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Softball originated in Chicago on Thanksgiving Day, 1887. A group of about twenty young men had gathered in the gymnasium of the Farragut Boat Club in order to hear the outcome of the Harvard-Yale football game. After Yale's victory was announced and bets were paid off, a man picked up a stray boxing glove and threw it at someone, who hit it with a pole. George Hancock, usually considered the inventor of softball, shouted, "Let's play ball!" He tied the boxing glove so that it resembled a ball, chalked out a diamond on the floor (smaller dimensions than those of a baseball field in order to fit the gym) and broke off a broom handle to serve as a bat. What proceeded was an odd, smaller version of baseball. That game is now, 111 years later, known as the first softball game. Softball may have seen its death on the day of its birth if Hancock had not been so fascinated by it. In one week, he created an oversized ball and an undersized rubber-tipped bat and went back to the gym to paint permanent white foul lines on the floor. After he wrote new rules and named the sport indoor baseball, a more organized, yet still new, game was played. Its popularity was immediate.

Hancock's original game of indoor baseball quickly caught on in popularity, becoming international with the formation of a league in Toronto. That year, 1897, was also the premiere publication of the Indoor Baseball Guide. This was the first nationally distributed publication on the new game and it lasted a decade. In the spring of 1888, Hancock's game moved outdoors. It was played on a small diamond and called indoor-outdoor. Due to the sport's mass appeal, Hancock published his first set of indoor-outdoor rules in 1889.

While Chicago was definitely softball's birthplace, the game saw some modification in Minneapolis. The year was 1895 when Lewis Rober, Sr., (a fire department officer) needed an activity to keep his men occupied and in shape during their free time. He created his game to fit the confines of a vacant lot next to the firehouse and the result was instantly appealing. Surprisingly, Rober was probably not familiar with Hancock's version of the sport because it was still concentrated in Chicago at that time. The following year, 1896, Rober was moved to a new unit with a new team to manage. In honor of this group's name, the Kittens, the game was termed Kitten League Ball in 1900. The name was later shortened to kitten ball.

In order to reach the Olympics, the women's sport of softball obviously had to grow greatly from its beginnings. The first women's softball team was formed in 1895 at Chicago's West Division High School. They did not obtain a coach for competitive play until 1899 and it was difficult to create interest among fans. However, only five years later, more attention was given to the women's game. The Spalding Indoor Baseball Guide 1904 issue fueled this attention by devoting a large section of the guide to the game of women's softball.

The Chicago National Tournament in 1933 also advanced the sport. At this competition, the male and female champions were honored equally. The International Softball World Championships in 1965 developed women's softball by making it an international game, a step towards the Pan-American Games and the Olympics. Eleven years later, women softball players were given the closest equivalent to Major League Baseball with the 1976 formation of the International Women's Professional Softball League. Player contracts ranged from $1,000 to $3,000 per year, but the leage disbanded in 1980 because of financial ruin. Vicki Schneider, a St. Louis Softball Hall of Famer and former professional player, recalls this league as being the high point of her career (Schneider).

The popularity of women's fastpitch softball has grown steadily since the professional league's end in 1980. In fact, once again, there is another professional fastpitch league. The Amateur Softball Association reports that it "annually registers over 260,000 teams combining to form a membership of more than 4.5 million" (About the ASA). These numbers do not all apply to fastpitch, yet it is consistently growing along with slowpitch. Vicki Schneider has seen a major growth in popularity and intensity for the sport since she has been involved. She says it is also very obvious that girls are consistently getting more involved and more competitive at an earlier age. Increased media coverage and the Olympics have greatly contributed to this development (Schneider). There is obviously some special appeal of fastpitch softball that has allowed it to steadily grow in popularity through the years. Through the technology of the internet, those who are currently involved in the sport were asked for their personal opinions on the mass appeal of women's fastpitch softball.

First of all, why are these millions of people involved in softball, not baseball? Is it just a substitute for baseball or is there a difference? John Kralik replies, "...[Baseball] can't adapt to the age groups without corrupting the game. Softball can and does" (Kralik). Megan Flaherty, 18, says that unlike baseball, softball is "not all about raw strength. You must think about what to do and when to do it. Out-of-the-park homeruns won't occur too often so you have to rely on other methods of getting around the bases quickly" (Flaherty). Londa Kauffman feels that softball is much faster and more exciting than baseball (Kauffman). More specifically, Dave Davis, an ASA umpire, says, "I grew up loving baseball in an era before sports became a big business. Labor strife and big egos have gone a long way to taint my view of the Major Leagues. I have found that sports are played more intensely on the amateur level. I also believe that in most cases, the fastpitch softball games are more exciting to watch than baseball. The rules are similar, to be sure, but the smaller dimensions seem to add to the action" (Davis).

