THE SPORTS PAGE for LIFE
THE QATSPY® Quapaw Avid Tailgate Sports & Performance Reporter
By: Charles W. Boatright, President of THE QATSPY®
Why Sports Play Such an Important Part– Sports Breaks Down Barriers among all Backgrounds to Show that we have a lot more in Common than Not. Modern-Day Olympics proves Sports transcends all Nationalities with a common language.
The March of 1963 NCAA Basketball Game that Helped Breakdown Jim Crow Laws of the Democrat control South
We talk about putting everything on the line, this was demonstrated by Mississippi State University President, Dean Colvard, and Head Basketball Coach, Babe McCarthy, did just that on March 15, 1963, they helped break the color barrier of the South. Nothing short of courageous!
Despite orders from then Democrat Governor Ross Barnett for the Mississippi State University (MSU) Team to NOT travel to East Lansing, Michigan to play Loyola’s Basketball Team that was integrated. MSU defied the order! This game was labeled the Game of Change!
It is hard today to think of the grip that Democrat Jim Crow Laws had on the South and its impact on every facet of daily life then. This was demonstrated in the 1963 NCAA Basketball Tournament.
Brief Background
In March of 1963, just four (4) months before the Assassination of Medgar Wiley Evers by Da La Beckwith, a Democrat KKK member from Greenwood, MS. The Mississippi State University’s (MSU) basketball team snuck out of the state from Starkville, MS under the cover of darkness to play Loyola’s Basketball team that was integrated in the 1963 NCAA Finals.
It took a tremendous amount of courage for the President of MSU, Dean Colvard, and Head Basketball Coach, Babe McCarthy, to defy the Mississippi Democrat Governor’s, Ross Barnett, orders, to NOT attend the NCAA Tournament! Gov. Barnett one of three high profile Democrat Governors in the south that supported Segregation. The two other Governors were Orval Faubus of Arkansas and George Wallace of Alabama.
The MSU Basketball team secretly traveled to East Lansing, Michigan to play in the game where MSU lost the game, but won the moment by breaking decades of old racial barriers of Democrat rule of Jim Crow Laws.
Another instance was in 1956 in the Sugar Bowl when Georgia Democratic Governor Marvin Griffin refuse to let Georgia TECH to play PITT due to their interracial team member Bobby Grier. The Team under Coach Bobby Dodd played in the 1956 Sugar Bowl.
Leading up to World War II, the Olympic Games were held in Nazi Germany. There are several movies that highlight this period of time leading up to World War II. One was Chariots of Fire, especially the efforts of Jesse Owens, and a new movie is The Boys in the Boat.
Competition in Sports underline the significance of what we all have in common rather than the insignificant of our differences. One thing that sports demonstrates is the importance of competition that develops excellence in education. One thing about sports, you can’t fake performances. That one reason that I enjoy covering sports in how it impacts our lives more than the score on a board.
The Byproduct of Sports
The byproduct of Sports is the indispensable Sportsmanship that is important to every facet of our lives. Some of the attributes of Sportsmanship are- humility, integrity, commitment, perseverance, respect for others and the game, honor, honesty, fairness, sacrifice, responsibility, preparation, focus, discipline, building confidence, expecting the best of oneself, trustworthiness, and a hard work ethic, just to name a few.
The Most Notable Life Coach in History
The most notable life coach in history isn’t Nick Sabin, who just retired from Alabama, but the Apostle Paul. One of Paul’s best writings is found in 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 So I do not run aimlessly, (without a purpose in other words); I do not box as one beating the air (or Shadow boxing). But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
These two verses are a great resource for those that made two of the popular New Year’s Resolutions- To lose weight; and to get into better shape. Don’t attempt do your New Year’s Resolutions without a PIE– Purpose, Incentive, and Expectations.
These are listed in my New Book, The Sports Bible The Yellowstone Papers- Coach’s Guide to Sports Performance, This is available on my site by using the link below:
