The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 16

January 5, 2021 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 8 Sports THIS WEEK SPORTS IN HISTORY On The Bench : A crowd of silent fans As most of us know, the Summer Olympics come around every four years. It is no surprise as we were and still are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, that the Summer Olympics will most likely be postponed or cancelled. Since I can remember, every four years, my family has always watched the Olympics on TV. I was looking forward to the games last year, and now, as we continue to live through the pandemic, I have not done much to get my hopes up for this summer. This summer, the Olympics will be brought to us from Tokyo and is expected to span from late July to early August, we can only hope that this year we actually get to watch it. I am looking forward to beach volleyball, swimming and gymnastics. I have always been awed by gymnastics and the skill a person must have to take on the uneven bars and not fall completely flat on their face. I would like to think that, in another life, I would be able to flip from one bar to another without hesitation even though in this life I hesitate trying to jump Jan. 5: Don Shula announces his retirement On a warmMiami afternoon in 1996, legendary Miami Dolphins coach, Don Shula, announced his retirement. Shula led a long and prolific career and was widely considered among the best coaches the Miami Dolphins ever had. Shula appeared six times in a Super Bowl, only winning twice. Jan. 7: Harlem Globetrotters first game In 1927, the famous Harlem Globetrotters played their first game. Contrary to what might’ve been expected, the game was not played in Harlem, NY, but rather in Hinckley, IL. The Harlem Globetrotters would go on to influence the decision to desegregate the sport of basketball. Jan. 8: NCAA announces freshmen can play on teams In 1972, the NCAA decided that freshmen athletes could play on all college sport teams starting in the fall semester of that year. Prior to this, football was still one of the sports that included a year of ineligibility where freshmen could focus on their grades and adjust to college life. This increased the competition of the NCAA by giving student athletes one year less to prepare for their potential debuts in their fields. Jan. 9: Wayne Gretzky named best NHL player ever by Hockey News In a 1998 publication of Hockey News, Wanye Gretzky was named the greatest NHL player ever. Gretzky played for the Edmonton Oilers, LA Kings, St Louis Blues and the New York Rangers. He went on to retirement and was inducted to the NHL Hall of Fame a year later, in 1999. Jan. 4: First Black Baseball league In 1920, the first all-Black baseball league in the U.S. was organized. The National Negro Baseball League would provide Black players with a diamond to play on until the game would become desegregated in 1947. Jan. 10: No one was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame The 1945 Baseball Hall of Fame election results came as a surprise to many, with the writers who would normally decide candidates and vote electing no one to be inducted. That year, which was when World War II had ended, no induction ceremony was held due to lack of recipients. By: Emma Heineman Features Editor Jan. 6: First Womens’ six-day bicycle race Women got their first six-day bicycle race in Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1896, making it one of the longest sporting events that women could partake in at the time. The women’s six-day bicycle race can still be enjoyed today. over a track hurdle. I can only wonder now, if in the coming months, the decision to have the Summer Olympics will be pushed back or what regulations will be changed when it comes to the audience and teams. I can only imagine the disappointment and frustration the athletes would go through once again after years of qualifying for such an event to just be canceled or postponed for a second time. Some of my biggest questions surrounding the Summer Olympics would be if they are allowing audiences at the sporting events and how that would look. There are many avenues they could take which could make this event interesting with the decisions to have limited audience or no audience. If they will have fans in the stands, how do they plan to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance? However, it seems to be too early to know what the Summer Olympics will look like this year. Still months out, there is no real clear answer to any of my questions, but I can only hope that 2021 proves fruitful for the athletes and fans alike.