1968: Mexico 68, A Celebration of the World
The 60’s saw 3 renditions of the Olympic Games: Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964, and Mexico City 1968. The Olympics at Mexico City are historical because they also spanned a cultural division. A powerful memento of said competition lies intact: La Ruta de la Amistad (Route of Friendship in English). This huge sculture complex features a collection of over 20 sculptures of all materials, shapes and sizes, which represent the union of international athletes and artists. The project involved artists from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Spain, The United States, France, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Mexico, The Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, and Uruguay. The Route of Friendship is one of the most outstanding sights at Mexico City.
The Olympic Games have always been an opportunity to represent world unity. However, Mexico 68 made more by solidifying that union into a collection of longs-tanding masterpieces. The Route of Friendship is a representation of world unity and the beauty of international cooperation. Those feelings are very important in the postwar era.
1960s: New Records, New Teams, and Growing Dynasties
During the decade of protests and change, baseball was still the most enjoyed sport in America. However, due to the politically difficult atmosphere, Major League baseball seemed outdated and out of place. Despite this, Major League baseball continued growing. By the early 1960’s, there were already 16 professional teams, and all of them were doing great during the decade. In 1964, the New York Yankees won their fifth straight pennant, and were sold to CBS. That same year, the St. Louis Cardinals beat them in the World Series. The most brilliant player from the decade was Willie Mays, who established as much records as Babe Ruth during his professional career, such as batting average, home runs, and outfield putouts.
Baseball is still highly regarded as the most important sport in America. It has produced a lot of brilliant teams and players. Surely fans would never end be surprised by the impact that baseball can have in the world of sports, and in the postwar world in general.
1967: AFL-NFL Championship, The 1st Super Bowl
The National Football League (NFL) is the reigning league in the American football world. However, during the 1960’s, the league suffered a tough competition from the rising American Football League (AFL). The considerable animosity between the two leagues pressured them to prove that they were the best. They did so by pitting their champions against each other in a memorable match. On January 15th, 1967, NFL champion Green Bay Packers defeated AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs at the Memorial Colliseum Stadium at Los Angeles, California, proving the NFL’s superiority once and for all. The match resulted into a merger that turned the AFL into the American Football Conference (AFC).
The first AFL-NFL Championship is considered by critics to be the first Super Bowl in history. It’s consequences for football are important because it proved to the world once and for all that the NFL was the superior league. That match also introduced the world to the wonders of halftime entertainment. That evening was filled with college marching bands, balloons, white doves, and flying stuntmen on jetpacks. In 1967, there was no Internet, no cellphones, and there were only 3 major commercial networks in the US, the AFL-NFL Championship broke a lot of records and gave a new face to sports: A face that would become important later in the postwar world.
1960s: An Afro-American Legend
Marciano, Walcott, Robinson...These had been some of the greatest names in the boxing ring. In the 1960s, a new, rising legend would surpass all of their popularity and earn the title of "The Greatest”: Muhammad Ali. Born Cassius Marsellus Clay Jr., Ali began his career by winning gold in the junior division in the 1960 Rome Summer Olympics. The following year, he converted to Islam, renamed himself, and began his professional career. He stole the heavyweight championship after defeating Sonny Liston in a controversial fight. Ali refused to join military service to assist to the Vietnam War and was arrested. After his release, he became a key defensor in the African-American civil rights movement. He made history with his matches, such as the Thrilla in Manilla and the Rumble in the Jungle. Ali died in 2016, leaving a huge legacy behind him.
Muhammad Ali is one of the most influential figures in 20th century sports. His Rumble in the Jungle fight in 1974 is arguably called the most fundamental sporting event in the 20th century and became the most-watched television live broadcast at the time. Ali was also known for his creativity in the ring, trash-talking and using rhyming poetry-like speech, anticipating elements of the hip-hop culture. Ali was a very creative and influential figure in the world of boxing and sports, and one of the most influential, important men in the postwar world.