(Mental Floss) -- 1. Bobby Murcer's biggest fan

Former New York Yankee Bobby Murcer warms up  during Old Timers Day Yankee Stadium on July 7.

Our first story has a fairy-tale middle and a horrible ending.

In August of '77, Bobby Murcer of the Cubs promised to hit a home run for terminally ill fan Scott Crull. That night, Murcer hit two of them. Pretty amazing, especially when you consider Murcer only hit nine homers the whole next season. But that's not why Crull -- a 12-year-old from Calumet City, Illinois -- makes this list.

Broadcasting the game nationally on ABC, Keith Jackson told the country how Murcer had fulfilled the dying boy's last wish. Eyes watered, spines tingled.

There was only one problem -- nobody had ever told the boy he was dying. His parents were horrified. Weeks later, Crull passed away.

2. The good luck charmers

Every sport has its own strange traditions. I'd argue hockey's "throwing an octopus on the ice for good luck" is the weirdest. Tossing the eight-tentacled cephalopod was the brainchild of Detroit storeowners Pete & Jerry Cusimano.

The date: April 15, 1952. The logic: one tentacle for each of the eight victories it took to win the Stanley Cup. Later that spring, most likely fueled by the good luck octopus, the Red Wings won the title.

PETA has objected to this practice, which continues to this day. The Red Wings mascot is not a Red Wing, but Al the Octopus.

3. The John 3:16 guy

Also known as "Rainbow Man," the born-again Rollen Stewart and his John 3:16 signs were fixtures at major events in the 1970s and 80s. He brought his message to the World Series, Super Bowl, Olympics, and World Cup.

He was outside Buckingham Palace when Di and Charles wed; he went to see the Pope in Alaska.

But he was more religious fanatic than sports fan. According to the Los Angeles Times, Stewart planned to assassinate President Bush and candidate Clinton in 1992. And he's now serving three life sentences for holding a maid hostage at a Los Angeles Hyatt, also in 1992.

By the way, chapter three, verse sixteen of the Gospel of John says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This is also printed on cups at the In-N-Out Burger.

4. The All-Star heckler

For 12 years, Maryland lawyer and Washington Bullets fan Robin Ficker was the NBA's most prominent heckler. With season tickets behind the visiting team's bench, his antics were legendary.

When he reminded Frank Layden of the Jazz that "USA Today" had rated him Worst Dressed Coach, Layden had to be restrained by security. With the Bulls in town, Ficker loudly read excerpts of Maverick, coach Phil Jackson's sex-laden 1975 autobiography. During the 1993 Suns-Bulls NBA Finals, Charles Barkley (of the Suns) flew Ficker to Phoenix and bought him a ticket behind the Chicago bench. Ficker was ejected in the first quarter.

The Bullets became the Wizards in 1997 and moved into the MCI Center the following season. Ficker's new seats were not in shouting distance of the visiting team, forcing him into heckling retirement. Last year he received 9.5% of the vote in a losing bid for Montgomery County Executive.

5. Kim Jong-il

That's right, the world's most feared dictator is a hoops junkie. During a 2000 visit, then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright presented him a basketball signed by Michael Jordan. The Chicago Bulls are the favorite team of Kim Jong-il, who reportedly has a video library with every game Jordan ever played.

At 5'3", the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army is roughly the same height as Muggsy Bogues.

6. David Letterman's Stalker

David Letterman's biggest fan was also
WHERE IS THE "RAINBOW MAN" NOW? Where is Rainbow Man? Who was the "Rainbow Man"? What has happened to "Rainbow Man"? Who is a hoops fan? What else is "Rainbow Man" known as? which is the communist dictator? Is the Rainbow Man in prision? Which sport does the Communist dictator follow? Who lost his seat? What happened to the John 3:16 guy? whos a hoops fan Who is he a fan of Where is "Rainbow Man"
serving three life sentences Buckingham Palace Rollen Stewart now serving three life sentences Kim Jong-il Rollen Stewart Kim Jong-il And he's now serving three life sentences for holding a maid hostage at a Los Angeles Hyatt, also in 1992. basketball Robin Ficker he's now serving three life sentences for holding a maid hostage Kim Jong-il Bobby Murcer serving three life sentences
question: WHERE IS THE "RAINBOW MAN" NOW?, answer: serving three life sentences | question: Where is Rainbow Man?, answer: Buckingham Palace | question: Who was the "Rainbow Man"?, answer: Rollen Stewart | question: What has happened to "Rainbow Man"?, answer: now serving three life sentences | question: Who is a hoops fan?, answer: Kim Jong-il | question: What else is "Rainbow Man" known as?, answer: Rollen Stewart | question: which is the communist dictator?, answer: Kim Jong-il | question: Is the Rainbow Man in prision?, answer: And he's now serving three life sentences for holding a maid hostage at a Los Angeles Hyatt, also in 1992. | question: Which sport does the Communist dictator follow?, answer: basketball | question: Who lost his seat?, answer: Robin Ficker | question: What happened to the John 3:16 guy?, answer: he's now serving three life sentences for holding a maid hostage | question: whos a hoops fan, answer: Kim Jong-il | question: Who is he a fan of, answer: Bobby Murcer | question: Where is "Rainbow Man", answer: serving three life sentences