Giant Steps Awards are given in conjunction with National STUDENT-Athlete Day (NSAD). While we honors thousands of student-athletes for their outstanding achievements nationwide, we also recognize individuals from the world of sport on a national level. Each year, Giant Steps Awards are given to a diverse group of individuals who have shown courage, heroism, triumph in…
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TEAMWork Leadership Institute (TLI) was developed over 20 years ago to address the diversity and inclusion concerns that coaches, athletes, and sports organizations were experiencing across the country. The same concerns and lesson that were prevalent 20+ years ago are still relevant today. TLI will enhance the skills of coaches working with a diverse student-athlete…
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DREAM CRUSHER by Garnett L. Overby III In the early 1990’s, I was fortunate enough to be offered an athletic scholarship to attend a predominately white institution (PWI). This was the first time I had ever heard of a PWI, I was just excited to realize my dream of becoming a Division-I collegiate athlete. It…
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1955 Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars – Barrier Breakers “The most significant amateur in baseball history.” – Creighton Hale, former president, Little League Baseball The story began in the heart of the American South. The U.S. Supreme Court already had ruled (in 1954) that segregated schools were unconstitutional. South Carolina was among some of the southern…
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The Black 14 – Barrier Breakers In 1969 the U.S. was divided for many reasons. With protests taking place nationwide, 14 black football players at the University of Wyoming, who later became known as the “Black 14,” wanted to stage their own protest. Their next home game was against Brigham Young University (BYU). Brigham Young…
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It was a week of horror for America with the mass murder in the synagogue in Pittsburgh, the pipe bombs mailed across America, and the murder of two African-Americans at a Kroger grocery story in Kentucky. Hate seemed to beget hate. At the DeVos Sport Business Management Program and the Institute for Sport and Social…
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Today’s guest is Delise O’Meally, Executive Director, Institute For Sport & Social Justice (ISSJ). Delise is excited to introduce the inspiration and creation of this new podcast sponsored and produced by the ISSJ. Delise gives us a glimpse into her story of being a woman of color trying to climb the ladder of success as…
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Athlete Activism in the Era of Social Media We have long recognized the power of sport to create an environment and mindset for positive social change. Many great leaders like Nelson Mandela have used sport as a pathway to unite fractured communities, to empower youth, and to create peace in times of turmoil. While sport…
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Having spent 50 plus years working to use the power of sport to bring about positive social change, for me Sunday was the most important sports day since Muhammad Ali said he would not go to fight in Vietnam. It evoked memories of Tommie Smith and John Carlos protesting at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics;…
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Like anyone who kn ew him, read him, watched him or listened to him, I feel a great sense of loss with the passing of Frank Deford. He was one of the media’s biggest social consciences and always spoke the truth about what was right and wrong about sport in America and around the world.…
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