The week at The Sports Union tested the resolve of the founders but their dedication and professionalism brought them through with flying colors.  With a massive outbreak of a hybrid stew of the swine flu, mad cow disease and yellow fever (wait, one has always lived with that!), the founders fought through the pain, manned-up, dare I say, “pulled a Willis Reed?!”  As a tribute to their monumental performance, we dedicate this post to those who fight through it on a daily basis.

[sidenote] How many teared-up at one of these highlight videos?

Willis Reed

This is measuring stick for all this playing-through-the-pain-Herculean efforts, though upon further review, the Willis Reed was more about inspiring his teammates and not the rising to new levels of athletic achieve.  But still pretty freakin’ cool.

Tiger Woods

A torn ACL could not keep the best golfer in the world from competing and winning the 2008 U.S. Open Championship.  A gutty performance by a golfer?  Who said golfers are out-of-shape non-athletes? Oh, that was me . . . Well, Tiger proved to me that not all golfers are . . . well . . . Phil Mickelson.

Michael Jordan

It was Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals and the Utah Jazz were threatening to take momentum of the series, and with Michael Jordan stricken with the flu the Mormons of Salt Lake thought their prayers were answered.

Donovan McNabb

McNabb is soft.  He makes soup commercials with his mom.  He throws up during the big game.  Watch the video and be reminded of the toughness that is Donovan.  How weak is the name Donovan though?

Isiah Thomas

ZEKE!  It was an amazing performance by the little guard during the 1988 NBA Finals and will be remembered by this Pistons’ fan forever.  A 25-point third quarter outburst on one limb will go down as one of the best Finals performance.  Unfortunately, he did “play” GM with a sprained ankle though that just might have helped!

Kirk Gibson

Best call by Lyn Scully and I hate that dude!  Gibson, former Tiger, plays the hero as he needs someone to wheel him around the base path.  Just listen to the LA crowd go nuts when he delivers the knockout shot.

Byron Leftwich

Playing with a broken leg?  Being carried by your offensive hogs from play to play?  And as a college athlete?  GUARANTEED B.M.O.C.!

DISHONORABLE MENTION: CURT SCHILLING

Fake!  You can’t fake your way into this list, Curt!  Don’t even try!

So, The Sports Union pays tribute to all the people who strap it up on a daily basis no matter the aches and pains or even the lack of universal healthcare.

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