We don’t tend to associate sports with diseases. In fact, athletes are viewed as some of the fittest and healthiest people in the world, but perceptions can be strange things. In fact, it’s actually the case that some athletes can be quite unhealthy, but the health problems don’t become clear until later in life. Soccer players are considered to be at higher risk of contracting Motor Neuron Disease, and they show symptoms much sooner.

Cases

The fact that this is a disease that seems to affect soccer players came to light when some Italian professional soccer players actually died as a result of the disease! Of course, there were some who speculated that this could just have been a coincidence. So, Dr. Ettore Beghi delved deep and decided to do some research, taking 25,000 Italian player records from between 1959 and 2000. 33 of these cases developed Motor Neuron Disease after retirement, while the true number is most likely to be significantly higher.

Potential Causes

There are a lot of things that you might think about as causes for Motor Neuron Disease, but it seems like trauma is a pretty big factor. A big part of the game of soccer involves heading the ball, and this is something that is done with a fair degree of frequency. This is something that can potentially cause issues later in life, and this is before we even mention the fact that heavy physical trauma also plays a role as well.

Some Statistics

Famous cases MND, such as Stephen Hawking and Lou Gehrig happened in their 20s and 30s, but it actually seems that statistically, the most common age of onset is 63. However, in professional soccer players, the age is much younger, with the average being 43. Genetics can play a role, of course they can, and statistically, around 10% of MND cases are familial. But, there is no question that traumatic events and physical exertion can play big roles in this moving forward.

It seems that the risk of MND is six times higher in professional soccer players than for the general public, and constant head trauma might play a big role in this. The hope is that this is a problem that can be dealt with sooner rather than later, and hopefully, studies into MND will help provide better ways of dealing with the problem.

There are o many iconic characters that were created during the ’60s and ’70s! Try out these multiple-choice questions and see if you can get them all right to determine whether or not you truly know your TV from the ’60s and ’70s.

While younger audiences might not be so familiar with the show, Gilligan’s Island was what everyone was watching back in the ’60s. Which of these characters from Gilligan’s Island was a movie star? Here’s a clue: it’s all in the name…

1. The Skipper
2. Ginger Grant
3. Mary Ann Summers
4. The Professor

Unsurprisingly, the female character from Gilligan’s Island who can be seen in the previous photo (and this one) is Ginger Grant! The talented Tina Louise played Grant, a movie star who had experience playing a variety of roles such as lab assistants, hairstylists, fortune-tellers, and singers, to name a few. A true attention seeker, Ginger always liked to recite lines from her previous roles, and prior to the shipwreck, she was convinced that she was destined for Hollywood greatness.

Every sitcom seems to have their own schtick and for the sitcom Taxi, which ran from 1978 until 1983, it’s pretty self-explanatory what it was for this classic show. It is mainly about the everyday lives of a bunch of taxi drivers in New York City who have to deal with an annoying dispatcher. One of the following TV characters drove cabs for the Sunshine Cab company. Which one?

1. 1. David Banner
2. 2. Meryl Stubing
3. 3. Charles Ingalls
4. 4. Tony Banta

It would be an understatement to say that Tony Danza was the breakout star of Taxi with his role as the similarly-named Tony Banta. A Vietnam vet who is down on his luck as an aspiring boxer, Tony resorts to being a taxi driver for the Sunshine Cab Company. The kind-hearted young man finally falls in love with Vicki, who becomes pregnant with his child in the final season. There is no denying that this role made Danza a household name.

Hit show Gunsmoke just about qualifies for this list as it started off as a radio series before transitioning into TV. The likes of Doc Adams and Matt Dillon became names that were synonymous with Westerns during this time, but they weren’t the only stars of this popular ’60s show. Which one of these characters was one of the latter’s most recognizable sidekicks?

1. 1. Festus Haggen
2. 2. Mike Brady
3. 3. Arthur Fonzarelli
4. 4. Steve McGarrett

Fans of Gunsmoke will never forget the illiterate and cantankerous deputy that was Festus Haggen. Having appeared in over 300 episodes of the show, he was definitely one of the most iconic faces in all of Dodge. Originally arriving in town to avenge the passing of his brother, Festus struggles to fit in at first but eventually becomes a well-respected sidekick to Matt Dillon. Ken Curtis, who played Festus, certainly brought comical quality to the hit Western sitcom.

Balancing the fine line between comedy and drama was the hit ’70s series M*A*S*H. Originally a spinoff show from the movie of the same name, this show, created by Larry Gelbart, follows a group of doctors stationed abroad during the Korean War. It’s hard to ignore the impact that Alan Alda had on the show, especially since he starred in all 11 seasons. But what was his character’s name? The choice is yours.

