Interesting and surprisng facts
THE FIRST black world heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson went on to play the part of Othello on stage, and in 1912 he was refused permission to board the ill-fated Titanic.
Former Welsh international rugby union star J. P. R. Williams won the junior singles title at Wimbledon as a schoolboy.
In 1988 it would cost you £25,000 to buy a Formula One motor racing car – but it could only be used in one race.
Frederick, Prince of Wales, died in 1751 after being struck on the head by the ball during a game of cricket.
William Wordsworth was an expert ice-skater who could cut his name on the ice when performing.
Before becoming the world number one snooker player, Terry Griffiths worked as a blacksmith, postman and bus conductor.
Former Leeds United and England defender Jack Charlton released a single in 1965: You’ll Never Walk Alone. It failed to get into the charts.
Giant Haystacks
Wrestler Giant Haystacks weighed 38 stone; his wife weighed 7½ stone.
Olympic swimming champion Mark Spitz became a dentist in Southern California after retiring from the pool.
Pope John Paul II was once a goalkeeper with the Polish club FC Wostyla.
Cricketer Tony Greig was turned down for National Service in his native South Africa because of his epilepsy.
Bjorn Borg appeared in six successive men’s singles finals at Wimbledon: 1976-81 inclusive. He won the first five but lost to John McEnroe in his sixth.
Jockey Lester Piggott won his first race (a three-furlong gymkhana event at Wantage) when he was only six years old; he won his first professional race aged 12; claimed his first Derby victory when he was 18 and rode the last of his 4,352 winners at the age 59.
Golfer Seve Ballesteros was disqualified from the 1980 US Open Championship when he arrived at the first tee ten minutes late.