February is Black History Month, encouraging everyone to look back and celebrate those who broke new ground and stood up for their beliefs.
This holds especially true in the world of sports, where great athletes became iconic for what they were able to accomplish even through adversity.
These are Black athletes, who may not get as much recognition as others, like Jackie Robinson, but what they were able to do for both their sport and race will never be forgotten.
Michael Sam
Until last week, most football fans may have never heard of Sam. A defensive end coming out of the University of Missouri, the NFL prospect has made waves in the media lately for stating that he is gay. Sam will be the first openly gay athlete in the NFL, when he is officially drafted in May, but in a sport that is supposed to be the “manliest” sport in our country, it is important that the stereotypes we have of gay athletes be dismissed. Sam is proud of who he is, a gay Black football player, and he hopes that taking this stand will allow other gay athletes to be proud of who they are and come out to the world. Sam has broken new ground that will change the course of sports from here forward.
Jim Brown
A member of the NCAA and NFL Hall of Fames, Brown is highly regarded as the greatest football player to ever play the game. Brown retired from the Cleveland Browns at 29, after only nine seasons. At the time, he held records for most rush yards in a season (1,863) and rush yards for a career (12,312).
In 2010, Brown was selected number two, behind Jerry Rice, on NFL Network’s NFL Films production “The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players.” He is also a member of the Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
Brown is known for his contributions to the Civil Rights movement and his popularity has helped push the cause forward.
Leroy Robert “Satchel” Paige
With a career that spanned over four decades, Paige was a professional pitcher in both the Negro League and the Major League. He played the sport he loved past his prime in hopes of playing in the MLB, the way his friend Jackie Robinson had done.
For most of Paige’s professional career, the MLB didn’t allow Black players. He was the oldest player in history to make his MLB debut in 1948, when he suited up for the Cleveland Indians at 42. Paige won the Negro League World Series in 1942 and the World Series in 1948. He was one of nine Negro League players inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1971, and only one of two of those members to actually play in the MLB.
Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd
Standing at 6 feet 9 inches and 315 pounds, Ladd was thought to be the strongest man in the AFL during his playing career from 1961 to 1968. Playing for teams like the San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs, Ladd was a four-time AFL All-Star during his eight-year career. In 1963, he won the AFL Championship with the Chargers.
Before Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson, Ladd was thought to be the first two-sport athlete, competing in professional wrestling during the football offseason. Although he competed in both at the same time, he focused more on wrestling after retiring from the AFL. For a short time, he had a rivalry with one of the most distinguishable figures in wrestling: 7-foot-4-inch, 500-pound Andre the Giant. He was inducted into the World Wrestling Federation Hall of Fame in 1995.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos
On the world’s grandest stage, the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Tommie Smith and John Carlos did something talked about worldwide, as they both raised their black-leather-gloved fists high in the air atop the medal podium.
Taking place after the final of the 200M race, this moment was etched in history as an essential event during the Civil Rights era. Smith stated it was not a gesture of “black power” but rather one of “human rights.” Regardless of intentions, Smith and Carlos’ symbolic gesture will not be forgotten.
These men are just a few of many who have helped revolutionize sports for future athletes. But, males haven’t been the only ones who have inspired generations of young athletes. Black women have had to face gender stereotypes, in addition to racism. Tune into next week’s issue, which will feature black female athletes, who proved that women can excel just as much as men in various sports.
