Sports Photography

Sports Illustrated's Top 100 sports photographs of all time.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/main/photos/1212/100-greatest-sports-photos-of-all-time-final/1/

Obviously a heavy bias towards US sports, but many great shots all the same, some in terms of capture and some in terms of recording an epic moment.  A few of my favourites...

No.8:  Ali after landing the highly controversial phantom punch on Sonny Liston, seemingly saying to Liston 'get up and fight like a man' after Liston allegedly took a dive.  The open-mouthed reporter seen through Ali's legs is a very young Larry merchant.

No.33:  Penn State before the controversy.  110,000 fans, all in white, at a college game.

No.48:  The perfect 10, frozen in time.  

No.63:  A college encounter between legends Magic Johnson & Larry Bird - strange to see them face-off not dressed in Lakers/Celtics attire.

No.81:  Abebe Bikila wins the Olympic marathon in the most impressive of settings.  Bikila ran barefoot as Adidas, the shoe sponsor of the games, had none left in his size.  Tragically, a car crash later left him in a wheelchair, and he died aged 41.

17/100 would be my favourite just because Lombardi for me is the greatest manager in any sport.

GAA-Fan wrote:17/100 would be my favourite just because Lombardi for me is the greatest manager in any sport.

Didn't know you were an NFL fan, GF? Or just an admirer of Vince Lombardi?

Thomas Clarke wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:17/100 would be my favourite just because Lombardi for me is the greatest manager in any sport.

Didn't know you were an NFL fan, GF?  Or just an admirer of Vince Lombardi?

Bit of both TC, was into NFL a few years back but then never got a chance to watch it when I started Uni. I read Vince Lombardi's book when I was doing sports Psychology modules and I don't think there is a manager anything like him in sport.

GAA-Fan wrote:

Thomas Clarke wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:17/100 would be my favourite just because Lombardi for me is the greatest manager in any sport.

Didn't know you were an NFL fan, GF?  Or just an admirer of Vince Lombardi?

Bit of both TC, was into NFL a few years back but then never got a chance to watch it when I started Uni. I read Vince Lombardi's book when I was doing sports Psychology modules and I don't think there is a manager anything like him in sport.

Certainly no-one in american sports is held in such high regard. A master motivator.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:

Thomas Clarke wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:17/100 would be my favourite just because Lombardi for me is the greatest manager in any sport.

Didn't know you were an NFL fan, GF?  Or just an admirer of Vince Lombardi?

Bit of both TC, was into NFL a few years back but then never got a chance to watch it when I started Uni. I read Vince Lombardi's book when I was doing sports Psychology modules and I don't think there is a manager anything like him in sport.

Certainly no-one in american sports is held in such high regard.  A master motivator.

I forgot to add there, I am awful for motivation but I always had quotes of his stuck up on my bedroom wall in my 3rd year at uni - "The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender".

GAA-Fan wrote: I forgot to add there, I am awful for motivation but I always had quotes of his stuck up on my bedroom wall in my 3rd year at uni - "The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender".

So we'll be expecting your promised exit interview for Armagh presently, I presume...

Thomas Clarke wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote: I forgot to add there, I am awful for motivation but I always had quotes of his stuck up on my bedroom wall in my 3rd year at uni - "The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender".

So we'll be expecting your promised exit interview for Armagh presently, I presume...

Will have it up by midnight

Some of these are crackers TC. My favourite is either the shot of Jack Nicklaus winning his 18 major or Bob Beamon's historic leap in Mexico city, both of which I was watching live.

In the Beamon case, Lynn Davies was the defending champion and Boxty Mór and myself were watching as the event unfolded. It was a staggering jump, all of 29' 2" at the time. I think the record was about 27' 9" so it was a fair oul' leap.

Some interesting nuggets of information contained therein. The "Cavanagh tackle" has been around a long time it seems and the data on Lou Gehring is mightily impressive. They get big crowds at what passes for sports events, whatever the interest is, hot-dogs and Bud I'd guess.

A good find nonetheless.

Boxtyeater wrote: ...and the data on Lou Gehring is mightily impressive. They get big crowds at what passes for sports events, whatever the interest is, hot-dogs and Bud I'd guess.

Gehrig was a true sporting hero, even moreso when set against the drug fuelled frauds that have dominated baseball over the last couple of decades. Nice little piece here about his farewell appearance - it's rare to find a man so revered in a team sport, but I guess playing over 2,000 consecutive games for the Yankees will win you a lot of love.

Boxtyeater wrote: In the Beamon case, Lynn Davies was the defending champion and Boxty Mór and myself were watching as the event unfolded. It was a staggering jump, all of 29' 2" at the time. I think the record was about 27' 9" so it was a fair oul' leap.

