Brian Symons, Author at Kulture Hub

blake griffin by Brian Symons March 8, 2021

Blake Griffin photos that are somehow only partly believable

Blake Griffin is a free agent. A few years ago that would have been the headline across all of sports media, but in 2021 this holds a bit of a different significance. As Blake Griffin is expected to join the Brooklyn Nets, we wanted to review the most iconic moments of his career through photos.

After his first full season with the Detroit Pistons in 2018, Griffin’s production has gone downhill…significantly.

After consistently averaging above 20 points per game over the first 10 seasons of his career, Griffin is down to just over 12 in 2021. An even sadder trend in Griffin’s game is the fact he hasn’t had an in-game dunk since 2019.

Blake Griffin’s new career chapter does not diminish the pure insanity of these photos

For a man whose whole career has been centered around dunking the ball, to say that he hasn’t dunked in just about 2 years is a crazy stat.

Now, it is not because he doesn’t want to dunk, it is because of the wear and tear all his highlight throwdowns have had on his body. Now, his body at age 31 is deteriorating, which is a tough pill to swallow for most fans.

Griffin is a free agent because the Pistons could not find a good trade partner for him, so instead, they bought him out. Teams were interested, but they are not expecting that star coming from Hollywood, but instead a debilitated player trying to find his niche in the game again.

Although Griffin has not dunked in quite a while, there is no ignoring the fact that his dunks made him the star that he is. So with that being said, let us take a look at Blake Griffin’s most iconic photos.

Blake Griffin demolishes Pau Gasol for the second time that game

blake griffin photos — Blake Griffin unleashes his second dunk of the night on Pau Gasol (NBA.com)

In this Lakers-Clippers game back in 2012, Blake Griffin threw dunks down on Pau Gasol’s head not once, but twice.

There are many players throughout the league that have been victims of a Blake Griffin dunk, but Pau Gasol suffered through it twice.

The Clippers ended up losing this game, but most people only remember Griffin’s memorable dunks and this photo that captured the moment in all its glory.

Blake Griffin dunks on Serge Ibaka

One of the special parts of a Blake Griffin highlight dunk is that it is not some circus open court, fast-break dunk, they are ferocious dunks that put his opponents on a poster.

And in this 2012 matchup against the Thunder, Blake Griffin put Serge Ibaka on a poster.

This dunk sparked a rivalry that continued between Griffin and Ibaka.

Danilo Gallinari falls victim to Griffin

Blake Griffin gets ready to unleash a brutal dunk over Danilo Gallinari (NBA)

And at this moment, Mr. Gallinari knew he messed up. Many players simply believe in themselves too much, they take one for the team and try to block a dunk attempt.

But in Griffin’s prime, it was best to just move out of the way as he blew to the rim. Unfortunately for Gallinari, he didn’t.

The Knicks, as you will see at #2 have been a common victim to Blake Griffin and his throwdowns. This iconic photo of Blake Griffin shows he knew he had something coming.

Griffin shows Timofey Mozgov who is boss

Blake Griffin obliterates Timofey Mozgov. (NBA)

There is not a lot of debate for slots one and two of top dunks in Griffin’s career. For most iconic photos of Blake Griffin ever taken.

But unfortunately for Timofey Mozgov, he fell victim to one of Blake Griffin’s most posterizing dunk.

The only reason Mozgov will only be on a poster in someone’s room will be because of Blake Griffin totally demolishing him.

Is Kendrick Perkins okay?

Blake Griffin puts Kendrick Perkins on a poster (John Green, Cal Sport Media via AP)

The poster of all posters. There may never be a more ferocious dunk in NBA history. Kendrick Perkins fell victim to a complete and utter throwdown.

You have to respect Perkins in this case, he knew he a very slim shot of slowing Griffin down, but he didn’t want to back down, as he said after the game.

Perkins explained: “A lot of people are afraid of humiliation or don’t know how to handle embarrassment. I don’t care. … How will my teammates look at me if next time I just back out the way and just let him dunk when I’m supposed to be defensive-minded, a shot-blocker?”

Nothing but respect for Perkins, but simply put, Blake Griffin OWNED him.

There could be new Blake Griffin photos soon enough…

One of the tougher things about Blake Griffin and the second half of his career is that it is easy to assume that we will never see another player fall victim to posterization from his hands.

There are plenty of stars in the league that can hit clutch shots and average over 20 points. But there are very few in history that could do what Blake Griffin could.

Hopefully, Griffin finds some form of his old game because it would be very exciting to wake up one morning and see Griffin on SportsCenter Top 10 again.

