TBT

On February 19th,1990, the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson collides with the challenger James “Buster” Douglas at the Tokyo Dome. “Iron” Mike is undefeated with a 37-0 record and 33 knockouts and holds the IBF, WBC, WBA, as well as the Ring Heavyweight title. Meanwhile, the 42:1 underdog, Douglas, has a 28-4-1 record and looks to pull off the upset of the century. 

The fight begins, and from the start, it is clear that Douglas isn’t afraid of Tyson. He efficiently uses his super-fast jab to stop Tyson from getting inside, where he is absolutely lethal. Whenever Tyson tries to get inside, Douglas either moves away from Mike or hits him with a flurry of quick punches. 

Douglas was the better boxer throughout the whole fight, and Tyson’s left eye eventually swells up due to an endless number of jabs. Then, something unexpected happens. With only 10 seconds left in the 8th round, Tyson lands a ferocious right uppercut and sends Douglas to the canvas. Nevertheless, “Buster” Douglas gets up as the referee signals nine, with the bell ending the round. In the 9th round, despite being knocked down in the previous one, Douglas completely outboxes Tyson, who’s on the verge of getting knocked out. 

In the 10th round, after “Buster” lands a couple of jabs, he throws a nasty uppercut that snaps Tyson’s head back. As Tyson tries to recover, Douglas doesn’t wait to punish him and lands four punches to Mike’s head, knocking him out and giving him the first loss of his career. 

In the post-fight interview, Douglas was asked how he was able to beat Mike, and “Buster” said he won because of his mother, who died 20 days before the fight. 

That day, “Buster” Douglas became the new heavyweight boxing champion of the world and pulled off one of the greatest upsets in boxing and sports history. 

Read Next: Last Week’s TBT Edition

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It’s the 1997 NBA Finals, Game 5. The Finals series is tied at 2-2 between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. The atmosphere on the stands is electrifying and so loud that you’re unable to hear your thoughts. 

Michael Jordan walks onto the court and suffers from what seem to be flu-like symptoms. He looks exhausted and barely has the energy to stand. Visibly unwell and dehydrated, MJ mustered up his will to play and pulled off one of the most iconic performances of all time. 

The first quarter begins. Michael, not looking like his regular self, only drops 4 points. Then, he gets a sudden surge of energy and drops 17 points in the 2nd quarter. 

Every time the play stops, Jordan looks like he could pass out. In timeouts, he slouches on the bench and has ice packs all over him, a clear sign of his physical struggle. Still, he has no intention of giving up, showing his unparalleled resilience and determination. At half-time, he got injections filled with painkillers and fluids. 

Then came the 3rd quarter, with Jordan only scoring 2 points. However, in the 4th quarter, Michael rises to the occasion and shows why he’s among the best clutch performers in the history of the NBA. He drops seven points in the 10-0 Bulls run, erasing the Jazz lead of 8 points. MJ ends the 4th quarter with 15 points, leading the Bulls to a historic 90-88 win. 

Here are his stats after the game ended: 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block. 

After the game, Jordan stated that this was the most difficult thing he had ever done. Truthfully, he’s probably right.

Interestingly, although this game was named “The Flu Game,” Jordan didn’t suffer from the flu after all. Years after this game, Tim Grover, MJ’s personal trainer, revealed that Jordan got food poisoning after he ate bad pizza. Even though he got food poisoning, that 1997 Game 5 Finals performance will still be called “The Flu Game.”

Before this game, fans and experts could still argue who was the best player ever. However, after “The Flu Game,” the debate was over since Michael Jordan cemented his reputation as the greatest NBA basketball player ever to step onto the court.  

Read Next: Last Week’s TBT Edition

Featured image taken from YouTube.

Throughout the history of the Premier League, there’ve been many outstanding teams, but the one that stands out from the rest is the Arsenal “Invincibles” squad of the 2003/04 season. 

Under Arsene Wenger’s leadership, this sensational team managed to do what no other team in the Premier League has ever done: finish an entire campaign without losing a single game. 

They were unbeaten in 38 Premier League games, having won 26 and drawn only 12. This incredible accomplishment was rare not only in Premier League football but also in other leagues worldwide. The Arsenal 2004 squad amassed 90 points after the final league game and only conceded 26 goals. 

Main Players of the Arsenal Invincibles 2004 Squad

• Thierry Henry – the French striker was the best player on this team and finished the season as the No.1 Premier League scorer with 30 goals.
• Dennis Bergkamp –  the Dutch second striker, was a maestro with the ball, scoring five goals and two assists that season.
• Sol Campbell – the English center-back, was the backbone of the defense, and thanks to his defensive prowess, Arsenal only conceded 26 goals in 38 games. 
• Patrick Vieira – the French midfielder was the team’s mastermind, controlling the game’s pace and making crucial passes throughout the campaign. 
• Ashley Cole – the English left-back was an invaluable asset in defense but in attack as well, thanks to his superb tackling skills and precise crosses. 

Overall, the Arsenal 2004 team will always remain one of the most special in the history of the English top flight. Their perfect season inspires and proves to many teams that it is possible to have a flawless campaign. 

Read Next: The Jordan Flu Game Cements the GOAT’s Winning Reputation

Featured image taken from YouTube.