WALKING IT OFF THROUGH THE AGES

People have been taking one for the team for a while.

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• 1300ish B.C.
Israelites vs. Amalekites in a Sinai throwdown. For the Jews to win, Moses must keep his arms raised during the battle. (He does, they do.) Props to bro Aaron and bro-in-law Hur for propping up his arms.

• 216 B.C.
Hannibal leads elephant-borne Cartheginians over the Apennines in Italy, losing an eye to infection along the way. His unit eventually routs the Romans at Cannae.

• 1967
Roberto Clemente lines a shot at Cards ace Bob Gibson, breaking his leg. Gibby pitches to two more Pirates before collapsing.

• 1976
F1's Niki Lauda is given last rites after suffering burns, broken bones and scorched lungs in a crash in Germany. Six weeks later he finishes fourth in the Italian Grand Prix, peeking through bandages.

• 1976
Rocky hits theaters. "Cut me, Mick!"

Rich Clarkson/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

• 1979-80
DE Jack Youngblood fractures his left fibula in a first-round playoff game against Dallas—then plays every defensive down on the Rams' run to Super Bowl XIV.

• 1986
In a loss to France, New Zealand rugger Wayne Shelford loses three teeth and after the game discovers that his scrotum is torn open and that one of his testicles is hanging out. Bet the beer tasted good that night.

[For Wayne Shelford's take on his injury, click here.]

• 1988
U.S. diver Greg Louganis smashes his head on the springboard at the Seoul Olympics. Four stitches later Louganis completes his last two dives, advances to the medal round and wins gold.

• 1988
Hobbled by a bad knee and hammy, LA pinch- hitter Kirk Gibson goes yard off A's closer Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the World Series. Play-by-play legend Jack Buck will never believe what he just saw.

• 1989
English soccer D Terry Butcher cuts his forehead against Sweden. He reopens the wound with headers, finishing with blood dripping down his face, but England gets a draw, eventually qualifying for the '90 World Cup.

Bob Thomas/Getty Images

• 1996
Dale Earnhardt finishes second at North Wilkesboro while recovering from a broken collarbone and breastbone. That's Big E for effort.

• 1999
BMXer Mat Hoffman has ACL surgery on his right knee, fully awake and without anesthesia. No, really.

• 1999
Travis Pastrana separates his shoulder on Letterman publicizing an upcoming Supercross race. Nixing surgery, he rubs crushed Advil and a topical ointment on the shoulder—and wins the race the following week.

• 2002
Marshall QB Byron Leftwich hurts his left shin playing against Akron. He's taken to the hospital but returns to lead the Thundering Herd on a touchdown drive, his linemen carrying him downfield between plays.

• 2003
Brett Favre passes for 399 yards and 4 TDs to beat the Raiders 41-7 on Monday Night Football—one day after his father's death.

Al Bello/Getty Images

• 2004
Red Sox doctors suture the loose tendon in Curt Schilling's right ankle so he can pitch in Game 6 of the ALCS vs. New York. Boston wins, and the bloody sock is now in the Hall of Fame.

• 2005
Nursing a broken right ankle, skateboarder Danny Way jumps the Great Wall of China. How do you say awesome in Mandarin?

• 2008
In Game 1 of the Flyers-Caps series, Philly's Patrick Thoresen takes a puck to the groin. He's rushed to the hospital and almost loses a testicle, but he is on the ice for Game 3. One tough nut, that Thoresen.

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