Gutsiest performances by an athlete

[Gilligan]

Watching the England-Ecuador game the other night, I finally got some respect for David Beckham. Seeing him come out of nowhere a number of times to make crucial defensive plays even after puking his guts out and being doubled over in pain at every stoppage of play made me realize that the guy has guts and plays sports the way their meant to be played. It also got me thinking of other gutsy performances that I've seen or heard of in the past. As time allows I'll share the ones I can think of, but I'm sure I will forget countless great performances that I know of, and don't know of a fraction of the truly gutsy athletic performnces that there are, so please share the ones you know of.

Plus points for Beckham's performance:

-Happened on perhaps the biggest world sporting stage imaginable
-He scored the only goal of the game
-Must-win situation

Minus points:

-Not a very exciting game
-He didn't play the whole game
-He's David Beckham--the poster-boy of metrosexuals everywhere

[Gilligan]

Kellen Winslow (Tight End, San Diego Chargers -- NFL) 1982 playoff game against the Dolphins

Playing in unbelievable heat and humidity, which led to him having to be treated a number of times on the bench for exhaustion, Winslow not only caught 13 passes for 166 yards in the Chargers' overtime victory, but on the last play of regulation he blocked a field goal that would have won the game for Miami. At the end of the game, he was so exhausted that his teammates had to carry him off the field.

Plus points:

-One of the greatest games in NFL history
-The Chargers won
-Must-win situation


Minus pints:

-Air Coryell
-His namesake son

[Gilligan]

Curt Schilling (Starting Pitcher, Boston Red Sox -- MLB) Games 6, 2004 ALCS; AKA the Bloody Sock Game

Because Schilling had a problem with a tendon in his right ankle that made it too painful to pitch, he had experimental surgery done to tie the tendon down temporarily (i.e., just for the game). Bcause of the surgery, he was able to pitch a solid 7 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 run, no walks, and striking out 4.

Plus points:

-Helped propel the Evil Emprire (Yankees) to the biggest choke in MLB history
-Must-win situation
-It happened against the Yankees
-Red Sox went on to win their first World Series since 1918
-Did I mention that it happened against the Yankees?


Minus points:

-Didn't finish the game
-Has since become over-hyped

[Gilligan]

Alberto Salazar (Distance Runner) Falmouth Road Race, 1978

In 1978, at the finish of the 7-mile (just over 11-kilometer) road race (run in the July heat), Salazar collapsed with heat exhaustion and a reported temperature of 107 degrees. He was taken to the hospital where he was given the last rights before recovering.


Plus points:
-Was only a sophmore in college but stayed with the leaders
-Went on to a similar performance in winning the 1982 Boston marathon (taken to the hospital and received 6 liters of intra-venus fluid)


Minus points:
-Lost the race to the great Bill Rogers
-After his 1982 Boston Marathon performance, he was never the same runner
-Slightly obscure event for the non-runner (even for those living in the Boston area)

[Gilligan]

Jack Youngblood (Defensive End, Los Angeles Rams -- NFL) 1979 playoff game against teh Cowboys

In the second quarter of the game, Youngblood broke a bone in his lower leg. He went into the lockerroom, and the doctors x-rayed it and told him that it was broken. He asked them to tape the leg up, and then went back and played almost the entire second half of the game.

Plus points:

-The Rams won the game
-He played the next game (the NFC Championship game) and the Super Bowl as well with the broken leg
-Must-win situation


Minus points:

-Vince Ferragamo

[kamome]

[quote="Gilligan"]Curt Schilling (Starting Pitcher, Boston Red Sox -- MLB) Games 6, 2004 ALCS]

What? You didn't put this as number 1 on your list?

[canman]

Ottawa Roughriders vs the Edmonton Eskimos Grey Cup 1981. Playing on a badly sprained ankle he stayed in the game, catching balls, and had a terrible interference call made against him, helping th Eskimos to snatch visctory from the underdog Roughriders. I'll never forget watching this poor guy hobble down the field in terrible pain, only to make the catch, but then have the call go against him.

[Gilligan]

What? You didn't put this as number 1 on your list?

I should have mentioned that I'm not putting these in any particular order. Just as they come to mind.

[Gilligan]

John Stephen Akhwari (Long Distance Runner -- Tanzania) 1968 Olympics

Towards the beginning of the race, he fell and severly injured his knee. Rather than dropping out of the race, however, he continued on, at times stopping to walk. As he limped his way into the Olympic stadium at the end of the 26.2 miles, leg bloodied and bandaged, the few remaining in the crowd stood and cheered.

Plus points:

-When asked why, since there was no chance of him winning and he was in such pain he hadn't just stopped, he responded, "My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race; they sent me to Mexico City to finish the race."


Negative points:

-Um... he lost... finished last, in fact... by a huge margin (also a plus point, though, in its own way)

[Brother]

Kazushi Sakuraba fighting Wanderlei Silva three times after being demolished the first and second time only to fight, and get beat down again, a third time in PrideFC (I'm a Saku fan btw)

[nullpointer]

Well how about Lance Armstrong? The man should be in the gutsiest performance hall of fame.