North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Il died over the weekend, due to complications of a stroke he suffered back in 2008. And while he was a ruthless dictator who murdered untold numbers of people (most of whom were his own), he was also one of the greatest athletes to ever walk the face of this earth.
According to his own biography, he was such a great golfer, that he managed to get 11 holes-in-ones on his way to carding a 38-under par on the VERY FIRST round of golf he ever played. Could Tiger Woods do that? I don't think so. (His biography also said he didn't defecate, but we'll leave that tidbit of info for a later piece.) Also, he managed to bowl a perfect 300 in his very first attempt at bowling. The man was an artist in any sport he tried.
And while other news outlets can debate what his death means to North Korea, whether his son Kim Jong-Un will succeed him and whether the North Korean people can rise up and take their country back, we're going to focus on his sporting life.
So, to remember this skilled superjock, here are a few of Kim Jong Il's other notable sports feats:
--Won every gold, silver and bronze in every event of North Korean Summer and Winter Olympics (still a North Korean record.)
--The Supreme Leader's Announcement that he was "Taking his talents to Pyongyang" still most watched show in history ot ESPNK.
--During his first-ever game of H-O-R-S-E, he dunked a basketball so hard it scared the AIDS out of Magic Johnson.
--Once hit a bunt walk-off grand slam...when he wasn't even playing baseball.
--Currently in possession of every hat in North Korea because of the one time he played hockey.
--Once gave Derek Jeter an autographed baseball after a one-night stand.
--Outdid Evel Knievel by jumping the Grand Canyon. With his legs.
--Wrote "One Shining Moment." Also with his legs.
--Scored World Cup-winning goal with an epic bicycle kick. Without his legs.
--First man to ever run the 4-second mile.
--Was the guy who drilled Santa Claus with the battery at that Eagles game a few years ago.
--Has never had to attempt a second serve.
--Body-slammed Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and King Kong Body simultaneously to win WrestleMania IV.
--The "NBA Jams" video game is a digital documentary of King Jon-Il's real life basketball skills.
--Was inspiration for Sylvester Stallone's character in "Over the Top"
--Taught Tim Tebow everything he knows