Once a person chooses to become involved in fastpitch softball, the sport must have some priority to him or her. Does fastpitch play an important role in a person's life? Dot Richardson put aside her medical career in order to fulfill her Olympic dream. Therefore, softball must be a high priority to her. Robin Scott obviously agrees with Richardson, to a more extreme degree. She says, "NOTHING comes before softball. I don't care what it is. My first priority is softball, then everything else comes next" (Scott). Dave Davis, 35, has the same attitude. On his first anniversary, his wife insisted that he miss a softball game in order to take her out to dinner. Looking back, he replies, "Some nerve!" (Davis).

Others put softball high on their list of priorities, but it is not first. Many players agree that school must come before their sport. Skelly Skadsen, 17, feels that "school will take you somewhere in life and softball is good for memories" (Skadsen). Kelly Dwyer, a former Division I player, always put family and school before softball because "as much as [she] loved it, [she] knew that after college there wasn't a pro league" (Dwyer). Vicki Scheider, now the owner of The Batting Cage in Valley Park, Missouri, puts God and family at the top of her priority list and they have been in that position all of her life, no matter what she achieved in fastpitch softball (Schneider).

Why is softball so often a top priority? What aspect of softball makes it so appealing? Everyone who plays, coaches, umpires, or watches women's fastpitch softball has something in common. They all like and enjoy the game. However why do they, similar to generations before them, enjoy fastpitch softball?

Erin Anderson, a fourteen-year-old player in Tennessee, says, "The girls are great... I've met so many people and had such a good time these past couple of years. You can really find some good friends... Road trips, hotels, playing all kinds of different teams are all a part of why I love this game" (Anderson). Kelly Stellfox loves "the friendships you make [in fastpitch]" (Stellfox) and another player, 16, says that there is a "sorority among her teammates" (Anonymous). Katherine Hyrcyna supports this personal aspect, pointing out that there are no superstars in fastpitch. She says, "Softball is all about trust and family. [For example,] the shortstop made a great diving catch, but the first baseman caught her throw, or the pitcher threw a no-hitter, but [the right fielder] caught that line drive and saved the no-hitter" (Hyrcyna).

Many others enjoy the physical activity that surrounds fastpitch. Michelle Eastman, 16, loves "... the rush of winning, sliding, making a diving catch, hitting an awesome triple... [and] the pure adrenaline that comes with playing hard and succeeding" (Eastman). A player in Dallas, Texas, loves "... that action of fielding a ball and throwing it... diving for balls and making the catch... running bases, leading off, stealing, and sliding... the competition... the athleticism... the fast-paced nature of the game... the team work... [and] how everything comes together and fits together like puzzle pieces, everyone doing their job" (Anonymous). Laurel Munski, from New York, is fascinated with the "unknown" aspect of fastpitch. She states, "You can't really predict what the batter might do when up at the plate; you can only react. The same is true when you [are batting]. You don't know what the pitcher is going to pitch to you; you can only react to where it is and decide [whether or not] to swing" (Munski). Similarly, Cyrena Gawuga plays because she "[likes] the challenge" (Gawuga). Others, like Vicki Schneider, enjoy the fact that softball is a team sport, but a player can set individual goals for herself (Schneider).

Coaches also have important points of view on why they are involved in women's fastpitch softball. Bob Prastine remarks, "When you see in [your players'] eyes that something you have been trying to get them to understand for weeks finally clicks and they use and understand that knowledge in a real game situation, well, it makes all your effort worthwhile" (Prastine). Lynn Ditlow, from Pennsylvania, says of coaching, "If I can coach others with good skills, theory, and mechanic, help them develop their knowledge and skills, and have fun with this sport, then I've been able to contribute to another's success." She adds, "My reward is knowing [that] I've helped [players] to reach their goals" (Ditlow). Bill Lammel supports this viewpoint. "I love and care for all the girls that play for me and want them to excel. Softball is a good way to teach them values, self-esteem, and how to work together for a common goal. [These are] skills that they can use throughout their lives" (Lammel), he says. Paul O'Brien in Maryland enjoys coaching young women because they "are much more appreciative of a coach's work than boys and there are less superstar/know-it-all attitudes" (O'Brien).

From an umpire's point of view, Rich Rosa, 44, believes that he has "the best seat in the house" (Rosa). Another ASA umpire, Dave Davis, says that his job is rewarding: "Knowing that I'm giving something back to the game from which I have received so many great memories is great." He also adds, "I want people to be happy to see that it's me working their game. I pride myself in my preparation and my main goal is to become the most consistent official that I can" (Davis).

Sharon Whaley, the mother of a college softball player, also has a special feeling about the sport. "I love seeing my daughter excel at something she loves so much... It's really hard to explain the feeling you get as a parent when your child is so happy with her accomplishments" (Whaley). Whaley is not the only one with unexplainable feelings concerning softball, feelings well described by Kelly Dwyer. She says that softball's appeal is "... just a feeling you get when you play, just an overall feeling of elation and joy when you are playing. It's kind of like asking someone why they love their boyfriend. It's hard to name one thing; it's just that you feel comfortable and happy when you are with them. [It is the] same thing with softball" (Dwyer). Dot Richardson agrees. When she plays there is a "passion from within" that is impossible to explain. It is that passion that makes her love the game, not the championships, gold medals, endorsements, autographs, or other publicity (Richardson).

