Cade's cola

Gatorade inventor, Dr. Robert Cade, died today in Jacksonville, Florida. He was 80. Originally developed for the Florida Gators football team, the beverage has become a sports icon equal to Nike.

Cade and three others came up with the original formula in 1965. The sweltering Florida heat took its toll on local athletes and Cade wanted to create a drink that replaced what the body flushed out in sweat. Rather that just water or juice, he wanted a product that replaced vital chemicals, a true designer liquid.

According to lore, the first batch cost less than $50 in supplies and didn't taste very good, but it did do what it was supposed to do. To quell complaints they added sugar and lemon juice. It launched a year later, the year that Florida quarterback Steve Spurrier won the Heisman Trophy, a brought fame to Florida AND made Gatorade a household word.