1. 1. Detective Dave Starsky
2. 2. Horace Rumpole
3. 3. Captain Franklin Pierce
4. 4. Lord Brent Sinclair

Although Donald Sutherland played the role in the movie, it was Alan Alda who immortalized the role of Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce in the spinoff series. What you will learn quickly into M*A*S*H is that Hawkeye humorously likes to rebel against the rules, despite often being regarded as the moral center of the show. Early on in the very first season, Pierce becomes the Chief Surgeon of the unit, moving up the ranks very quickly.

It is a show that seems to have been reinvented a million and one times since its inception as a play in the ’60s. But the sitcom remake of The Odd Couple, which ran from 1970 until 1975, had a winning formula that was difficult to break. It is about two divorced men whose personalities and lifestyles clash as they live together in a Manhattan apartment. Jack Klugman starred alongside Tony Randall, but what was the latter’s name in the show?

1. 1. Steve Austin
2. 2. Kwai Chang Caine
3. 3. Felix Unger
4. 4. Basil Fawlty

The name of Tony Randall’s character was, of course, Felix Unger. He is very worried about the smallest of details and can also be described as a hypochondriac. Then there was Klugman’s character, Oscar Madison, who is untidy and laidback in comparison. Based on a Neil Simon play, this story has been recreated many times. Of course, it was Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau who played the two characters in the 1968 film. The latter also starred in the play.

While the late David Cassidy was one of the standouts of the ABC musical sitcom The Partridge Family, there were plenty of other characters on the show played by young, talented performers, including this young lady. The family is loosely based on the band the Cowsills, who were marketed as a musical family. This “band member” played the keyboard/piano and even sang back up at times. But what was her name?

1. 1. Alice
2. 2. Laurie
3. 3. Mary
4. 4. Sophie

Of course, it was Susan Day who played this talented member of The Partridge Family, Laurie Partridge. The second child of Shirley, Laurie was kind of like a jack of all trades and brought a lot of versatility to the musical family. Susan Day was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Laurie. She starred in 96 episodes of the show and would go on to also have plenty of critical success on L.A. Law a few decades later.

Is there a family on TV more iconic than The Brady Bunch? There is no denying that this happy-go-lucky clan had strength in numbers and every family member, regardless of age or gender, brought their own unique flavor to the house. While they were always stronger as a unit, we would like to shed some light on one of the family members. Which child in this photo was the second child of Mike Brady?

1. 1. Jack
2. 2. Henry
3. 3. Peter
4. 4. Danny

The second child of Mike Brady was none other than Peter Brady, played by Christopher Knight. The third oldest child in the entire family, Peter was very much one of the main sources of comic relief on the show, often causing mischief and making jokes with his sisters Jan and Marcia. While he pretty much put his acting to one side, Christopher Knight went on to become a successful businessman but has had some sporadic TV appearances in recent times.

There might not be a more iconic pig in all of TV. Arnold from Green Acres had such a huge impact on pop culture that he would go on to be referenced in various shows and movies, including Pulp Fiction! But this particular question isn’t about this beloved swine. The leading lady of this show was one half of a married couple who moved from the hustle and bustle of New York City to the peaceful countryside.

1. 1. Shirley Partridge
2. 2. Lisa Douglas
3. 3. Jaclyn Smith
4. 4. Louise Jefferson

Of course, the correct answer is Lisa Douglas. She is the wife of Oliver. A veteran of World War II, just like her husband, Lisa has a strange view of the world and will often choose to throw plates out of the window instead of washing them. Despite being a fish out of the water, Lisa warms to the locals of Green Acres better than Oliver, mainly because of her reputation as an airhead.

When you are a show that has been remade in what seems to be a million different other shows and film franchises, you know you are doing something right. While Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu added their own spin to the roles a few decades later, it was the likes of Jill Munroe and Sabrina Duncan who were the original Charlie’s Angels back in the ’70s, as well as this third Angel.

1. 1. Shirley Feeney
2. 2. Kris Munroe
3. 3. Barbara Cooper
4. 4. Kelly Garrett

From 1976 to 1981, Charlie’s Angels graced American TV and shed light on the crime-fighting lives of the three stars, Sabrina Duncan, Jill Munroe, and Kelly Garrett, the latter of which was played by Jaclyn Smith. Amazingly, she was the only female lead from the original lineup who lasted the show’s entire run. Not to mention the fact that she also reprised the role in the motion picture remakes from both 2003 and 2019. Smith has also marketed her very own perfume and clothing lines.