Beamon's leap passes the real test of greatness - the eye test.  Similar to Jonathan Edwards leaps in Gothenburg, Viv Richards' 110* off 56 balls, Frankel's guineas, or perhaps even Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price's 100m this evening, you don't need to see the times, distances or scores.  Your eyes tell you that you've seen something truly exceptional, and the detail is merely for the notekeepers.  Though, even against of of all that I've mentioned, Beamon's leap still stands atop.  It was otherworldly.

A disappointing collection really. So the only great sports photographs are of American sports and American athletes (with a few exceptions)? Crapola.

RMDrive wrote:A disappointing collection really. So the only great sports photographs are of American sports and American athletes (with a few exceptions)? Crapola.

Well, it is an american magazine, with a largely american audience.  To be fair to the yanks, their world starts with baseball and ends with football.  In between there is a bit of basketball and hockey for variety.

This is one of my favourite sports photographs of all time.  The Clones Cyclone, before his disastrous 15th round against Stevie Cruz.  McGuigan looked dead after fighting 14 rounds in over 100 degree heat, and the next 3 minutes would see him lose his title forever.  Looking at the dead eyes in this picture, he's lucky he didn't lose more than his crown.

RMDrive wrote:A disappointing collection really. So the only great sports photographs are of American sports and American athletes (with a few exceptions)? Crapola.

A bit "testy" of late RMD.... Sports Illustrated isn't the Donegal Democrat or the Western People.
I thought you were a big fan of those all night American sporting events. I'll find something for you...

The Usain Bolt photo from the other night is one of the greatest photos ever.......already! Simply for the attachments between Bolt the sprinter just winning the World 100m title & the bolt of lightning in the Moscow sky as he claimed his prize. Great photo that some of you will have to post for me as my phone won't allow me! Already an iconic photo in my eyes!

PS, i agree with RMD, i'm sure we could find 50 great photos with no yanks!

bald eagle wrote:The Usain Bolt photo from the other night is one of the greatest photos ever.......already! Simply for the attachments between Bolt the sprinter just winning the World 100m title & the bolt of lightning in the Moscow sky as he claimed his prize. Great photo that some of you will have to post for me as my phone won't allow me! Already an iconic photo in my eyes!

Guessing this is the one...

Thats the one! An outstanding picture i think!

Fran Cotton on the 1977 Lions tour (it was a wet day)....The late Moss Keane is in the background.

Great capture of Cotton indeed. Most great photos seem to fall into the category of either great visuals or great moments. This one is very much the latter - ordinary enough photograph, but when set against the context of a journeyman only needing a double bogey to win the Open...

The Godfather and heir apparent of Cork hurling together yesterday. Anyone care to put a caption to it?

Thomas Clarke wrote:Great capture of Cotton indeed.  Most great photos seem to fall into the category of either great visuals or great moments.  This one is very much the latter - ordinary enough photograph, but when set against the context of a journeyman only needing a double bogey to win the Open...

Ratcheting up the pressure here TC.....Bubba's finest moment combines both.

Boxtyeater wrote:

RMDrive wrote:A disappointing collection really. So the only great sports photographs are of American sports and American athletes (with a few exceptions)? Crapola.

A bit "testy" of late RMD.... Sports Illustrated isn't the Donegal Democrat or the Western People.
I thought you were a big fan of those all night American sporting events. I'll find something for you...

I'm a man on the edge Boxty. While I enjoy some American sports (well one to be exact) I just find the selection remarkably blinkered.
The one of MJ dunking from the free throw link was impressive, other than that ...

Slightly off topic i know, sorry!

I find Americian football coaches rule by fear overall, i am not sports science student but i do research shitloads of coaches/journals/books to get a greater insight to what makes these people tick & as a (possibly unfair) generalisation i find these much loved US coaches to be nothing but dinosaurs & borderline bullies. There is no arguing with Lombardis record, it is great but with coaches of a byegone era i am reminded of what a former manager used to say to us, "the older i get, the better i was".

I look at coaches with 2 questions in mind, 1) would i like to be that type of coach & 2) would i like to be coached by this person. I'm afraid that the majority of Americian Football coaches get a no to both questions (except Eric Taylor!). Coaches i admire are ones in the mould of Johnny Worsfold, i could listen to that man speak about coaching & training methods & approaches all day long.

I suppose who we hold in high regard as great coaches are a very personal choice, i personally want to play for a coach/manager who makes me feel at ease on the training ground & playing field, not a barking lunatic who makes you play with fear & frustration. I have played under people like that and have hated every second of it.

Anyhow, why don't we look up some sporting pictures, post them here then come up with our own top 10 or 20 (without the yank bias)?