Let Us Not Forget the Great
Lusia “Lucy” Harris
Dr. Anthony McBride
Who is watching, who is listening, and who is ready to be the next great legend?
Women in American history continue to transcend. This Black History Month, we celebrate Lusia “Lucy” Harris. Women’s Basketball in the 1970s witnessed something amazing on the basketball court. If you followed women’s basketball in the 70s, then you know Delta State University women’s basketball was blessed with a great female African American heroine.
At one point in time in this country, men dominated most sports while little attention was given to women in sports. More recently a High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted in 2019 revealed that 3.4 million girls participated in various US high school sports. This figure is 1.1 million less than the number of boys participating in sports.
Despite this fact, in the last few decades, it has become common to see women breakthrough and transcend sports. The world has still not gotten over the feats accomplished by Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Serena Williams, Abby Wambach, Maya Moore, and many other greats including Lusia “Lucy” Harris.
This is what makes Lusia “Lucy” Harris inspiring. During the 70s, men received most the attention, but Lusia just went about her business succeeding in the college ranks, leading Delta State University to three consecutive (AIAW) national championships from 1975-1977. According to a CNN report, she scored (2,891) points and (1,662) rebounds in her career. If that’s not substantial enough, she represented the United States in the Olympics in 1976. She is known for scoring the first basket in the initial game. She and her Olympic teammates went on to win a silver medal.
Lusia’s outstanding play caught the attention of the NBA. Can you imagine that? In fact, she was drafted in an all-men’s professional basketball league by the New Orleans Jazz in 1977, which later moved to Utah. She is credited for being the first woman to ever to be officially drafted by the NBA. However, in 1969, Denise Long was selected by the San Francisco Warriors, but the pick was vacated by the league. We honor you Denise Long too!
As the world anticipated the first female NBA player to take the court, Lusia turned down the offer to do something else meaningful, focusing on raising a family. In 1992, she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Fame and was inducted to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.
Lusia “Lucy” Harris passed away on January 18, 2022 at the age of 66 years old. We at 6piTTch send our love and prayers to her family and everyone she has touched. She represents greatness and left a legacy for all of us to admire and inspire to be this Black History Month.
Visit 6piTTch’s YouTube page for a short video on Ms. Harris https://www.youtube.com/c/6piTTch/
Celebrating Women’s History Month - Women of Firsts
As Women’s History Month comes to an end, 6piTTch is celebrating eight women who did it first in athletics. From the first American woman to win three gold medals in an Olympics Summer Games, to the first woman NBA full-time assistant coach, to the WNBA and NCAA baller who sits in a club of her own, these women are pioneers. They are WOMEN who did it first.
1. Shannon Eastin – Official of the National Football League. First woman to officiate a regular season NFL game. Eastin officiated her first pre-season game in 2012 between the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers.
2. Sarah Fuller – Vanderbilt University Football Kicker. First woman to officially take the field during a football game in a Southeastern Conference matchup and first to score in a major US college football conference game.
3. Althea Gibson - The late American tennis player and professional golfer. Gibson became the first African American to win a Grand Slam event title with a victory in the French Championship (now known as the French Open) in 1956.
4. Becky Hammon – Former WNBA basketball player for San Antonio Stars and New York Liberty. First woman to serve as a full-time assistant coach in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs.
5. Sabrina Ionescu - WNBA basketball player for the New York Liberty. The first sole member of the NCAA Division I 2000-point/1000-rebound/1,000-assist club in NCAA basketball history. Holds the record for both men and women.
6. Jessica Mendoza – Two-time Olympian and inductee of the National Softball Hall of Fame. First female ESPN MLB game analyst and first female analyst to work a nationally televised MLB playoff game.
7. Candace Parker – Current WNBA basketball player for the Chicago Sky and NBA analyst. Played for L.A. Sparks (2008-2020) and led team to WNBA Finals Title in 2016. First woman to dunk in a NCAA tournament game and the second player to dunk in a WNBA game.
8. Wilma Rudolph – The late International Track and Field Star. First American woman to win three Olympic Gold Medals at the 1960 Summer Games (-100, - 200, and 400 x 100 meter relay).
For all women who did it first, we thank you for leading the way for women that have and will follow you.
Speaking of firsts…Shout out to TOGETHXR, a new media and commerce company designed to elevate women’s voices in sports launched by four AMAZING women athletes:
Four-time WNBA Champion and four-time Olympic gold medalist, Sue Bird
Olympic gold medalist and first Black woman to win an individual event in Olympic Swimming, Simone Manuel
Youngest snowboard halfpipe gold medalist, Chloe Kim, and
World Cup Champion and advocate of Equal Pay, Alex Morgan.
TOGETHXR a platform from female athletes for female athletes.
