Blogs

The contribution Robinson made to Major League Baseball will always be cherished. Every major league team observes Jackie Robinson Day on April 15 each year to commemorate the day he broke the color barrier in baseball by becoming the first African-American player to play in either the American or National leagues in the 20th century. Robinson’s Personal Life On January 31, 1919, Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia. The youngest of five kids, he was young. Soon after Jackie was born, his father abandoned the family, and Jackie never saw him again. He was reared by his mother, Millie, and his three brothers and one sister. After Jackie was born, the family relocated to Pasadena, California, around a year later. Jackie watched his elder siblings succeed in sports there as he grew up. At the 1936 Olympics, his brother Mack, a track standout, took home a silver medal in the 200-meter dash. Jackie attended UCLA for college, where he excelled in basketball, football, baseball, and track. He was the first UCLA athlete to receive varsity letters in all four sports. In the long jump, he was the NCAA champion as well. Robinson played professional football after graduating from college, but World War II's outbreak quickly ended his career. He was enlisted in the military. Jackie met renowned boxing champion Joe Lewis, at basic training, and they grew close. Robinson attended officer training school with the assistance of Joe. Jackie was deployed to Fort Hood, Texas, to join the 761st Tank Battalion after completing his officer training. Because they were not permitted to serve alongside white soldiers, this battalion was exclusively made up of African-American soldiers.                                 His Career Early in 1945, the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro League signed Jackie Robinson, who had a successful season, hitting.387. Branch Rickey, an executive for the Brooklyn Dodgers, was scouting the Negro Leagues at the time to find players who had not only the talent but also the temperament to handle the pressures of integrating Major League Baseball. In August 1945, Rickey interviewed several baseball players before selecting Robinson to join the Royals, a Dodgers feeder team in Montreal. His 1947 Dodgers debut attracted much attention, but not all favorable. Robinson soon established himself as a player, although opponents' teams and supporters objected to his skin tone. Robinson would go on to hit.311 throughout a 10-year career, despite being signed by the Dodgers at the comparatively advanced age of 28. In 1949, when he led the National League in batting with a.342 average, most stolen bases (37), and a career-high 124 RBI, he earned the First and Most Valuable Player Award for the first time ever given to a player of color. From 1949 to 1954, Robinson was an All-Star each year. In 1955, he guided Brooklyn to a World Series victory over the New York Yankees. Robinson worked as a sportscaster and a business executive at Chock full o'Nuts and was involved in the NAACP and other civil rights organizations after leaving the Dodgers.

This day in 1936 marked the birth of Jim Brown. He was a Black football player, actor, and civil rights activist (at the time of writing). Brown’s Personal Life Georgia's St. Simon's Island is where Jim Brown was born in 1936. Swinton Brown, his father, was a professional boxer, while his mother was a housewife. James Nathaniel Brown is Jim Brown's real name. Many difficulties marked his early years. Brown's father abandoned them when the infant was barely two weeks old. Brown and his mother were going through a difficult period. Theresa decided to become a maid at this point to make a livelihood. She left Brown in his great-grandmother's care to ensure he was secure. When his mother was more at ease eight years later, she brought Jim Brown to live with her in Manhasset, New York. She was a maid here, employed in this location. Brown eventually enrolled at Manhasset High School. He had good luck as he flourished throughout his football career. In his senior year, he received acclaim for his performance. He had a 14.9-yard per-carry average as a running back. He only needed this to get to Syracuse University.                                His Career The Cleveland Browns took Brown in the sixth round of the 1957 National Football League draught. When it came to adjusting to the new competition, Brown didn't waste any time, leading the league with 942 rushing yards and winning Rookie of the Year accolades. For the following seven seasons, Brown set the bar for all running backs in the NFL. Brown bulldozed his way past the opposition at a period when defenses were designed to halt the ground game, recording incredible season totals of 1,527 yards in 1958, 1,329 yards in 1959, 1,257 yards in 1960, 1,408 yards in 1961, 1,863 yards in 1963, 1,446 yards in 1964, and 1,544 yards in 1965. In 1962, Brown's lone "down" year, he only carried for 996 yards. He failed to lead the league in yards only once during his remarkable but limited football career. Brown led Cleveland to the 1964 NFL championship, which the team won by a score of 27-0 over Baltimore. Brown rushed for 114 yards throughout the contest. However, Brown recognized a life for himself outside of football and shocked the sports world by announcing his retirement before the 1966 season. In 1971, he was admitted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Brown, who was only 30 years old when he retired from football, intended to use his post-football life to concentrate on a film career. Some questioned whether Brown would be able to maintain his promise to give up football for good, but he did it and was featured in more than 30 movies, including The Dirty Dozen (1967) and 100 Rifles (1969). In his later roles, he played a football coach in the films Any Given Sunday (1999) and Mars Attacks! (1996).

