167: The Golden Age of Sports: Horse Racing, Boxing, Basketball, Football, & Jim Thorpe

History That Doesn't Suck

ProfGregJackson

Education, History, Society & Culture

4.5 • 5.1K Ratings

🗓️ 7 October 2024

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“We have a basket and a ball, and it seems to me that would be a good name for it.” This is the story of America’s varied athletic endeavors (besides baseball). Though each sport could provide enough material for an entire episode, it would probably run us into overtime, and the 1920s are drawing to a close. As Black Thursday approaches, it’s time for some last-minute fun and games. The 1920s is the Golden Age of Sports—fans can’t get enough of the races, the ring, the court, or the gridiron. Of course, in the case of horse racing and boxing, the love of the competition is combined with the heady rush of gambling. But even when there’s no money changing hands, sports still draw people in. There’s simple bloodlust; boxing legends like John L. Sullivan and Jack Johnson are ruthless, and football actually gets so savage that it’s almost banned entirely until Teddy Roosevelt and a few others intervene, (much to the relief of fans today). There’s also novelty. James Naismith’s game “basketball” is a true original. But the most compelling factor is probably witnessing human excellence, best exemplified by the American Olympian dubbed “the greatest athlete in the world.” ____ Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com and go deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendations join discussions in our Facebook community get news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette come see a live show get HTDS merch or become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks. HTDS is part of the Airwave Media Network. Interested in advertising on the History That Doesn't Suck? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The French Revolution set Europe ablaze.
0:03.3	It was an age of Enlightenment and progress, but also of tyranny and depression.
0:07.6	It was an age of glory and an age of tragedy.
0:10.5	One man stood above it all. This was the Age of Napoleon. I'm Everett Rummage, host of the
0:17.1	Age of Napoleon podcast. Join me as I examined the life and times of one of the most fascinating and enigmatic characters in modern history.
0:26.3	Look for the age of Napoleon wherever you find your podcasts. Hello, this is Matt from the Explorers Podcast. I want to invite you to join me on the
0:39.0	voyages and journeys of the most famous explorers in the history of the world.
0:42.4	These are the thrilling and captivating story. of the most famous explorers in the history of the world.
0:43.0	These are the thrilling and captivating stories of Magellan, Shackleton, Lewis, and Clark,
0:48.0	and so many other famous and not so famous adventures from throughout history.
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1:47.5	where James Nay Smith is wrapping up another gym class, another disappointing gym class, that is. James feels a deep sense of failure as the
1:56.1	last of his unenthusiastic students file out of the gym. Yeah, let me fill you in on the
	...

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