True Story -- Source: "Touching The Void" by Joe Simpson

-- Author unknown -- See highlight Video below

Jim Abbott has battled the odds his entire life. Despite being born with only one hand he was the 15th player to ever make a professional debut in the Major Leagues. Many considered the move a publicity stunt by manager Doug Rader, but after struggling early, Abbott proved his doubters wrong by winning 12 games with a 3.92 ERA in his rookie season.

By Darren Edwards

In old times, fable retells the story of the young athletic boy hungry for success, for whom winning was everything and success was measured by such a result.

One day, the boy was preparing himself for a running competition in his small native village, himself and two other young boys to compete. A large crowd had congregated to witness the sporting spectacle and a wise old man, upon hearing of the little boy, had travelled far to bear witness also.

By Rick Weinberg -- Special to ESPN.com -- See Video below!

He could barely walk. Actually, he could barely stand without his leg wobbling and shaking. When no one was looking, back when he was in the batting cage outside the Los Angeles Dodgers' locker room during Game 1 of the 1988 World Series against the Oakland A's, he actually used a bat a few times as a walking cane, to balance himself.

Hobbled captain inspires club to '70 title.

By Bruce Lowitt

Hollywood could not have written a better ending: the old warrior coming to the aid of his comrades in arms for one final climactic battle.

Willis Reed played the role to perfection.

It was May 8, 1970, and the New York Knicks were staring defeat in the face -- Wilt Chamberlain's face -- in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Reed, the Knicks center, their captain, their rock, appeared too hurt to play.

Ben Hogan wins the British Open to complete his return to the top of his sport.

By Bruce Lowitt

He was far from the manicured courses at Augusta National in Georgia and the Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. This was Carnoustie, where the wind and rain swept across the desolate fairways on the Scottish coast.

No matter. On July10, 1953, Ben Hogan tamed the course with a record final-round 4-under 68 to win the British Open and complete the first Triple Slam in golf's storied history.

Doug Flutie threw a last-second TD pass to Gerard Phelan that gave Boston College a 47-45 win over Miami in 1984, one of the most memorable moments in University history.

By Reid Oslin

Dan Davis: Here's your ballgame, folks, as Flutie takes the snap...He drops straight back...has some time...Now he scrambles away from one hit...looks...uncorks a deep one for the end zone...Phelan is down there...

Gino Cappelletti: Oh, he got it!

Davis: Did he get it?

Cappelletti: He got it!

UCLA gives Wizard of Westwood a grand sendoff by beating Kentucky 92-85.

By Bruce Lowitt

They knew it would be their last game under John Wooden. They already had won nine NCAA basketball championships under his tutelage. But the UCLA Bruins wanted this one as a going-away present for their coach.

When the 1974-75 season had begun, UCLA was, for the first time in nine years, not the defending champion. It had lost in the 1974 Final Four semifinals to eventual champion North Carolina State.

By BRUCE LOWITT

To much of America, and certainly to the NFL, the American Football League was somewhere between a minor league and a joke.

Until Super Bowl III.

Until quarterback Joe Namath made good on a preposterous guarantee -- that his New York Jets would beat the seemingly unbeatable Baltimore Colts. They did, 16-7.

This AFL was the fourth league to challenge the NFL. The first three died within a year or two of their birth. But this one, which began playing in 1960, had network television money behind it.