“Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sports … the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.”

That was the famous catch phrase we knew as kids growing up. It was the one of those phrases we were anxious to use on the playground when we won or when we saw someone lose.

It came from the show “ABC Wide World of Sports,” that was a staple of Saturday afternoons from 1961 through the better part of its final year in 1998. The show was our precursor to watch international events before ESPN and the internet.

This latest installment of my look back at YESTERDAY - a trip back in time to the late 1960s, the 70s, and the early 80s - is a recollection of memorable sports shows and some other items.

“ABC’s Wide World of Sports” reached its pinnacle in the late 1960’s and most of the 1970’s when longtime host Jim McKay brought us sports such as skiing, figure skating, surfing and powerlifting. But they were just a few of the non-main stream sports that were covered. How many of you remember cliff diving from Mexico?

The Wide World of Sports opening tended to keep us spellbound as we watched the triumphs and the crashes (the skiing jumping crash that began each episode became legendary). The program also set the groundwork for Indy car and NASCAR racing, showing a number of races and opening the door to their lucrative market.

ABC certainly did fulfill its promise in its opening with the momentous phrase about the variety of sports, as it was the key to events beyond the big four.

As a preteen or teenager, you felt compelled to watch it, and were rarely disappointed.

The show eventually succumbed to ESPN and other cable outlets in the late 1980s, but it did manage to stay afloat until 1998.

Superstars ... Do you remember ABC’s “Superstars” that debuted in the winter of 1973? The program was televised on Sunday afternoons, and featured 10 star athletes who competed in events other than their own. Athletes would compete in events such as swimming, track, volleyball, bowling, kayaking, and others.

The show also featured a cavalcade of stars from the 1970s and 80s who competed in an obstacle course. Among the stars to participate were O.J. Simpson, Dan Marino, Dick Anderson, John Havlicek, Jim McMillian, Yvan Cournoyer, and Reggie Jackson to name a few.

Again, this was ahead of its time and gave us a preview of the overflow of sports ahead. It also was a reality show trendsetter.

Say Howdy to Gowdy ... From those successes, ABC was able to spin off, “The American Sportsman’ in 1965 and Curt Gowdy became its most recognizable host.

The show had a number of TV stars and some athletes who would typically be on a hunting or fishing expedition. Stars included Andy Griffith, Redd Foxx, Burt Reynolds, Bing Crosby and others that helped pace the show until 1986.

Spectacular ... CBS’ counter to “Wide World of Sports,” was “Sports Spectacular,” which aired on Saturday afternoons beginning in 1960.

Hosted by Jack Whitaker and Bud Palmer, the show had a national and international flavor, featuring tennis, golf, Grand Prix, horse racing, and snowboarding to mention a few.

The show had a similar shelf life as “Wide World of Sports” as it changed names until its final broadcast in 1996. The group ELO’s instrumental “Fire on High” gave the show an identity in the late 1970s. One would know the song if they heard it, and it should jog some memories.

Another Enberg Classic ... In 1971, iconic play-by-play man Dick Enberg hosted “Sports Challenge,” a sports trivia TV show that featured three members of championship teams playing against each other.

Enberg kept the rounds flowing until the final round when both teams had to guess the identity of the “mystery guest, ”whose darkened shadow had a large white question mark over him or her - a classic touch.

This was another Saturday afternoon keeper, and it lasted in syndicate until 1979. Legendary announcer Johnny Gilbert did the voiceover.

Gone with the Wind ... March 1 is a significant day in sports history. High winds caused a 50-by-150-foot portion of its new roof to blow off the Philadelphia Spectrum during an Ice Capades (remember them?) performance.

The situation was fixed, but it occurred again two weeks later. The Spectrum closed for a month, and the Flyers were forced to play their next seven games on the road.

Sharing a Laugh ... On this date in 1968 “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” broke the barriers of conventional television with its adult-based humor and content. Most of us at the age of 8 to 10 would have to sneak away to watch it.

Goldy Hahn became a celebrity with her scantily clad outfits, and Art Johnson in his German soldier uniform coined the phrase, “Very Interesting..But Stupid!” There was the ‘Sock It To Me” Wall where celebrities would open a door and deliver a comment.

Looking back, it was trail blazer.

Big Mac, A Snack, and More ... In 1968, McDonald’s unveiled its Big Mac, which sold for 45 cents. Pittsburgh was the first testing ground for the burger. The “two all-beef patties, special sauce ...” jingle originated a few years later.

It’s easy to open a Hunt’s Snack Pack today, but back in 1968, the snack emerged in round metal cans that had a “child-safe lid.”

McDonald’s also established its Apple Pie in 1968, and it was the first dessert item on their menu.

Before there were Warheads, Zotz was a success as a sour candy.

Your Set of Wheels ... “Hot Wheels” hit the market in 1968, and were a huge success with over one billion of the miniature cars sold. Those plastic, orange tracks were considered “neat” back in the day.

The Corgi metal cars also captured our interests. Corgi became popular for their crime fighter cars, which featured the Batmobile, James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 and the Green Hornet’s Black Beauty.