The Brooklyn Nets are getting a good guy and a solid player for their squad, and if these iconic Blake Griffin photos are any indication, Griffin still has magic up his sleeves to bring out at the right moment.

Kulture by Brian Symons March 5, 2021

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NBA Top Shot: NBA NFTs are taking over the world

Sports and big money is the perfect combination for a lot of people. In another trend that has taken over the world, the work of cryptocurrency continues to change the landscape of economics. Most recently, that is with NBA NFTs, with NBA Top Shot dominating the crypto sphere.

In a cryptocurrency world that has been filled with the likes of Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc., a new groundbreaking cryptocurrency has now hit the blockchain, basically the marketplace for cryptocurrency.

It is NBA Top Shot. Yes, you read that sentence correctly, the NBA, as in the National Basketball Association, is now a part of the cryptocurrency world.

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The NBA enters the NFT space — NBA Top Shot

As with anything that has taken over the world, it is hard to find an angle that has not been discussed at length already. The same is the case for NBA Top Shot.

However, one angle that we feel doesn’t get discussed enough with new trends, is the reason(s) why they are trending? Why has NBA Top Shot created life-changing fortunes for many consumers?

The way that the pandemic has reacted with sports and big money is our answer here.

They are simply the three key reasons that the NBA has entered the NFT space. And why NBA Top Shot has pushed its way to the top of the world.

Let’s start with #1: The pandemic.

The pandemic’s effect on sports betting and NBA Top Shot

Anything in the world can be linked to COVID-19. But NBA Top Shot, like any cryptocurrency, has had a significant boost in popularity since the pandemic began.

The likes of Dave Portnoy at Barstool Sports, the rise of BitCoin, and the strange rise in GameStop stock all prove the tangible excitement and passion for something like NBA Top Shot.

Where does this passion come from? Well, with the pandemic causing people to live an insufferable amount of time in their homes, new hobbies will then arise. One of those hobbies, for many, is the Stock Market/Cryptocurrency world.

It seems that every other week a new cryptocurrency is taking over the world. It was Bitcoin three weeks ago, NBA Top Shot last week, and Dogecoin this week.

Now for the sports side of things…

Sports betting like with NBA NFTs is only going to get more popular

For many people, sports are a big part of our lives. But as of yet, at least for me, cryptocurrency has had no importance in my life. However, that has now changed.

It takes a lot for people to try and understand the ins and outs of the cryptocurrency world because let us be honest, it is very confusing.

However, when an already established passion is involved, people will get excited, and in this case, sports is that passion.

For the sake of this argument, I will use myself as an example.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I told one of my friends I wanted to invest in the stock market. I tried to watch YouTube videos to understand what in the world was going on in the stock market, and simply how to make an investment.

That search got me nowhere, besides having even more questions than when I started.

However, now with Top Shot, I have found my passion for stocks and investments reinvigorated, because not only do I enjoy the NBA, but I understand that world.

I have no understanding of stocks, and what shares I should purchase. However, I know that a player like LeBron James is a good player, and is someone I should invest money in.

Big money means sports betting like NBA Top Shot will continue

Money is the most obvious answer to the rise in NBA Top Shot popularity. People are making an exorbitant amount of money from buying and selling sports highlights.

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According to Dapper Labs, as of February 28th, people have spent more than $230 million buying and selling these NBA highlights. As of now, I can only imagine how high that price has reached.

This is not a fad, Top Shot will not go away for a while. Even more, with more sports leagues closing in on an affiliation with NFTs, this world will begin to take on a new version of trading cards. And the popularity is not expected to dissipate worldwide.

The interest is there, the excitement is at an all-time high, and the money just keeps on building.

Don’t be surprised if, in 10 years, Top Shot is still around and thriving more than ever.

10K80 by Brian Symons March 1, 2021

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The magic of March Madness: Photography that inspires champions

March is known as a month of magic and many things, but most importantly in the sports world, it is known for March Madness, when colleges from all across the country battle it out for the crown of “Best College Basketball Team.” The photography of March Madness can inspire anyone to be great.

This statement is the simplest of all ways to explain what happens in this tournament. It is a time where both casual and loyal fans watch every game intensely and what goes on across the tournament.

The magic of March Madness

There is love for the game and its inspiring stories of underdogs defying odds, but what is also big is the gambling and bracket aspect of March Madness.

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There is gambling in any sports league, but March Madness is so special because of the nature of the tournament. The matchups are not played in a series-style playoff format, but instead a 1 game playoff, which leads to upsets.

This word is the biggest talking point during March, and we also always hear the phrase “Cinderella team” thrown out there. For readers not familiar with March Madness, a Cinderella team is the low seed team that makes an incredible run in the tournament.