This unexplainable love and passion for softball has allowed the sport to grow, develop, and maintain universal appeal throughout time. For the past 111 years, softball, "a game for everyone," has united people with a mysterious feeling. George Hancock had this feeling in 1887 and Dot Richardson, along with millions of others, has it today. The feelings that surround softball and its players are timeless.

The English are considered the first modern society to develop swimming as a sport. By 1837 swimming competitions were being held in London's six artificial pools, these competitions were organized by the National Swimming Society in England. As the sport grew in popularity many more swimming pools were built, and when a new governing body, the Amateur Swimming Association of Great Britain, was organized in 1880, it numbered more than 300 member clubs.

In 1896, swimming became an Olympic sport for men with the 100 meters and 1500 meters freestyle competitions held in open water. Soon after, as swimming gained popularity, more freestyle events were included, followed by the backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, and lastly, the individual medley.

For a variety of reasons, women were excluded from swimming in the first several Olympic Games. In 1896 and again in 1906, women could not participate because the developer of the modern games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, held firmly to the assumption, common in the Victorian era, that women were too frail to engage in competitive sports. It was only at the 1912 Games when women's swimming made its debut at the prompting of the group that later became known as the International Olympic Committee.

The first modern Olympic Games had only four swimming events, three of them freestyle. The second Olympics in Paris in 1900 included three unusual swimming events. One used an obstacle course; another was a test of underwater swimming endurance; the third was a 4,000-metre event, the longest competitive swimming event ever. None of the three was ever used in the Olympics again.

From this humble beginning with four swimming events, the Olympics have now developed to 32 swimming races, 16 for men and 16 for women. The Special Olympics includes competitive swimming for people with disabilities and has 22 events for men and 22 for women.

Chess is more than a game of skill-it is a medieval history lesson in miniature.

Have you ever played chess? Did you know that chess is the oldest skill game in the world? But chess is more than just a game of skill. It can tell you much about the way people lived in medieval times. If you look at the way a chess board is set up, then study the pieces and how they are used, you will realize that chess is a history of medieval times in miniature. The six different chess pieces on the board represent a cross section of medieval life with its many ceremonies, grandeur, and wars.

Chess was played many centuries ago in China, India, and Persia. No one really knows for sure in which country it originated. Then, in the eighth century, armies of Arabs known as Moors invaded Persia. The Moors learned chess from the Persians. When the Moors later invaded Spain, the soldiers brought the game of chess with them. Soon the Spanish were playing chess, too. From Spain, chess quickly spread throughout all of Europe.

Europeans gave chess pieces the names we know today; they probably had trouble pronouncing and spelling the Persian names, so they modernized them to reflect the way they lived. Today, the names certainly aren’t modern but a thousand years ago they represented the very way in which both ordinary people and persons of rank lived their lives.

The pawns on the chess board represent serfs, or laborers. There are more of them than any other piece on the board, and often they are sacrificed to save the more valuable pieces. In medieval times, serfs were considered no more than property of landowners, or chattel. Life was brutally hard for serfs during this era of history. They worked hard and died young. They were often left unprotected while wars raged around them. They could be traded, used as a diversion, or even sacrificed to allow the landowners to escape harm.

The castle piece on a chess board is the home, or the refuge, just as it was a home in medieval times. In chess, each side has two castles, or rooks, as they are sometimes called.

The knight on a chess board represents the professional soldier of medieval times whose job it was to protect persons of rank, and there are two of them per each side in a game of chess. Knights in a game of chess are more important than pawns, but less important than bishops, kings, or queens. Their purpose in the game of chess is to protect the more important pieces, and they can be sacrificed to save those pieces just as pawns can.

There is a bishop in the game of chess, who represents the church. The church was a rich and mighty force in medieval times, and religion played a large part in every person’s life. It is no wonder that a figure that represented the concept of religion found its way into the game. A bishop was the name for a priest in the Catholic church who had risen through the ranks to a more powerful position. In the game of chess, there are two bishops for each side.

The queen is the only piece on the board during a chess game that represents a woman, and she is the most powerful piece of the game. In the game of chess, there is only one queen for each side. Many people do not realize that queens in medieval times often held a powerful, yet precarious, position. The king was often guided by her advice, and in many cases the queen played games of intrigue at court. But kings could set wives aside or even imprison them in nunneries with the approval of the church (and without the queen’s approval), and many women schemed merely to hold her place at court. The machinations of queens working either for or against their kings are well noted in history throughout medieval times, and often she held more power than the king did.

The king is the tallest piece on the board, and is as well defended on the chessboard as in medieval life. In medieval times, the surrender of the king would mean the loss of the kingdom to invading armies and that could mean change for the worse. It was to everyone’s advantage, from the lowest serf to the highest-ranking official, to keep the king safe from harm. The king is the most important, but not the most powerful piece in chess. If you do not protect your king, you lose the game.

The next time you set up your chessboard and get ready to play a friendly game or two, think of chess as a history lesson. The pieces on the board represent a way of life that is no more, and the real life dramas that occurred in medieval times are now only a game.

