Christopher De Lardge 9/17/13
Christopher’s Top Ten Sports Icons/Innovators
Forty years ago the great tennis
icon Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the battle of the sexes in the
Houston Astrodome in 1973. This changed the course of sports history in terms
of now females can competed with males. Now this got me to thinking; what are
my top ten sports icons/innovators of all time. To make this list you have to
change your sport both in and outside, use your status to change society, or
both. This is not limited to athletes just so you know. Let’s get started and
let the debate begin.
1.
Jackie Robinson- The 1st African American
to win Rookie of the Year in 1947. The same year he broke the MLB color
barrier. The 1949 NL MVP and a six time all-star. With all the accolades
Robinson he lasting impact will be how he changed America in a whole. This man
faced the evils of racism in the field and outside. He is the reason why the
Civil Rights Movement happened. He was a one man revolution. Make the hall of
Fame in 1962. The first African-American to a play-by-play man for MLB on ABC
in 1965. Without Jackie Mays, Arron, Banks, Gibson, Rollins, Jeter, Price, and
Jones would have never played MLB. His number 42 is retired throughout
baseball. “A life is not important except in the impact is has on other lives.”
2.
Billie Jean King- Her 39 Grand Slam Titles is very
impressive. Her longing impact is the fight for equal play for ladies in
tennis. This lady formed the WTA as a counter to the USTA. In 1968 Title IX
made it possible all ladies to have equality in college and pro sports. In 1973
King defeated Bobby Riggs in the battle of the sexes in the Houston Astrodome.
Ask the Williams Sisters, Martina, Graf and Maria about King they will tell you
that she is one of the most important ladies in the 20th Century. In
2006 the USTA National Tennis Center in New York City was renamed the USTA
Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
3.
Mohammed Ail- One of the greatest boxers of our
generation. He was stripped of his heavyweight title in 1967 for his stance
against the Vietnam War. He was the symbol of black empowerment. He was show
time he made you watched boxing on ABC’s
Wide World of Sports in the 60’s and 70’s every Saturday. These no doubt
his is the greatest just ask Forman, Liston and Frazier. This can man talk the
talk and he did walk the walk.
4.
Michael Jordan- A six time world champion, A six time
NBA Finals MVP, a five time NBA MVP, a two time slam dunk champion and a part
of the 1992 Dream Team. He is the greatest player of this generation. He is the
first NBA player to have a global brand. He is the winner from within. The
Jordan brand of his Nike Sportswear and sneakers is the brand of sportswear. He
made the NBA popular in the 1990’s and along with the rise of the NBA of NBC in that same decade. It’s
been over ten years since he played in the NBA yet the name Jordan is the
symbol of greatness.
5.
Johnny Unitas- A 3x NFL MVP, Hall of famer in 1979,
Super Bowl V champ. One of the clutch QB in the 50s and 60s. The founding
father of the 3 step, 5 step drop, the four minute and the two minute drill. The
face of the NFL and a key player of the 1958 NFL title game against the Giants
in Yankee Stadium dubbed “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” Where the NFL went to
the 1st sudden death Overtime. Drove to the Giants one yard line and
hand the ball to Ameche to win the title. This was the game that made the NFL
into the American spotlight. He was the QB that you did not want to face in the
last 2 minutes in the game. He is one of the reasons why the NFL rose to become
the most watched sport in America.
6.
Howard Cosell- He is the highest sportscaster on this
list. He was the voice of Monday Night Football from 1970-1984. A part of ABC’s Wide World of Sports in the 1960’s
and 1970’s. He was the voice of boxing. Covered Ali in the 60’s and 70’s. He
changed sports casting by a sense of journalistic integrity. He was outspoken
on issues of racism in sports. You either loved or hated Cosell but you watched
him. He made NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle walk on eggshells because he was the
one guy that worked with the NFL that is willing to tick them off. Always tell
it like it is. When describing himself Cosell said it best “Arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a
showoff. There's no question that I'm all of those things.”
7.
Steve Sabol- The crowned prince of NFL Films with his father Ed Sabol in
1962 until his death in 2012. His work at NFL
Films brought us to close to the sidelines, paint portraits with icons of
the games such as Johnny U, Joe Namath, Tom Landry, Jim Brown, Peyton Manning,
Tom Brady and John Elway. Every game that we see on TV uses all the cinematic
elements from the Sabol’s. 35 Emmy Awards that Sabol won for his work. He is
the image of the NFL. The true meaning of an innovator.
8.
Wayne Gretzky- The NHL’s version of
Michael Jordan. The all time leader in points, goals and assists. A four team
Stanley Cup Champion with Edmonton Oilers in the 1980’s. He turned the Rexall
Place into his playground always leaving you saying “Did I see what I just saw.”
In 1988 Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. He made the Kings into a
playoff and a 1993 Stanley Cup Finals appearance he turned LA a non hockey
market to one of the best hockey markets in the NHL. His success in LA make it
possible for cites like Tampa, San Jose, Anaheim, Phoenix, Dallas, Raleigh,
Florida, and Nashville all non-traditional hockey markets to have their
franchises.
9.
Bryant Gumbel- One of the first
African-American studio host. In 1975 NBC hired him to host the NFL Pregame
show Grandstand. From 1975-1982 he
hosted various sporting events with NBC Sports such as MLB, College Basketball
and the NFL. In 1995 two years before he stepped down from The Today Show. He hosted and created HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. Real
Sports has earned 15 sports Emmys, and a 2006 Alfred I.
duPont-Columbia University Award for broadcast journalism, the first time
in the award's history that it was given to a sports program. For me is one of the heroes that I would like to have the same
career like. His insight, knowledge and command of the English language is
someone that every inspiring sportscaster should strive to me. I’m not there
yet but someday I will be.
10. Arthur Ashe- The symbol of quiet strength in Tennis. He is the 1st
and only African-American to win the US Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open.
Despite the USTA barred him to play in their events. A fighter of social
justice such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Anti-Apartheid Movement. In the
1980’s Ashe contracted HIV after a blood transfusion. Announced is condition in
1992. He became a fighter for HIV/AIDS treatment until his death in 1993. Ashe
life can be best summarized with his best quote “From what we get, we can make a living. What we give; however,
makes a life”
