The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 10

October 13, 2020 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 8 Sports THIS WEEK SPORTS IN HISTORY October 13: Calvin Murphy and Dave Cowens make their debut In 1970, two future Basketball Hall of Famers debuted. Guard Calvin Murphy debuted when he played for the San Diego Rockets in what ended up being an 111-96 loss in Chicago. He grew to be regarded as one of the best free-throw shooters in NBA history. Meanwhile, forward Dave Cowens was playing for the Boston Celtics in a 114-107 loss in New York. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame 21 years later. October 19: Maurice Richard becomes first in NHL to score 500 goals In 1957, Maurice “Rocket” Richard, part of the Montreal Canadiens, became the first member of the NHL to score 500 goals. He was also the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in one season. Richard retired in 1960 as the league’s all-time leader in goals with 544. He won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player in 1947, played in 13 All-Star Games and was named in 14 post-season NHL All-Star Teams. In 2017, Richard was also named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history. October 15: Wayne Gretzky becomes NHL’s all time top scorer In 1989, Wayne Gretzky officially passed Gordie Howe as the National Hockey League’s all time top scorer. He is one of the most decorated hockey players in the history of the NHL, setting records in both regular season and postseason play. He currently holds the record for most career regular season goals (894), assists (1,963), points (2,857) and hat-tricks (50). On The Bench : Naomi Osaka: An athlete, a friend, and a light in the darkness Naomi Osaka, a half-Haitian, half-Japanese tennis player, is a rising force in the world of sports today. With her second win of the 2020 US Open, her name has been plastered across recent international news. While fame has showered her with attention for her athletic achievements, we see her using this spotlight primarily for other reasons: to be a source of hope for many in an era of social unrest. “You just gotta keep going and fighting for everything, and one day, you’ll get to where you want,” said Osaka in a press conference shortly after her grand victory. She is an inspiration to girls of all ages, especially those who have a passion for tennis. At 22, she demonstrates that dreams do come true, even at such a young age, if you work hard enough. Jenna Jordan, a sophomore psychology major at NSU, has played tennis since she was 6 years old, and ever since then, she has been in love with the game. “It’s inspiring to see a young, black female tennis player, like myself, in such a high position. As an athlete, using her platform to be vocal about things that are directly affecting the communities [is inspirational],” said Jordan. Osaka played seven matches in the US Open, wearing seven different masks with the names of Black lives that have By: Isabella Gomez Contributing Writer been lost and heavily discussed in the recent Black Lives Matter movement, including Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor, Philando Castile, Elijah McClain, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin. Osaka openly embraces her biracial culture, using her popularity to stand up and speak out about racial injustices. She is proud of her heritage, and in this strong wave of the Black Lives Matter movement, she fully embraces her Black side. Like tennis players Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens and James Blake, she will continue to be an inspiration to the world for years to come. Even Michelle Obama, the former first lady, has acknowledged the young winner, congratulating Osaka in a tweet. Her bravery has cast a strong light on the world, and the use of her custom masks to raise awareness was an exemplifying statement. Many athletes have not always used their platforms to bring to light these types of problems, but she is one of the select few that are beginning to change that. The message she conveys to the world is that speaking up about social issues without the fear of judgment or lack of support should be normalized -- even for athletes, which is very honorable. October 14:Birth of the Baseball Writer Association of America In 1908, a group of sports reporters who were upset over seating arrangements at the Baseball World Series formed a professional group that would become Baseball Writers Association of America. Today, they work to ensure proper working conditions in press boxes and clubhouses. They also make sure that its members have access to players and others in the game so their members’ reporting can be accurate, fair and complete. October 16: Tommie Smith and John Carlos give the Black Power Salute In 1968, Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos famously gave the Black Power salute during the Mexico City Olympics to protest racism and injustice against African-Americans. During their medal ceremony in the Olympic Stadium, the two African-American athletes each raised a black-gloved fist during the playing of the U.S. national anthem. While on the podium, Smith and Carlos, who had won gold and bronze medals respectively in the 200-meter running event, turned to face the U.S. flag and kept their hands raised until the anthem had finished. October 17: Irina Press wins gold at the Tokyo Olympics In 1964, in the first ever Olympic women’s pentathlon, Irina Press of the Soviet Union set a world record of 5,246 points to win the gold medal at the Tokyo Games. October 18: Football legend Forrest Gregg is born In 1933, Forrest Gregg was born. He went on to be a Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman for 16 seasons in the National Football League. He was also a part of six NFL championships, five of them with the Green Bay Packers before closing out his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys with a win in Super Bowl VI. Gregg was later appointed head coach of three NFL teams (Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Packers) as well as two Canadian Football League teams (Toronto Argonauts and Shreveport Pirates).