At the end of the World War II, the request for new cars in the USA made a considerable jump with the return of the soldiers. The industry which had produced weaponry for 5 years applied at once their designs to the new cars. The result was the arrival on the market of fast, powerful and robust cars which were enjoyed by the young people of the time. Those started to organize more or less legal races, and soon trends started to form.

The American West was impassioned for the "sports" cars, the Midwest for those with uncovered wheels, whereas South-east chose the stock cars. A lot of these were modified to carry out the illegal alcohol traffic and used in the "races".

This passion for auto racing did not escape the promoters who quickly made an "official" sport out of it, creating many organizations, each with their own rules. Some of them were the NCSCC (National Championship Stock Car Circuit), NSCRA (National Stock Car Racing Association), etc....

Unfortunately, this prevented auto racing from reaching the national level. Moreover, no guarantee of payment was offered to the pilots: if there was money remaining in the pot after the race, so much better, if not...

On December 14, 1947, Bill France, who was himself part of the NSCRA, decided to meet with thirty five of the leaders of all associations in place to draw the lines of what was going to become the American national automobile sport.

It took four days for the group to staighten all the rules, to choose the name of NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) and the Association was finally officially created on February 21, 1948.

They were run the same year with modified pre-war cars, which later became the "modified" series. The championship comprised 52 races, and the first winner was Red Byron, who pocketed $1250.

As soon as 1949, Bill France put his very first idea into practice: a "strictly stock" series - no modification accepted. This brought a controversy which one can describe as historical at the end of the first race at Charlotte. Glenn Dunnaway won the race with his 1947 Ford, but was declared illegal because of a modification of the rear springs (Dunnaway used his car to carry moonshine). Jim Roper pocketed the $5000 with his Mercury 1949.

The championship of only eight races, was once again won by Red Byron.

The Intercontinental Cup was first offered in 1960 for competition between the winners of the European Champions League and the Copa Libertadores.

The competition followed a best-of-three format from 1960 through 1968 and switched to a two-game, total-goals in 1969.

Toyota began sponsoring the cup in 1980. From that year through 2004, it was a one-game championship, played annually in Tokyo.

In 2005, the Intercontinental Cup was merged with the FIFA Club World Championship to become the FIFA Club World Cup.

PROFILE

Date Of Birth: February, 1 , 1969.
Place: Avellaneda, Sta Fé - Argentine
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 73 Kg
Zodiac: Aquarius
Nickname: Batigol, Bati, Gabi
Marital Status: married 10 years with Irina has 3 children: Thiago, Lucas and Joachin
Team: ASRoma - Italy
Official Website: www.batistuta.com

PERSONAL'S DROPS

Movie: 'As Good As It Gets' with Jack Nicholson
TV program: he likes to watch CNN news
Singer: Phil Collins and Bruce Springsteen
Soocer Idol: Mario Kempes (ex Argentine player)
Hobby: he loves films, to hunt and to fish with friends on vacations
Favorite Dish: barbecue

BATIGOL...

* was an above weight child, and that was the reason why he was called by the nickname "Fatty"
* Is the first-born and only man of his parents
* knew his wife when he was 15
* likes to drink mate ( argentinean tea very hot without sugar)
* grew up on a farm in a very small town and in his childhood when he finished eating a can of sardines, he immediately can would become it a toy car.
* doesn't like to be treated as a different person. In his conception, he is an equal person to the all others, who makes everything as all others. To be besieged by the press leaves him tottaly irritated ."Some day I want to be anonymous" he says.
* likes to eat italian pasta
* loves play Formula 1 racing games
* likes to use the computer, besides hunting and fishing. But he tries to use it few times in the week, 4 not to damage his eyes
* also play tennis, but always with someone that he can beats. Bati likes also go to the movies.
* arrived to have plans of forming in lawyer or doctor. Happily soccer prevailed.
* had fame of being the " Don Juan " of the area
* wants a little girl. He even has her name, Selene, which means moon in Greek.
* is a good dancer and likes to singer. He knows all of Phil Collins and Sting's music and he loves to sing Jose Luis Perales songs
* mets Bruce Springsteen when went to his concert in New York.
* is a very good tennis player - people say. But he doesn't take it seriously,because he just enjoy the sport for leisure, not in a competitive way.
* hates to watch soccer on TV, specially the UEFA Champions League matches, because he would like to be in field, running and fighting, and not seated in the sofa. This annoys him so much, that he turn off the TV

"Iron" MIKE TYSON

FAST FACTS

MIKE TYSON
PROFILE AND BIO

Mike Tyson has experienced more in his 36 years than most people experience in a lifetime.

At an early age, Bobby Stewart, a local social worker and boxing fan, discovered Tyson's raw boxing ability. Stewart's guidance paved a direct path to the late, beloved trainer of champions, Constantine "Cus" D'Amato. Bringing Tyson to the Catskill Mountains in New York, D'Amato nurtured Tyson in and out of the ring. Eventually, D'Amato became Tyson's legal guardian and inspirational leader. During the early stages of Tyson's amateur and pro career, D'Amato was the driving force, teaching the young Tyson all the nuances about the sport which he loved and to which he devoted his life.

