26 great summer sports moments

Bettmann // Getty Images For centuries, sports have impacted the lives and cultures of people across the world. From the first Olympic games taking place in Greece as far back as the 700s B.C. to the formation of the National Association of Base Ball Players–the first professional sports league in America–in the 1800s, the love for sports has always been apparent. What makes sports so popular? Why do so many people gather around a big screen, or spend hundreds of dollars on tickets to appear in person at an event? While there doesn’t seem to be one definitive reason that makes sports so beloved, there are eight points of motivation that bring audiences to their love of sports, according to sports-fan psychologist Daniel Wann. These range from building a sense of community, to having a distraction from real-world struggles, to gaining a sense of self-esteem through a winning team. Everyone has their own reason for finding love in a game or competition. Each summer brings a new level of excitement to the world of sports as teams and leagues begin and end their respective seasons. Between 1955 and 1980, some of the most significant moments in the history of sports occurred. Using news archives and other public information sources, OLBG has compiled a list of the greatest sports moments from the summer you were born. 1980: Jack Nicklaus continues dominance, wins two majors John Kelly // Getty Images Jack Nicklaus won both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, giving the legendary golfer 17 career major victories. Nicklaus captured the two titles despite speculation that he was on the back end of his career, which included a total of 117 professional wins. Six years later, Nicklaus would win the Masters Tournament at age 46, marking his 18th career major title–the most in PGA history. 1979: Seattle SuperSonics capture franchise’s only NBA title Focus On Sport // Getty Images The Seattle SuperSonics won the 1979 NBA Finals over the Washington Bullets to give the franchise its first and only championship. Led by Hall of Famers Jack Sikma and Dennis Johnson, the SuperSonics finished the 1978-79 season with a 52-30 record. The franchise wouldn’t reach the Finals again until 1996. 1978: Argentina becomes best soccer team in the world amid controversy STAFF // Getty Images Argentina won the 1978 FIFA World Cup as the tournament’s host nation. The nearly monthlong event saw Argentina capture its first World Cup title despite controversy throughout the competition. Argentina’s championship was marred by accusations of match-fixing, highlighted by a second-round 6-0 victory over Peru when the team needed a four-goal margin. 1977: Montreal Canadiens repeat as NHL Stanley Cup champions Bruce Bennett // Getty Images The Montreal Canadiens won back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals with a 4-0 series sweep over the Boston Bruins. Led by Jacques Lemaire and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Guy Lafleur, the Canadiens finished the season with a 60-8-12 record. The team’s arduous playoffs included series wins over the St. Louis Blues and New York Islanders. 1976: USA strings together strong Olympic performances Bettmann // Getty Images The 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal would create several historic moments. The U.S. Olympic boxing team–which included Sugar Ray Leonard, Howard Davis Jr., Leon Spinks, and others–won five gold medals at the event. This group has been called one of the greatest Olympic boxing teams ever assembled. Caitlyn Jenner–who competed in the men’s decathlon decades before coming out as a transgender woman–won a gold medal in the decathlon with 8,618 points, setting a new world record. 1975: The Masters host the tournament’s first Black golfer Augusta National // Getty Images In 1975, Lee Elder became the first Black golfer to play in the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. Elder qualified for the prestigious tournament by winning the 1974 Monsanto Open in a playoff. However, Elder missed the cut at the Masters after round two, with Jack Nicklaus going on to win the tournament. Elder also participated in the Masters between 1977 and 1981. 1974: Babe Ruth’s career home run record broken