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African American Sport History
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Jesse Owens
This month Jesse Owens came to the Olympic games a hopefull black athlete but left an American hero. Owens would go through many struggles including competing in the Olympics in Germany during a time when Adolf Hitler was in charge and believed all races outside of the Arians were inferior. Owens would go on to win 4 gold medals at these games however, becoming an American hero and reciving The Medal of Freedom the highest honor for an American citizen. -
Jackie Robinson
On this day baseball player Jackie Robinson became the first black man to play in the MLB. He had previously been a star in the Negro League but was restricted from playing in the Major League because of his color. He would be given the chance by the Brooklyn Dodgers where he would end up recieving boos from the crowd and many death threats. By the end of the first season he would win over many fans and also recieved rookie of the year honors. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLnP3fWh1tE -
Althea Gibson
Gibson is the first black woman to compete at the United States nationals competition in tennis. She did well in the tourny and in so proved to many nay-sayers that black woman can play tennis. 7 years later she would win the U.S. Nationals and Wimbledon and was given a parade upon her return in New York on this day in late October 1950. -
Willie O'Ree
This day marked the first time an African American would play in the NHL despite it being established decades earlier. He palyed for the Boston Bruins who rectenly won a world championship last year. O'Ree could only play for 2 seasons due to a nagging eye injury he sustained as teams in the fifties did not wear helmets of any kind. -
Float like a butterfly sting like a bee
Is Muhammed Ali the greatest? That is what he enjoyed calling himself and you won't find many people out there who will disagree. On this late February day he defeated Sonny Liston to claim his first heavyweight title. He is the only boxer to win the Heavyweight Championship three times including once after being stripped of it because he would not join the US Army citing relious differences. Ali now riases awareness and support for the disease he himself is a victim of, Parkinsons. -
Breaking Ruth's record
Henry Aaron or "Hank" as us around Atlanta call him, would break the all-time homerun record in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in front of more than 50,000 fans today. Leading up his historic homerun letters upon letters of hatemail and death threats filled his mailbox since he finished the 73' season one shy of the babes record so if he decided to play the 74' season he would surely break it. He is considered one of the greatest baseball players ever. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwDE_DJZJ4U -
Like Mike
Who has been the most dominant athlete at their sport in the hisroy of the game? Many cases can be made but the best case is for one indivdual Sir Michael Jordan. 6 championshiops, 3 gold medal, and many many other accolades highlight Jordans career. On this day he played his final NBA game for the Washington Wizards and left to a three minute standing ovation. He is the greatest basketball player of all time and has set the bar so high that no other will ever come close to his greatness.
