Athletes to the Rescue
UFC fighter Goran Reljic saves the lives of two men whose car plummeted into the Adriatic Sea. Click through to see some other heroes from the world of sports.
Eric Jamison, AP
Tony Romo is well known for being a star quarterback and the boyfriend of singer Jessica Simpson, but for one Texas couple, he's also a knight in shining armor. Returning home after Dallas beat Cleveland earlier this season, Romo pulled over to assist Bill and Sharon White, who were stranded on the side of the road after their car tire blew out.
Scott Boehm, Getty Images
Former college and NFL star Brian Bosworth came to the aid of a woman who crashed her car into a ditch in Canada this past July.
Bernstein Associates / Getty Images
On July 3, Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez came to the aid of man choking to death in a Huntington Beach restaurant. "Tony saved my life. There's no doubt," the Chargers fan said.
Greg Trott, Getty Images
Criminals should think twice before entering the home of Noah Herron. The Packers running back used a post from his bed to foil a burglar in June.
Getty Images
A man who tried to extort an acquaintance of Terrell Brandon in February got more than he bargained for when the former NBA star set a trap for the crook and then snared him with the help of a friend.
Andy Hayt, NBAE / Getty Images
NASCAR's Dario Franchitti was caught without his pants on, but not without his wits, when a would-be robber surprised him in his home in January. Franchitti, wearing just his boxers, used his car (naturally) to help track down the intruder.
John Raoux, AP
Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama and two teammates chased down a man who stole an armful of Wildcats football jerseys from a store in 2006. "I am glad we could help out," Tuitama said.
Elaine Thompson, AP
Benji Radach teaches an armed robber that it's never wise to mess with a mixed martial arts fighter. While Radach was out to eat at a diner a couple of years ago in Vancouer, he used his MMA skills to take down a man with a loaded gun who tried to rob the cash register.
Ross Dettman, Getty Images
Longtime NFL kicker Norm Johnson helped save a woman whose car overturned car in a water-filled ditch in December, 2007. Johnson, who lives in Silverdale, Wash., where the accident occurred, used a large rock to break a window before pulling the woman to safety.
Rick Stewart, Getty Images
Today we have more details, as told to UFC.com by Reljic's manager, Zoran Saric:
"Even suffering a severe lower back injury, and without any training and exercise in the past month and a half he risked everything, jumping under cold water and helping save lives," Saric told UFC.com Thursday night. "When I spoke with him earlier today, he said "I wasn't even thinking about my injury or about myself, I just dove into the water and started punching the window; there was only one thing on my mind, to save them."Good thing Reljic has enough punching power to break a window.
In the newspaper article, Reljic is quoted as saying, "The only satisfaction I get is that both young men are alive and healthy, I don't need any praise, I simply did what anyone one would have done in that situation."
I'm not so sure that anyone would have done the same thing in that situation, but it is good to know that if your car crashes into the Adriatic Sea, you've got a good chance of emerging unscathed -- as long as Goran Reljic is around.
Did You See That?
The field clears a fence during the New Season Handicap Steeplechase during the at Ludlow Racecourse on September 16, 2008 in Ludlow, England.
Emanuele Canonica of Italy helps his caddie in the rescue of a pigeon from the water around the 18th green during the first round of the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 16, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.
A multiexposure image showing Britain's Andy Murray returning to Croatian Marin Cilic during a last sixteen tennis match at the Madrid Masters in Madrid on October 16, 2008. Andy Murray won 7-5, 7-6.
English football fans dressed in armours and tunics play in a friendly match against Belarus fans in Minsk on October 15, 2008 before the start of the Belarus vs. England 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier of European group 6 match.
Travis Brigley (R) of Hamburg fights with Matt Keith (L) of Ingolstadt during the DEL match between Hamburg Freezers and ERC Ingolstadt at the Color Line Arena on October 14, 2008 in Hamburg, Germany.
Russian Nikolay Davydenko returns a ball to US Robby Ginepri during a second round tennis match at the Masters in Madrid on October 15, 2008.
A golf ball which has been enveloped by the tree over many years is pictured during the pro-am for the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 15, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.
Andy Murray of Great Britain plays football during his training session prior to his thrid round match tomorrow at the Madrid Masters tennis tournament at the Madrid Arena on October 15, 2008 in Madrid, Spain.
Samuel Peter from Nigeria gets a punch from Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine during their WBC heavyweight boxing world championship fight in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. Klitschko won the fight after round nine due to technical knock out.
Herbert Knosowski, AP
Japan's Kyoko Hamaguchi (lower) fights with China's Hong Yan (red) during the semi-final of the 72kg class of the Women's Wrestling World Championships in Tokyo on October 13, 2008. Hong defeated Hamaguchi and will face Bulgaria's Stanka Zlateva in the final.
Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP/Getty Images



















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
11-21-2008 @ 12:29PM
soggy_diaper said...
ultimate fighters are professionals, even out of the ring, they have familys and enjoy what they do,they even have a heart and outside the ring if i was in trouble i would hope a ultimate fighter was near if i needed help, leave em alone,let them enjoy there profession and let use enjoy the enterteinment they provide, heads up to the twenty-first century gladiators. signed= soggy_diaper
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 12:37PM
Pete said...
I whould like to see Fedor and Lesnar go at it
Lesanor would not have a chance against someone whos been arournd alot longer, again that whould be also a sweet fight. The Bigger they are the harder they fall its all how use what ya got as well just like chess its a mind game, to beat someone like Lesnar and what not would be easy for Fedor
to do and also what and how and what moves to make, you eather make the right move or your beat.
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11-21-2008 @ 6:23PM
buffalo said...
you said lesnor wouldnt stand a chance against someone who has been around alot longer. are you stupid? randy has been around a good 12 years. he has fought for the title more than anybody in the ufc. lesnor's athletic ability WILL give anybody trouble in a fight regardless of how long they've been around. fedor is great but brock has the potential to be the best ever. i dont even like brock lesnor but even i can see that. you have got to respect him. he has earned it.
11-21-2008 @ 12:38PM
richard said...
How many NBA or NFL players do you think would have done the same thing? Nearly every eastern european I have ever known, (including some very hot chicks) have been among the classiest people I have ever met. This guy is another example.
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11-21-2008 @ 4:08PM
andy said...
richard, you are either very young or have a short memory. NFL player Joe Delaney dies trying to save 2 boys from drowning, His number was retired and he is remembered by the Chiefs organization to this day.
11-21-2008 @ 6:43PM
Jack said...
Maybe you should try googleing Pat Tillman. He was an NFL player whose exemplary service caused him his life, when he could have stayed home like you and done nothing while watching TV in your air-conditioning.
11-21-2008 @ 12:49PM
eric said...
That's the longest run-on sentence ever, pete. But there are some good points in it.
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11-21-2008 @ 12:52PM
suzanne larsen said...
Bless you!..Another sports hero..Jerry Anderson played at OU then on to the pros. He save a girl in Tulsa from flood waters then a few years later in TN, jumped in a creek to save two boys
who had fallen in the rain swollen creek. He got them both to safety but couldn't get himself out and drowned. He was a great
guy that should have his picture in this list of hero's too.
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11-21-2008 @ 1:15PM
Ryan said...
In my opinion the next person to get a chance at the heavy weight belt should be/is Cain Velasquez. Knowing the way Dana White has been in the past, I dont think it will be very long for Lesnar until the fight happens. It is probably in the works for next spring or early summer. Watch some videos of Velasquez in action he is an absolute bull in the ring and tough as nails. I think lesnar will lose that one. But they are both fairly FRESH colegiate wrestlers. I was pulling for the upset machine couture the whole way last fight. but now thats over I thing Velasquez has the size and heart to take him out.
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11-21-2008 @ 1:20PM
Ginny Blue said...
Man, I love the UFC. I used to love it even more when we got to see some broken bones and dirty fighting. ;) When the only rules were no hair pulling and eye gouging. Anyway, good to know that Goran is such a hero. Good for him.
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11-21-2008 @ 1:20PM
Donna said...
What an amazing story!! Goran though you may not want any praise not everybody would of done what you did, even though you would hope all mankind would help another man,women or child in need!! You are truly a HERO!!! God Bless and Best Wishes for always. Hope you are doing well since your back injury. XoxO
Donna R.
Peoria, AZ.
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11-21-2008 @ 3:49PM
Jason said...
I agree.Im also in Peoria Az
11-21-2008 @ 1:22PM
tom said...
MMA has a bright future with guys like this. Hope they don't blow it.
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11-21-2008 @ 1:25PM
Marie said...
hey i think what he did is amazing i am training to i loved the story!
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11-21-2008 @ 1:38PM
joey said...
piss on the ufc.
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 3:29PM
sher said...
say what?
11-21-2008 @ 1:49PM
sperry said...
Now that is type of athlete who sets a great example for our children. NOT those loser spoiled basketball, football, baseball whiners who are so full of themselves. Bod bless him, now these two men he rescued have a second chance at life and can pay it forward.
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11-21-2008 @ 2:04PM
tc said...
God bless the guy. That's an honorable action that will make him favored by fans around the world.
It's stories like this that the media doesn't play enough of.
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11-21-2008 @ 2:28PM
Eric said...
It's a good story, but I like to think that anyone would have done the same.
I can't really imagine anyone saying to themselves - "Aww man, it's late ... I'm just going to let them drown".
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11-21-2008 @ 2:53PM
Bernice Ryan said...
God Bless him!!!
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