Sports In The Vatican: Playing For God
The way the Vatican sees it, playing for gold can be a loftier mission if you’re ‘playing for God’. Historically, the Catholic Church has exhorted athletics as a way to promote the virtues of Christianity. But in today's world, the Holy See is actually participating in sports and not just preaching it.
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A Case For Polynesians In The NFL
Samoans, Hawaiians and Tongans are becoming the new face of American football. Per capita, they are the most over-represented cultures in the sport. …
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Olympic Basketball & The Grateful Dead
In 1991, the iconic Grateful Dead music band helped sponsor Lithuania’s national basketball team, a talented but financially-strapped squad that went on to win bronze at the Seoul Olympics. …
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From The Gridiron To The White House
Gerald Ford, the only unelected President in American history, spent more time working the gridiron in college than managing the …
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A Forgotten Cold War Hockey Tale
In November, 1959, America’s reigning senior amateur ice hockey champions, the Brockton “Wetzells” of Massachusetts, accepted an invitation …
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An American Jew Brings Home Olympic Glory
Americans were so proud of their new sports hero that over a million of his pin-up posters were sold across the country, the most of any other athlete at the time. …
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The Extraordinary Life Of A Wheelchair Basketball Hero
Heroism, tragedy and rebirth shaped the extraordinary life of Junius A. Kellogg, a college hoops star who became a successful …
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Jackie Mitchell Was A Trailblazer
“Ruth and Gehrig Struck Out By Girl Pitcher”. Such was the New York Times sports headline on April 3rd, 1931. …
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Newman's Own: An Actor Embraces Pro Racing
Among the sports figures who made it on the big screen in Hollywood, film icon Paul Newman stands on his own as an accomplished actor who was also a successful race car driver. …
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THIS WEEK
FOOTBALL December 15, 2008 Sam Bradford of the University of Oklahoma is recipient of the Heisman Trophy. Bradford was only the 2nd sophomore to win the award as he led the highest scoring offense in NCAA history, throwing for 4,464 yards and 48 touchdowns. He later joined the St Louis Rams and was named NFL Rookie of The Year in 2010.
BOXING December 9, 1998 Boxing champ Archie Moore dies at the age of 81. Competing from 1935-63, Moore held the light-heavy title for a record number of years but the Mississippi-born pugilist couldn’t clinch the lineal world heavyweight category; he twice lost a shot at that title, to Rocky Marciano (1955) and to Floyd Patterson (1956).
BASKETBALL December 14, 1988 Following a string of 17 losses, the NBA’s Miami Heat win their first game ever by defeating the LA Clippers 89-88. One of 4 new expansion teams to the league, the Heat was founded by Carnival Corporation owner Micky Arison. The Heat would eventually post 3 NBA championship titles, in 2006, 2012, and 2013.
TENNIS December 10, 1978 The U.S. beats Great Britain 4-1 at the 67th edition of the Davis Cup. The tournament was mired in political issues due to the inclusion of South Africa, which was an apartheid nation at the time. Several countries withdrew from the competition and South Africa itself was barred the following year and wouldn’t return until 1992.