Serena Williams, who is regarded as the greatest female tennis player of all time and possibly the greatest athlete of all time, has transformed women's tennis since the 1990s. Williams, who holds 23 Grand Slam titles, developed on the open courts in Compton, California, breaking records and dominating the sport. Williams’s Personal Life Richard Williams and Oracene Price welcomed Serena Williams into the world on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan. The youngest of five sisters, she was also the youngest. She had one full sister, Venus Williams, and three half-sisters, Yetunde, Lynda, and Isha Price, on her mother's side. Williams, a gifted youngster, and her sister Venus Williams began playing tennis at four. They soon enrolled in Rick Macci's tennis academy, where he helped them hone their natural talent and skills. She had a 46-3 record on the United States Tennis Association Junior Tour by 1991 and was ranked number one in the 10-and-under age group. The household shifted to Florida. Her father dissuaded the girls from playing tennis, fearing that the rigorous schedule would cause them to tire too rapidly.                                 Her Career Serena quickly moved up to the top 100 after beginning the Women's Tennis Association rating below 300th place. Serena began creating her legacy in 1998 by taking home the mixed doubles crowns at Wimbledon and the US Open. She had already risen to No. 20 in the WTA Ranking at the year's conclusion. Serena defied expectations by winning her first Grand Slam in the 1999 US Open, defying expectations that Venus would be the first sister to claim a Grand Slam singles victory. Serena rose to the fourth position in the global rankings as a result of becoming the second African-American woman to win a Grand Slam. A few months after winning Wimbledon, Venus and Serena Williams joined again to capture the women's doubles gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. By winning the Australian Open at the beginning of 2001, Serena and Venus became the fifth double pair to win every Grand Slam trophy. Later that year, the sisters squared off in the US Open final, with Venus coming out on top. The French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open were all victories for Serena in 2002, and she defeated Venus in each of those finals to reclaim the top spot in the global rankings. Serena had a year hampered by injuries in 2006 after winning her second Australian Open in 2005. She then fell out of the top 10 in the WTA rankings. But in 2007, the tennis pro stunned everyone by defeating Maria Sharapova and capturing her third Australian Open women's singles title. Serena finished the year in seventh place after returning to the top 10. Serena had another great return in 2012 and wasn't on the tennis court for long before she was back to full power. Williams won a gold medal in the singles competition at the 2012 London Olympics to become the second woman, after Steffi Graf, to complete a career Golden Slam. She had just won both the singles and doubles match at Wimbledon. Serena later won her 15th Grand Slam singles championship at the US Open, but she needed to be more content.

