Bill Cartwright led a fascinating life in basketball. As one of the finest products to ever come out of the Sacramento area, he always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, whether it was winning back-to-back state titles at Elk Grove High School or raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy high above his head five times as a Chicago Bull, Bill Cartwright's fingers could only grow weary from wearing all of those championship rings. This is his story. The Early Years Jame

In the heart of a bustling business district within South Boston once stood a ballpark. While the old ballpark was around, Boston was very different. While historically fascinating, it lacked a true center for commerce and trade. The Congress Street Grounds changed that and Boston has never looked back. An Idea In the late 1880's, South Boston was a place without an identity, an area with many privately owned railroads and few buildings. Seeing an opportunity, the Boston Wha

San Diego's Petco Park is routinely listed among baseball's most beautiful ballparks. With the rich city landscape that looms over the action to the lush grass that always seems to be the perfect shade of green, it certainly lives up to the hype. The most unique aspect of the ballpark is the brick warehouse that rests in left-field. While fans are always amused when batted balls hit the landmark to signal another home run, few realized just how historic that building is. The

Stu Miller was the kind of player that could really frustrate a coach. While he would routinely play well in the regular season as either a starter or a relief pitcher, his value tanked in the postseason. Still, he made enough of an impact to be inducted into both the San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame and the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame. From the very beginning, the native of Northampton, Massachusetts faced long odds to make it in baseball. But he stuck with it and ultim

Brock Purdy has taken the NFL by storm. After being selected with the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, all the former "Mr. Irrelevant" has done is win, bringing his squad to back-to-back NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance. But he is not alone in his quest to be the best in the business. Buttressed with a slew of excellent coaches, it's no wonder that he so often comes into games prepared. Arguably the leader of those assistant coaches is Brian Griese who has a

Cleveland Municipal Stadium captivated the city for years, but the cavernous stadium was far from the city's first sporting venue. From 1891 through 1947, League Park housed numerous teams while creating moments that would last the test of time. This is its story. The Spiders The Cleveland Spiders were in a pickle. Having been born in 1887, the former American Association team had joined the powerful National League two years later. But the monopolistic National League could

History remembers the victors much better than it does the losers. the teams that win it all are instantly immortalized as one of the sport's greatest while the loser can only stand on the sidelines watching as their legacy is forever tarnished all the while thinking: "Was all that work wasted?". Sometimes they find redemption, but for the most part, the losers of the Super Bowl never return. But this article is not about what happened before or after the Super Bowl. Instead,

History remembers the victors much better than it does the losers. the teams that win it all are instantly immortalized as one of the sport's greatest while the loser can only stand on the sidelines watching as their legacy is forever tarnished all the while thinking: "Was all that work wasted?". Sometimes they find redemption, but for the most part, the losers of the Super Bowl never return. But this article is not about what happened before or after the Super Bowl. Instead,

Frank Ryan was the last quarterback to win a championship for the Cleveland Browns. However, his life was much richer than just football. For while he was having a measure of success on the gridiron, he was studying like a madman for his Ph.D. in mathematics. With a doctorate in hand, he set out to make an impression in a far different field. The Early Years Frank Ryan was born on July 12, 1936 in Fort Worth, Texas. After starring on the football field at R.L. Paschal High

When Bill Walsh was hired as the Bengals offensive coordinator in 1968, he inherited a roster littered with underwhelming talent. Needing a system that could quickly move the ball down the field, he and Paul Brown invented what would one day be known as the West Coast Offense. While Bruce Coslet was never much of an impact player, the tight end from the University of the Pacific would return to Cincinnati to reinvigorate a stagnant offense with the principles that he learned

On December 21, 1891, after much deliberation, James Naismith decided to put his invention to the test. But instead of whirring gizmos and gadgets, his was one made from the sweat and passion of young athletes craving for physical exertion. In a gymnasium in the unassuming Massachusetts town of Springfield, he directed his students in a new game called "basket ball". Based solely on the 13 Rules that Naismith had recently written, the game was vastly different than what wha

Every great football dynasty needs at least one quality receiver with sure hands capable of catching anything. How else could you describe Cleveland's Dante Lavelli than his nickname "Gluefingers"? In 11 years with the Browns, he led the club to seven championships while proving his worth in the moments with the highest of stakes. This is his story. The Early Years Dante Lavelli was born in Hudson, Ohio to a pair of Italian immigrants on February 23, 1923. Seeing his father

On December 17, 1933, the Chicago Bears hosted the New York Giants in the first scheduled NFL Championship Game. Before the season, Washingotn Redskins owner George Preston Marshall had suggested that the NFL split the 10 team league into two divisions with the winners of each facing each other for the league title. The other owners agreed and when the Bears ended the regular season with a 10-2-1 record, they edged the Giants (10-3) ever so slightly for the right to host the

This year, the Cleveland Browns have found ways to win with four different quarterbacks ranging from former Heisman runner-up DeShaun Watson to former XFL star P.J. Watson to little known Dorian Thompson-Robinson and now former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Despite the turmoil somehow, the Browns have played themselves into the brink of a rare postseason berth. This calls to mind another year when the Browns had to dig down deep just to reach the playoffs with four quarterbacks.

Before they moved into the quaint confines of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs moved around a lot during their first 40 years of existence. Ballparks such as the 23rd Street Grounds and Lakefront Parks I and II served as momentary residences before the Cubs could find a more permanent solution. Although they only stayed for a total of 27 years, the Cubs found a place that they could call "home" in both versions of the West Side Grounds. West Side Grounds I The first edition o

It was an overcast day in the middle of the season when Dodgers announcer Vin Scully was invited to watch a tryout for an unknown prospect at Ebbets Field. Scully wasn't impressed, not in the clubhouse before where he assumed that the young man's suntan was the result of too much time spent on the beach, nor on the field where his play was eratic at best. But Dodgers general manager Buzzy Bavasi saw something in the pitcher. He was impressed with his arm strength and felt th

History remembers the victors much better than it does the losers. the teams that win it all are instantly immortalized as one of the sport's greatest while the loser can only stand on the sidelines watching as their legacy is forever tarnished all the while thinking: "Was all that work wasted?". Sometimes they find redemption, but for the most part, the losers of the Super Bowl never return. But this article is not about what happened before or after the Super Bowl. Instead,

In some ways, Mike Garrett was kind of like the Forrest Gump of football. After becoming the first Heisman Trophy winner in USC's storied history, the running back from East Los Angeles was on the receiving end of one of the lasting images of the Super Bowl. Later, he made a name for himself as his alma mater's athletic director, overseeing a dynasty before watching it all crumble before his eyes due to scandal. This is his story. The Early Years Mike Garrett was born on Ap

Gene Autry had always loved baseball. Even while he was starring in 93 movies and 91 television shows as the venerable singing cowboy, he dreamed of the day that he could own a baseball team. He certainly had the generous personality that could exude confidence in a young ball club. For years, he had been widely known for paying bills for his friends, riding in the front seat right beside his chauffeur and leading guests of his resort in sing-a-longs. On December 6, 1960, th

Shortly after the 1973 season had concluded, Cubs star third baseman Ron Santo was faced with a dilemma. He had just completed his 14th year in the majors and the Cubs, having established himself as one of the Windy City's best players and adopting the city as his hometown. Still, the Cubs were entitled to make their roster a little better. They tried to trade him to the California Angels, but the aging third baseman had a trick up his sleeve. On December 5, 1973, Ron Santo