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 😃
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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
SuperBowl LVI
From cbssports.com - 56 things to know about the 2 teams
Matt and Kelly Stafford were generous with their money for the NFC Championship game. They bought 240 tickets for Rams fans. At a cost of $850 - $1200 per ticket, they spent over $200,000. If you will remember, Kelly had a brain tumor removed in 2019. She shared her recovery on social media, so it is nice to see her husband in the SuperBowl.
We can only hope for as exciting a game as we saw between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 23!
Despite the gut-wrenching way the Bills lost, Chiefs fans did something classy, based on a Bills’ tradition - they helped raise money for Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo. Fans raised $312,800 by donating in $13 increments, to represent the 13 seconds it took for the Chiefs to tie the game at the end of regulation, leading to overtime.
Continuing the NFL’s success with viewers: 21 of the 32 teams saw TV rating increases this season. The LA Chargers had a 25% increase, the Dallas Cowboys had a 23% increase, and even the New York Jets (who only won 4 games) had an 8% increase.
Did you watch any NFL games on the Nickelodeon channel? Who doesnt love slime and seeing SpongeBob in the field goal?
This interview Young Dylan had with Deebo Samuel is terrific!
It’s Black History Month!
Black History Month was the brainchild of Carter G. Woodson, a historian and journalist. He and minister Jesse E. Moorland created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), to highlight the achievements of Black Americans. They chose February, the birthday month of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
Sports stories in celebration of Black History Month:
the first African-Americans to win Olympic medals
Ten African-American pioneers in sports like golfer Charlie Sifford and tennis star Althea Gibson
Dream Detroit Skating Academy (DDSA) is the first female-owned skating academy in Detroit, and the only Black-owned figure skating club in Michigan.
Shelly Cayette-Weston became executive vice president and chief commercial officer of the Cleveland Cavaliers. She is the first Black woman to serve as an NBA team's CCO.
Winter Olympics
Are you watching the Olympics? I have a secret: I think curling is AWESOME!
I like the strategy involved and how focused the players are! Here are some stories about the Winter Olympics:
The female trailblazers of Olympic snowboarding
Get the 411 on the new “aerial” events in freestyle skiing
The Team USA flag bearers were Elena Mayers Taylor and John Shuster. Because Taylor had COVID, speedskater Brittany Bowe walked in her place.
The story of Team USA hockey player Clarence “Taffy” Abel, the first American Indian to play in the Winter Games. Selected as the team’s flag bearer, he won a Silver Medal in the 1924 games. He was also the first Native American in the NHL, winning 2 Stanley Cup titles.
Who knew that the first demonstration sport at the Winter Olympics was skijoring? It consists of horses pulling a rider on skis through an obstacle sport. How cool is this? Check it out:
What I am Tweeting
See you in 2 weeks! Could you share this newsletter with another sports fan? Thank you so much!
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