One of the most well-known French football players of all time, Zinedine Zidane, is widely recognized as a master of the game's principles and tactics.  He is renowned for his superior ball handling and control abilities, magic ball touch, laser-focused vision, and outstanding leadership qualities. Players during his years in soccer would only be able to match how he handled and received the ball. Zidane’s Personal Life Smaal and Malika gave birth to Zinedine Zidane on June 23, 1972, in Marseille, France. His older siblings are number four. His family lived in the La Castellane neighborhood of northern Marseille and was of Algerian Kabyle Berber heritage. His mother was a housewife, while his father worked as a warehouseman. The Zidane family was a respected family who led a relatively comfortable life in contrast to other residents of the area who were unemployed and engaged in high crime. At the infant age of five, young Zidane was exposed to football. He participated in the game at Place Tartane, the complex's central square, with the kids from the neighborhood. Zidane was influenced early in his career by Olympique Marseille players he looked up to, including Blaz Sliskovic, Enzo Francescoli, and Jean-Pierre Papin.                                 His Career At 17, Zidane made his professional debut for Cannes and scored a goal. In the years that followed, the attacking midfielder gained notoriety for his superb all-around play after moving to Bordeaux in 1992. Zidane was prone to the occasional rage, but when he had the ball in his hands, he was the picture of composure, appearing to know when to get past the defense, find a teammate with a precise pass, or rip a shot at the goal. In 1996, Zidane moved to Juventus F.C. in Italy's illustrious Series A-League. Zidane demonstrated he was up to the task by leading Juventus to an Italian Super Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, an Intercontinental Cup, and two Series A titles over the following two seasons. The move brought a dramatic increase in exposure and expectations. When France hosted the 1998 World Cup, Zidane was at the top of his game. He led Les Bleus' ascent through the competition with his elegant passing and dribbling. He then scored twice as France defeated Brazil in the final, 3-0, to become a hero for his country. The French team's run to international success culminated with a 2-1 victory over Italy for the European Championship two years later, and Zidane was once more the driving force behind it. Zidane joined the Spanish club Real Madrid in 2001 for a then-record-breaking transfer fee of around $66 million. The investment quickly paid off as the French newcomer assisted Real Madrid in capturing La Liga and the coveted UEFA Champions League trophy in his debut season. After saying he would retire after the 2006 World Cup in Germany, it seemed Zidane's career was headed for a fairytale conclusion when France defeated Italy in the championship game. Instead, it ended when he rammed his head into opponent Marco Materazzi's chest in response to the Italian player's remarks to him during extra time.

A player who can legitimately be referred to as a superstar emerges roughly once every generation. A player like this was Larry Bird. Bird’s Personal Life On December 7, 1956, Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana. He was reared in French Lick, a nearby community, where he quickly became a basketball prodigy. By the time he graduated in 1974 from Springs Valley High School in French Lick, Bird had played an important role on the team and established himself as its all-time top scorer. Bird received an athletic scholarship to Indiana University in recognition of his basketball prowess, where he would play for famed coach Bob Knight. The quick-drawing forward withdrew from school due to his concerns about the vastness of the Hoosier campus and enrolled at Indiana State the next year.                                 His Career Because of Larry's outstanding performances while representing his school, Indiana University became interested in him. It gave him a scholarship and a chance to play for their team while being coached by Bob Knight, the best coach at the time. The squad made their first NCAA tournament berth under his direction. The competition significantly influenced Larry's career. Despite losing the championship, Larry's outstanding performance earned him player of the year honors. Larry's big break came in 1978 when he was selected to play with the "Boston Celtics." Larry chose to play for Indiana State's final season despite declining the offer. He kept on playing for the "Sycamores," helping them to the NCAA championship game. In addition to being chosen to the All-Star Squad and winning Rookie of the Year, Larry helped the team reach new heights. He helped the squad advance by helping them win 32 games overall while averaging 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. After several losses, the squad eventually prevailed, defeating the "Houston Rockets" in the title game. In 1982, Larry finished second for Most Valuable Player with a 19-point performance, winning the All-Star Game MVP Award. Larry had impressive statistics that year but could not get to the NBA finals. He missed quite a bit of time playing because of a heel ailment. Despite making a comeback in 1989, his health failed him once more. Larry participated in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics for the US basketball team and brought home a gold medal. The retirement of Larry was announced on August 18, 1992. One of the all-time best basketball players is considered to be Bird. He was selected as one of the NBA's Top 50 players in 1996 and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998, highlighting his significance to the sport's history. Only five other basketball players were ranked higher than him on ESPN SportsCentury's Top 50 athletes of the 20th century in 1999.