Local Iowa Athletes Model Hard Work and Resilience
Eastern Iowans show role models across sports from Zach Johnson and Kurt Warner to Casey O Rourke Jase Jensen and Rutgers women’s basketball players. The piece highlights perseverance after adversity, cancer battles and dignified public responses including Don Imus controversy. It cites Iowa performers like Josh Deitrich and local ties to Ames and Cedar Rapids programs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Zach Johnson
Kurt Warner
Warner
Europe
Verizon Heritage
O'Rourke
Williamsburg
University of Iowa
Hawks
Rutgers
C. Vivian Stringer
Town City
Imus
Josh Deitrich
Cedar Rapids Kermedy
Jackie Robinson Day echoes past and present in Chicago
The Cubs and Reds honored Jackie Robinson with 39,820 fans, but few Black players joined the crowd. Billy Williams urged stronger scouting and community outreach to reconnect Black youth with baseball as current demographics shift toward Hispanics and Asians. Williams and Ployd noted late recognition and marketing gaps, while Griffey emphasized wanting Robinson's legacy visible in future generations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Luke Associated Press
Hicago
Jackie Robinson
Cubs
Billy Williams
Chicago
Robinson
Ken Griffey Jr
Cincinnati
Ameri Sporting
Williams
Mobile
Ala
Henry Aaron
Willie McCovey
Jackie
Ployd
Puerto Rico
Dominican Republic
Venezuela
Compton
Ploud
Griffey
Reds
U.S
Jackie Robinson Day Becomes Everyday Honor Across MLB
The piece recalls Jackie Robinson debuting in 1947 and the ongoing impact of his breaking the color barrier. It highlights players honoring him by wearing No. 42, quotes from Ken Griffey Jr. and Torii Hunter, and notes the continued struggle with racism alongside progress in sports and society.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Los Angeles Dodgers
Jackie Robinson
Dodgers
San Diego Padres
Dodger Stadium
Los Angeles
Robinson
Cliff Floyd
Chicago
Lisa Bison
New York Daily News
York
Ebbets Field
Brooklyn Dodger
MLB
Dodger
Padres
Cardinals
Albert Pujols
Arizona
Tony Clark
Cleveland
C.C. Sabathia
White Sox
Young
America
Espn the Magazine
Torii Hunter
Pioneer Press
Hunter
Glen
Jike
Minnesota
Kansas City
Boston
Rutgers
Don Imus
Branch Riches
Ricke
Ring
Rickey
UCLA
Pee Wee Reese
Louisville
Also Mentioned on This Page
Charles Barkley
Ane Wades Jols
W Hlaway
Adart
Jones
Bill Romanowski
NFL
Hilton Head
S.C
Casey O'Rourke
Jase Jensen
Jensen
Lisbon
Coe
Conn
Kohawks
Rcord
Sia
Iowa State University
Ames
Pilcher
Michael Jordan
Major League Baseball
Bud Selig
Rachel Robinson
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!