? Barton Silverman / The New York Times
Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron was the embodiment of consistency during his 23-year Major League Baseball career. From 1955-1973 Hammerinā Hank hit at least 24 home runs each season, and on April 8th, 1974, he hit his 715th career Home Run surpassing Babe Ruth as Major League Baseballās Home Run King, despite receiving bigoted hate mail and death threats throughout his pursuit of the record. A National League MVP, World Series champion, and member of Baseballās exclusive 3,000 hit club, Aaron would be elected to the MLB Hall of Fame in 1982, his first year on the ballot, receiving 97.8% of the vote. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron’s Home Run title, Major League Baseball created the Hank Aaron Award in 1999, which is presented annually to each league’s best offensive player. On January 22, 2021, Hank Aaron passed away at the age of 86 as one of the most decorated and legendary athletes in professional sports history.
Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving was one of the nationās top recruits when he committed to play college basketball at Duke in 2009. In 2010 he was named a Mcdonaldās All-American and helped lead Team USA to a Gold Medal at The FIBA Americas U-18 Championship. Despite only playing in 11 games due to injury during his one season at Duke, Irving was picked first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2011 NBA draft. Irving would go on to win the 2011-12 NBA Rookie of the year award. Since then, Irving has been named to six NBA All-Star teams, and famously helped the Cleveland Cavaliers win the 2016 NBA Finals hitting the championship-clinching shot. Outside of the NBA, Kyrie has a shoe deal with Nike that includes his signature Kyrie 1 and several themed collaborations. In addition to his NBA career, Irving has been a vocal supporter of Black Lives Matter, helped produce a documentary about the police murder of Breonna Taylor, donated $ 1.5 million to support WNBA players impacted by COVID-19, among other activities. Irving is currently a part of the Brooklyn Nets Big Three, who are among the favorites to win the 2021 NBA title
? Alex Livesay/Getty Images
Simone Biles
When debates begin about who is the GOAT, Simone Biles is definitely in the mix. With a combined total of 30 Olympic and World Championship medals, Biles is the most decorated American gymnast, the third most decorated world gymnast of all time, and the first African American woman all-around world champion. Just as sheās redefined what a gymnast can achieve in competition, Biles has also changed perceptions of what a gymnast is outside the gym. Breaking with long-held tradition, Biles joined Aly Raisman and other gymnasts speaking out against systemic abuse within the USA Gymnastics. She is also vocally supportive of Black Lives Matter, adoption advocacy, and LGBTQ rights.
? Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters
Colin KaepernickĀ
Colin Kaepernick used his platform as a star NFL quarterback to bring attention to racial injustice and police brutality. Kaepernick was right in 2016, heās right in 2021, and heāll be right five years from now. The need for equity and justice played across screens big and small since the murder of George Floyd touched off the 2020 Black Lives Movement. Things became so obvious that even the NFL publicly apologized, except to the one man who deserves their apology the most. Keep on, Kap, keep on. Ā
? Elizabeth Williams via Twitter
Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream was founded in October 2007 to compete in the 2008 WNBA season. The team has had moderate success, making the playoffs in nine of its 13 seasons, and reaching the finals three times. In 2020, the Atlanta Dream would transcend sports and demonstrate the political influence of professional athletes. In July 2002, Dream co-owner, and then US Senator, Kelly Loeffler argued against league plans allowing players to wear warm-up jerseys with “Black Lives Matter” or “Say Her Name.” In response, the Dream’s players presented a united front demanding that Loeffler be forced to sell her 49% stake in the franchise. When Loeffler refused to sell, members of the Dream players began wearing “Vote Warnock” t-shirts in support of Loeffler’s challenger. Rev. Ralph Warnock would go on to defeat Loeffler in the January 5 run0ff election. As of January 2021, reports have stated that the Atlanta Dream is close to being sold and that Loeffler will have not part in the franchise moving forward.
