Wide World of Sports

Before there was cable and ESPN, there was a program that used to come on every Saturday called ABC's Wide World of Sports that would feature sports and sport like activities from around the world. Some of the things I first remember seeing on Wide World of Sports programs were things like barrel jumping, demolition derby, rugby and many other unique activities that I couldn't begin to put a name on. Wide World of Sports was a precursor to all the Sports channels that you have on today, and featured more than just unique sports but revealed many things about the different cultures as well. One thing that anyone who has ever watched the show can recall is the opening part of the show where they would feature clips from past events and would always have the commentary, "the thrill of victory, and agony of defeat". The pictures they used to show both sides of competitive sports were dramatic enough that I can still recall every detail of the skier wiping out on the slopes. I just hope the skier in the clip got a dollar for every time that scene was shown. It would help ease the pain of knowing that it's what the world or least his skiing buddies will always remember him for.