With that said of why the tournament is a beautiful draw, let us also explore why it inspires us so much. The photography of some of the biggest upsets in March Madness history is simply magical.

No. 16 UMBC over No. 1 Virginia, 2018

march madness photography — UMBC made history.
(GETTY IMAGES)

Never before had a 16 seed won a game in NCAA tournament history… of course until 2018, when the Retrievers took down the Virginia Cavaliers.

It wasn’t a crazy last-second shot that gave them a win, but instead, a game that was completely one-sided, at least in the second half. UMBC beat Virginia handily, 74-54, and the excitement is on full display in this

An upset of any kind is rare, but a complete demolition may truly never happen again.

No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast over No. 2 Georgetown, 2013

Florida Gulf Coast’s Eddie Murray hangs from the rim after a dunk as Brett Comer celebrates. (Michael Perez/AP)

As I mentioned prior, Cinderella teams begin to take the focus of the entire sports world, and in 2013, Florida Gulf Coast took the world by storm. FGCU not only beat Georgetown but then beat Sand Diego State, advancing to the Sweet 16.

However, focusing on this game, FGCU dunked all over Georgetown, something no one could expect. All their dunking led to a nickname of “Dunk City,” not the most creative nickname, but either way, their success cannot be questioned.

They completed a nice win then over Georgetown, by a score of 78-68.

The all-out delirium of the FGCU players, juxtaposed with Georgetown, wasn’t only apparent in this moment of this March Madness photography, but any shot taken at the end of this game.

No. 15 Lehigh over No. 2 Duke, 2012

magic — Duke’s Austin Rivers scored 19 points off the bench, but the Blue Devils ran out of comebacks. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

In a battle of future NBA talent, CJ McCollum’s Lehigh team took down Austin Rivers and Seth Curry’s Duke team.

Duke has had its fair shares of upsets, but no one truly expects without hindsight a first-round upset given up by a top college system like the Duke Blue Devils.

Well, McCollum and his 30 points ended Duke’s hopes of a National Championship.

No. 11 George Mason over No. 1 UConn, 2006

march madness magic — Before Rudy Gay became an All-Star with the Memphis Grizzlies the former Connecticut star lives through the agony of defeat at the hands of 11th-seeded George Mason in the 2006 Tournament. (Keres/AP/AP)

If this article was about the top Cinderella teams, this picture would have been a perfect example of the shock and disappointment that a Cinderella team can hand its opponents throughout the tournament.

Often regarded as one of the top Cinderella Teams the 2006 George Mason team, took down monster after monster, culminating in their win over UConn that had them advance to the Final Four.

The face of Rudy Gay (UConn #22) is the puzzling look most fans then had watching what George Mason accomplished in 2006.

No. 14 Mercer over No. 3 Duke, 2014

A dance circle is a perfect way to celebrate, and boy did Mercer have its fun. They pumped each other up throughout the game and did the same in their post-win celebration, as the photography of this crazy March Madness moment can attest.

An upset is hard enough to handle (if you are on the losing side), but when it is in front of your own fans, the pill just may be too big to swallow.

Well, that is what happened in 2014, when Mercer took down the Blue Devils at PNC Arena in North Carolina.

Yes, just 2 years after Duke got upset in the first round by Lehigh, they had the same fate in 2014.

Upsets are what make March Madness and its photography magical

Whether with Cinderella teams or first-round upsets, March Madness year in and year out has its fair share of excitement.

There are a lot of upsets to chose from, but personally, I feel these were above and beyond some of the most exciting moments of basketball I have ever witnessed.

March Madness photography reminds us that the underdog can always win. And with conviction and confidence, magic can inspire in the air.

10K80 by Brian Symons February 25, 2021

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Tiger Woods photography inspires us to want to be great

Golf fans around the world have had a gut-wrenching week. February 23, news broke that legend Tiger Woods was involved in a very serious car crash, and the photography of the crash site was intensely harrowing.

As news became more abundant, people around the world were told he was stable but had suffered major leg injuries. We don’t have to get into the technical terms of his injuries, but it does seem that this devastating crash may have ended his golf career in one fell swoop.

This sad, but almost definite truth makes golf fans and simply sports fans around the world reminisce about the career of one of the truly great athletes of all time.

Let’s take a look back at some of Tiger Woods’ greatest moments captured through photography.

Tiger wins the 1997 Masters

Tiger Woods gets a green jacket at the age of 21, with the entire soccer world watching.(Augusta.com)

What most people consider the beginning of true Tiger, the 1997 Masters. In the picture above, we see a young Tiger Woods receiving his first Master’s Green Jacket, the ultimate prize for any golfer.

