 Classic SI photo by Walter Iooss Jr. |
Golden Harvest
The gold medal win by Rulon Gardner of the U.S. (right) over Russia's previously invincible Alexander Karelin in their Greco-Roman heavyweight wrestling match was the greatest upset of the 2000 Summer Games. Gardner built his strength and endurance working long hours on his family's 250-acre dairy farm in Afton, Wyo.
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SI COVERS |
A Bum Steer?
Sports Illustrated's 1987-'88 college basketball preview issue proclaimed that Wyoming's flamboyant forward Fennis Dembo might just lead his squad to the NCAA title. It appears, however, that the SI cover jinx may have branded this Cowboy. Wyoming lost in the first round of the 1988 NCAA tournament
Click here to see a gallery of every college basketball cover
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GREATEST ATHLETES |
Boyd Dowler, Cheyenne
NFL Rookie of the Year led Packers in receiving seven times from 1959 to '69; won two Super Bowl rings with Green Bay.
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Lance Deal, Casper
Won silver medal in hammer throw at 1996 Olympics; first American to medal in the event in 40 years.
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John Godina, Cheyenne
Two-time world champion shot-putter took silver medal in 1996 Olympics; won '98 Jesse Owens Award.
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FLASHBACK |
1987: They're Jumping For Joy
All Wyoming is wild about the Cowboys, whose Fennis Dembo could lead them to the NCAA title
The Deeses of Georgia -- Benny from Mount Vernon and Nancy from Alma -- are out on the town in Laramie, Wyoming. Wyoming? Well, actually, Lahrmuh, Wyomin', as pronounced by the Deeses, who, since they moved here in April, are never so much understood in Wyomin' as they are believed in.
FULL STORY
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THE SI POLL |
Who do Wyoming residents root for? SI asked Equality State residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
Colorado Rockies | 29% |
New York Yankees | 9% |
Favorite NFL team
Denver Broncos | 34% |
Oakland Raiders | 9% |
Favorite NBA team
Utah Jazz | 18% |
Los Angeles Lakers | 11% |
No favorite team | 34% |
Favorite NHL team
Colorado Avalanche | 44% |
Detroit Red Wings | 5% |
No favorite team | 35% |
Favorite pro team
Denver Broncos | 26% |
Oakland Raiders | 9% |
Colorado Avalanche | 7% |
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State's biggest rivalry
Wyo.-Colo. St. | 27% |
Wyoming-BYU | 16% |
Natrona County High-Kelly Walsh High | 4% |
Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in Wyoming
Fennis Dembo | 13% |
Rulon Gardner | 11% |
(tie) Jim Kiick,
Jay Novacek | 9% |
Favorite announcer
John Madden | 24% |
Curt Gowdy | 6% |
Terry Bradshaw | 5% |
Favorite sport to participate in
Fishing | 25% |
Golf | 12% |
Swimming | 10% |
Bicycling | 9% |
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Favorite sports to watch on TV
Football | 78% |
Winter Olympics | 52% |
Summer Olympics | 44% |
Basketball | 37% |
Sport participated in within last 12 months
Fishing | 45% |
Bicycling | 31% |
Billiards or pool | 31% |
Hiking | 31% |
Bowling | 30% |
Swimming | 30% |
Running or jogging | 27% |
Weight lifting | 25% |
Golf | 24% |
FUN FACT | |
30 percent of respondents have openly booed a referee or official in the past 12 months | |
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* Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 385 Wyoming residents who identified themselves as sports fans. Margin of error +/-5.0% Multiple responses allowed
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Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary |
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ENEMY OF THE STATE |
Rick Majerus
Majerus's Utah basketball teams have been a Wyoming nemesis, just as former Brigham Young football coach Edwards's teams used to be. Wyomingites' choice as their state's most villainous opponent: BYU (39%), Colorado State (25%) and Colorado (6%).
Rick Majerus | 19% |
LaVell Edwards | 12% |
Al Davis | 10% |
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STATITUDES |
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1 Female general managers in the Pioneer League. On Sept. 18, 2002, Mary Stanley was named President/GM of the Casper (Wyo.) Rockies, a rookie club affilated with the Colorado Rockies.
15 Fans who were on hand in 1944 to hear Curt Gowdy make his broadcasting debut in his hometown of Cheyenne, Wyo. A future member of the "Scribes and Mikemen" wing of the baseball Hall of Fame, Gowdy did the play-by-play of a six-man football game between Pine Bluffs and St. Mary's.
3 Consecutive seasons in which Jim Kiick led Wyoming in rushing (1965, '66, '67). The Cowboys posted a 26-6 record during his three seasons as starting tailback, including a perfect 13-0 home record.
32 Family rate admission price in dollars to the Wyoming Rodeo with the JH Rodeo Company. Billed as the "Least Expensive Family Activity in Jackson Hole", the rodeo is held Wednesday and Saturday nights from Nov. 15 through April 1.
24 Stations throughout Wyoming and western South Dakota that make up the Cowboy Sports Network. The flagship station is KFBC Radio 1240 in Cheyenne.
100 Miles in the The Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run, a competitive event that takes place annually in the Little Bighorn-Tongue River areas of Wyoming's Bighorn National Forest.
1899 Year of the first Wyoming-Colorado State football game. The oldest interstate rivalry west of the Mississippi River, the "The Border War" has been held every year but six since the schools began playing.
1968 Year in which the ROTC detachments of both Wyoming and Colorado State initiated the Bronze Boot, a travelling trophy awarded each year to the winner of the Border War football game. The Boot was originally worn in Vietnam by a CSU graduate.
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FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: July 10, 1890 (44th state)
Area: 97,818 square miles
Bird: Western Meadowlark
Capital: Cheyenne
Economy: Agriculture -- Cattle, sugar beets, sheep, hay, wheat. Industry -- Mining, chemical products, lumber and wood products, printing and publishing, machinery, tourism.
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Flower: Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja linariaefolia)
Nickname: Equality State
Population: 493,782 (50th)
Pro sports teams: None
Major college programs: Wyoming Cowboys
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