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a Swede who plays for AC Milan, is 41 years old and is still producing at a high level. Zlatan, the highest goal scorer for the Swedish national team with 62 goals, is a realistic goal striker. Ibrahimović’s Personal Life Sefik Ibrahimovic and Jurka Gravic, two Muslim Bosnian immigrants, welcomed Zlatan Ibrahimovic into the world on October 3, 1981, in Malmo, Sweden. The family lacked essentials and lived in abject poverty. Even worse, Zlatan's parents split up when he was only two years old. Nevertheless, the family could make enough money to give Zlatan a good upbringing while he was growing up. Zlatan began playing football when he received a set of football boots for his birthday at 6. That was in the late 1980s, and as Zlatan grew older, he continued to develop physically and mentally to play for his country's team in the future. He was a bully at school and engaged in thefts, which he subsequently admitted to and claimed he committed because he was fascinated with bicycles and would steal them anytime he had the opportunity. Zlatan began playing for Malmo BI and FBK Balkan as a youngster. He began participating in the local club Malmo FF games as a teenager. Despite his skill at the sport, he could not support himself and decided to give it up at age 15 to work at the docks. His boss pushed him to keep going, and the rest is history.                                 His Career Ibrahimovic made his professional debut for Malmö F.F. in 1999, and the following year, he assisted the team in making a move up to the top flight. The 6'5" attacker then joined the illustrious Dutch club AFC Ajax where he refined his formidable skills as a member of two championship-winning squads but also earned a reputation as a volatile player. Ibrahimovic joined Juventus F.C. after spending four years at Ajax and helped the Italian team win two Serie A titles. Ibrahimovic forced a transfer to A.C. Milan before Juventus was stripped of those titles after club management was accused of rigging games in the infamous Calciopoli incident. The tall striker enjoyed more success, winning three straight Serie A championships and his first league-scoring crown in 2009. Ibrahimovic, acquired by F.C. Barcelona in a trade involving Samuel Eto'o, shone for a talented team that won the Super Cup and the league. Still, he fell out with manager Pep Guardiola and spent the next season on loan at AC Milan. The seasoned striker showed he still had more to give by winning his third scoring title with a career-high 30 goals after joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2012 and helping the team win its first Ligue 1 championship in 19 years. Ibrahimovic joined Manchester United in 2016, and in 2017 he assisted the English team in winning the UEFA Europa League Final. The club announced in March 2018 that it had ended the senior player's contract, enabling him to move forward with his intention to sign with the L.A. Galaxy in the United States.  Ibrahimovic responded by posting the following on Instagram: "After two incredible seasons with Manchester United, it is time to move on because even the best things come to an end. Thank you to everyone who shared this chapter of my history with me, including the club, the supporters, the players, the coach, and the staff."

On Earth, there is no scarcity of murderers. However, the title of "baddest man on the globe" belonged to only one person. That person is "Iron" Mike Tyson, who in the ring more than lived up to his nickname. Tyson’s Personal Life In Brooklyn, New York, on June 30, 1966, Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson was born. Although Percell Tyson was named as his father on his birth certificate, Mike believes Jimmy Kirkpatrick to be his birth father since, at the time of his birth, Kirkpatrick was residing with his mother, Lorna Smith Tyson. Soon after, Kirkpatrick left behind Mike, his mother, brother, and sister. Living in high-crime neighborhoods early in his life exposed Mike Tyson to a criminal element. He engaged in little thefts and brawls. He frequently got into street fights, typically sparked by his high voice and lisp. He had been taken into custody more than 30 times by the time he was 13 years old. He was transferred to a juvenile correctional facility in Johnstown, New York, where he started honing his boxing techniques.                                 His Career In Albany, New York, on March 6, 1985, Tyson faced Hector Mercedes in his first-ever professional match. The 18-year-old eliminated Mercedes in the first round. Tyson's opponents were frequently wary of striking him due to his strength, quick fists, and impressive defensive skills. As a result, Tyson developed the supernatural ability to knock out his opponents in just one round, earning him the moniker "Iron Mike." Although Tyson had a wonderful year, it wasn't without tragedy: His trainer and adopted father, Cus D'Amato, died of pneumonia on November 4, 1985. Kevin Rooney replaced D'Amato, and less than two weeks later, Tyson kept moving up the heavyweight rankings. In Houston, Texas, he scored his thirteenth knockout, dedicating the victory to the guy who had helped him become a pro. Those close to Tyson claim that he never recovered from D'Amato's death and blame this on the loss of the guy who had once grounded and supported him for the boxer's subsequent actions. Tyson has a 22-0 record by 1986, with 21 of those victories coming via knockout. Tyson ultimately achieved his objective on November 22, 1986, when he was handed his first title match for the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship against Trevor Berbick.  In the second round, Tyson was knocked out to claim the title. He eclipsed Floyd Patterson's previous record to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history at 20 years and four months. The success Tyson had in the ring didn't end there. On March 7, 1987, he faced James Smith to defend his title, giving him the World Boxing Association title to add to his triumphs. When he defeated Tony Tucker for the IBF title on August 1, he became the first heavyweight to hold all three major boxing titles. On February 25, 1989, Tyson entered the ring again to face British boxer Frank Bruno to defend his heavyweight championship. Later, in the fifth round, Tyson defeated Bruno via knockout. On July 21, 1989, Tyson successfully defended his title by KO'ing Carl "The Truth" Williams.