“Young,” is the correct word, as the 21-year-old was weirdly both a favorite and underdog in the 1997 Masters. He was the talk of the town in the golf world, even having to be escorted by 8 police officers to his first tee shot.

The hype around Tiger was because of what he was doing at such a young age, and people expected an amazing performance from Tiger.

However, while some were quick to say he was a favorite, Nick Faldo another great golf player explained that there was a “learning curve to Augusta.”

Well, the learning curve must have been minimal for Tiger as he won by 12 shots and set a record for the best score at -18. This photograph of Tiger shows his pure joy on display.

The 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach

The look of a champion, Tiger Woods claimed greatness again by winning the 2000 US Open.

As Roger Maltbie put it, “It’s not a fair fight,” speaking about Tiger’s success at Pebble Beach, where Tiger’s winning score was 12 under par.

The runner-up was +3, a significant difference in the score that continued to prove the majesty of Tiger’s game. The photography of Tiger Woods shows the electricity that made him golf’s biggest sensation ever.

Tiger on the 16th hole at the 2005 Masters

Tiger Woods chips in an impossible shot, that helps him win another championship. (Augusta.com)

One of the most iconic Tiger moments of his career was this 16th hole. It also brought out his famous fist pump. The photography of Tiger Woods when he’s excited about a shot is unlike anything else in golf.

Tiger’s chip shot at the 16th hole of the Masters helped not only his ultimate win, but his legacy as a legend. This shot was expected to be one that would simply put him close to the hole to hopefully get to par, but instead he made an insane shot.

And in the famous words of Verne Lundquist: “In your life have you seen anything like that?” and most people could say they have not.

Tiger wins the 2008 US Open

tiger woods photography — 15 June 2008: Tiger Woods birdies the 18th hole and celebrates to send it to a playoff round against Rocco Mediate (not pictured) during the final round of the US Open Championship at Torrey Pines South Golf Course in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Charles Baus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

A championship that for anyone else would just not have happened. In the 2008 US Open, Tiger Woods played through a broken leg.

This is not an easy thing, to say the least, and he was able to put on a show that kept his injury unknown until after the fact.

As astonishing as it is to play through this injury, he won the damn title. And this photograph of Tiger celebrating puts this insane feat on full display.

Tiger wins in one of the greatest comeback stories of all time (2019)

11 years…a length of time most people didn’t expect the Big Cat would have to wait to win another major.

However, after injuries and some off-the-field issues, Tiger won his 15th major title in 2019 at Augusta, a course that Tiger has put his name all over.

Number 15 was important because it took him over Jack Nicklaus’ record of 14 major titles.

The excitement and all-out passion is evident in this photograph of Tiger as he and the fans behind him realize the feat that Tiger Woods just accomplished.

When you need to be inspired, look no further than photography of Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods is a legend, and with that comes the many moments that make him the GOAT.

With his recent crash, the final curtains may have fallen on Woods’ career. But that does not mean that these amazing moments vanish as well.

Luckily for all of us, we can continue to relive these moments again and again of Tiger Woods through this stunning photography. Get well soon Tiger, you inspire more people than you will ever know.

addison scurlock by Brian Symons February 22, 2021

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Addison Scurlock is the most iconic Black photographer you haven’t seen

Addison Scurlock was an iconic Black photographer of the 20th century.

He is the man behind the lens of some of the most influential moments of the 1900s.

From capturing the Civil Rights movement to some of the most influential people alive in his life, like W.E.B. DuBois and President Calvin Coolidge, Scurlock was notable for his prowess behind the lens.

And given the extreme prejudice and systemic racism leading to a constant disadvantage for Black Americans, Scurlock’s rise in the 20th century as an iconic Black photographer can inspire us all.

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The “Scurlock Look”

Addison Scurlock became one of the most iconic Black photographers for, of course, his skills with the lens. But also because of his special style of shooting, called the “Scurlock Look”

In this influential style, clients are positioned with an odd positioning of the camera, which still ironically works very well.

One of the most important parts of Scurlock’s legend was his focus on capturing African American culture.

A diligent desire to capture Black culture

Addison Scurlock and his family spent most of their time documenting major African American cultural moments. But they also explored the simple life of African Americans.

As previously mentioned, he photographed throughout the monumental Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.

But he and his family captured moments in Black-owned small businesses and simple everyday occurrences throughout the south. These included weddings, graduations, baptisms, etc.

https://twitter.com/bimadew/status/538350810275782658?s=20

As we all know, African American culture was consistently ostracized and simply ignored.

But Scurlock definitely did not ignore the culture that was all around him. He made sure to capture the world that he and many others were living in.

The Scurlock Studio

Scurlock’s inspiration to those around him was a huge part of the legend of Addison Scurlock.

