Field of Schemes: The Top 7 Most Audacious Sports Imposters of All Time
Image credit, Joe Daly
In the grand cavalcade of professional sports, a realm soundtracked by thunderous applause for the athletically adept and blistering derision for the also-rans, there exists an enterprising group of outsiders who have entered this hallowed world through sheer deception. They are the storied "Sports Imposters," whose high-stakes capers live in cultural infamy, Unlike famed author George Plimpton, whose many dalliances into professional sports as a writer were conducted with the wink of consent and the nod of complicity, these agents of chaos operated under the veil of deceit and a threat of real punishment. Where Plimpton openly donned the helmet and cleats for the noble pursuit of participatory journalism, these vaunted interlopers worked from a playbook of chicanery deception to sneak onto fields and into arenas with an adept sleight of hand that would render a magician green with envy. Here are the seven most notorious sports imposters.
1. Barry Bremen: The Greatest
Atop our list sits Barry Bremen, a man with more grit and determination than a bench full of scrappy walk-ons. This Detroit salesman snuck into the sacred courts of sport's Valhalla time and time again. He posed as a referee in the NBA, stood among baseball's All-Stars, and even slipped into the cheerleading squad of the Dallas Cowboys. Bremen wasn’t just pushing the envelope; he stuffed it with bravado and delivered it first class into the annals of absurdity.
2. Ron Bensimhon: The High-Diving Phantom
Ron Bensimhon was a world class streaker who took a plunge — quite literally — into the lore of sports imposture when he donned a referee's uniform, scaled the diving platform at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships, and executed a not-quite-Olympian dive into the pool, leaving the athletes befuddled and the crowd in a cocktail of amusement and disbelief. The guy in the blazer ascending the diving platform is like a bear, backing a hiker up against a ledge. See for yourself:
3. James Miller: The Fan Man
Not so much an imposter as a brazen party crasher, Miller deserves mention purely for his theatrical panache. Know as the "Fan Man," Miller, equipped with a motorized paraglider, descended uninvited onto the canvas during the Holyfield-Bowe heavyweight bout in 1993. His aerial antics caused a 21-minute delay and a riotous spectacle never to be forgotten.
4. Maurice Flitcroft: The Phantom Golfer
Maurice Flitcroft, an English crane operator, famously masqueraded as a pro to enter the 1976 British Open, hilariously shooting the worst score in its history - 121. Lacking any real golfing skill, and having never played a full 18 holes, this farcical performance quickly unraveled his ruse. Despite being banned, he repeatedly attempted re-entry under various aliases, becoming a cult hero for his cheeky defiance and humorous audacity in the face of elite sportsmanship.
5. Kaiser: The Footballer Who Never Was
Carlos Kaiser crafted a soccer career spanning over two decades without ever kicking the ball in earnest. This Brazilian charlatan used fake phone calls and feigned injuries to avoid exposure, seducing clubs with charm and deceit. "Kaiser has been one of the most iconic figures in world football,” said former Real Madrid player, Ricardo Rocha. “He only had one problem: the ball."
6. Brian MacKinnon: Time Traveler
In the storied halls of sports deception, Brian MacKinnon stands out. At 32, he shaved years off his age to re-enroll in high school as Brandon Lee, supposedly a sprightly Canadian 16-year-old, complete with accent. His aim? To relive his glory days on the soccer pitch. With a convincing teenage facade, MacKinnon juggled both the ball and his ruse with aplomb for two years until the curtain fell on his act. His tale is less about athletic achievement and more a testament to the lengths one will go to recapture the fleeting sprint of youth.
7. Karl Power: The Man U Photo Bomber
In 2001, Karl Power boldly strode out onto the field with Manchester United players at a Champions League match against Bayern Munich, dressed in full kit. He managed to line up with the team for the pre-match photograph before his ruse was discovered. Power's stunt was not just a one-off; he became known for such pranks, including walking out to bat during an England cricket match and posing with the England rugby team and even suiting up as a Formula 1 driver. Absolute legend.