Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Wayne Gretzky's contributions to sports
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Wayne Gretzky's contributions to sports
Wayne Gretzky Not many people can argue that Wayne Gretzky dominated the game every
time he stepped on the ice. No player is rewarded the name, "The Great
One", for no reason, and he has proven that since his first year in
the NHL. Wayne Gretzky is by far, the greatest Canadian hockey player
of all time. He holds the record for the most goals, assists, and
overall points for both the regular season and the playoffs; he has
won over 20 trophies throughout his career, and within his team(s)
brought home four Stanley Cup wins, and three Canadian Cup
championships.
Even when he was a tyke, Wayne was playing in leagues several years
older then him and he was still racking in the points. When he was
only 10, he played in his hometown hockey league in Brantford and
parents could see this little boy had a talent. Scoring over 350 goals
and over 100 assists (www.upperde
ck.com/athletes/waynegretzky/profile) in that single season, it seemed
he would be setting records for the rest of his life. Gretzky played a
very short year of junior hockey, before being drafted into the NHL
where he started his astonishing career and began collecting goals,
assists, and his many unbeatable records. After his rookie year with
the Edmonton Oilers, Wayne had already held a record; "Most assists by
a player in his first NHL season", and more and more followed as he
played out his career. Gretzky holds the most goals in regular seasons
at 89...
... middle of paper ...
...ing his many years in the NHL he played for
Team Canadaat the Canadian Cup Championships, winning in 1984, 1987,
and in 1991.
Just reviewing all the achievements, accomplishments and awards
Waynehas received, you can truly understand why Gretzky has received
the name "The Great One", and why he is the greatest Canadian hockey
player to play the game. He has set just about every record in the
NHL, or gave the holder a good fight, and has skills in every aspect
of the game, not just those of a forward. Wayne has received countless
amounts of awards from most goals scored in a season, to the most
gentlemanly player award, which no other player has even come close to
obtaining, and he has won more championships and Stanley Cups than
anyone has ever needed to. He is, and always will be, "The Great One",
Wayne Gretzky.
Jackie Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 in Georgia. On this day, a legend arrived. Jackie was raised by his mother, and his mother alone. His father left before Jackie was born, and he didn’t remember one thing about him. Jackie had many siblings, brothers and sisters. Jackie had an older brother named Matthew, who was also very athletic. Jackie’s mother tried the best she could to raise these boys right, and teach them that no matter what the whites called them...they were special.
Wayne Gretzky played a huge role in hockey history. He was a role model for many people who watched the NHL and played hockey across America as well as in Canada. His early years and his determination lead him to where he is today. All of his hard work throughout his life paid off in his great success over his career. Gretzky was the greatest hockey player ever to play in the NHL, his integrity and persistence set the bar for many players today and also influenced the way the game was played. His career started when he was very young, he won many awards and broke several records which ended with him changing the way many viewed the game all together.
Sometimes you just have to watch the movie. Some people were not even alive, some forget, some just do not know the story of the Olympic hockey glory experienced by everyone in the U.S. in 1980. You did not have to be a fan of hockey on that faithful day when the U.S.S.R. and the United States played that extraordinary game. One man’s vision and leadership brought one nation to its feet. Herb Brooks was the head coach of the 1980 U.S. men’s hockey team. In this brief report I will discuss the man, his visionary and ethical leadership, and his success.
Maurice Richard was the hero of the French Canadian people and his dedication to his game was no different from the dedication to his family and his work and his love for the French Canadian people. He went on to win many awards in hockey and in his personal life that honored him as the role model for all French Canadian.
He experienced joy, pain, satisfaction and disappointment through it, but ultimately, he let social pressure overcome his spirit and change who he was meant to become. Hockey allowed him to physically and mentally mature as a person, but it was the sport itself, at the end, that led to his destruction. His journey as a player is a clear representation of the racism that is still unconditionally present in our community and that has to be overcome in order obtain social equity in sports and other recreational
James Cleveland Owens otherwise known as “Jesse” was an Olympic long jumper and sprinter whose speed and inspirational defiance of Hitler shocked the world. The 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin and Adolf Hitler of the Nazi party believed that these Olympic Games would showcase the great skill of the Aryan (Caucasian) race, and the last person he would expect to show him up would be an African-American man (Barnes 1). With sixty-six U.S. Olympic contestants competing in the Games, the American race was really put on the spot in front of Hitler, the most powerful man in the world (Smith 1). Jesse Owens was one of these men, and while being laughed at by Hitler during his one hundred meter sprint against six other Caucasian sprinters, he won by a landslide. With that victory and his other three Olympic gold medals the Owens name was able to be remembered and looked up to for eternity. Jessie Owens is such a great athlete and individual because he defied Adolf Hitler, achieved more than expected of himself, and broke records with ease.