In March 1985, he made his pro debut with a first-round knockout over Hector Mercedes. From that point on, Tyson's goal was to capture the heavyweight championship. Finishing his first year with a record of 15-0, all by knockout, Tyson's place at the top seemed closer with each victory.

Less than two years later, and, after racking up 27 consecutive wins, Tyson signed to fight Trevor Berbick for the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title. In November 1986, after less than six minutes in the ring, Tyson, at age 20, cemented his place in history as the youngest man ever crowned heavyweight champion. Not content with stopping at one title, Tyson's mission was to unify the heavyweight division and provide the world with its first undisputed heavyweight champion since Muhammad Ali a decade before.

Tyson accomplished the second leg of his mission in March 1987, with a 12-round decision over James "Bonecrusher" Smith to add the World Boxing Association (WBA) belt to his growing collection. Finally, less than five months later, his dream was complete.

In August 1987, Tyson became the undisputed world heavyweight champion by outpointing Tony Tucker to add the International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt to his resume.

During the six successful defenses of his unified heavyweight titles, Tyson defeated everyone in his path, including former champion Larry Holmes and then-undefeated former champion Michael Spinks. For his 91-second destruction of Spinks, Tyson earned more than $20 million, which, at the time, was the largest sum ever paid to an athlete.

Tyson went on to post wins over mandatory challenger Frank Bruno, followed by a 93-second rout of Carl "The Truth" Williams. During this time, Tyson became one of the most recognizable athletes in the world and the most dominant figure in boxing. A pro for five years, Tyson entered 1990 with a 37-0 record and 33 knockouts.

His first fight of the new decade was in Tokyo, Japan, in February 1990, against James "Buster" Douglas, a 42-1 underdog. On this night, the undefeated champion learned that not even the greatest of champions manage to go through their entire careers without suffering a setback. Tyson lost his first professional fight in what many consider to be the biggest upset in sports history.

Tyson rebounded from the devastating setback with two opening-round knockouts to close out 1990. Tillman, Tyson's amateur nemesis, was one victim, while Alex Stewart became Tyson's 35th career knockout.

Attempting to regain his titles, Tyson's initial 1991 fight came against the hard-hitting Canadian, Donovan "Razor" Ruddock. Many believed Tyson should not have fought the dangerous challenger, but the former undisputed heavyweight champion was never one to back down. In March 1991, Tyson and Ruddock finally squared off after a prior bout between them was cancelled. Tyson won the first five rounds, and scored knockdowns in the second and third. Displaying great determination, Ruddock stunned Tyson in the sixth round. When the seventh-round bell sounded, Tyson mounted a punishing attack and rattled Ruddock by landing four consecutive power shots. With his back to Ruddock, referee Richard Steele stepped in and stopped the contest with 38 seconds left in the round.

Three months after their first meeting, Tyson and Ruddock squared off in a rematch in June 1991. Ending speculation over what would have happened had their first fight not been stopped, Tyson knocked Ruddock to the canvas twice and broke his jaw en route to a unanimous 12-round decision.

Following four consecutive wins after the stunning loss to Douglas, Tyson was back in position to challenge for the title. After talks heated up with then-champion Evander Holyfield, "Iron Mike" signed to fight the "Real Deal" on Nov. 8, 1991, in Las Vegas. Shortly before the fight was to take place, however, Tyson had to pull out with a rib injury.

Tyson's long-awaited comeback after more than a four-year absence, finally took place in August 1995. Tyson had been inactive for more than four years - three of those years were spent never touching a glove, hitting a bag or even entering a ring. Showing no ill effects from his layoff, it took Tyson only seven seconds to send his opponent, Peter McNeeley, to the canvas. The contest ended less than one minute later when McNeeley's manager halted the mismatch.

Only 10 weeks after his first fight in four years, Tyson signed to fight undefeated Buster Mathis, Jr. in November 1995, but four days prior to the fight, Tyson had to withdraw because of a broken right thumb sustained while training. The fight was rescheduled for December 1995. As usual, Tyson came out swinging at his opponent early. At 2:32 of the third round, the outcome was sealed when consecutive right hands sent Mathis to the canvas. The knockout was Tyson's 37th, and first since March 1991.

Three months later in March 1996, Tyson received his first shot at a world title since losing his belts to Douglas in 1990. Before a sold-out crowd of 15,222 at the MGM Grand Garden, Tyson regained the WBC belt from Frank Bruno. Displaying the old form that made him the youngest man ever to capture the heavyweight championship of the world, Tyson utilized uppercuts, jabs and hooks in combination with his speed and power to dispose of Bruno just 50 seconds into the third round.

In an effort to once again unify the titles, Tyson challenged WBA Champion Bruce Seldon in September 1996, at the MGM Grand. Tyson wasted little time in capturing the WBA crown by knocking Seldon out 1:49 into the opening round. As a result of a court order involving WBC No. 1 contender Lennox Lewis, Tyson was forced to relinquish his WBC belt in September 1996.

