Jim Thorpe Imagine being handed all the wrong cards as a child. From the beginning of his life, Jim Thorpe had to learn how to be strong and overcome. Stricken with poverty and living in the heart of Indian territory, he was able to achieve his dreams and then some. These things transferred to his athletics to make his family and the entire Sac and Fox tribes proud. Through hard work, determination, and overcoming many tragedies, Jim Thorpe became the greatest athlete of the 20th century, and his legacy even continues today. Jim Thorpe’s life started like most Indian childrens’ did, in Indian territory. He and his twin brother Charlie were born to Hiram and Charlotte Thorpe in a small cabin on the banks of North Canadian River near what …show more content…
He attended Haskell Junior College, but always dreamed of playing for Carlisle Indian School, so he took a train there and joined the team. Thorpe demonstrated his track-and-field abilities by easily winning multiple events while attending Carlisle, he eventually went into Olympic training in 1911. He also joined the football team at Carlisle, and his place kick accuracy earned him All-American honors (Harty). Once again, the flow of Jim Thorpe’s life was interrupted when he received news that his father died from blood poisoning (Cutler 4). He was to far away to attend his own father’s funeral, which hurt him deeply. After his first season at Carlisle, he decided to leave and play semi pro baseball for Rocky Mount in 1909. Thorpe went on to win gold in the decathlon and the pentathlon in the 1912 Olympics (Harty). Unfortunately, his medals were stripped because he played semi pro baseball prior to him winning his Olympic …show more content…
In 1952, he suffered his second heart attack, and on March 28, 1953, the famed athlete’s heart gave out (Harty). Thorpe’s wife wanted him to have a proper burial and memorial, but Oklahoma could not raise the necessary funds. Pennsylvania’s Carbon County would agree to give Thorpe a proper burial as long as they could name their town Jim Thorpe for tourism (Smith 34). As it is today, Jim Thorpe the man is buried in Jim Thorpe the place - though the man had never been to the place while breathing. The fight still continues for where Thorpe should rightfully be buried between relatives of his two different marriages
love for competition helped him become a leader on the football field as well as
...orts. He set firsts for some things and re-iterated others. He is still a very large contributing influence in the football world today. He is currently a NFL analyzer. He is very smart and knowledgeable. But he didn't get to where he is now without struggle. Power and fame almost ruined him. Yet he was able to bounce back and use his experience to learn from and shape his future and create a positive outcome. He made it positive not only for himself but for others as well. He set his goals and was determined. One thing
America’s pastime has been complicated in the last couple centuries, and integration has been a really big key in the game of baseball. Like most of America in the 1940’s, baseball was segregated, whites playing in the Major League system and African-Americans playing in the Negro Leagues. There were many factors that made whites and blacks come together including World War II. Integration caused many downs in the time period but as baseball grew and grew it was one of the greatest accomplishments in the history. It was hard to find the right black man do start this, they needed a man with baseball abilities and a man who didn’t need to fight back.
Jackie Robinson’s ability to successfully integrate his sport set the stage for many others to advocate for an end to segregation in their respective environments. His period of trials and triumphs were significant to changing American perception of the Civil Rights revolution. By becoming the first African-American baseball player to play in the major leagues, he brought down an old misconception that black athletes were inferior to white athletes. Successively, his example would inspire those advocating for their civil rights, he lived out a message of nonviolence similar to the one Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived out. Despite the constant prejudice he faced in his sport, he was able to keep himself composed and never retaliate.
Jackie Robinson did more in his short baseball career than anyone else ever did for the sport. He was always able to push on despite the criticisms and punishment he took from others. No other man can say that they broke the color barrier or that they changed the sport of baseball forever. To do what he did required strength and the ability to endure physical and mental pain. Jackie Robinson was the first African-American Major League Baseball player. He knew that if he failed to integrate baseball he could delay civil rights. By doing what he did, Jackie Robinson contributed greatly to the civil rights movement. His life experiences and hardships allowed him to leave a mark on civil rights that extended farther than just baseball.
