ABC Wide World Classic "The Agony of Defeat" Vinko Bogataj interview

Another look at the story of Vinko Bogataj, the former Yugoslavian (Slovenian) ski jumper who became infamous as the man in 'Agony of Defeat', in the opening sequence to 'ABC's Wide World of Sports' show on that network. Presented by Brent Musburger and recorded in 1997.

[@alanmorris7669]

When I was a kid, I could hardly wait to see this part of the intro.... "the agony of defeat."

[@Antimarx999]

It's the most iconic part of the 70s for me.

[@allywilkeforsenate]

I never got tired of seeing that.I always hoped he was ok after that.

[@michaeljohnson5684]

Yeah!

[@nomadnametab]

i remember that too . never had the urge to take up skiing . i credit that scene.

[@maureensawatzki7917]

Poor guy I always remember this....wide world of sports..the agony of defeat.

[@coraggio93]

Pele at 3:34.... ".....Muhammad Ali was one of the first to get Vinko's autograph" Vinko....I have to admire that man!

[@peterspitz2385]

Vinko is awesome, and will be remembered forever. Does anybody here remember whgo actually won that competition? I couldn't find it anywhere.

[@robm321]

Nobody looks down on him. In fact, they admire him.

[@thebreathalyzer]

How brave, how tough was he? Legend. Other professional athletes knew and respected him. I would be terrified to attempt that even in good conditions.

[@theanswerisinthebackofyourhead]

I SAW THIS AS IT HAPPENED LIVE AS A KID AND NEVER FORGOT IT. HARD TO BELIEVE IT WAS THAT MANY YRS AGO, I WAS A SMALL CHILD BACK THEN.

[@andydalton6666]

"Agony of Defeat Guy" was my nickname on the ski hill. I moved to Jasper in the Canadian Rockies when I was 20. I was clueless but fearless. After a particularly bad wipeout in full view of the chairlift, someone yelled "The agony of defeat!". It stuck, lol. Thanks Vinko!

[@TheFoolintherainn]

We saw him as Evel Knievel on skis!

[@Ulleval73]

He did NOT become "infamous"...which implies he did something wrong or illegal or that he broke rules. He became "famous" for being a key element of ABC's Wide World of Sports introduction; that is, "The Thrill of Victory, and the Agony of Defeat"....he was FAMOUS for that fall (and the two others previously, the same day). Probably more famous than many wildly more successful international ski jumpers. Oh? Name one.

[@stflaw]

It's nice they included a shot of Jim McKay in the closing montage. For me, McKay and the Olympics will always be associated with one another.

[@rockvilleraven]

@daniel anderson Not to motion the Maryland Million which is sort a "Breeder's Cup" for Maryland Bred Horses which he helped put together.

[@sce2aux464]

"I WANNA DO IT AGAIN!" You have to love a man like that.

[@rockvilleraven]

He also got an American Express Card Commercial. "Do you know, me?" "Every Saturday at 5pm,, i go sliding off a ski jump

[@DWFan10]

Hearing a ambulance calleda meat wagon is taking me right back. 🤣🤣

[@crysjumar1]

Vinko is legend.

[@BRadfrommalibu74]

Agonosis (n): The syndrome of tuning in to Wide World of Sports every weekend just to watch the skier rack himself.

[@stephaniegormley9982]

Not necessarily the News sniglet, correct? Thank you. I remember that episode. Couldn't remember the exact word. I hated seeing that part so I didn't have Agonois. After watching the follow up documentary I had a case of 'vivirdenio' That's the shock, and relief, you get when you find out this guy didn't die in the accident.

[@jenniferrogers9560]

I love his attitude---and his paintings!

[@TheFoolintherainn]

We didn't see "DEFEAT" in that move - he was Evil Knevil!!! We went out and tried that move ourselves - the guy was awesome! We didn't see that as defeat - he survived! Beat the odds!! Got back up and went at it again!

[@marieanderson5989]

Can you imagine if ABC paid him every time they ran that clip??

[@charlesrobinson7469]

I Always liked that Intro. As a Kid (around The Holidays in1984), I taped it on Cassette for my Wrestling Show(for my 3.75 action figures). Instead of sports, I shouted Wrestling.😄

[@allywilkeforsenate]

I come in last or close to it every time I compete.The fact that we are trying and competing is a victory in itself.

[@dpsamu2000]

A reminder that half the battle is the agony of defeat. That clip is the most epic fail of someone who tried. Goes to show that even if you fail you can still be epic for trying. No one remembers anyone who doesn't even try.

