Dick Fosbury The floppy
“I just wonder what would have happened if I had quit before 1968.”
From This is True for 12 March 2023
sports
Sport figures, including coaches, managers, and sportscasters.
Bob Richards Talkative athlete
“I reckon that there were over a million guys in America who could have beaten me.”
From This is True for 26 February 2023
Greg Noll Surfing legend
Noll decided to tackle the waves at Mākaha, even though they were so big, he thought he only had a 50-50 chance of coming out alive.
From This is True for 5 July 2021
Anthony Causi Sports photographer
Causi would also take “pro” photos at Little League games, and provide them to the kids for free.
From This is True for 12 April 2020
Wat Misaka NBA pioneer
Misaka was the first non-white player in the National Basketball Association.
From This is True for 24 November 2019
Mamie Johnson Professional Pitcher
She was given that name derisively by an opposing player: she struck him out.
From This is True for 24 December 2017
Sammy Lee Olympic champion
Sammy wasn’t a friend of mine, but he was a friend of my mother.
From This is True for 4 December 2016
Ken Sailors The jumpy
One specific person actually invented the jump shot in basketball: Sailors.
From This is True for 31 January 2016
Tony Verna TV sports director
“CBS wasn’t smart enough to go out there and get a patent.”
From This is True for 18 January 2015
Alice Coachman Olympic medalist
The mayor refused to shake a Black woman’s hand, even a local heroine’s.
From This is True for 13 July 2014