Scurlock taught his sons George and Robert his tricks to photography, but a huge part of his inspiration came from his studio, The Scurlock Studio, located at 900 U Street, N.W.

How can a studio be inspiring? Well, during those times, just as today, photos inspired people, and those that walked past studios saw tremendous photos and were enthralled by the emotion and beauty of the portraits.

However, what was monumental about Scurlock’s studio was the fact that it was one of the few that highlighted African American culture, a unique, but obviously inspiring niche for the time and forever.

Addison Scurlock and his sons captured life in 20th Washington, D.C., photographing leaders, luminaries, and local Washingtonians. Many of their photographs are now housed in the Scurlock Studio Collection in our Archives Center. #cityMW #MuseumWeek pic.twitter.com/EdfBoSxq22
— National Museum of American History (@amhistorymuseum) April 24, 2018

The value of iconic Black photographers

Photography, especially at the time of Addison Scurlock, was used to capture a moment.

And if it wasn’t for influential photographers like Scurlock, a huge part of United States society would have been ignored for ages.

All these moments could have vanished forever, but luckily for everyone, Scurlock made sure to capture these special moments.

all star by Brian Symons February 18, 2021

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A new era of Melo: How Carmelo Anthony embraced being a role player

“Melo,” a trending topic on Twitter a few days ago, perfectly portrays the changing of an era in the history of the NBA. The trend brought up an interesting debate of whether the nickname should be used for LaMelo Ball, a rising star in the NBA, or of course now-role player Carmelo Anthony.

For years now, Carmelo Anthony has been counted out as an impactful NBA player. Even two years ago there were questions of if Carmelo would ever play again because no team would give him another opportunity.

Luckily, for Carmelo, and all basketball fans, the Portland Trail Blazers gave him a chance, and the Melo era is not yet finished, as he has been a fantastic role player for them since.

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Carmelo Anthony the role player

It seemed for a while Carmelo Anthony was not willing to take a diminished role as a role player.

But he has cherished and thrived in that role in Portland. His recent play has even lead to talks of a possible All-Star game appearance.

Melo’s game the past month-plus has made many NBA fans reminisce about the superstar Carmelo was throughout his career.

About the era of Melo in Denver making the Western Conference Finals. Or the solid and tough NY Knicks squads that he made fashionable again.

So let us reminisce together.

Carmelo Anthony is CLUTCH

carmelo anthony role player — Carmelo Anthony hit the game-tying 3-pointer in regulation and the game-winning three in overtime to give the Knicks a memorable Easter Sunday win over the NBA’s best team, the Chicago Bulls. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

In an Easter classic on April 8th, 2012, Carmelo Anthony delivered a game that will never be forgotten. A nail biter that went back and forth, featured two clutch 3 point shots that gave the Knicks the win.

The first shot, which was a last-second shot in the 4th quarter, tied the game, which brought the game into overtime. And the second gave the Knicks the win.

Melo saved the day at MSG 👏

Knicks vs. Bulls – 3pm ET on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/GBYJNN2eE8
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 6, 2020

Now of course Carmelo had other moments prior to this game with the Knicks that were amazing, but this one was truly magical. A moment that made MSG shake from top to bottom.

This was the Melo era in New York at its finest. And as us New Yorkers know, there is no equivalent to MSG when it is rocking.

Carmelo Anthony scores 62

A night a record was broken. January 24th, 2014 would go down in history, and that is all thanks to Carmelo Anthony.

Why? Because this was the day that Carmelo Anthony surpassed Kobe Bryant’s 61 points, which was the record for the most points ever scored at Madison Square Garden, before Anthony’s 62.

The photo above, shows Carmelo taking the shot that gave him the record. You can see the awe in the spectators’ eyes, as they were nervously waiting to see if they were about to witness history.

And boy did they ever. This was a different era of Melo that makes us happy to reminisce upon.

Six years ago today: Melo goes off for 62 PTS at MSG 💥

His career high and the Knicks' franchise record

(via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/ngljDZN3FK
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 24, 2020

Carmelo wins gold…for the 3rd time

melo era — Carmelo Anthony in the Men’s gold medal game of the Rio 2016 Olympics (Getty Images)

In 2016, people began to question if Melo still had it, if he was still a go-to superstar. Well, that question quickly stopped when he went overseas with Team USA.

Melo quickly became the go-to player for team USA and one of the stars of an unstoppable era. And he showed the whole world how truly great he still was.

Not to mention Melo brought home his 3rd gold medal with team USA!