No soccer fan can ignore the name Pele, who is often regarded as the greatest player the sport has ever produced. Pele did not suddenly inherit the globe; rather, he had to earn his way through blood, sweat, and tears to the top ranks of athletes. Pelé’s Personal Life The first child of Joo Ramos and Dona Celeste, Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940, in Três Coraçes, Brazil. Pelé, who goes by the moniker "Dico," was born in Bauru and received his name from Thomas Edison. Pelé grew raised in poverty, while Joo Ramos, better known as "Dondinho," struggled to make a living as a soccer player. Nevertheless, by kicking a rolled-up sock filled with rags around the streets of Bauru, he discovered a basic ability for soccer. The origin of the moniker "Pelé" is unknown, but he remembered hating it when his friends initially nicknamed him that. Pele had three marriages and many kids; some were born outside of marriage. The authoritarian Brazilian government launched an investigation into him in 1970 due to suspicions that he had sympathies for left-wing political detainees. Pele was under investigation for distributing pamphlets requesting the liberation of political prisoners. He stayed out of politics following the probe. Teenage Pelé joined a youth team managed by former Brazilian national soccer player Waldemar de Brito. When Pelé was 15 years old, De Brito persuaded his family to allow him to leave home and try out for the Santos professional soccer club.                                 His Career A little over a year later, Pelé was the league's leading scorer. The national team was taken aback by his performance at the young age of 17. He wouldn't let you down. He scored significant goals in both the semifinal and championship games of the 1958 World Cup to help Brazil win it on his first outing in the international arena.  By this time, he had established himself as a superhero in Brazil and was well-known worldwide. The Brazilian government recognized him as a "national treasure," which improved his standing there and prohibited him from taking advantage of opportunities nationwide. Pele eventually scored more than 1,000 goals in games for pay. On November 19, 1969, at Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium, he scored his 1000th goal. It led to celebrations throughout the world. He has one of the best strike rates in games against other countries. He scored 77 goals in 92 international games. Pele had a goal-scoring ratio of 0.94 overall, scoring 1,283 goals in 1,366 games. Pele made his professional debut for Santos at 16 in the domestic league. Until the 1972–73 season, he was a player for Santos in the Brazilian league. The wealthy US league was where Pele completed his career. After signing in 1975, he participated in three seasons for the New York Cosmos. In 1977, the year of his retirement, he guided the New York Cosmos to the US championship.

Muhammad Ali, was a heavyweight boxing champion, had a phenomenal 56-win record. He was well known for publicly opposing the Vietnam War in a valiant manner. Ali’s Personal Life Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on January 17, 1942. His full name at birth was Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. Young Clay showed early on that he had no fear of any fight, whether it took place inside or outside of the ring. When he was a child, he had to deal with racial prejudice and discrimination in the divided South. A strange turn of events led Clay to discover his boxing aptitude at 12. Clay informed policeman Joe Martin that he wanted to beat up the bike thief after they took his bike. Martin reportedly warned him at the time, "Well, you better learn how to fight before you start challenging others." Martin served as a police officer and a local gym's boxing instructor. Clay began training with Martin to learn how to spar, and his boxing career soon followed. In 1954, he competed in his first amateur match and prevailed via split decision. In 1956, Clay went on to win the novice light heavyweight Golden Gloves competition. Three years later, he won the Amateur Athletic Union's national light heavyweight championship as well as the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions                               . His Career After winning his 19 fights, including 15 knockouts, Clay earned his first title opportunity on February 25, 1964, against then-reigning heavyweight champion Sonny Liston (1932-1970). The 22-year-old Clay continuously teased Liston before the fight, pledging to "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," and forecasting a knockout even though he was a 7-1 underdog when he arrived in Miami Beach, Florida.  At the beginning of the seventh round, when Liston didn't answer the bell, Clay was declared the world's heavyweight champion. The new champion exclaimed, "I am the greatest!" in the ring after the match. Clay, spotted in Miami with controversial Nation of Islam member Malcolm X (1925–1955), confirmed the rumors of his conversion to Islam at a news conference the following morning. Elijah Muhammad, the founder of the Nation of Islam (1897–1975), gave Clay the name Muhammad Ali on March 6, 1964. On May 25, 1965, Ali defeated Liston in the first round of their rematch to clinch the heavyweight championship, and he went on to successfully defend it eight more times. Ali then showed up on April 28, 1967, for his scheduled induction into the U.S. Armed Forces despite the ongoing Vietnam War. He objected to serving, citing his religious convictions. As soon as they took Ali into custody, the New York State Athletic Commission canceled his heavyweight title and suspended his boxing license. Ali was found guilty of draught evasion and given a maximum punishment of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, but he was allowed to remain free while the case was being appealed. Ali's popularity fell due to what many believed to be his draught evasion. Ali, suspended from boxing for three years, protested the Vietnam War on college campuses. Support for Ali grew as public opinion toward the war shifted. His boxing license was restored by the New York State Supreme Court in 1970, and his conviction was unanimously overturned by the United States Supreme Court the following year.

