Welcome to this biweekly newsletter, written by me, Corye Perez Beene, Ph.D. I am a United States History Professor and certified “sports nut.” I find the sports stories from the past to the present that celebrate the Awesomeness of American Sports.
Thank you for your support! I am so appreciative of YOU being here 😃
Follow me on Twitter: @HistoryBeene or LinkedIn: coryebeene
Do you need freelance help with research, writing, editing or proofreading stories for your newsletter or website? I can help! Email me at HistoryBeene@gmail.com
Latest Records
The youngest player to sign an MLS contract is 14 year old Axel Kei - he signed with Real Salt Lake. Last October, he played in the Real Monarchs game vs the Colorado Springs Switchbacks as a 13 year old! It made him the youngest professional athlete in American sports team history! Wow!
For the first time in NFL history, a team had a perfect offensive game, scoring a touchdown on each of its possessions - no kicks, punts or turnovers. The Buffalo Bills beat the New England Patriots 47-17; Quarterback Josh Allen did not take a sack; the offense converted all 3rd downs (except for the kneeldown at the end of the game).
Kansas City Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes threw 5 TDs in 10 minutes 30 seconds when they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. It was the fastest time in NFL post-season history to accomplish that feat.
Mahomes was also voted as the NFL’s most well-liked player in a survey conducted by Morning Consult; Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski were 2nd and 3rd on the list.
Rachel Balkovec became the first woman to manage a Minor League affiliate associated with a Major League baseball team. She is the dugout boss with the Tampa Tarpons, a New York Yankees team. She had previously been with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Houston Astros.
Smiles and Inspiration
Insider.com compiled a list of the top 101 women’s sports photos of 2021; here are a few:
The day after the SuperBowl results in lost productivity for employers, along with 17 million people not even showing up to work! Florida teenager Frank Ruggieri took notice and has started a change.org petition to move the SuperBowl from Sunday evening to Saturday evening. The petition is close to 100,000 signatures!
Harrison Bader of the Arizona Cardinals surprised elementary school students in Clayton, Missouri when he showed up as their substitute teacher.
Referees have a tough job; fans only remember them when they mess up. So when you see a ref crack up and lose it for a second, it reminds you that they are human too! NBA ref Bill Kennedy was poised to toss the ball for the opening tip-off between the Denver Nuggets & LA Clippers when Nikola Jokic made him laugh - see below:
At the Olympic Trials for speed skating, #1 ranked speed skater in the 500m Erin Jackson slipped in her race and finished 3rd, not qualifying for Team USA. Teammate Brittany Bowe came in 2nd, and decided to give up her spot to Erin - an unselfish and kind gesture. Erin was the first Black woman to make an Olympic long track team for the USA in 2018.
We all know the benefits of exercise - here are stories about:
*how many calories you burn from specific sports like playing basketball
*how exercise can reduce anxiety and lift our moods
*how Joseph Pilates created the exercises of Pilates
*Health and exercise advice from SuperBowl Champ Ndamukong Suh of the Tampa Bay Bucs
Turns out that LPGA Pro Golfer Nelly Korda is just like us when she met one of her idols, Tiger Woods, last month.
What I am reading:
*Clarence Mackey Jr. and the creation of the Watts Olympics
*This GQ story about Shohei Ohtani; anyone that is compared to Babe Ruth gets my attention!
*I am an avid Twitter user (if you havent noticed by now! LOL!); I love it when someone asks a fun or thought-provoking question, like ESPN’s Mina Kimes recently did:
My favorite responses:
*The 10 best Twitter sports threads of 2021, per Nathan Baugh (he has his own sports newsletter you should check out: sidelinesprint.com)
What I am watching
*Origin stories of 10 sports
*The story of the only woman to be drafted by the NBA, Lusia(Lucy) Harris, who recently passed away
Thank you for reading! Are you looking for a speaker for your next event or conference? I would love to share some sports history with your audience! Email me at historybeene@gmail.com