You Think You Know Athletes?Are you the "Sports Guy" on your trivia team? Welcome to your new secret weapons: lists of fascinating facts and obscure info you need to know yesterday.
When it comes to sports, smack-talking plays a vital role in generating emotional rivalries for games and matches. Professionals often take this to the next level, as they continually prove that their confidence in their abilities matches their performances on the courts, in the rings, and on the fields.
And while a little heated conversation between opponents is common, some athletes really know how to take it to the next level. This list features some of the most savage quotes from athletes that sound made up- but aren't. Vote up the most devastating quotes.
When it came to fighting, the champion boxer won against opponent George Foreman using his fists and words. The two faced off on October 30, 1974, for the Rumble in the Jungle, a match held in Kinshasa, Zaire.
Ali lost his title seven years before when the boxing commission took away his license after he was accused of draft dodging. After knocking out George Foreman, he became the second fighter ever to regain his championship belt.
Despite being considered two of the best boxers of their time and holding championship titles, they never met up in the ring for a match. Some speculate that the fight never happened because the pair were too good of friends.
In a characteristically brash post-fight interview from the Irish fighter, McGregor directed the comment to the whole UFC roster after winning against Eddie Alvarez to claim his second championship title belt.
During a penalty shootout, the Argentine goalie got in the heads of his opponent, Yerry Mina, and actually saved the spot-kick in an eerily quiet stadium that was empty because of COVID restrictions.
Bird made sure his competitors in the locker room knew who he thought would win before a three-point shooting contest in 1988. Sure enough, he emerged the victor.
At one time, the two were known as some of the greatest players that ever took the field, and Maradona was one of the highest-paid athletes in the world at his peak.
