In 1972, the rivalry between the USSR and the US was extremely high. By this point, the games were used as a tool of politics; a means of displaying dominance to the world. The US was a powerhouse in Basketball, yet in the 1972 games the USSR upset that reputation. This was viewed as a great feat inside the Soviet Union, and proved their power. However, the rest of the world, especially the US, questioned the integrity of the game’s officials. Click here to watch a report concerning the game that cause greater tensions between the two Superpowers.