Game Changers
Game Changer Magic Johnson
In honor of NBA All Star weekend, we acknowledge one Mr. Magic Johnson. As a Los Angeles Laker, he brought Showtime to the Forum, but it is his role as activist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur since his retirement that make the Magic Man a Game Changer. Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s prowess on the basketball court is well-known. … Continue reading
Game Changer Jim Brown
In the fifteenth installment of our Black History Month series, we recognize arguably the greatest football player in history, Game Changer Jim Brown. Known for his prowess on the football field, Jim Brown is often recognized as one of the greatest athletes the United States produced. Jim Brown’s athletic abilities were clearly evident early. In … Continue reading
Game Changer Wilma Rudolph
Our Valentine’s Day Game Changer is the woman nicknamed by the Italians “La Gazella Negra”, Wilma Rudolph. No black female track athlete did more for the future of the sport than Wilma Rudolph. Her performance at the 1960 Rome Olympics had many girls wanting to participate in track and field. Wilma Rudolph faced adversity at … Continue reading
Game Changers New York Renaissance and the ’66 Texas Western Team
In our thirteenth segment of the Game Changers series we celebrate the accomplishments of the New York Renaissance professional basketball team and the 1966 Texas Western college basketball team. Each was a first in their own right…and today we celebrate them. The New York Renaissance, also known as the Rens, were an all-black professional basketball … Continue reading
Game Changer Bill Russell
On his 79th birthday, we celebrate the legendary Bill Russell in our Game Changer series. As a key component to the 50′s and 60′s era Boston Celtics, Bill Russell made a name as one of the best big men to play the game. He is often considered the first black basketball superstar in the NBA. … Continue reading
Game Change Jesse Owens
On day 11 of our Game Changer series, we highlight track star Jesse Owens. In a time when black athletes were considered less than around the world, Jesse Owens proved the world wrong winning 4 gold medals in sprint events in the 1936 Olympic Games. A star athlete from an early age, Jesse Owens came … Continue reading
Game Changer Charlie Sifford
Everyone knows Tiger Woods. But do you know about Charlie Sifford? Charlie Sifford is best known as the first Black golfer on the PGA Tour. Though Game Changer Joe Louis received the first exemption to play a PGA event in 1952 (Sifford joined Louis for this event), Charlie Sifford was the black golfer to … Continue reading
Game Changer Joe Louis
The Brown Bomber. Considered one of the greatest boxers of all time, Joe Louis is remembered most for his championship reign from 1937 to 1949. He is believed to be the first black athlete to reach the status of national hero as his time in the spotlight occurred leading up to and during the World … Continue reading
Game Changer Althea Gibson
For the seventh day of our Black History Month Game Changer series, we highlight tennis legend Althea Gibson. Gibson was the first black tennis player of either gender to cross the color line both nationally and internationally. In 1956, Althea Gibson was the first black tennis athlete to when Grand Slam title after winning the … Continue reading
Game Changer Jack Johnson
In an era where black people couldn’t drink from the same water fountain as white Americans, Jack Johnson became the first black heavyweight boxing champion of the world in 1908. Johnson won the title a full six years after Joe Gans became the first black World Boxing Champion in the lightweight class. Though it took … Continue reading
