly-crowned HeavyWeight Champion. It was the same look he gave opponents during the referee's instructions. (I had this cover, framed, but I think it was lost or stolen when I had a fire several years ago.) I found the incongruity of Liston (his look, his menace, and all his reputation) and the hat (with all its meaning of joy, good will toward men, al;l the holiday cheer) to be striking and thought provoking. Had Liston been smiling, the effect would not have been there; it would have been just another athlete (albeit a scary one) at Christmas. But Liston was expressionless, only that hat suggested emotion. But what emotion was evoked by that glare, those dead eyes staring through you?

[This message was edited by Doriangreyed on 08-27-03 at 02:19 AM.]
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08-27-03, 08:03 AM
Koz
Sports photos

My favorite sports photo was taken January 22, 1989 at Superbowl XXIII. It was the San Francisco 49ers winning against the Cincinnati Bengals in the final minute of the game 20-16.
I did not have the opportunity to watch this game live. (I did see it shortly after)

A very good friend of mine took the photo. He got a job working security at Joe Robbie Stadium for that event. His sister was the manager in charge of “big board” computer graphics for Joe Robbie Stadium. (She got him the job)

He was stationed at one of the goalposts Cool. The opening kick off by the Bengals backed the 49ers deep into their own end zone. He slid a camera out of his pocket (Being at work he was not supposed to do this Roll Eyes) and snapped a great shot of the 49ers huddled up in their own end zone, about 10 feet away from him. It is a great photograph. I have a copy of it hanging on my wall Big Grin.

01-27-04, 12:39 AM
DorianGreyed
Esquire's Liston cover.
Another of my favorites was, I think, in Sports Illustrated. It showed a young Ali, with a crown and red robe trimmed in white fur that passed for ermine. I think the title was "The Once and Future King".

Found!

01-27-04, 09:55 AM
dogspit
There was a photo, I think for a MasterCard commercial, of Wilt Chamberlain and Willie Shoemaker
in white suits, loved that. Some others, the still of Evander Holyfield's reaction just after
Tyson bit his ear. There was an issue of Life that had an actual size photo of Muhammad Ali's hand and Bob Lanier's shoe. I found those to be great references.

01-27-04, 11:52 AM
DorianGreyed
Dog, I remember that photo essay, but I think it was in Esquire and that maybe it was Foreman's fist. The title was something like, "Why Pro Athletes Can Do What They Do" subtitle 'and you can't.'

Regarding commercials, Volkswagen once ran a series with Chamberlain standing as if he were about to get into the driver's seat. The copy, in large letters said, "They Said It Couldn't Be Done" Below were the words, in smaller print, "It Can't"

01-29-04, 12:48 AM
MsSueM

quote:Originally posted by dogspit:
There was a photo, I think for a
MasterCard commercial, of Wilt
Chamberlain and Willie Shoemaker
in white suits, loved that.



Here it is.

08-10-04, 01:47 PM
Koz
Last summer while in Cooperstown I had the opportunity to get a photo autographed from a historical moment in baseball Smile. Bobby Thompson's famous "Shot Heard Around the World" won the 1951 pennant for the San Francisco Giants over pitcher Ralph Branca and the Brooklyn Dodgers. I met both men and even paid the extra $10.00 to get Mr. Thompson to inscribe “The Shot Heard Around The World” Wink. For over a year I have been looking at this photo and it is now one of the favorite pieces of my collection. Although it was before my time, I am fascinated by it



This October two other figures from another infamous baseball moment will be doing a signing around here. Mookie Wilson and Bill Buckner will be the featured guests and I will get this photo autographed. (I already have a 16” x 20” of this not autographed )
I remember that moment quite clearly and am looking forward to meeting to two men and getting my photo autographed .

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,