Born in Cairo, Georgia, Robinson moved with his mother and siblings to Pasadena, California in 1920, after his father deserted the family. At the University of California, Los Angeles, he was a star player of football, basketball, track, and baseball; the only athlete in UCLA history to letter in four different sports. He played with Kenny Washington, who would become one of the first black players in the National Football League since the early 1930s. Robinson also met his future wife, Rachel, at UCLA. His brother Matthew "Mack" Robinson (1912-2000) competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics, finishing second in the 200-meter sprint behind Jesse Owens.
Pete Maravich was one of the greatest basketball players of all time. His spectacular moves and awesome footwork helped him to get better everyday. His incredible passes and being able to control the court caused his teammates to like him even more. “His playground moves, circus shots, and hotdog passes were considered outrageous during his era” (NBA Encyclopedia Playoff Edition). His love for basketball was instilled by his father Peter “Press” Maravich.
People consider the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to be one of the greatest things to happen in U.S Olympic history. Their game against the Soviets is known as "The Miracle on Ice." The world was stunned when the United States defeated the Soviets in the semi-final game of the 1980 Olympics. The Soviets hadn't been beaten in the gold medal game in years. This miracle game is still greatly known around the world and will not be forgotten by Americans any time soon.
Jackie Robinson, born Jack Roosevelt Robinson, is known for being the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball. He was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia as the grandson of a slave. He was the youngest of five children and at six months old his father left them. At this time, because it was so hard for African-Americans in the south, his mother Mallie Robinson decided to move them to Pasadena, California where it was easier for African-Americans to live and find jobs.
The most memorable moment in hockey history came thirty-four years ago with the 1980 Miracle on Ice. The Americans defeating the dominant Soviet team at the Olympics was not only an important triumph for USA Hockey, but for the entire nation. Contrary to popular belief, the underdog win was not only the result of a miracle; it was also the result of a hard-working team led by Coach Herb Brooks. With increasingly negative views on the position of the United States in the Cold War, the Miracle on Ice and the gold medal win lifted the spirits of the nation and brought hockey into the American spotlight.
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “We can have no ’50-50’ allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all.” The question everyone is now asking what is an American? An American is a man who has the dedication to achieve his or her dream no matter the obstacles in their path. The ideal personification of being an American is Jackie Robinson from the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie Robinson’s dream was to play professional baseball with white American’s. Though the numerous amount of obstacles that cut short other talented African American’s or discouraged even attempt this dream were disregarded by Robinson, and continued pursue his dream. The mere fact that Jackie Robinson was able to play in the Major League Baseball (MLB) league in 1947 at time where segregation was at its apex was an astonishing accomplishment for African American’s everywhere. After Robinson was signed on with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the true challenge began. Jackie Robinson had to demonstrate himself to everyone he deserved to be on the team. He not only proved himself worthy, but as well earned his teammates respect and friendship over course of his career. All things considered, Jackie Robinson’s dedication, courage, and personality made him the quintessential American.
The Duke takes his place in history. John Wayne, one of America’s greatest actors and directors of all time. His fame and superstardom led to many problems in his career. His image as an icon of American individualism and the frontier spirit has overshadowed his career to such an extent that it is almost impossible for the fans and writers to separate Wayne the legend from Wayne the actor and Wayne the man.
The UFO crash site in Roswell New Mexico in 1947 was the start of people’s interest in extraterrestrials, the discovery of military secrets and experiments kept from society, and the start, in search of answering are we alone in this universe.
James Howard Meredith was born on the date of June 25,1933. James Meredith, brother of 9 siblings, grew up on a farm in Kosciusko, Mississippi. He attended high school in Kosciusko as well. Straight out of high school, he joined the Air Force, where he spent nine years in the service. After he got out of the military he attended Jackson State College, an all-black college(“James Meredith Biography”). James Meredith had a huge impact on society because of his going to the University of Mississippi, breaking the racial barrier, and being a role model to all the children who thought that were not good enough to be able to make a difference in a world of discrimination. James Meredith has forever changed racial issues.