Streaking in Sports

Streaking in Sports :Rugby Union Twenty-five-year-old Australian Michael O'Brien was the first known streaker at a major sporting event when on April 20, 1974, he ran out naked onto the ground of an England vs. France Rugby Union match at Twickenham. The photograph of O'Brien captured by the police became one of the most famous photographs of a streaker activity. Erica Roe, a bookshop assistant, also streaked during a rugby union Test at Twickenham in 1982.Recently, in New Zealand, there have been incidents of streaking at rugby union matches.

Cricket In the sport of cricket, it is not uncommon for a streaker to run out to the field purely for shock and entertainment value or political purposes. On example was in the First Test of the Australia versus the I.C.C. World XI, when a rather drunken man darted out toward the field naked, shocking the Australian and World XI players, halting play until he was spear tackled to the ground by field personnel after trying to evade their trap (this is the usual method to capture streakers at sporting events) and was apprehended. In one notable incident in 1977, Australian test cricketer Greg Chappell spanked an invading streaker named Bruce McCauley with his cricket bat; McCauley then fell to the ground and was arrested by police. Former cricket streaker Sheila Nicholls went on to have a successful career in the American music business. Streaking also occurred during the 2007 Boxing Day test match at the MCG between India and Australia. The Indian media incorrectly reported that local police wrapped the streaker with an Indian flag he was carrying as he charged onto the turf late in the day, at a potential cost of $6,000 in fines. The flag in question was an Irish flag. The most recent streaking incident was during the second one-day final between Australia and India at the Gabba. A 26-year old Brisbane man, Robert Ogilvy, invaded the pitch during the 10th over, only to receive a Shoulder Barge from Australian test cricketer Andrew Symonds, causing the streaker to drop instantly to the ground where he was apprehended by Police. The streaker has since been fined $1500, with Symonds receiving no charges.

Australian rules football

Streaking became popular at Australian rules football matches in the 1980s, particularly Victorian Football League Grand Finals, with a trend started by Adelaide stripper Helen D'Amico in the 1982 Grand Final between Carlton and Richmond, wearing only a Carlton scarf. There were also incidents in 2004 at Launceston (St. Kilda v Port Adelaide) where a streaker was tackled, while another streaker who evaded security in 2007 at Darwin (Western Bulldogs v Fremantle) turned himself in to police the next morning. Another incident occurred in 2007 when two women streaked onto the Gabba pitch at a match between Brisbane and eventual premiers Geelong. The women were caught by security and fined.

Association football

In 2005, German football club FC Hansa Rostock successfully sued three streakers who disrupted their 2003 match against Hertha Berlin, to recoup the €20,000 they were fined by the German Football Association for failing to maintain adequate security at their ground. During a 2007 exhibition match between Wellington Phoenix and Los Angeles Galaxy, a female streaker took to the pitch trying to unofficially promote a business ran by New Zealand sporting personality Marc Ellis. Although Ellis is well known for his promotion of streaking and reimbursement for those fined while doing so, he refused to pay the cost of the fine. In order to pay, the streaker unsuccessfully attempted to sell the item of underwear she wore at the time on online auction site TradeMe.

Olympic games

In the 2006 Winter Olympics, streaker Mark Roberts interrupted the men's bronze medal curling match between the U.S. team and the UK team, wearing nothing but a strategically placed rubber chicken. He was intending to advertise a well known gambling website, which was written across his back and breast, but in the United States, cameras cut away before viewers could see him. A Polish female streaker showed up at the closing ceremony, but was not on the telecast either.
Professional wrestling
In an episode of "SmackDown!" in 2003, Sean O'Haire convinced Brian Kendrick that he would get attention for himself if he streaked through the arena. He made the run, wearing only a long knitted scarf. One has to remember that this was indeed under kayfabe. At 'WrestleMania 23 a streaker climbed over the fan barricade and climbed on the ring apron right at the start of the main event match between John Cena and Shawn Michaels. The fan was promptly removed by security while Michaels sat on the turnbuckle and mockingly waved good-bye to the crazed fan.