In November 1996, Tyson met Evander Holyfield at the MGM Grand in the main event of a fight card billed "Finally." The title referred to the fact that the showdown came five years and one day after it originally was scheduled. Many observers felt this would be Tyson's first test since his 1995 comeback. However, in the end, Holyfield lived up to his "Warrior" moniker. A huge underdog going in, Holyfield proved that he was up to the task. Avoiding Tyson's bombs early and doing a great job of counter-punching, Holyfield had done what no one thought possible and got into the middle rounds. The fight marked the first time Tyson had gone more than three rounds since 1991. In one of the most exciting fights of the decade, Tyson's winning streak was halted as Holyfield did the unthinkable by scoring an 11th-round knockout. Tyson had suffered the second loss of his career.

In the most anticipated rematch in boxing history, Holyfield and Tyson met once again in June, 1997. After fighting Holyfield gallantly for two rounds, Tyson committed two flagrant fouls that forced referee Mills Lane to disqualify him. Tyson's Nevada license also was suspended. Following two hearings to determine his fate, Tyson was awarded his boxing license in a 4-1 vote by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in October 1998.

In January 1999, Tyson returned to the ring against the much-larger Francois Botha. Following a slow start during the initial four rounds, Tyson went on the attack in round five and unleashed a right hand that sent his opponent to the canvas for good.

Tyson's scheduled 10-round fight with former world champion Orlin Norris October 1999 ended in a no contest after the first round. After Tyson hit Norris following the bell had sounded and sent him to the canvas, referee Richard Steele ruled the punch to be accidental. Norris injured his right knee upon landing and could not continue.

His highly anticipated European debut in January 2000 was a smashing success as he scored a second-round technical knockout over British champion Julius Francis. He floored Francis five times. The former undisputed champion knocked Francis down twice in the first round and three times in the second before referee Roy Francis halted matters at 1:03 of the second. He connected with a hook to drop Francis within one minute of the opening bell. A left hand sent Francis to the canvas again late in the first. Pressing the advantage in the second, he floored Francis for a third time after trapping him along the ropes. Moments later, an uppercut dropped Francis for a fourth time. A right uppercut produced the fifth knockdown and ended the bout.

In his second consecutive European appearance in June 2000, He made short work of Lou Savarese by flooring the former United States Boxing Association (USBA) heavyweight champion just eight seconds into the fight. He dropped Savarese with a crushing left hook to the head early in the first round and continued the onslaught with a barrage of unanswered punches before referee stopped the bout just 0:38 into the contest.

His return to the United States was an impressive one. In October 2000, he took on Andrew Golota. He displayed impressive head and side-to-side movement, ducked punches and pressed forward in an aggressive, yet controlled manner. He cut Golota over the left eye and floored him with a smashing overhand right late in the first round. He was deprived of the opportunity for a decisive knockout when Golota, citing injuries, quit and refused to come out for the third round.

Next he took on Brian Nielsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, in October 2001, weighingin at a career-high 239 pounds following an extensive training regimen to add weight. Dominant from the start, he began his assault by pounding the larger Nielsen to the body with combinations in the first round. A three-punch combination sent Nielsen to the canvas for only the second time in his career at the close of round three. He continued to pour on the firepower through rounds four, five and six. A bloodied and bruised Nielsen could not answer the bell for the seventh.

He made his first start in eight months, and just his second in 20 months in June 2002, in Memphis, and was stopped by WBC/WBA heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis by an overhand right hand in the eighth. The fight was boxing's most lucrative ever.

More than eight months later, he returned to Memphis to face Clifford Etienne in February 2003. He floored "The Black Rhino" with a devastating right hand 49 seconds into round one. Etienne hit the canvas hard and was counted out bythe referee.

He returned to the ring, for the first time in seventeen months in July 2004 against Danny Williams. In the Tyson style of old, he stormed out in the first round, winging thunderous left hooks and right hands, but Williams held on and finished the round. In the 2nd and 3rd rounds, Williams continued to take Mike's shots and fired back with his own lefts and right hands. After being penalized two points in the third round (for hitting on the break and a low blow), a Williams right hand finally deposited Tyson on the canvas in the fourth, and the referee stopped the bout at 2:51.

Michael Jordan was the dominant basketball player in the world during the 1990s. He won the NBA's Most Valuable Player award five times, and six times led the Chicago Bulls to the league championship. Jordan led the Bulls to his first three championships came in 1991, 1992 and 1993 with superb shooting and playmaking and a competitive killer instinct. In October of 1993 he stunned his fans by retiring from basketball and beginning a professional baseball career, saying that playing baseball had been an early dream of his. He played the 1994 baseball season for the minor league Birmingham Barons. In March of 1995 he ended his baseball career and returned to the Bulls. With Jordan, the Bulls won three more championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998. He retired from basketball in 1999. In the year 2000 he became a part owner and executive for the NBA's Washington Wizards. In 2001 Jordan began considering another comeback as an NBA player, and that fall, at age 38, he returned once again to play for the Wizards. He played for two more full seasons, retiring again in April of 2003. Jordan was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Extra credit: Jordan wore uniform number 23... His endorsement deal with Nike led to the creation of Air Jordans, the popular athletic shoe... Jordan married the former Juanita Vanoy in 1989. They had three children: Jeffrey (born 1988), Marcus (b. 1990), and Jasmine (b. 1992). Juanita filed for divorce in 2002; she and Jordan reconciled later that year, but then split again and were divorced in 2007. Jordan paid a reported $168 million to Juanita in the settlement... Jordan starred with Bugs Bunny in the 1996 feature film Space Jam.