Carmelo will always be Melo

There are countless moments throughout Carmelo’s 20-year career that make you remember how truly great Carmelo was. That make you happy for the Melo era where he rivaled LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

However there is still a lot left to Anthony’s career, so if you are an NBA fan, continue to appreciate and watch in awe as an all-time great plays in front of you.

argentina by Brian Symons February 15, 2021

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When a world comes together: The World Cup seen through photography

The World Cup provides soccer fans with so much excitement, and the photography that captures the most iconic moments from each one provides the world with lasting memories.

Quite simply, on a global scale, there is nothing bigger than the World Cup, and part of that is that fans have to wait four years for all the enjoyment.

Since the last World Cup was in 2018, we are only one year away from another momentous occasion. But in the meantime, let us help you fill the emptiness in your stomachs with a look back at some of the greatest photography of World Cup moments.

Where it all began (1930 World Cup)

Uruguay scoring its first goal in the World Cup final against Argentina, in Montevideo, Uruguay, July 30, 1930. (AP Images)

You may be looking at this photo, and notice the horrendous quality of the image. Well that just signifies the moment. Photographed is Laurence Laurent of France scoring the first-ever World Cup goal in 1930, against Brazil.

It was not some crazy electric goal, but it was a moment to witness, as all firsts are. This goal will go down in history, as will this image.

An underdog overcomes (1950 World Cup)

Uruguay player Ghiggia scores during the World Cup Final, against Brazil, in the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 16, 1950. Uruguay defeated Brazil 2-1 to win the 1950 World Cup. (AP Photo)

After World War 2 ravaged Europe, FIFA was desperately looking for a home for the World Cup. The only offer would be Brazil, which set the scene for this championship game.

The Brazilian squad had torched their opponents throughout this World Cup, which set the scene for its home team to win in front of their fans, in the championship match against Uruguay.

In front of a packed house, Brazil got out to a 1-0 score, however by the 79th minute Uruguay was up 2-1. All thanks to Alcides Ghiggia, who took a pass from Julio Perez. Ultimately Uruguay completed the 2-1 upset.

This outcome not only shocked the 200,000 in attendance but the whole soccer world.

The controversial goal (1966 World Cup)

world cup moments — Geoff Hurst’s goal in 1966 has been the subject of a 50-year long debate (Image: Getty)

Controversy leads to legends, and in 1966 a supposed goal has led to a 50+year controversy. In a game that matched England against Germany, the winning goal by England’s Geoff Hurst is still being analyzed to this day.

The ball kicked off of Hurst’s leg hit the crossbar and seemed to hit the goal-line, however it was called a goal after linesman Tofiq Bahramov believed that it crossed the line.

This decision ultimately kicked Germany out of the World Cup. An outcome that many fans think was unwarranted.

Maradona’s goal of the century (1986 World Cup)

Famous World Cup photography doesn’t get bigger than this. And the same goes for superstars in soccer.

Diego Maradona was an all-time great and sadly passed away this year, but his legend will always live on, not to mention his “Goal of The Century.”

The 1986 World Cup game between Argentina and England was the stage, and Maradona was the star.

Not 5 minutes after scoring the infamous “Hand of God” goal, Maradona put on a display of majestic, mystical-like moves. The outcome of all these moves was him putting a goal past England’s goalie.

Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt (2006 World Cup)

Not a goal, nor an incredible pass, but instead a headbutt that should be highlighted.

A moment that has continued to stay iconic to this day is when famed French captain, Zinedine Zidane, headbutted Italy’s Marco Materazzi. At first, it seemed that Zidane was in the wrong, and let his hot-headed nature get the best of him.

However, we have now learned that his actions were provoked by Materazzi making inappropriate remarks about Zidane’s sister. You can see the aggression on Zidane’s face and now we know exactly why!

The photograph of this iconic World Cup moment will never be forgotten, as it was also Zidane’s last time playing for his country.

France wins the 2018 World Cup

What is the last moment in World Cup history for now, is team France being crowned champions.

One thing that is clear is the elation and excitement that comes with achieving the title. There is no bigger feat in the world of soccer, than literally being crowned champion of the world. And in 2018, these Frenchmen were able to.

When a world comes together, momentous occasions occur

There are a lot of other moments that I could have highlighted, but how can you put 90 years of history into one article?

Every World Cup is filled with crazy action and jaw-dropping plays. And every World Cup has its amazing moments and iconic photography that will always live on!

10K80 by Brian Symons February 8, 2021

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7-time champion: An exploration into the GOAT Brady through photography

There is no greater way to investigate a person than through photography, and this rule rings true for Tom Brady as it does for anyone else. Winning his seventh Super Bowl ring in 2021, and appearing in his tenth Super Bowl, puts Brady in a league of his own.