Even with knowledge of Mosher’s Ph.D. in Sports Studies, the essay would have been stronger if it included additional credible resources. I agree with Mosher’s unstated evaluative claim that society should not expect someone to possess the characteristics of a hero simply because they are a sports athlete. Yet, Mosher asserts that society unrealistically demands their sports athletes to possess traits of high character. After reading this essay, I still ask; why not?
While attending college at UCLA, Jackie became the first African American to earn a varsity letter in all four sports that he play, which were Baseball, Football, Basketball, and Track (Jackie Robinson Official). While playing basketball, Jackie led his conference, which was and still is the Pac-10 or the Pacific Coast Conference, in scoring two years in a row. In 1940 he won the NCAA Championship in the broad jump. He also became an All-American on the football field (Jackie Robi...
In conclusion, Arthur Ashe successfully accomplished his American Dream, earned admiration from many and was recognized as one of the greatest tennis player in the country. As one of the first African American male tennis player who overcame inequality, he became an inspiration to others and encouraged them to work hard for their dreams. It had been years ever since his death in 1993, yet his legacy still live on.
Displaying gratitude and perseverance, Tiger Woods has always been a sports icon. To many, he is the world's best golfer, who has overcome many obstacles, including race and age, to establish himself prominently in the world of golf. Being from a mixed family, he is the son of a Vietnam veteran, in which he taught Tiger to love sports. His father an African-American
...rican American to hold the World Heavy Weight Championship. The American Dream is now accessible to anyone who has the drive to achieve it through hard work and motivation to jump obstacles in the path of the set goals. Jack Johnson achieved his dream despite of all the opposition, criticism, all the stereotypes, racism and all the other tough fights life threw at him and hence, paved a way for equality amongst the races in the future.
There are various people in the world who are very influential in many different ways. The people who are influential are the people who inspire people to not give up, people who stand up for what they believe in, and people who overcome difficult things in their life. One of those people is the man who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson is influential because of his accomplishments, courageousness, and also his ability to stay strong and fight for his rights.
The contradictory topic of Jim Thorpe and what should have been done with his medals and trophies leaves us with a heated debate. James Francis Thorpe aka Jim Thorpe,was born on May 28th 1887. Jim grew up as part of the Sac and Fox tribe. His father Hiram Thorpe and mother Mary James were strong parents, and part of the reason that Jim excelled in athletics. Jim grew up playing 3 main sports of: track and field, football, as well as baseball. Jim was a sight to see at all three sports. According to (http://www.cmgww.com/sports/thorpe/bio/bio.html) Jim had played for the professional team of the New York Giants in football and and many professional baseball teams. Jim was part of the U.S olympic team for track and field.
Jackie Robinson was a black man that played a white man only sport. Jackie Robinson’s life was outstanding regardless of the obstacles that were thrown in his way in order for him to make it to the top. Jackie Robinson overcame the pain people put him through with the support of his family, friends, and his God given talent, which was playing baseball. Jackie Robinson overcame the negativity of white people during the Civil Rights Movement. For this reason, Jackie Robinson never gave up on his dream and proved people wrong. Jackie Robinson became a vocal champion for the African-American athletes around the world (“Robinson, Jackie - Black History”).
In Philip J. Deloria’s Athletic chapter from his book “Indians in unexpected places” he talks about his grandfather’s connection to sports. He goes into further detail about how his grandfather’s place in sports is similar to other Native Americans. Native Americans used sports as a way to find their place in a new society. Sports was also used to strengthen the community. “Many Indian communities responded by drawing webs of kingship and unity ever tighter, trying to keep sport stars humble” (113). Athletics was now being used to bring all of the community, especially in times when it seemed divided. Sports also disproved the “Vanishing Indian” idea because society saw Native Americans playing in these sports and saw that they still existed.
resulted in respiratory failure, while hospitalized at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. He was interred next to his wife in