The Pac-10 has often been seen as a progressive and dynamic conference that has produced some of the best athletes in the country. A recent commercial that promotes the Pac-10 displays the following statement: “forged by innovation, connected by tradition, unified by excellence.” The following is a list of Pac-10 athletes who embody these words and have shaped both the conference and America. These athletes for whatever reason displayed bravery and courage during their athletic careers. They are models for people that were ahead of their time and all were Pac-10 representatives at one time.
Jackie Robinson
Perhaps one of the best known athletes of all-time, Robinson played a fundamental role in breaking down the color barrier in the 1940’s and 50’s. A phenomenal athlete, Robinson attended the University of California, Los Angeles. While at UCLA, Robinson excelled in football, basketball, track, and baseball. Though baseball was perhaps the least-skilled sport he participated in, Robinson would go on to play baseball in the Negro Leagues before signing with the Major League Baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. When Robinson took the field in 1947, he was the first black man to play in the major leagues since the 1880’s.
Robinson’s skill in sports is very impressive but perhaps more amazing is his moral character. Throughout his baseball career, he had to endure constant threats to his life, bigotry, and unfair sportsmanship in his quest to bring equality to the game of baseball. He did this with this head held high. Robinson will always be known for the positive changes he helped harbor in for American society.
Lisa Leslie
Leslie is known as one of the best women basketball players. She grew up in California and attended the University of Southern California. During her time at USC, the 6’4 center helped lead her time to the NCAA tournament each year she played. The team also won the Pac-10 championship thanks in part to her impressive stats. Leslie dominated the Pac-10 by setting records in blocked shots, scoring, and rebounding. She went on the join the WNBA team, the Los Angeles Sparks. While playing for the Sparks, her team won two championships and Leslie appeared in seven All-Star Games.
Leslie is credited as being the first woman to dunk a basketball in the WNBA. In addition to her stellar college and WNBA career she has played for the Olympic team for four consecutive years and aided in winning the gold medal for women’s basketball each year she played. In a sport’s world dominated by men, Leslie was able to bring entertainment and recognition to the WNBA. She helped pave the way for the success of the league.
Pat Tillman
Tillman is a true American hero. He is popular for his actions off the field as much for his success on the field. Tillman played linebacker on the Arizona State University football team. Despite being only 5’11, he earned the title as Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. After graduating ASU with a 3.84 GPA, Tillman was signed to the Arizona Cardinal football team. After playing in the National Football League for four years, Tillman walked away from football in 2002. The reason? To enlist in the Army after he felt a sense of deep patriotism after the 9/11 attacks. Tillman would die two years later in Afghanistan after being killed by friendly fire.
The fact that Tillman turned down millions of dollars from the NFL, and fought in the war instead is truly remarkable. His death makes the story even more tragic. He serves as an example of what it means to be a true hero. Most people would not make the same sacrifices as he did.
Warren Moon
Moon, a University of Washington football star, was the first black quarterback to be inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame. Moon played for UW in the mid-1970’s. Though civil rights had vastly improved in the previous twenty years, most colleges did not feel that black individuals could make quality quarterbacks. Moon changed this sentiment with his success at UW. One of his greatest collegiate achievements was leading UW to win the Rose Bowl in 1978 and earning the MVP award for the game.
Moon would go on to win numerous games in the Canadian Football League and the National Football League. The records that Moon set in the NFL included: highest passing yardage, highest passing completion, and most passing touchdowns. Moon showed America, that black athletes can play anywhere on the football field with a high degree of skill. He set the stage for big-name black quarterbacks such as Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick.
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