Undoubtedly, Michael Phelps is the best Olympian ever to compete. According to some, Usain Bolt, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comaneci have a claim. But when it comes to the sheer quantity of medals won, Michael Phelps is the undisputed champion. Even though Phelps competes in a sport where very talented athletes can win gold medals over various distances and strokes, his accomplishments far exceed those of any other competitor. Phelps has a total of 28 medals; his 23 gold medals are more than double the amount of his closest competitors, and other swimmers haven't racked up absurdly high totals either. No other swimmer in the world has won more than six gold medals except Spitz, Matt Biondi (USA, eight golds), and Jenny Thompson (USA, eight golds). Phelps’s Personal Life On June 30, 1985, Michael Fred Phelps was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His two older sisters, Whitney and Hilary, are both swimmers. As a child, Michael struggled with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). To help him burn off some energy, his parents encouraged him to take up swimming. And his sisters already enjoyed swimming. Michael excelled at swimming right away and, by the age of 10, was setting records. Because of his talent, he was only 15 when he earned a spot in the 2000 Olympics. Michael was a student at Michigan University. He declined to swim for them because Speedo had already given him a professional endorsement.                                 His Career Tom Malchow and Tom Dolan's performances at the Summer Olympics of 1996 significantly impacted Phelps. After that, Phelps became resolved to dominate the swimming world and began studying tactics under coach "Bob Bowman." He beat his record in 2001 at the World Championships, finishing in 1:54:58, earning his first international medal. Phelps broke five world records while he was just 17 years old, signaling a bright future for swimming. The swimmer announced his retirement from competition in 2012, although he promised to return. Phelps delivered on his promise with a standout performance in the 2016 Olympic Games, solidifying his place on five Olympic teams (becoming the first American to receive the honor) and winning one silver and five gold medals at the quadrennial competition. Phelps' victory made him the oldest individual gold medallist and the first swimmer to win four straight golds in the same competition. The swimming records of Mark Spitz, a world-class swimmer, were exceeded by Phelps, who currently holds swimming records in 12 age categories and has won 28 Olympic medals, the most ever won at an Olympics. The youngster, initially terrified of swimming in the water during his first swimming lessons, became an expert in the backstroke technique, winning many awards and breaking multiple records. This young guy has demonstrated through his accomplishments that only tenacity can take one to their destiny.

