July 7, 1912 was a day filled with suspense and legendary achievements. The Summer Olympics were held in Stockholm, Sweden that summer and many in attendance had no idea of the mysterious American that warmed up on the track before them. Perhaps some had heard of his achievements on the gridiron at the Carlisle Indian School, earning All-American honors just the year before and soon to earn it again months after the Games of the V Olympiad concluded. By the end of that day al

There is a certain art that enraptures the mind when one looks at a ballpark. Ballparks today come in all shapes, sizes and wonders, from Wrigley Field's simplistic features that seem to be a portal to the past while blending in with its surrounding neighborhood to Oracle Park's phenomenal view of the Bay. Since its opening in 1992, Baltimore's Camden Yards has wowed many visitors, with the warehouse in right-field being its crown jewel. This is the story of that warehouse. T

Before Tom Verducci blessed the readers of Sports Illustrated with his prose and Bill James showered baseball fans across America with vast amounts of statistics about the game that they loved, the world of baseball journalism was sparse and bleak. The game needed a narrative that people could read and enjoy on a daily basis. In stepped Tim Murnane. The long-time writer for the Boston Globe developed a style that could be followed for all of eternity. This is his story. The

The mountaintop can be a fickle place with one slip-up often becoming their downfall. In the mid of the 1980s, Tony Robinson was on top of the world, having led Tennessee to two wins over hated Alabama the past two years and even landing on the cover of Sports Illustrated. At the time, it looked like he was going to coast into a childhood dream and have a promising future in the NFL. But through a series of poor decisions, he found himself in a jail cell on Draft Day. Though

On occasion, an athletic event can bring two people together in such as way that it can feel almost as if it had been preordained, forever changing the landscape of the sport. On August 16, 1920, baseball was forever changed when one man's innocent spitter cracked the skull of another. From then on, the names Ray Chapman and Carl Mays would be forged together as tragically as any other duo in history. This is their story. The Early Years Their story begins with Ray. Born on

"Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days, on other fields, will bear the fruits of victory." -General Douglas MacArthur General Douglas MacArthur is well known as the man who led the Allied forces in the campaign against Japan in World War II To this day, his famous promise to return to the war-torn Philippines he was forced to flee echoes loudly within the halls of West Point and beyond. To be a soldier is to keep your promises as General

Recently, the Denver Nuggets became the last remnant of the old ABA to reach the NBA Finals. What a glorious time for the franchise! Ever since it moved from Houston to Denver in 1967, the franchise and the city have dreamed of this moment. However, this isn't the first time that they've been to the league finals. Back in 1976, they reached the last ABA Finals before the merger, playing against a dominant Nets squad. Let's take a peek into a window of history. The Seeds of Su

As mind-boggling as it sounds, the 1985 Chicago Bears defense could have been even better. That year, two potential starters held out for more money. While Al Harris and Todd Bell watched from afar, their teammates dominated the NFL and rampaged all over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Al Harris was born on December 31, 1956 in Bangor, Maine, but soon moved to Wahiawa Hawaii. He starred at nearby Leilehua High School and accepted a scholarship to Arizona State, w

There is no more powerful link in the sport of football than that of brotherhood. The best teams often speak very highly of the subject and live within its principles. Sometimes, there are actual brothers in the league such as the Bosas, Mannings and Watts, each family dominating the NFL in its own unique manner. Often forgotten amidst the smattering of more famous families are the Karras brothers. Hailing from Gary, Indiana and spawning from a Greek immigrant, each of the t

It is a rare find when a human is so naturally gifted in so many different ventures. As humans, we yearn for the chance to be truly special at just one trade that could make us stand out in the crowd. to have the ability that everything we touch turns to gold is often a pipe dream. So when we see someone with that sort of opportunity, we are often left in wonder at what that person will achieve. Jim Brown was that person. Born in the tourist trap Saint Simons Island, Georgia

