Prompt Cast
Controversy Surrounding the 1972 Olympic Basketball Gold Medal Game
TLDR The 1972 Olympic basketball gold medal game between the United States and the Soviet Union was marred by controversy, with the American team refusing to accept their silver medals due to extreme irregularities and rule violations. Instead, they agreed to accept joint gold medals and sold the silver medals to raise funds for a charity for Russian orphans.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The 1972 Olympic Basketball Gold Medal Game between the United States and the Soviet Union was one of the most controversial moments in Olympic history.
01:47
The American basketball team had dominated the Olympics, but the Soviet team was older and more experienced.
03:26
In the 1972 Olympic basketball gold medal game, the Soviets were leading the Americans by one point with three seconds left on the clock when American guard Doug Collins was fouled and given two free throws, but while shooting the second free throw, the horn from the scores table went off.
05:02
The referees initially decided not to grant the Soviet timeout and not issue a technical foul, but the president of the FIBA overruled them and ordered the last play to be replayed with three seconds put back on the clock.
06:33
After the clock was reset to three seconds, the Soviets attempted a full-court pass and successfully scored, giving them another chance to win the game.
08:11
The American basketball team unanimously decided not to accept their silver medals after an investigation into the game revealed extreme irregularities and the head referee and scorekeeper both stated that the Soviet win was completely irregular and outside the rules of the game of basketball.
09:47
The American basketball team has never accepted their silver medals and has instead agreed to accept joint gold medals for the 1972 Olympics, while allowing the silver medals to be sold at a sports memorabilia auction with the funds going towards a charity for Russian orphans.
