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Black Sox Scandal
Background:
-White Sox players were very underpaid by team owner Charles Comiskey
Event:
-8 White Sox players met with bookies and were paid to lose the series
-The White Sox lost the best of 9 series in 8 games
Impact:
-All involved players were banned from baseball for life, but found innocent of criminal chargers
-Scandal exposed problems with low pay of professioanl athletes setting the table for todays players to make millions -
Carl Mays kills Ray Chapman with a Baseball
Background:
-Mays was known for throwing at opposing players who hugged the plate
Event:
-Mays threw at Ray Chapman for hugging the plate on August 16, 1920
-The pitch hit Chapman in the head and fractured his skull
-Chapman would die the next day from the injury
Impact:
-Ruled an accident and no charges were filed against Mays
-Mays was never inducted into the Hall of Fame despite a very good career because of the incident
-Led to safety concerns and rule changes to make the game safer -
Joe Louis fights Max Schmeling twice
Background:
-Louis raised in Detroit and Schmeling from Germany each became beloved by their countries people
Event:
-Louis thought to be the favorite lost the first fight, and Americans cried in the streets following the fight
-Louis dominated the second fight winning in just over 2 minutes, and throwing 41 punches to Schmeling's 2
Impact:
-Louis became the first African American national hero in the U.S.
-Fight showed political tensions between U.S. and Nazi Germany -
Roger Bannister Runs First Sub-4 Minute Mile
Background:
-Running a mile in less than 4 minutes was always seen as an impossible feat
-Bannister grew up in England and didn't really begin running until college
Event:
-Bannister only trained 90 minutes a week, not much even at this time
-Bannister finally broke the record May 6, 1954 with a time of 3min59.4 sec
Impact:
-Bannister was knighted in 1975
-He also helped helped create sports facilities in England and led the charge for steroid testing in track and field -
Muhammad Ali Refuses to Get Drafted
Background:
-Cashius Clay won the heavyweight championship in 1964, becoming a very popular figure and joined the Nation of Islam soon after, becoming Muhammad Ali
Event:
-Ali was charged with draft evasion after refusing to fight in the Vietnam War for religious reasons
-Ali appealed the decision in a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court where it was overturned
Impact:
-Ali speaking out was the first time a major athlete had made such a bold statement for something they believed in -
Cal vs. Stanford: The Play
The Play
Background:
-Major rivals, the University of California and Stanford played for the 85th time in 1982
-Stanford took the lead 20-19 on a field goal with 4 seconds left
Event:
-Cal scored the following kickoff on a incredible, 5 lateral play during which the Stanford band was on the field
Impact:
-Became known as the play and is still one of the most iconic sports plays ever -
Fab 5 Changes College Basketball
Background:
-Michigan's 1991 recruiting class was made up of 5 of the top 25 players coming out of high school
Event:
-It didn't take long before all 5 freshmen were starting together
-Michigan lost in the finals of the NCAA tournament during the Fab 5's freshmen and sophomore years
Impact:
-The Fab 5 had tremendous cultural impact
-It was the first time freshmen played major roles on their team
-Fab 5 brought new style to basketball with baggier shorts, black socks and shoes, and shaved heads -
Dream Team Olympic Men's Basketball
Background:
-1992 was the first year NBA players were allowed to play on the olympic team
-called the greatest sports team ever assembled by some
Event:
-Head coach Chuck Daly intentionally lost a scrimmage between the Dream Team and some college players to show them they could be beat
-The Dream Team cruised to a gold medal winning by an avergae of 44 points per game
Impact:
-Success kept NBA players in the Olympics
-Team became a well known cultural image -
U.S. Women Win 1999 World Cup
Winning Penalty Kick
Backgrond:
-3rd Women's World Cup was held in the United States
-U.S. teamed outscored its opponents 18 to 3 going into final game
Event:
-Game was scoreless through regulation and extra time, taking it to penalty kicks
-The U.S. won the game 5-4 in penalty kicks
Impact:
-Most attended women's sporting event in histroy (90,185)
-Inspired tons of little girls watching to play sports, especially soccer -
Malice at the Palace
Malice at the Palace Clip
Event:
-Ben Wallace of the Pistons was fouled hard by Ron Artest with 49 seconds left in the game
-Wallace shoved Artest after the whistle and a fight broke out between players on both teams
-A Pistons fan threw a drink at Artest who then ran into the stands and another fight ensued
Impact:
-Artest was suspended 86 games and fined $5 million
-Stricter alcohol restrictions at games
-Increased security at games
