Black History Month Athletic Movement

Is there a hashtag yet? #BHM?

Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Jackie Robinson, Willie O'Ree, Jim Brown, Bill Russell, and a host of other black athletes have witnessed adversity and rose to the top of their respected sports or made a lasting impact. All of them are pioneers:

Jesse Owens - Overcame the odds at the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936.

Wilma Rudolph - The first fastest black woman before the likes of Flo-Jo, Marian Jones, and Carmelita Jeter.

Jackie Robinson - A man who can be simply recognized by the number 42. The first black athlete to sustain a career in the major leagues.

Willie O'Ree - The first black (Canadian) ice hockey player to grace the ice of the NHL (National Hockey League). Mike Grier was the first U.S. born black hockey player.

Charles Follis - the first black professional football player.

Jim Brown - He may be better known as a dominant running back for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL (National Football League). However, he sometimes gets nabbed as the best lacrosse player.

Earl Lloyd, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, Hank DeZonie, and Chuck Cooper - the first African-American NBA (National Basketball Association) players.

Bill Russell - You only need to watch old clips of him as a Boston Celtic. He dominated the league and can arguably be one or the most dominant player in the history of basketball. He even served as the first black coach in the NBA.

Other firsts and trailblazers include the following:
Wendell Scott - auto racing
Arthur Wharton - professional soccer
Fritz Pollard - NFL coach
John "Buck" O'Neil - MLB owner
Robert Johnson - NBA owner
Shani Davis - speed skating

So, what is your dream?

Purpose and Development,
Derek

Derek Arledge, CSCS                      TEEM Performance Training                    www.teempt.com