Tim Richmond to the limit: Tim Richmond lived his life the way he raced cars, wide open. Born into a wealthy family, Richmond was the antithesis of the Southern blue-collar, dirt-track racers who dominated NASCAR. He also was a flamboyant showman who basked in the attention of the media and fans, especially the attention of female admirers. But his freewheeling lifestyle soon caught up to him. He unexpectedly withdrew from the NASCAR racing circuit, reportedly suffering from double pneumonia. But in reality, he had been diagnosed with AIDS.

Fernando nation: Nicknamed "El Toro" by his fans, 20-year-old Fernando Valenzuela was one of the most captivating pitching phenoms baseball has ever seen. Virtually overnight, he became a hero to millions of Latinos, proving with his signature look to the heavens and killer screwball that the American dream was not reserved for those born on U.S. soil.

Marion Jones: Few athletes in Olympic history have reached such heights and depths as Marion Jones. Her rise to the top culminated at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. Eventually, her accomplishments and her reputation would be tarnished. In October 2007, Jones finally admitted what so many had long suspected, that she had indeed used steroids. Jones was sentenced to six months in prison for lying to federal investigators and soon saw her Olympic achievements disqualified.