Personally, I think the craziest stat that proves how great Tom Brady is, is the fact that he has been in 18 percent of all the Super Bowls that have ever been played. Not to mention he has won 13 percent of all Super Bowls.

We wanted to look at Tom Brady and his Super Bowl appearances through photos, but quickly realized the difficulty of such a feat, because he has been in so many.

So instead, we dove into Tom Brady’s illustrious career through the photographs of just his Super Bowl wins. And boy are they captivating. Enjoy.

Super Bowl XXXVI – New England defeats St. Louis, 20-17

Tom Brady burst onto the NFL stage in 2001 when he relieved an injured Drew Bledsoe and then never let go of the starting job. Brady led the Patriots to their first championship that season. (Cred: JIM DAVIS/GLOBE STAFF/FILE)

In what has become a Tom Brady classic, the hands-on-head shocked look from the GOAT made its first appearance in Super Bowl 36.

In Super Bowl 36,Tom Brady led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl win, and this photograph shows his sheer joy.

Brady and the Patriots shocked the world by beating the St. Louis Rams, a feeling that the NFL would continue to feel throughout the next 20 years as Brady stacked his rings.

Super Bowl XXXVIII – New England defeats Carolina, 32-29

No, this is not the same picture as the one above, but it is another time where the Tom Brady classic appeared.

In Super Bowl 38, Tom Brady won another close game and helped secure the Patriots’ second Super Bowl Championship in three years.

The photography of GOAT Brady as his rings piled up only got better throughout the years.

Super Bowl XXXIX – New England defeats Philadelphia, 24-21

*JOHN W. MCDONOUGH FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED*

Tom Brady led the 14-2 Patriots against the 13-3 Philadelphia Eagles in 2004. In a game that was close all the way, it came down to some clutch defensive plays at the end.

But Brady was not too shabby himself. He completed 23 of 33 passes, for 236 yards.

Not to mention, Tom Brady led the Patriots to two straight Super Bowl wins, and three in four seasons.

This beautiful photograph of the GOAT shows how real it felt for Brady as he accomplished such a historic task, and early in his career at that.

Super Bowl XLIX – New England defeats Seattle, 28-24

The two hands up, with the Lombardi Trophy in GOAT Tom Brady’s left hand, proved to the world that the Patriots were back on top!

A 10-year drought came to an end when Tom Brady threw for 328 years to beat the Seahawks.

Now, of course, the memorable moment from this game is when the Seahawks decided to throw for a touchdown instead of run, which ultimately led to a Malcolm Butler interception that sealed the deal for the Pats.

Super Bowl LI – New England defeats Atlanta, 34-28

*Tom Brady, jubilant. KEVIN C. COX/GETTY IMAGES*

This photo of Tom Brady captures it all.

The emotion in this picture of Brady winning another ring is apparent. In a game that seemed sealed at halftime, it was actually anything but that.

Another picture that became famous from this Super Bowl, is the screenshot of the scoreboard with 2:12 left in the 3rd quarter, where the Patriots were losing 28-3.

The Patriots ended up winning the game 35-28. It became clear that impossible is always possible when you have Tom Brady at the helm, and he won another ring to stack five on his hand.

Super Bowl LIII – New England defeats Los Angeles, 13-3

Super Bowl 53 was probably the easiest championship for Mr. Brady, which is certainly portrayed in this photo. You can just see how easy it came to him, he looks so relaxed, like he’s saying “yep, I did it again.”

This was the final Super Bowl Tom Brady won with the Patriots, totaling 6 championships during his 20 seasons with New England.

Super Bowl LIII – New England defeats Kansas City, 31-9

Brady celebrates after the win. *Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports*

Yep, he did it again. Tom Brady won his 7th Super Bowl ring, in a game where many expected the young gun, Patrick Mahomes to take the torch once and for all from the king.

However, that did not happen, and Tom Brady made clear that it may not happen next year either. As he said in his postgame interview:

“We’re coming back.”
Tom Brady

Photography of Tom Brady winning should inspire all of us to be greater

No matter what he does in the rest of his career, it is clear Tom Brady is the GOAT. Seven rings are unheard of, especially as the star of the team in all years.

This photography of Tom Brady immediately after winning shows us the unadulterated joy on the face of a champion. And still, it only inspires him to want to win more.

10K80 by Brian Symons February 3, 2021

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Will Black women be inspired by the new Royal Rumble 2021 champ?

In the year 2021, Bianca Belair became the first Black woman to win the WWE Royal Rumble. The historic accomplished was captured by an intensely genuine WWE photo of Belair’s joy.

The Royal Rumble has produced jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring fights since 1988, but never before had a Black woman won the belt.

