Frank Thomas
Frank Thomas
Frank Thomas
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Tyson Notable Sports Figures<br />
Callahan, Tom. “Boxing’s allure.” Time 49 (June 27,<br />
1988): 66.<br />
Gross, Ken. “People Weekly.” Life (October 17, 1998):<br />
60.<br />
Hoffer, Richard. “All the rage.” Sports Illustrated (May<br />
20, 2002): 34.<br />
Hoffer, Richard. “Buster Douglas was floored by Mike<br />
Tyson in the eighth round,but then he got up …”<br />
Sports Illustrated (February 19, 1990): 12.<br />
Hoffer, Richard. “Destined to fall.” Sports Illustrated<br />
(February 17, 1992): 24.<br />
Hoffer, Richard. “Out of the darkness.” Sports Illustrated<br />
(April 3, 1995): 44.<br />
Kram, Mark. “The tiger king.” Esquire (April 1996): 74.<br />
Loverro, Thom. “Tyson apologizes for his ‘worst<br />
night.’” The Washington Times (July 1, 1997): 74.<br />
“Main Event: Tyson-King.” Sports Illustrated (March<br />
16, 1998): 16.<br />
“Mike Tyson vs. Robin Givens: the champ’s biggest<br />
fight.” Ebony (January 1989): 116.<br />
Plummer, William. “Cus D’Amato.” People (July 15,<br />
1985): 77.<br />
“Professional boxing: It was a very good year.” Sports<br />
Network (December 31, 2002): 16.<br />
Putnam, Pat. “All the king’s man.” Sports Illustrated<br />
(November 7, 1988): 20.<br />
Putnam, Pat. “Getting a belt out of life.” Sports Illustrated<br />
(December 1, 1986): 18.<br />
Putnam, Pat. “Only one number 1.” Sports Illustrated<br />
(August 10, 1987): 20.<br />
Shulan, Michael. “Heavyweights.” Nation (July 30,<br />
1988): 102.<br />
“Tyson’s win is boxing’s loss.” Business Week Online<br />
(March 14, 2002).<br />
Wyomia Tyus<br />
1945-<br />
American track and field athlete<br />
Sketch by Robert Winters<br />
She became a world champion barely out of high<br />
school. She broke records in almost all the track<br />
events in which she competed. She was the first person,<br />
man or woman, to win consecutive Olympic gold<br />
medals for the 100-meter race. Yet, despite three<br />
Olympic gold medals and one silver medal, her accomplishments<br />
seemed to slip by with barely a commentary<br />
from the world around her. Whether it was racism, sexism,<br />
or the political climate, Wyomia Tyus stood up to<br />
the challenges of her time and proved herself a worldclass<br />
athlete.<br />
1658<br />
Wyomia Tyus<br />
Early Training<br />
Tyus was born in Griffin, Georgia, on August 29,<br />
1945. She was the youngest child of Willie and Marie<br />
Tyus. She was also the only girl. With three older<br />
brothers to keep up with, Tyus learned early how to<br />
hold her own. Her father insisted that Wyomia not be<br />
left out by her brothers, no matter what they played.<br />
She had an early education in backyard football and<br />
basketball and other neighborhood games, playing<br />
equally with the boys.<br />
She also had an early education in the inequities<br />
caused by racism and sexism. Tyus had to spend an hour<br />
on the bus to school each day because the school she<br />
could walk to was for white children only. In spite of<br />
these difficulties she believed in herself and in working<br />
hard to achieve her goals. Tyus explained to Lyn Votava<br />
of Ethnic NewsWatch, “Now in my day, this wasn’t<br />
something women were encouraged to do.” Through the<br />
love and encouragement of her father and her coach,<br />
Tyus was able to focus on her athletic abilities, letting<br />
them guide her to a better place.<br />
In high school, she was originally drawn to basketball.<br />
In 1960, she was invited to a summer clinic at<br />
Tennessee State University (TSU) by the track coach<br />
Ed Temple. Tyus discovered her own talent for running<br />
through Temple’s clinic and became serious about<br />
track. That same year, her father died, leaving her<br />
without his guidance. Temple would take on an impor-
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