The Beatles and Sports

The Beatles and Sports

Cassius Clay and The Beatles

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In February 1964, the Beatles took America by storm, and rock 'n' roll was never the same. SI takes a look back at the 50 year relationship between The Beatles and sports. In this photo, Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali) flays his chest Tarzan Style, the Beatles lie on the floor. The band visited Clay at his training camp in Miami before his fight with champion Sonny Liston. The 22-year-old, trash-talking challenger upset Liston on Feb. 25, a week after this photo was taken.

Cassius Clay and The Beatles

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The boxer pretends to use George Harrison's head as a punching bag.

Cassius Clay and The Beatles

AP

Another shot of Clay clowning around with the Beatles.

The Beatles

Alice Ochs/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The Beatles perform at Shea Stadium in New York in 1965.

The Beatles

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The band performs as "Beatlemania" swept the United States.

John Lennon

Tony Evans/Getty Images

John Lennon goes tobogganing in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Ringo Starr and Sugar Ray Robinson

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Ringo Starr throws a fake punch at the boxing champion during a break in the filming of Candy

Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Joe Garagiola

AP

The former major league catcher (with four teams, including the Cardinals) guest hosts <italics>The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson</italics> in 1968 and is joined by Paul McCartney and John Lennon.

Barry Sheene, George Harrison and John Surtees

Roger Lings/Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

George Harrison chats with British motorbike champion Barry Sheene, who was attempting to race a Formula One car for the first time. Sheene's adviser John Surtees, who successfully made the transition from motorcycle racing to Formula One, also joins the discussion.

Terry Bradshaw and Paul McCartney

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Terry Bradshaw and Sir Paul McCartney sing a duet of "A Hard Day's Night" during Super Bowl XXXVI at the Superdome in New Orleans.

Paul McCartney

Neil Leifer/SI

Paul McCartney performs the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville. The Patriots beat the Eagles 24-21 behind Deion Branch's MVP performance.

Pete Best

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The original drummer in the Beatles, replaced by Ringo Starr in 1962, Pete Best throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a White Sox-Yankees game at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.

Steven Gerrad

AP

The Liverpool soccer captain Steven Gerrad and manager Benitez carry the Champions League trophy off their plane at John Lennon Airport in Liverpool, England. Liverpool defeated AC Milan in the final a day earlier.

John Daly

AP

The outspoken former British Open champion stands next to a statue of John Lennon before performing at The Cavern Club, which was made famous in the 1960s by the Beatles. Daly, in England to compete in the British Open, sang to around 300 fans to celebrate the publication of his autobiography, My Life In &amp; Out of the Rough .

Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell

REUTERS

The former Beatle and his now-wife stand for the seventh inning stretch at Yankee Stadium. Shevell, a New York businesswoman, and McCartney dated for four years before he popped the question -- reportedly with a vintage Cartier solitaire diamond engagement ring worth $650,000.

Joey Logano

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Joey Logano, driver of the #20 GameStop/The Beatles Rockband Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Degree V12 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Jorge Lorenzo and Beatles Fans

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The Spanish motorcycle racer celebrates his victory at the MotoGP race in England with fans dressed as the Beatles.

Paul McCartney

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Sir Paul McCartney looks to work with a pit crew during qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Paul McCartney

Al Tielemans/SI

Sir Paul McCartney points to the crowd at Olympic Stadium in London during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Olympic Performers

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images; Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Performers dressed in the suits worn by The Beatles on the cover of their album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' march during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

John Lennon

Peter Read Miller/SI

A video of John Lennon singing "Imagine" is projected during the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Paul McCartney

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Sir Paul McCartney cheers while watching the Brooklyn Nets play the Philadelphia 76ers during a game at the Barclays Center. He proved no matter how rich and famous you are, nothing beats the prospect of catching a free T-shirt.