? Charles Harrity / AP
Muhammad Ali
Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., Muhammad Ali is widely regarded as one of the all-time greatest boxers. After taking home gold for the US at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Muhammad Ali defeated other boxing legends, including Joe Frazier and George Foreman. In the mid-1960s, Clay converted to Islam, changing his Muhammad Ali. Outside of the ring, Ali fought for peace and was a notable opponent of the Vietnam War. Ali was also active in charitable efforts, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics. Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 for his philanthropic work. Over his boxing career, Ali’s ability to “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” helped him record 37 knockouts.
? @FareShareUK / Twitter
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford represents a new-style football hero. In 2016, he debuted in a UEFA Europa League match, scoring two goals. Since then, Rashford has become a superstar on the pitch, playing as a starting forward on both England’s National Team and his home club of Manchester United. Marcus Rashford’s work off the pitch maybe even more impressive. Shortly after lockdowns began in England, Rashford shifted his energy to social issues affecting his home city. He began working with some food manufacturers, delivery services, and charities to target child hunger in the UK. His success spurring change around child hunger has pushed him to target education, and he recently founded a book club to promote child literacy.
? Jason Miller / Getty
Lebron James
Arguably the best player in the NBA since Michael Jordan, LeBron James is a force to be reckoned with on and off the hardwood. The four-time MVP and, most recently, four-time NBA champion is known for his explosive play and leadership abilities, making him a sports icon to many athletes. Outside of basketball, James really shines with his philanthropic work. Through his organization, The LeBron James Family Foundation, he provides mentorship programs, educational support, and resources to the youth of Akron, OH. He also started his own public, STEM-based curriculum elementary school, the I Promise School. It is specifically aimed to support at-risk students in the Akron area. Through his ability to guide teams to championship titles to showing young children the importance of education, LeBron James is a leader worthy of emulation.
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson will forever be remembered as the man who broke the Major League Baseball race barrier in 1947, becoming the first black player to play professionally since the 1880s. During his storied career, Robinson received many accolades including Rookie of the Year in 1947, the National League batting title and MVP in 1949, as well as 6 All-Star game appearances, and a World Series Championship in 1955. In1962 he was elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, and his number 42 was retired by the League in 1997. However, Robinsonās life and impact span well beyond that of a baseball diamond. In his post-playing career, Jackie Robinson remained active in the social and political landscape of the United States. His endeavors there included fundraising for the SCLC to promote civil rights work such as voter registration drives in the South, speaking out about a lack of diversity in Major League Baseball’s managerial and front office staffs, and serving as special assistant for community affairs for the Governor of New York in 1966. Today, Major League Baseball honors the life and career of Jackie Robinson on April 15th, as players wear his number 42 to commemorate what he has meant to the sport and the world.
? Matthew Stockman / Getty Images
Naomi Osaka
At the young age of 23, Naomi Osaka is already on her way to becoming one of the greatest tennis players of all time. With three Grand Slams titles under her belt already, Osaka is more decorated than many pros who have played a full career of matches. But Osaka, who hails from Osaka, Japan, is just getting started. She is currently ranked as the #3 women’s tennis player and has been locked into the top five since 2018. Osaka has also partnered with some of the world’s biggest brands, including Nike and Louis Vuitton. In addition to her play on the court, she has also become vocal in the fight against police brutality and systemic racism in support of Black Lives Matter.
? Bettman Archives
Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Six-time NBA champion Kareem Abdul Jabbar is a trailblazer for being more than an athlete. Off the court, his efforts toward promoting justice and equality created a blueprint for athletes who use their platform to have a more profound impact on their community. Jabbar has written for many publications and even his own books, sharing his experiences with systematic racism, the power of peaceful protest, and accessibility to education. His hard work as an activist was rewarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Barack Obama in 2016.
? Bettman Archive
Jesse Owens
In 1936, Jesse Owens became the first American track athlete to win four gold medals in the same Olympic games. His achievement not only eviscerated Hitlerās idiotic and hateful master race theory but also proved that individual success, rather than race or religion, separates one man from another. After his record-breaking run in the Olympics, Owens devoted his life to uplifting impoverished communities and fighting against racial bigotry. He wrote books on his experience in a segregated world, organized youth groups to assist underprivileged households, and advocated for black history programs in different communities around the USA. Owens passed away from lung cancer in 1980, but his impact on the battle against tyranny, social injustice, and poverty have inspired future generations to continue his work.