Del Piero was signed by Juventus having initially been turned down by Milan. In his first full start for Juventus he scored a hat-trick against Parma. The following season he established himself in the first team in attack alongside Gianluca Vialli and Fabrizio Ravanelli in Juventus' Championship winning side.

So impressive was his performances Juventus sold fan favourite Roberto Baggio to Milan, Juve had found his successor.

Del Piero played a bit part in Juventus' European Cup final triumph and gave mixed performances as Juventus made and lost two successive finals. The European Cup final aside Del Piero was outstanding in the 1997-1998 season. He formed a devastating partnership alongside Filippo Inzaghi and scored a career best 21 goals. Any doubts as to how important Del Piero was to Juventus (many claimed Zidane was their key player) were answered the following season. Del Piero missed five months with a knee injury, Juve sunk without trace from first place to sixth.

The Euro 2000 final will haunt Del Piero for the rest of his life. With Italy leading France 1-0 Del Piero missed two guilt edge chances to make the game safe. France equalised deep into injury time before Trezeguet, who would ironically had already agreed to join Juventus that summer, scored the winner.

Despite continued domestic success Del Piero was disappointing for Italy in their ill fated and somewhat embarrassing 2002 World Cup campaign and also gave another insipid performance as Juve suffered the ignominy of losing a third successive European Cup final.


Honours

1995
Italian Cup (Coppa Italia)
Serie A Title
Italian Supercup

1996
UEFA Champions League
Intercontinental Cup
European Supercup
U-21 European Footballer of the Year

1997
Serie A Title
Italian Supercup
Intercontinental Cup MVP
UCL Top Scorer

1998
Serie A Title
UCL Top Scorer

2002
Serie A Title
Italian Supercup

2003
Serie A Title
Italian Supercup

2005
Serie A

Weight: 160 lbs
Wife: Victoria (née Adams), AKA Posh Spice
Children: Brooklyn (b. March 4, 1998), Romeo (b. September 1, 2002), Cruz (b. February 20, 2005)

David Beckham is arguably the most famous athlete in the world. As a midfielder for England and club teams Manchester United and Real Madrid, Beckham has scored goals that defy physics and humiliate goalies. Although his athletic skills put him in an elite class of the world’s best soccer players, it’s his personal life that has sent his celebrity status into the stratosphere. The generous act of saving a Spice Girl from a downward spiral into anonymity through marriage has launched Brand Beckham, an entity over which advertisers and tabloids drool. Check out his career stats here. Want to see him in action? Find out when and where here.

David Beckham signed for Manchester United as a fourteen year-old in 1989. He had to wait four years until he made his professional first team debut for the club in 1992. It took some time for the young midfielder to make an impact, and it wasn’t until 1993 that Becks became a first team regular at Old Trafford having made his debut the year previously as a substitute against Brighton in the League Cup.

A short loan spell followed to nearby neighbours Preston North End, but Becks was soon back and ready for the big time at Old Trafford.

The 1995 season was significant for Manchester United as it was the year that the famous ‘Fergie’s fledglings’ emerged from the 1992 FA Youth Cup winning team. Sir Alex Fergusson turned to the Old Trafford youth team to replace his ageing team, rather than the transfer market. Established United star names such as Paul Ince and Andre Kanchelskis were replaced with the unknown names of Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, the Neville brothers and David Beckham.

BBC TV football pundit Alan Hansen famously told the nation: ‘You don’t win anything with kids.’ 1996 was a remarkable season for United as Becks helped his team to the double of the Premiership and the FA Cup. The young Beckham took the corner in the Cup Final that led to Eric Cantona scoring a famous winning goal against North West rivals Liverpool.

A spectacular goal from behind the halfway line in a Premiership match against Wimbledon made Beckham a household name. It was a sporting feat that even the great Pele never managed to achieve during his illustrious playing career. The goal became a much played highlight of the season and helped Beckham to be voted as the PFA Young Player of the Year in 1996.

Becks helped United to a back to back Premiership title the following season and was now firmly in the radar of the then England manager Glen Hoddle.

Beckham soon became a regular in the England midfield, making his debut for his country in September 1996 during a World Cup qualifier against Moldova. He was tipped to be a big name in the 1998 World Cup, although at first, manager Glen Hoddle didn’t pick the player in the first two games, stating that ‘his mind wasn’t focussed.’

