(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Shut Up, Male Chauvinists!
Sept. 20, 1973 is the date when a female tennis player beat a male in the historic “Battle of the Sexes” and dealt a severe blow to those morons who discriminated against women, at home and professionally.
When Billy Jean King beat Bobby Riggs, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, the world admired the spirit of a woman who was tired of hearing that the female tennis circuit was inferior to the male one, and that in general, “Men are better than women.”
She didn’t file a lawsuit, or give a sappy TV interview, or cry in public to gain sympathy.
She went out there, and let her tennis racket do the talking. And talk it did, it shut up the biggest mouth of the time, and sent a message of gender equality. It inspired not just future tennis stars, but girls of all generations and career paths.
God has created everyone equal, and that match was a living proof.
“It Doesn’t Matter If You’re Black or White”
When we salute our forefathers who fought for our freedom, established a democracy based on principles of liberty and equality, we should also salute a few others.
What about Don Haskins of Texas Western, the coach who won a National Title in college basketball with an all-black starting lineup? In the Deep South, no less!
What about that NFL player (to whom history has not been so kind; I could not find his name anywhere) who gave an earful to his close friend on the opposing team for racially abusing his colored teammate, whom he didn’t even know so well?
What about Jackie Robinson, the first African-American MLB player of our times, who brought an end to a 60-year long reign of segregation in baseball?
What about Althea Gibson, the first African-American tennis player to win a Grand Slam event in 1956?
The contributions of these sports men and women cannot be described in words. Today, as we stand divided on so many fronts, we should recall that decades ago, we stood divided on the issue of racism.
Sadly, that evil still exists to some extent in our country, but when these men and women broke through those barriers of color, by the force of their will, it sent us all a message of unity and equality that cannot be encompassed even by the most gallant of words.
Dad and Me
Remember the days when dads and sons used to play catch? Or when they played hoop in the backyard?
Of course not. It’s a sin these days to step out of the house. Why go out when you can play the same thing on your Wii, PlayStation, Xbox, or whatever?
It was more than just a social ritual, that game between father and son. It was something special, when dad and son bonded. They used to discuss jobs, studies, girls, teenage angst, family, home, problems, dreams—life.
It meant something back then and I am sure, even today, those fathers and sons who do that, know what I am talking about.
It's not just these few people or events, of course; there are many, many, many examples in our sports history from which we can feel inspired.
From that extraordinary Michael Jordan to the current U.S. soccer team. From that last-minute touchdown in football to that great, diving ninth inning catch in baseball. Sports IS inspiration.
Sports, my friends, have an amazing ability to bond us all, unite us under that common emblem. Athletic endeavors teach us so many things.
Sports have had an immense role in keeping that flame of hope burning in our minds. Every time, sports have given us something to believe in, told us to fight for what we want, prescribed us a medicine of dreams as a cure to our lack of creativity.
It's not just America. American sports can and have inspired everyone around the world. Magnificent feats achieved by American sports persons stand as inspiration for one and all. The social ramifications of these events, have had far reaching effects.
This is not, of course, to minimize the accomplishments of sportsmen and women all over the world.
Sports gave us Franz Klammer barreling down the slopes at Innsruck, health and welfare be damned, to win a most stirring gold medal in 1976.
Or, how about Nadia Comaneci and her perfection, later that same year?
Pelé. Do I have to speak on his artistry and transcendent greatness on the soccer pitch?
Sports brought Yao Ming across the expanse of the Pacific Ocean, showing the world that a big man from China could play basketball anywhere and be a smash success.
It has united us, it has pumped into our veins adrenaline that can drive even a dead guy to rise. It has told us to hold our heads high with pride, never to accept defeat, be audacious, be gallant warriors in the war of life.
Do the right thing, achieve the impossible, script miracles, make the unbelievable happen.
Do it, you know you can do it. You know it can be done, so do it. Do it damn it, do it now! Do it!
That spirit is not dead. As long as sports are around, the spirit will never die. Reach within your souls, and you’ll find it.
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