Five Great Sports Stars of the '80s

Sports may look much more glamorous and polished in modern times, but some of the greatest sporting moments, world records and achievements came from decades past. The '80s boasted some of the best sporting stars and personalities ever, and we’re here to take a look at them and their achievements.

Back then, you wouldn't have been able to bet on these sporting personalities and their performance as easier. But modern technologies and online bookmakers now give you the chance to access live and exciting sports betting markets from your phone or search for sports bet not on Gamstop. Let’s take a look at some of the athletes who made sports exciting in the '80s.

Chris Evert

Chris Evert is one of the best female tennis stars to have ever lived. She lies only behind other greats, Serena Williams and Margaret Court, on the number of grand slam titles won (18) and boasts over 150 other single titles to her name. Her impressive career spanned over two decades, the '70s and '80s. Today she works in sports analysis and owns an ace tennis apparel business.

Tom Watson

Tom Watson was a powerhouse in the game of golf for his whole career, known for his composure and consistency. But it was the 80s when he really cemented his legendary status. He won three British Open Championships in as many years between 1980 and 1983. And he also picked up a Master’s green jacket and US Open title within the same time period, making it one of the most successful few years in professional golf.

Larry Bird

Larry Bird may get passed over when looking at the greatest NBA players of all time, but when you look at his stats and what he achieved, there is no question that Bird shined in the '80s and deserves to be ranked with the best. In over 900 games, he averaged more than 24 points per game. And during that time, he scooped 12x NBA All-Star appearances, 3x NBA Finals Championships and 3x MVP awards.

Jack Nicklaus

Many may have thought the best of Jack Nicklaus had already been seen in the '60s and '70s. But he played a memorable decade during the 1980s as well. He started the decade almost as impressively as Tom Watson, winning both the PGA Championship and US Open in 1980. He would go on to win five other PGA events during the decade. However, these achievements were dwarfed by his 1986 Master's victory, making it 18 major titles for his career and a feat that has yet to be broken – and probably never will be!

Roger Clemens

Roger Clemens, also known as "the Rocket" to baseball fans and Red Sox fans, in particular, played 24 seasons of professional baseball. He was renowned for having a super-fast throwing speed. Some of his career achievements include 4,600+ strikeouts and he was the first player ever to get 20 strikeouts in a single game.

All photos courtesy Depositphotos