The tournament turned out to be a disaster for Beckham after he was sent off during a crucial England knock out game against the old enemy of Argentina. Having been fouled himself, Beckham had a moment of petulance as he kicked out from the ground at Argentina’s Diego Simeone and was shown a red card.

Back home and Beckham became a tabloid hate figure. He was ridiculed as the scapegoat for England’s elimination from France ’98 and public opinion became ferocious towards the young star. Effigies of the England midfielder were even burnt outside pubs.

Beckham responded in the perfect manner by having his best domestic season during the ’98 – ’99 season. He played a major role in helping Manchester United win the treble of the Premiership, the FA Cup and the Champions League. This remarkable season led to Beckham becoming the runner up in the European Player of the Year award.

In the summer Beckham took time out to marry his pop star girlfriend, Victoria Adams (AKA Posh Spice.) The event was the showbiz wedding of the year with OK magazine securing the exclusive photographic rights for the wedding.

Beckham became the England captain in 2000 following the resignation of Kevin Keegan as the national team coach. Caretaker manager Peter Taylor promoted Beckham to the role, and the full time replacement Sven Goran-Eriksson kept the midfielder as his leader on the pitch. The move surprised many at the time as Beckham had a reputation for not being a great communicator. He took to the role superbly though and his since been a great ambassador for his country, helping England to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, playing his most influential game in a crucial qualifying match against Greece at Old Trafford.

A metatarsal injury ahead of the 2002 World Cup was an irritant for Beckham, but he bounced back to score the winning penalty against old rivals Argentina in the group stages. But the England captain’s dream of lifting the World Cup was put to an end when England were beaten by Brazil in the quarter-finals.

Back on the domestic front and further Premiership titles followed in 2000 and 2001, but all was not well with Beckham at Old Trafford. His star status, coupled with his celebrity lifestyle with his pop star wife was not well received by Fergusson. ‘No player is bigger than United,’ but Beckham was coming close to eclipsing his team.

The relationship between manager and player reached a dead end in 2003 with the United boss reportedly kicking a football boot in the face of his midfield star. Beckham was not shy in being photographed by the press, documenting the facial injury. It was therefore no surprise that Beckham signed in the summer of 2003 for the Spanish giants Real Madrid. His last act at Old Trafford was to secure another Premiership title at Old Trafford and shortly before his move to Madrid, Beckham was awarded an OBE for his services to football.

With his famous No 7 shirt already taken by Raul Gonzalez at the club, Beckham became the new No 23 in Madrid. This was the number of the NBA star and hero of Beckham, Michael Jordan. The passionate Spanish fans warmed to Beckham straight away and he was given a hero’s welcome upon his arrival in Madrid. Although Beckham has performed solidly in La Liga, his team have failed to regain the momentum on the domestic front from their great rivals Barcelona.

Beckham hit the headlines for a series of domestic problems in 2004 with newspaper reports claiming an extra-marital affair with Rebecca Loos, a former personal assistant. But the Beckham family showed a united front with the three Beckham sons – Brooklyn. Romeo and Cruz – all appearing in public for the first time with their famous parents.

Euro 2004 was a disappointment for the England captain. He had a penalty saved in the 2-1 defeat by France, and missed another spot kick as the tournament hosts Portugal knocked out England during a penalty shoot out.

Further prestigious off the field activities followed in 2005 as Beckham became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in January, and then was used heavily as one of the key promotional figures in helping London secure the 2012 Olympics.

Beckham started the 2006 World Cup campaign in a disastrous style as he was the first England captain to be sent off for England. His 50th cap as England captain came against Argentina. Despite a few scares, England still topped their qualifying group and Beckham prepared to captain his country possibly for the last time at a major international tournament in Germany 2006....

Club debut : January 20, 1985 versus Udinese (drew 1-1)

International debut : March 31, 1988 versus Yugoslavia (drew 1-1).

Strictly chronologically speaking Paolo Maldini is in every respect the worthy follower of Franco Baresi: he has ever since played in A.C. Milan, just like his captain, both players are natural talents and endowed with excellent technical and physical qualities, both are defenders, share the same victories and both were even launched into the first division, though at different times, by the same trainer: Nils Liedholm. Maldini is the true prototype of Art's Son, being his father Cesare the trainer of the Italian National Team and very successful A.C. Milan captain in the sixties as well. The debut of "Junior", this is how he is called at Milanello sports centre, dates back to 1995, when, as he was only 16 years old, he was sent onto the field by Liedholm in Udine and, since then, he became an indispensable element of the red-and-black line-up. A left side defender, as well as a strong and skilful central defender, Paolo granted new dimension to his role thanks to his great ability to freely move and play all over the field: impassable bulwark as a defender, Maldini is extremely effective also as a forward and inexorable as he sneaks on the left side. Thanks to his purest class, Maldini soon debuts also in the National Team. Hardly 19 years old and he is called onto the field for his first match: 31th March 1988, Yugoslavia - Italy 1-1. As a player of the National Team, he ranks among the first in Italy '90 and ranks second at USA '94. Maldini, now the captain of the National Team, with his 81 caps ranks third in the special list of the best National Team players.