11m shootouts in soccer. And I know for a fact that drinking some alcohol was a thing in endurance cycling, IIRC it supposedly works because it makes it easier to push through the pain. Which sounds insane and self-destructive, but that’s kinda par for the course for endurance cycling.
Also, just 50 years ago many sports just weren’t that professional; you just didn’t need to be at absolute peak fitness in soccer, especially not when your team was a lot better than your opponent’s.
I like “if you can drink and smoke while doing it, it’s not a sport”.
behold, johan cruyff:
Bet there’s been professional players who drink during the game, especially before 11m shootouts.
I raise you Walter Frosch:
https://youtu.be/EqekSuj5HCo
(German, I couldn’t find a version with english subtitles) Roughly translated:
Reporter: So, Walter Frosch, shortly before the half-time the equalizer…
Ref: He (Walter Frosch) is a stand-up guy, I’ve known him for many years. He always played clean and fairly, or at least tried to.
Reporter: We never had a doubt about that, we just wanted to ask if the 1:1 up to this point was deserved.
Walter (with the heaviest smoker voice): Yes, the 1:1 so far is deserved for the other team, but we need to do better in the next half.
Reporter: What ist that you have in your football-socks
Walter: Cigarettes
Reporter: Are you going to pull one through (smoke a cig)?
Walter: Later
Reporter: Then why do you have them with you on the pitch?
Walter: I was subbed in so fast, that I still had them on me
Reporter: (laughing) Ah, ok. Thank you
Tbf, you can drink and smoke doing pretty much anything.
Like 50 years ago when air traffic control was arguably safer.
True, but I’d argue you’d have a hard time being competitive in sports if you do that. Well, a high intensity sport, anyway.
“Bolt is on track, ready for a new record attempt, there’s the whiskey bottle, and I think he’s smoking Pall Malls today”
I could see maybe boxing. Possibly baseball.
11m shootouts in soccer. And I know for a fact that drinking some alcohol was a thing in endurance cycling, IIRC it supposedly works because it makes it easier to push through the pain. Which sounds insane and self-destructive, but that’s kinda par for the course for endurance cycling.
Also, just 50 years ago many sports just weren’t that professional; you just didn’t need to be at absolute peak fitness in soccer, especially not when your team was a lot better than your opponent’s.