Les Listes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Many people traditionally streak all over the world, in a variety of sporting and other public events. However, historians generally attribute it starting as an English tradition that took place in many British cities and colonies. In fact, it has been around since at least the mid 18th century. However, the modern form of streaking did not really start until the mid 1960s and 70s. Streaking leads to many hilarious situations. Check out below for the top 10 stories of streakers at sporting events.
#10: Fake Ref Streaks at a College Football game
Streakers at sporting events tend to already be naked before they hit the field. However, in a 2011 matchup between rivals UCLA and Arizona, Jace Lankow didn’t let this streaking tradition hold him back. In fact, Lankow walked onto the filed during the the middle of the game pretending to be a referee. During a play, he blew his whistle pretending to signal a violation.[1]NESN – Arizona, UCLA Brawl After Fake Referee Streaker Distracts Officiating Crew He was so convincing in his trick, that the players and even the other referees stopped thinking that he was a real ref. However, when he got to the middle of the field, he stripped and started streaking around the field. Unfortunately, his streaking caused the two college teams to fight during the brief break.
#9: Jimmy Jump Strikes Again and Again
Most jokes age very quickly. However, sometimes a joke ages very well, like a fine wine. Jimmy Jump is a perfect example of this. He is one of the most famous streakers at sporting events. He comes from Spain, but has streaked at sporting events all over the world.[2]Reuters – Man tries to grab World Cup trophy
However, unlike many other streakers at sporting events who are just looking for their 15 minutes of fame, Jimmy Jump streaks for a noble purpose. In fact, he raises awareness of racism around the world by wearing a t-shirt that says “Jimmy Jump Against Racism”. Jimmy Jump has streaking at many sporting events include: F1 racing, basketball, tennis, soccer, and others. Hilariously, the authorities know about Jimmy Jump but for some reason they still cannot keep him out from their events.
#8: Michael O’Brien – the Founder of Modern Streakers at Sporting Events
Michael O’Brien will go down as a man who helped change the landscape for streakers at sporting events. O’Brien did this by becoming the first person to streak at a modern sporting event. In 1974, in England, he streaked during a match between the English and French national soccer teams.[3]The Guardian – 20.04.74 Britain’s first streaker meets his match According to O’Brien, he just did it as part of a bet with his friends.
Ironically, he did not even get in trouble. In fact, the police took the streaking prank in good humor and just escorted O’Brien off of the field, let him put his clothes back on, and even let him go back to his seat to continue to watch the game. Quite different from today, where police will tackle a streaker, put them in jail, and make them pay a hefty fine.
#7: Streaking at a High School Football Game
Streakers can strike anywhere. In fact, they do not just limit themselves to just professional sporting events. Additionally, streakers sometimes can be superheroes as well! A great example of this is when Spiderman streaked across the field of a Seminole High School, Florida football game. At the game, a kid put on a Spiderman mask and nothing else and streaked across the football field during the game. Hilariously, security were unable to catch him, most likely due to his superhuman Spiderman reflexes. In fact, he jumped several fences and got away in getaway car.[4]tbo – Student charged with streaking at Seminole High football game
#6: Streaking at the President’s Cup
Sometimes, Americans have a bad reputation around the globe. Not everyone likes it when they visit their country. However, Kimberly Webster is not one of those cases. In fact, she showed her American patriotism and still got the European crowd to cheer for her. But how did she do this? At the President’s cup in Ireland, Webster walked onto the golf course during the match dressed in nothing and holding an American flag. She had only placed some American flag sticker in a few strategic spots.[5]Fox Sports – Golf streaker: I did it for Stricker In fact, she even got people in the crowd to start chanting USA! USA! USA!
#5: Borat Impersonator Goes Streaking
The Sasha Baron Cohen movie, Borat, is one of the weirdest and most hilarious movies of all time. The titular character Borat does many ridiculous things and famously repeats the phrase “it’s very nice!”. However, one of the silliest things that Borat did was was wear the bright green speedo bathing suit. His bathing suit became a cultural icon during the time.
In 2011, during a soccer match in the UK, a streaker dressed in Borat’s famous bathing suit and run around the soccer pitch.[6]CBS News – UK player gets red card for tackling streaker One of the soccer players decided to tackle the streaker to help the authorities. As a result, he received a red card. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, no good action goes unpunished.
#4: Streaking at the Montreal Winter Olympics
The Olympic Games is the one time every four years, that the greatest Olympians can come together at test themselves against the best athletes in the world. They are one of the most watched sporting event in the world. Therefore, this is the perfect opportunity for streakers at sporting events. In fact, one of the most famous streaking events took place at the 1976 Montreal Olympics opening ceremonies. During the opening ceremony performance, while 500 white clad young women were dancing in the stadium, Michel Leduc started streaking across the stadium.[7]The New York Times – Montreal Olympics That Opened in Strife Close on Brighter Note Needless to say, Leduc had a large audience. In fact, not only did he have the whole world watching on TV, but he also had an audience of 70,000 people at the stadium.
#3: Streaking Turns into a Modeling Career
In 1982, Erica Roe and her large breasts instantly became famous when she streaked onto the field of an English and Australian national teams rugby match. Needless to say, the fans and players at the match enjoyed the show. In fact, there is a picture of two police officers escorting her off of the field and clearly enjoying the view. Unlike other streakers, who only might get 15 minutes of fame from their streaking, Roe immediately got a 8,000 pound modeling contract.[8]The Scotsman – Where are they now?
#2: Mark Roberts – Streaking Master
The Olympics is a perfect stage for streakers at sporting events. In 2006, Mark Roberts streaked into history and changed the whole game. Roberts not only streaked but also combined props in his streaking performance. Specifically, during the bronze medal curling match, Roberts streaked on the ice only wearing a rubber chicken to cover his privates[9]https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2014/08/04/history-streaking-sports, yellow rubber gloves, clown shoes, clothes pins on his ears, and a towel on his head. He was quite the site to behold.
#1: Michael Angelow Streaks at a Cricket Match
Cricket is a very British sport. It is both proper and can take a long time to play. In fact, there are even versions of the game where the players take a tea break in the middle. Unsurprisingly, many people find it a bit boring to watch. Especially when matches can take over 5 hours to finish. However, Michael Angelow changed this. In 1975, during a cricket match between England and Australia, Angelow took on a 10 pound bet to strip naked and run around the field.[10]ESPN Cricinfo -The bare necessities Needless to say, it was quite amusing to both players and fans. In fact, it was probably the most action that took place on the field that day. However, police quickly arrested him and fined him 10 pounds.
References