Sports Pave the Way For The Dream.

Sports have been my life. From the time I was seven years old I began a journey into many different sports: football, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf… For the most part, if you named it, I played it. Heck, I made a career in sports coaching college football and continue to mentor players today. Even as a student at Purdue University, my favorite class ever was sports history.

What I have seen is that the sports world was a trailblazer. In sports I love watching how equality and justice always seems to start in the sports world and eventually makes its way to our everyday lives off the field or court.

Through the history of sports we can see how the truth prevails. As the world was coming into a war over one race being the dominant race, sport prevailed. In 1936 during the Berlin Olympics in Germany, Jesse Owens showed the world that greatness is within us all. On a stage when one group claimed to be the best the truth prevailed. Jesse Owens won Gold medals in the long jump, the 100- and 200-meter dashes, and the 4 x 100-meter relay. He was the first American track and field athlete to win four gold medals at a single Olympic Games. On view where all could see Jesse Owens make a statement. Greatness is within us all.?

What many don’t even know is the silver medalist was just as pivotal as the first in 200 meters. The silver medalist in the 200 meter dash was Mack Robinson, he also broke the world record, and just as important he was the older brother to a baseball hall of fame legend Jackie Robinson who would later go on to break the color barrier to bring a shift to Major League Baseball.?

Just like in society, we often miss what inspires change and what lifts up those who go on to do great things. Jackie Robinson was destined to follow in his big brother's footsteps because he had an example of what greatness could look like. We are all here to elevate and lift up so another can raise the bar from our example. After Jackie Robinson would go on to shift the game and open the door for others to cross over in order advance the game of baseball, let’s remember the shoulders that were stood on to make the game great: Martin Dihigo, Rube Foster, Cool Pap Bell, Satchel Page, Josh Gibson and many others set the stage of what greatness could look like for others to step forward.

Today as the world turns we are still able to see how sports are paving the way for social change to move ahead. Players in sports all over the world are standing for greatness to come forward. Time will forever be altered by the like of Colin Kaepernick’s efforts and the efforts of so many others to take a knee in order to have the world see that an injustice was taking place. The chain reaction of players, coaches and owners linking together to raise the voices of those unheard has always and will stand to alter history and lead us all into greatness.

In a world where man has yet to get back on track to equality, we will find another evolution taking place in the sports world that will soon resemble a shift of a dream yet realized. Open your heart as a change is coming. Brian Flores, the former head coach of the Miami Dolphins is now entering the courts to speak up and show how the NFL hiring practices are unjust and discriminating from the hiring of minorities as head football coaches and general managers. Just like on the football field and in the front office, this too shall show how a shift is coming in the game of life.

I am grateful for all the games that I have played and all the lessons I have learned with a ball in my hand or between my feet. We are all great in our own way and if we live together deep enough we will see that we all can rise up and show we are equal and we are all worthy of love from the most high. Let’s continue to receive the lesson of those before us that have shown what greatness can look like and it often starts in sports.

Sports continue to pave the way to diversity and growth providing space for all to pull up a seat at the table. Thank you to the teams that have hired woman to pull up a seat and take jobs in professional sport in every way. We will continue to align with the examples of the leaders paving the way for all to elevate and stand for what is great in the world. Peace

Keep moving forward. Athletes have a responsibility to continue to pave the way. #PeaceWins #RISE #Sports #athletes