"It's about heart. It's about who can go out there and play the hardest. Who can go out there and play the smartest." Spoken by Don Haskins. He said these words before the 1966 NCAA championship, in which he won. Don Haskins is the most effective citizen of the 20th century. He was born in Enid Oklahoma, in 1930, and died in El Paso Texas, 2008. Don Haskins has four brothers, Steve, Brent, David, and Mark. He was inducted into the hall of fame in 2005. Don Haskins was a very determined and brave man, but he also shows leadership. Don Haskins was determined because he never stopped trying to prove his point, and he never listened the people who hated what he was doing. In the 1966 NCAA championship, he started five black players, to go …show more content…
He was brave because he protected his family from harm. He kept coaching the way he does even though he received lots of threatening letters saying "Stop playing these black people." "You black person lover." "If you keep doing this ill kill you." This would be scary if you got a letter like this, but Don never listened to them and he kept coaching the way he does. Finally, Don Haskins was a leader. Don lead by example and others followed in his footsteps. When he showed the world that black athletes could do whatever white athletes can, other coaches recognized their ability. For example, Adolph Rupp, who coached Kentucky in the 1966 championship, drafted his first black player in 1969, Tom Payne. This was a big deal considering that Adolph Rupp played all white people all the time. Don Haskins impacted the society by bringing freedom to the game of basketball. He decided to be the leader and start looking at skills not skin. Once the coaches of NCAA basketball saw the talents of black players they decided to draft them and play them. They all followed in Don Haskins footsteps because they noticed that he was doing pretty good when he he gave black players equal rights and played
Earl Lloyd was probably the most courageous player of all time. Some people know him as “The Big Cat” others know him as the first African-American to play in an NBA basketball game with the whites; he changed the way people think and look at basketball and black players and coaches. Earl Lloyd loved basketball from a very young age. Earl had two brothers older than him which was Earnest and Theodore. Earl was very dedicated from a very young age. With his high school team he took them to a state championship and won. After high school Earl went off and took his talents to West Virginia State College. While Earl was there his sophomore year they went 33-0 which is a perfect season. Earl’s team won back to back CIAA conference championships and tournament championships.
Don Haskins was born on March 14, 1930. He played college basketball at Oklahoma A&M from 1949 through 1952. Haskins was a second team all-conference player as a senior and played as a guard and forward. In 1949 through 1951 h...
Jackie Robinson went on to win rookie of the year that season, 6 world series, and most importantly show African-Americans they can are just as good as Cauc...
Particularly, Jackie Robinson is best known for being the first black baseball player in the Major Leagues. As an experiment, to have baseball a national sport, Jackie Robinson was chosen to be a baseball player. He stood ground as people threatened harm on him. Without the support on him, though, Robinson wouldn’t have made it.
The best recruiting class in NCAA history came in and changed the game. Before they came to college, players still wore short shorts and the only people caught wearing black socks on a basketball court were 60-year olds trying to be young again. They changed the game with their great basketball skills, and their swagger. The road to greatness wasn't very easy for some though; they lived a tough life, and used that as motivation to drive them to greatness. They were are Michigan's Fab Five.
Gene Stallings, who was one of Bryant's players at the time, said, "We left in two buses and came back in one, and that one was half full." Bryant put his team through hell at Junction because he wanted to build character and have his players realize that things were going to be done his way. They finished the season 1-9, Bear's only losing record as a head coach! The foundation had been placed and in 1956, the Aggies won the Southwest Conference championship. In 1957, halfback John David Crow received the Heisman Trophy, the only player coached by Bryant to receive the award. After a few years in 1958 Bear Bryant joined Alabama, but this time...he was head coach. Bear once said “What are you doing here? Tell me why you are here. If you are not here to win a national championship, you’re in the wrong place. You boys are special. I don’t want my players to be like other students. I want special people. You can learn a lot on the football field that isn’t taught in the home, the church, or the classroom. There are going to be days when you think you’ve got no more to give and then you’re going to give plenty more. You are going to have pride and class. You are going to be very special. You are going to win the national championship for Alabama.” Bear knew how to give moving pre game speeches. It makes you think abut how much he cared for his football player. Bear dedicated his life to football, but he
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.
African Americans were among the worst treated races in the US; however, this did not stop them from fighting for the rights that so many had died for. It seemed as if black people would never be treated respectfully, but just like in comic books, there is always a hero that will fight for his people. This hero soon came to the scene and he was fierce enough to change the lives of many people. Most importantly, he broke the color barrier and created a path that would allow others to follow. However, something that was inevitable was the threats and racial remarks they had to face.
Like Robinson, these men paved the way for today’s players and are the reason that the best athletes in the world now play in the NBA.” (Dave Howell, NBA.com, Six Who Paved The Way, Page 1). African-Americans in basketball, more specifically the first 5 players, began to make people realize that African Americans were not foreign creatures, they were actual people. People also began to realize that African Americans make equally as significant contributions to the society and community as anyone else
Camerer, Dave. Winning Football Plays by American Foremost Coaches. New York: The Ronald Press Company, 1962. Print.
He broke the color barrier in the NFL (Britannica). Which can allow thousands of talented African Americans to be able to share their talent with others. Now that the protests are going on, Kenny’s name will most likely be mentioned. However, most people don’t know who he is. Kenny’s legacy will be remembered by the NFL and the fans. He is honored at the African American museum in Washington D.C for his outstanding work he had done for the people then and the people now. Most importantly, it will be remembered by the African Americans that are able to play now because of his
Wiggins, David Kenneth, and Patrick B. Miller. 2003. The unlevel playing field: a documentary history of the African American experience in sport. Urbana: University of Illinois Press
Basketball has had a large impact in the society. In the NBA, the teams bring out nationalism within their city. Various cities have a National basketball team representing them in the NBA. This in turn brings out a healthy competition that paves the way to socialization, support, and unity among individuals. NBA players can have a positive impact on individuals as well as an entire nation. ESPN deemed Jeremy Lin, an NBA player, to have the ability to expand basketball largely in China.
He became the first ever basketball coach, he is known as the father of basketball, even though his record as a coach at the University of Kansas was a mediocre fifty five wins and sixty losses. There are many sports to coach, so choosing the right sport to coach is the first test for any coach. Naturally, one would want to coach a sport that you know the most about. For example, if an athlete decided he wanted to get into coaching he would most likely choose to coach the sport he had once played.
The scholars expounds that Black athletes were commodities on the playing field to help win games and bring in revenue to their respected schools. However, the schools were just as eager and willing to leave their Black players behind and dishonoring the player as a part of the team. Therefore, not compromising the team’s winning and bring in profits for the school. Sadly, Black athletes at predominately White institutions (PWIs) who believed that they were bettering the live of themselves and their families members by going to college and playing collegiate sports to increase their post secondary careers. However, these athletes were only “show ponies” for their schools. Unfortunately, Black athletes had allegiance to their school; however, the school turned their backs on the athletes to protect the profit and notoriety of the school and the programs. Money and respect from White fans and spectators were more important to the PWIs than standing up for the respect of their Black players. Racial bigotry in sports was rampant and it was only going to get worse.