Tiffanie Williams
When You Speak Let it Be Heard:
This is True for Athletes and
Poet Amanda Gorman
Dr. Anthony McBride
Where were you when it happened? The day Joseph R. Biden Jr. was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on January 20, 2021 at the Presidential Inauguration. This was a day millions of Americans and the world watched. The Presidential Inauguration was a day where change happened. The sitting president completed his term and a new president, elected by the people, took an oath to become the new leader of the free world.
This year brought so much promise, hope, joy, yet concern and despair by Americans. No matter what side or party you support this day holds a strong place in American history. We all sat and watched in front of televisions, laptops and cellphones partaking in the speeches, songs, music, and event fashion statements.
Typically, we anticipate the message from our new president. When President Biden began to speak, we all listened very closely and heard the president provide the country new direction in a tone that showcased inspiration and hope for the country. President Biden also called for national unity in his remarks.
There were historical moments that took place on Inauguration Day, including the swearing in of America’s first African and Asian American female vice president, Kamala Harris. But out of the shadows, looking like a beautiful rainbow, stood 23-year-old Amanda Gorman who read a moving poem written especially for the day that made us all feel destined to win!! The delivery of the poem and her preparedness to share it, could not have been drawn up better to win us all over. What a victory we witnessed? It felt as moving and mesmerizing as the Villanova Wildcats upset victory over the Georgetown Hoyas in the NCAA Championship game in 1985. For student athletes balancing academics with sports, listen deeply and watch with passion Amanda Gorman’s poem as it may move you as it moved the world.
Amanda Gorman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp9pyMqnBzk
Words That Resonate with Athletes
If you’re a student athlete you probably sat back and said, she sounds just like a coach, your parents, mentors, and teachers. The words she used should have sparked something inside of you. No message of hope should go unheard.
So, let us recap the words of the great Amanda Gorman!!
Victory, Effort, Future, Unfinished, Hope, Hurt, Prevail, Never be Defeated, Us, Dream, No Harm, Bridges, Pride, Insert, Whole, Intimidation, Love, Better, Rise, Rebuild, Recover, Diverse, Brave, Be It, Pounding Chest
Do these words sound familiar to you? If so, think about what your coaches, parents, mentors, and teachers have all said to you? The truth. If you can embrace what you have been told and what you know as an athlete, you know what comes with these powerful and achievable words. Nothing but cheers!!
Final Words
As you work to be your best, live the words Amanda Gorman spoke and you will find that sports have more to offer you than just the sport of it!!
Never Shut Up and Keep Dribbling
Dr. Anthony McBride
The game of basketball remains objectively the most beautiful sport on the planet. According to ESPN, basketball is the most popular sport for young boys and girls, with more than 550,000 boys and 450,000 girls playing every year for school teams, basketball ranks No. 1 in the United States.
Whether you’re playing basketball one on one or with a team, nothing rivals the fun. Very few sports can mirror the exhilaration you get from making that thunderous dunk or perfectly calculating that pass. So as a young athlete playing the game of basketball, you have every audacity to walk with your head and shoulders high.
You Have a Voice - Use it
Recall that in 2018, TV Host Laura Ingraham a television told Lebron James to shut up and dribble. Ironically, this is how the media and society have clamped down on the mouths of athletes. Sadly, many athletes buy into this. They think that no one will listen. Others hide under the notion that they are young and so have not much to say. An even greater number allow themselves to be intimidated by their environment, social circle, or skin color.
This should not be! Everybody has a voice. This is a message that is simply unique to you. Every experience you have had in life has been building you up with this message. It doesn’t matter if you are young, uneducated, or broke your message matters.
So you must allow your message to find expression through your voice. The fact that you are young and an athlete doesn’t make any difference.
Benefits of Using Your Voice
The game of basketball is a game of passion for a reason. This is the same passion with which you must speak your truth. No matter how uncomfortable it may seem at the beginning, understand that the rewards of using your voice far exceed the dangers of keeping quiet. Here are some benefits of using your voice.
Benefits of Using Your Voice
The game of basketball is a game of passion for a reason. This is the same passion with which you must speak your truth. No matter how uncomfortable it may seem at the beginning, understand that the rewards of using your voice far exceed the dangers of keeping quiet. Here are some benefits of using your voice.
1. Your Message Gets a Chance to be Heard
As long as your mouth remains closed, no matter how powerful your message is, no one gets to hear it. Using your voice gives your message a chance to be heard. And when it is heard, there is no limit to the impact it can make on people.
2. Your Voice Can Be a Source of Inspiration and Hope
Many of the great revolutions that took place happened because someone spoke. As a young athlete, never underestimate the power of your voice. It is capable of inspiring, prompting, and motivating other people towards success.
3. You Build Your Self-confidence as You Use Your Voice
Many youth suffer low self-esteem because they are unaware of their potential. As you use your voice, you embark on a journey of discovering the innate strengths and abilities that are unique to you. Nothing best boosts your self-confidence than coming to terms with this magnificent person called “YOU”.
Final Words
As you continue to dribble, massively invest in yourself. There is a message the world is dying to hear and only you have the voice to speak it. Keep dribbling and never shut up.