George Herman Ruth eclipsed the game, still regarded as baseball's pinnacle. He became one of the most well-known Americans ever living thanks to his career, both on and off the field. Ruth’s Personal Life On February 6, 1895, George Herman Ruth, Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was raised in Pigtown, a rough area for working-class people, where his father operated a saloon. George's parents sent him to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys when he was young because he was getting into so much trouble. George acquired a strong work ethic at the reform school. He was taught trades like carpentry and shirt-making. Brother Matthias, one of the school's monks, encouraged George to take baseball. George had natural talent. George improved greatly as a pitcher, batter, and fielder with the assistance of Brother Matthias. The monks persuaded the owner of the Baltimore Orioles to come to see George play baseball when he developed such skill. At 19, George signed his first professional baseball deal after impressing the owner. Since George was so young, the seasoned Orioles players began referring to him as "Babe," and the moniker stuck.                                 His Career When George Ruth was 19, minor league recruiter Jack Dunn noticed him. Jack hired George for $600 to throw for the Baltimore Orioles because he liked how he did it. George was overjoyed to receive payment for playing the game he adored. Numerous rumors surround George Ruth's origin of the moniker "Babe." The most well-known is that George Ruth was one of Dunn's "babes," which was subsequently abbreviated to "Babe," when he showed up for practice because Dunn frequently brought in new players. Although Jack Dunn was successful in locating talented baseball players, he was also incurring losses. On July 10, 1914, Dunn sold Ruth to the Boston Red Sox after just five months with the Orioles. Ruth didn't get to play much in the beginning, despite being in the major leagues today. Ruth was even assigned to the lower league Grays for a few months to play. During her first season in Boston, Ruth met and fell in love with the young waitress Helen Woodford, who worked at a nearby coffee shop. In October 1914, the two got hitched. Ruth returned to the Red Sox in 1915 and started pitching. Ruth's pitching improved over the following few seasons, going from excellent to exceptional. Ruth threw his 29th shutout inning in a World Series in 1918. For 43 years, that record was held. Ruth's insistence on spending more time hitting and less time pitching in 1919 caused a change in the status quo. Ruth hit 29 home runs in the campaign, breaking the previous record. When it was revealed in 1920 that the New York Yankees had acquired Ruth for a stunning $125,000, many people were shocked (more than twice the amount ever paid for a player). Ruth was a member of the 1927 squad, widely regarded as the greatest baseball squad ever. He set a record of 60 home runs in a season that year, which remained for 34 years.

The son of Delores and James Jordan, Michael Jeffrey Jordan, is from Brooklyn, New York. As a young child, his family decided to relocate to Wilmington, North Carolina. The fourth of five kids, Jordan. While his mother worked at a bank, his father was employed at an electric plant.  Initially, baseball was his sport of choice, but after spending a lot of time on the basketball court, he developed a new perspective. When they played one-on-one, Larry, his elder and taller brother, consistently defeated him. Jordan’s Personal Life Brooklyn, New York, was the place of Michael Jeffrey Jordan's birth on February 17, 1963. Jordan, raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, acquired a competitive edge from a young age. In every game he played, he wanted to prevail. Jordan had a secure home environment as a child. Delores, his mother, was a bank teller before becoming a published author. James, his father, was a General Electric maintenance worker who later became a manager. James Jr., Larry, Deloris, Roslyn, and Jordan were Jordan's four siblings. James, Jordan's father, created a basketball court in their backyard and introduced his son to baseball. James was killed in the summer of 1993 while traveling from Charlotte to Wilmington, North Carolina when two teens shot him in his car during what appeared to be a heist. Before his remains were discovered in a swamp in McColl, South Carolina, he was reported missing for 11 days. After being tried for the crime, the teenagers were found guilty and given life terms for first-degree murder.                                His Career   Jordan joined Dean Smith's team-centered system, and his potential began to move in the right direction. He earned 13.4 points per game on average while shooting 53.4% from the field, earning him the title of ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) Freshman of the Year. The 1982 NCAA Championship, which the North Carolina Tar Heels won with his help, marked a significant turning point in Jordan's career. He was then chosen by the Chicago Bulls in the third round of the NBA Draft to play for them in the 1984 campaign. Jordan displayed moments of brilliance and rose to the status of the pin-up boy during the NBA's 1984 season. This incredibly gifted shooter and passer displayed his ball-handling prowess by slamming down free throws with respectable averages. Because of his large fan base, some of his teammates began to feel a twinge of envy, which resulted in a so-called "freeze-out" on Jordan when players refused to give him a pass during the game. But what set Jordan apart from others was his considerate and impartial stance toward all the problems at the time. Jordan suffered a major leg injury after his season victory, which kept him out of 64 games. On January 13, 1999, Jordan said goodbye to the basketball court for the second time during his incredible playing career. However, in 2000, Jordan made a triumphant comeback to the NBA as the owner and president of the basketball operations of the Washington Wizards.  Jordan was a member of the all-star team that included Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and David Robinson. With enthusiasm and swagger, he helped the national team win a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in 1984 and 1992. Jordan retired from playing basketball but kept up his athletic pursuits.  He started riding motorcycles, marketing his clothing company, and participating in celebrity charity golf events. He owns the Michael Jordan Motorsports professional motorcycle road racing team.