Bianca Belair’s confidence and determination won her the event, and in doing so, broke barriers across the world for Black women.

Belair’s historic victory makes us nostalgic for the history of the Royal Rumble. Thus, in addition to Bianca Belair’s already-iconic image of her winning, we took a glimpse back at other historic WWE photos since 1988.

Bianca Belair becomes the first Black woman to win the Royal Rumble (2021)

black woman royal rumble — Bianca Belair Wins 2021 Women’s Royal Rumble. Photo Credit: WWE

This WWE photo shows the shock in Bianca Belair’s face, the tears rolling down her face, is evidence of the inspiring win. One that broke barriers throughout the Royal Rumble and WWE universe.

Bianca Belair (real last name Blair) was a track star in high school. Though she would agonize over her size and strength, as they were more harmful than helpful in running.

Belair found that CrossFit was a place she could use to hone in on her skills.

“I always had a lot of body image issues, I always thought I was too big. In CrossFit, it’s an amazing community, it’s just positivity all around. I fell in love with my body, I fell in love with my muscles, I fell in love with my physique.”
Bianca Belair

Something that many Black women, women, and even men too can understand is being uncomfortable in one’s own body.

wwe photos — (Cred: @biancabelairwwe)
About last night…!!!
#Smackdown #ESTofWWE Feeling good, feeling great going into
#RoyalRumble

Belair found happiness and determination in CrossFit, and this ultimately ended up pointing her in the direction of the WWE. Moral of the story?

Never give up, and always be kind and fair to yourself. Your big break can always be right around the corner.

“Regardless of Bianca Blair or Bianca Belair, it’s the same person, essentially: talented, hardworking, athletic, a powerhouse and the best at everything that I do.”
Bianca Belair

“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan wins the first ever Royal Rumble (1988)

Jim Duggan wins first ever Royal Rumble. Photo Credit: WWE

“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan won the first-ever Royal Rumble in 1988. This WWE photo captures him in all of his glory.

You can see the joy and excitement in Duggan’s face after he completed his best accomplishment in his WWE career.

For years he was known as a midcard fighter who everyone just liked, but this WWE Royal Rumble championship was truly the pinnacle of his Hall of Fame career.

Hulk Hogan celebrates his Royal Rumble win (1991)

Hulk Hogan raises his finger as he wins 1991 Royal Rumble. Photo Credit: WWE

Hulk Hogan’s hand holding up the number 1 was true, Hulk Hogan became the first person to win 2 straight Royal Rumbles. He was truly number 1 in the world.

In his 1991 Royal Rumble Win, and his future Royal Rumble fights, he broke away from his hero persona, and became a traitor to his friends/allies throughout the Rumble.

In 1991, he betrayed one of his key supporters, Tugboat to be able to be crowned champion.

Lex Luger and Bret Hart co-won the (1994) Royal Rumble

Lex Luger and Bret Hart were co-winners of the Royal Rumble in 1994. It was a confusing conundrum, but after Hulk Hogan left WWE in the dust, the WWE tried their best to make up a compelling show.

Their answer, have Luger and Hart eliminate each other, which was a hard task, but it was definitely accomplished.

In the end Luger and Hart gave each other a hand shake to acknowledge the level of respect between the two.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin captured winning in this iconic WWE photo (1997)

Steve Austin wins 1997 Royal Rumble. Photo Credit: WWE

One thing is for sure: the Royal Rumble is filled with crazy, intense fights, that sometimes just don’t make sense. The ending to the 1997 Royal Rumble was one of those instances.

A battle between Bret Hart and Steve Austin, led to a lucky win by Austin. Hart threw Austin over the ropes, which seemed to set the scene for an easy win for Hart.

However, with the two referees dealing with something on the side of the ring, Austin slowly made his way back in. And without a flinch threw all his opponents over the ropes, and won the 1997 Royal Rumble.

Asuka wins the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble (2018)

Asuka beats the Bella Twins to win first ever Women’s Royal Rumble. Photo Credit: WWE

In the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble, Asuka took down Nikki Bella.

The blue- and pinked-hair Asuka essentially took down the Bella twins to win the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble.

A defeat that we can tell hurt the Bella Twins to their cores, as you can see all the work they put in to try and win the first Women’s Royal Rumble.

These Royal Rumble photographs will always remind us of greatness

The Royal Rumble has been filled with amazing moments over the years. These iconic WWE photos have given us a glimpse into the past, and with Bianca Belair, a glimpse into the present and future.

The Royal Rumble will continue to make for exciting moments that rock the fighting and sports world to their cores. And hopefully with Bianca Belair’s win, Black women will be able to see themselves in the future of the sport as well.