One of the biggest sitcoms of the ’70s is, without a shadow of a doubt, All in the Family. This hit show, which had a star-studded cast, pushed the envelope when it came to what typical sitcom characters talk about. Many pressing topics at the time such as racism, religion, gender, politics, and war were discussed on the show, making it unique in that respect. This guy was arguably the breakout star of the show.

1. 1. Linc Hayes
2. 2. John McIntyre
3. 3. Oscar Madison
4. 4. Archie Bunker

Of course, the man in this image is the one and only Archibald Bunker – better known as Archie. Played by Carroll O’Connor, this conservative father/husband had a way with words and knew how to start an argument in his household. The character of Archie Bunker was so popular that an entire spinoff show dedicated to the character, Archie Bunker’s Palace, was greenlit after All in the Family came to an end. It turns out that the creator based Archie on his own father.

After the James Bond movies burst onto the scene in the ’60s, it seemed like there were many TV shows that were trying to recreate the magic of an international spy. Get Smart was one of them and at a humorous twist to the spy genre. The main character the show, Agent 86, is a top-secret government spy who was a perfect mix of James Bond and Mel Brooks humor. But what was his actual name?

1. 1. Latka Gravas
2. 2. Maxwell Smart
3. 3. Jon Boy Walton
4. 4. Louie De Palma

While many remember him as Agent 86, the real name of this spy was, of course, Maxwell Smart. This ripoff of James Bond and Inspector Clouseau might be the top dog in the government’s secret agency, but he is a very clumsy individual. With that said, he knows how to protect himself. He has been ranked as one of the greatest TV characters ever in many lists and it was Steve Carell who played the character in the 2008 remake.

It is a tale that seems to get remade every few years, but it was back in the ’30s when The Addams Family was first created. Fast forward 30 years and the spooky family would hit the small screen – with Gomez, Morticia, and Uncle Fester all charming viewers with their weird and hilarious antics. But there was one character who certainly developed a cult following, especially with young women.

1. 1. Wednesday
2. 2. Morticia
3. 3. Lurch
4. 4. Cousin It

The young daughter of the Addams Family goes by the name of Wednesday Addams. The daughter of Morticia and Gomez is one of the quintessential moody TV characters. Her name is based on the nursery rhyme line, “Wednesday’s child is full of woe.” Of course, it was Christina Ricci who would eventually bring the character of Wednesday to a newer audience in the ’90s movies, but it was Lisa Loring who originally brought the moody daughter of this iconic family into the public consciousness.

Over the years, the late Peggy Lipton captured the imaginations of millions, not just with her modeling career, but also through her work as an actress. Long before her recurring role in the hit series Twin Peaks, she played one of the leads in the popular series Mod Squad. But what was the name of the character that the ex-wife of Quincy Jones once played?

1. 1. Della Street
2. 2. Victoria Barkley
3. 3. Carol Brady
4. 4. Julie Barnes

The character’s name that Peggy Lipton played in Mod Squad was Julie Barnes. Julie was a flower child who runs away from home and ends up getting arrested for it. She becomes an undercover cop. Sadly, Lipton passed away in 2019, with many feeling like she still had so much more to offer the world of entertainment. Thankfully she left behind two talented daughters in Rashida and Kidada Jones, who went on to have successful careers in their own right.

Running for eight seasons from 1964 until 1972, Bewitched is the show about (you guessed it), a witch who ended up marrying a normal guy and promises she’ll live a normal life in the suburbs. After just one season, Bewitched was already the second-rated show in the country. While Samantha Stephens was the witch of the story, her opinionated mother was always stirring things up in the show. What was her name though?

1. 1. Endora
2. 2. Kitty
3. 3. Sally
4. 4. Frieda

The mother of Samantha Stephens goes by the name of Endora. Also a witch, she despises the idea that her daughter would decide to settle for a mere mortal. Despite this, she decides to roll with the situation. This doesn’t mean that she doesn’t take her time to put spells on the guy, simply to make herself laugh. It was Agnes Moorehead who played the role of Endora and she famously would never get Darren’s name right.

Welcome Back, Kotter was a popular sitcom that ran from 1975 to 1979 and was recorded in front of a live audience. It stars Gabe Kaplan as a high school teacher who is in charge of an extremely diverse class of students. As you can see, it was the legendary John Travolta who first burst onto the scene in sitcom form, playing the following character who happened to be the “unofficial official” leader of the Sweathogs. But what was the name of this guy?