Since their inception, the New York Giants have enjoyed a long, storied history in the NFL. One of their first great coaches was Steve Owen. After a stellar, but short career as a player, he was promoted to head coach where he would enjoy a 24-year-long tenure. This is his story. The Early Years Steve Owen was born on April 21, 1898 in Cleo Springs of the Oklahoma Territory (Oklahoma didn't become a state until 1907). Raised in the Cherokee Strip, he worked on a cattle ranc

The running back position can be a fickle one. With all the carnage on the gridiron, running backs typically see greatness for just a few short years in the NFL before becoming discarded for a younger, healthier player. Players such as Gayle Sayers, Earl Campbell and Christian Okoye had demonstrated greatness for just a few short years until injuries and the general wear and tear of the game took its toll. In the mid-2000s, the Kansas City Chiefs featured a running back that

A small beachside town on Santa Monica Bay sits five miles south of LAX. While it is known for its Chevron refinery and large aerospace industry presence, the little town of El Segundo, California boasts one of the richest high school baseball programs in all of the Golden State. And it is all thanks to one man. For 50 years, John Stevenson roamed the dugout as his teams won CIF titles and his troops went on to much bigger stages in the game. He grew up locally, in the Manha

Fair or not, athletics are often compared to war. The grind and the camaraderie between teammates and fellow soldiers often bear a striking resemblance. Over the years, when war breaks out, there are always a few men willing to trade their baseball bats and football helmets for a gun and a canteen. The list is long and narrow. One of those men is Eddie Grant. Though he never amounted to much in the major leagues, he was willing to lay aside his promising law career to defend

In a dark, musty bar on 940 Columbus Avenue in the Roxbury Crossing neighborhood of Boston, the faithful patrons of the Third Base Saloon were growing frustrated. Here they were, simple hardworking folk who loved their local ball club, attending games in full force as much as possible, only for their beloved Braves to raise ticket prices. They were stumped and not even Michael "Nuf Ced" McGreevy could come up with an apt solution. That was new to them! They had always known t

Few ballparks are as revered as Boston's Fenway Park. From the rustic view to the majestic Green Monster, it has truly captured America's heart. but the Red Sox didn't always call it "home". For their first decade of existence, they resided in Huntington Avenue Grounds. What was Huntington Avenue Grounds? What was it like playing there? Let's find out. A Brief History The Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds was first planned in February of 1901 for the recently-born Boston Am

The Rams of the 1950s were one of the great offenses in league history. With Both quarterbacks on their way to Canton and a receiver named Crazy Legs, their offense was unstoppable. One of the lynchpins on this incredible offense was a split end named Tom Fears. Throughout his career, he lived up to his name by striking fear in many a secondary. This is his story. Early Years Tom Fears was born on December 3, 1922 in Guadalajara, Mexico to a Mexican mother and an American f

Taking a stroll in L.A's Exposition Park, you will most likely stumble upon a vast stadium filled with wonder and excitement. Walk a little closer and you will notice 64 individual plaques spread throughout the Peristyle arches that lead into the stadium. Look a little closer and it's almost impossible for your mind's eye to wander to so many memories that stretch for a century. Yes, tomorrow, May 1, 2023 marks the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum's centennial. Each of those pl

While the needs vary each year, the NFL Draft brings hope and optimism to every single franchise. Many view this hope as being for the fortunes of the franchise and in a lot of ways they are correct. New faces to the organization can spark championship dreams. But there is another kind of hope that needs to be discussed. The hope is that player lives up to the standards set before him by those who once stood in his shoes for the franchise. This year, the Philadelphia Eagles n

While the needs vary each year, the NFL Draft brings hope and optimism to every single franchise. Many view this hope as being for the fortunes of the franchise and in a lot of ways they are correct. New faces to the organization can spark championship dreams. But there is another kind of hope that needs to be discussed. The hope is that player lives up to the standards set before him by those who once stood in his shoes for the franchise. This year, the Los Angles Chargers n