[@Casey-kd3xp]

Though many take credit for the line "The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat", it was originally written for this very credit sequence by famed TV writer Stanley Ralph Ross, who at the time was still a Madison Avenue Copywriter. Stanley went on to write for shows like Batman & All In The Family as well as create Wonder Woman & That's My Momma for TV. The music was an early composition by songwriter hall of fame inductee Charles Fox, who at the time was 24 yrs old and given a one time $500 buyout on a theme that would run for almost 40 years. Fox soon wrote the original "Monday Night Football" theme as well as many hit TV themes including "Happy Days" and The Love Boat". He also wrote the Grammy winning song "Killing Me Softly" with his partner Norman Gimbel. Charles Fox & Stanley Ralph Ross became friends in the early 70s and only then became aware that they had collaborated on this epic theme years earlier.

[@brewster102]

The best move in that intro was the dude ducking just in time to avoid Vinko removing his head !

[@joycejones5796]

Wide World Of Sports......CLASSIC 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@mark_wangerin]

I remember watching this live when it happened. Seeing it again brings back so many memories! Wow!

[@PukaHeadMan]

Glad to know Vinko didn’t suffer a catastrophic injury.

[@ellenharrison5414]

This was great 👍

[@dalecs47]

I remember watching the original episode when this jump/fall happened. At the time the sports announcers had a lot of things to say about it, It was a really big deal at the time.

[@1969EType]

The advent of smartphones with cameras have ruined what a big moment in life really is anymore. Can you imagine a clip nowadays perhaps filmed from a cellphone used on the opening credits of a sports highlights show for over 25 years? No way...they'd change it out for something else the next season.

[@mr.intensity2685]

Didn't they actually change out the people who represented "The Thrill of Victory" often? However, Pinko was a mainstay!

[@IgnisConsumens]

I always considered appropriate the pairing of the fall with that passage of syncopated descending notes in the music; then the video mentioned that the pairing was intentional. Neat.

[@markdesmarais8720]

He is a legend!

[@buckster2575]

I remember laughing at this as a kid.i showed a friend we both had a good laugh. Good memories this was.

[@dk6173]

That was the perfect crash and burn of sports.

[@MrUnsolvedMystery]

ABC should have paid him royalties all those years showing the clip because that’s the reason us kids tuned in every week to see him crash!

[@trwent]

The soccer player that shakes his fist right after scoring a goal, is that Pele ?

[@JohnSmith-op1tc]

Yes.

[@johnallison6474]

Scored that goal during the 1970 World Cup Final v. Italy. The guy who he jumped on was Garrincha

[@tomk8663]

@@johnallison6474 Correct. Pele, 1970 World Cup Final. However, the other player was not Garrincha. Garrincha wasn't on the 1970 team. It was Jairzinho.

[@1left2theright4jc9]

We have more and better of everything but nothing is as good . Actual conversation daughter disgusted.."dad there isnt anything on ..yes your right we have 4000 channels and there is never anything on ..back in 1970s we had 4 channels and there was always something on

[@andybaldman]

*Shame that the guy in the thumbnail isn't him. Even google thinks that pic is him, but it isn't.*

[@johnroberts9560]

Hey it's Robin Roberts from GMA !!! 😃

[@jeaninempanzone6754]

That’s gonna leave a mark

[@am74343]

"Ohhh, baby!!!"

[@robertcooper8377]

I remember this part the most!

[@frederickdouglass1806]

Robin was a cutie.

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

Now I know why they used that clip: his feet must've been in agony!

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

Wide World Of Sports = Cheap Sports but boy they were BIG! Evel Knievel!

[@mikeglazer6676]

Every kid who plays sports has suffered the agony of defeat. But not like this.

[@mhadman427]

Oh ho ho , BABY!

[@SorryWereOpen247]

Oh' oh' there he go....LOOK OUT !!!!!

[@chuckthurmond]

Meat wagon. A term you just don't hear anymore.

[@TheFoolintherainn]

Yep... wherever there's hunting, sleds and ATVs you've still got meat wagons. We've got plenty... Others have Walmart.

[@rubedogg6969]

The meat wagon!

[@christophercotton9048]

The only time they bring out the meat wagon is when you are dead.

[@user-gw9sk1zy4s]

The sports show that foisted Arnold Schwarznnegger

[@markharris239]

This is 🎿 Hurt Crash.

[@eddiedeleon2425]

cold war time, dividing the earth in two in principles

[@captaincrunch784]

OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW that looked so painful.

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

Before internet memes, there was this!

[@xavierreivax9932]

it seemed worse back then

[@dquinn8344]

In 1997 Robin Roberts was still a woman...

[@hikeskool]

I defeated ur mom have a Blessed evening 👌

[@chuckcelemin6789]

Cocaine's a helluva a drug, right Brent?

[@amonfritz]

Meat wagon. 🥴🤣🙃🌎