1. 1. Dan Rowan
2. 2. Vinnie Barbarino
3. 3. James West
4. 4. Daniel Briggs

The Italian-American guy who is the leader of the Sweathogs goes by the name of Vinnie Barbarino. It was one of John Travolta who landed the role back in the ’70s and is certainly springboarded him into the limelight. Arguably the most famous name on this list, John Travolta has come a long way since his times as Vinnie Barbarino. He has since gone on to star in huge blockbuster movies such as Grease, Pulp Fiction, and Face/Off, to name a few.

Lindsay Wagner certainty had a successful time in the world of TV. However, there is no denying that her finest hour came in the show The Six Million Dollar Man. As a matter of fact, her character ended up landing her very own show, The Bionic Woman. The latter aired from 1976 until 1978 and Wagner’s titular character took part in many high-risk missions with her super bionic powers. But what was her real name?

1. 1. Jaime Sommers
2. 2. Sabrina Duncan
3. 3. Alice Hyatt
4. 4. Mary Richards

It seems like viewers couldn’t get enough of Jaime Sommers, who was one of the main stars of the Six Million Dollar Man. After a sky diving accident, she ends up becoming a cyborg with superhuman powers. Lindsay Wagner’s character was so popular that she ended up getting her very own spinoff series, as well as a number of reunion TV films. Jaime can do all sorts of cool things such as running at extremely fast speeds and detecting sounds from far away.

During it’s peak, Bonanza was the very best Western series that TV had to offer. And it featured some great actors who were perfect of the leads of the series. These include Dan Blocker, whose previous acting experience mainly revolved around other Western shows and movies. This begs the question, which of the main characters did he play? One thing’s for sure, it certainly made him a wealthy man in the long run.

1. 1. Tony Nelson
2. 2. Captain Parmenter
3. 3. Hoss Cartwright
4. 4. Jed Clampett

Arguably the most popular character on the show, Eric Warren Cartwright, also known colloquially as “Hoss,” was a standout character on Bonanza. Dan Blocker played the big man for a staggering 400+ episodes until his passing in 1972. Hoss is a gentle giant, which is exactly the quality that the crew saw in Blocker at the time. They described him as the “least actor-ish as well as the most likable” cast member. “Over the years he gave me the least amount of trouble,” producer David Dortort said.

These days, most young fans of entertainment associate Gal Gadot with the following superhero. But all the way back in 1975, it was Lynda Carter who immortalized the role, to begin with, there is no denying that this talented actress became synonymous with the role and definitely inflicted plenty of “justice” on wrongdoers across the city. Here’s another hint, she had some “super” powerful allies…

1. 1. Janice Rand
2. 2. Diana Prince
3. 3. Christine Chapel
4. 4. Donna Pinciotti

While the name Diana Prince might not ring a bell when it comes to iconic superheroes, that is because it is the name that she went by when she wasn’t dressing up as the all-powerful Wonder Woman. Lynda Carter played the Justice League member in The New Adventures of Wonder Woman, which ran from 1975 until 1979. These days, Gal Gadot is the one who is playing Wonder Woman in the current crop of DC movies, and it seems like Lynda Carter is a big fan of this new incarnation of the character.

What came first, The Addams Family or The Munsters? It’s amazing to think that both shows, which centered around a spooky family, both ran at the same time. In the latter show, there was a teenager who actually wasn’t a monster and as a result, is a bit of an outcast in the family. Both Beverley Owen and Pat Priest played this character at different points of the show’s run. But what was the character’s name?

1. 1. Marilyn Munster
2. 2. Sydney Bristow
3. 3. Mrs. Bridges
4. 4. Sophia Petrill

’60s sitcom The Munsters was all about monsters, werewolves and vampires living normal lives. And then there was Marilyn Munster, who was outcasted by the monsters because of the fact that she was just a normal human being. It was Beverley Owen who first landed the role of Marilyn when the show was first created. However, she dropped out of the show just 13 episodes into its run. This was so that she could marry Sesame Street producer Jon Stone. At any rate, both actresses did a great job playing the character.

It was Barbara Eden who starred in the following show about a 2,000-year-old genie who ends up getting discovered by an astronaut, of all people. Of course, Eden had already been on TV for a few years prior to this role, having starred in shows such as How to Marry a Millionaire, amongst others. But what was the name of this mystical character that everyone seemed to be dreaming about?

1. 1. Julie
2. 2. Margaret
3. 3. Jeannie
4. 4. Laurie

Of course, the name of the genie was quite fittingly, Jeannie! I Dream of Jeannie saw Eden play the titular character, who ends up becoming subservient and eventually falling in love with an astronaut called Larry Hagman. The show ran for five seasons and 139 episodes. Amazingly, even as she approaches her ’90s, Barbara Eden is still doing it until this very day, having most recently starred in stage productions such as Social Security and Love Letters.