The 1972 American basketball defeat took place in a funereal atmosphere after one of the most notorious events in Olympic history in Munich - the massacre of 11 members of the Israeli team by Palestinian commandos.The 1972 game ended in chaos. With the United States ahead 50-49, the Soviets inbounded and time ran out. But a referee blew his whistle because a Soviet assistant coach was gesturing frantically that they had tried to call a time out.
Then Jones interceded, ordering the game clock reset to three seconds.
The final three seconds were replayed twice because the clock was not properly reset the first time. After the first Soviet miss, the Americans thought they had won and in the bedlam that followed one US player nearly had his jersey ripped off, and US coach Hank Iba's wallet was pickpocketed.
..."Anybody who saw the last few minutes and knows the rules knows that we got cheated," said Ed Ratleff, a star guard who subsequently played professionally in the NBA, coached, and is now an insurance executive.
Had no idea Iba lost his wallet in the melee. The story itself remains one of intrigue and regret on behalf of America because it really seemed like the refs were on the take. You factor in the Cold War, which was all of a decade old at that point, and the animosity factor roars through the roof.
The world has had its share of Olympic controversies in the past 100 years. Few things have seemed so visually befuddling and unnecessary as the ending of the '72 gold medal game, though.
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