Day 42/365 Blogging Every Day - Jackie Robinson's Other Accomplishments

Besides from being one of the most influential athletes in the entire history of this planet, Jackie Robinson did much more in his life than just break the color barrier in baseball. His baseball career alone is more than enough to make Jackie a legend, but what he did outside of baseball is just as impressive.

You may of heard that Jackie Robinson was a 4 sport athlete at UCLA where he lettered in baseball, football, basketball, and track & field, but when he was in high school he played a 5th sport in which he lettered in, tennis. Can you imagine how this guys varsity jacket would have looked like. Would he even have enough space on his jacket for all the position letters and pins? One can only imagine how heavy that jacket was in the sunny weather of LA. It has got to be one of the most decorated varsity jacket of all time.

Jackie also served in the military during World War 2. He would never see actual combat though. The reason fro this was when Jackie was at UCLA playing 4 sports at a Division 1 level, he broke his ankle. By the time the war was over, he was never cleared to fight. Jackie also refused to sit in the back of the bus one time while in the military and he was charged with being disorderly. Pulling a Rosa Parks is hard, but pulling a Rosa Parks in the military is a crazy move. The military then forced Jackie to change where he was stationed at because of this little incident that he had, but like at with all things, Jackie certainly left his mark.

After Jackie graduated from UCLA he did what might just be the best thing ever. He went to Hawaii to play semi-professional football. Chilling in Hawaii and playing football with the boys just living the best life after college might just be the new dream. Football was probably Jackie's best sport as he is still currently a record holder at UCLA. During his football career Jackie averaged 12.2 yards per carry and for my non football knowing readers out there, that is really really good.

Now none of these accomplishments stack up to breaking baseball's color barrier, being an icon for sports and social justice, and being a hall of fame baseball player. What it does do is add to the legacy that is Jackie Robinson. Most people would kill just to have one of these accolades, but Jackie did it all on top of being just a chill guy. The Movie 42 that is based on Jackie breaking the color barrier is a top tier baseball movie. However that movie is only about his time with the Dodgers and does not talk about the top tier elite athlete that Jackie was in high school and college.

The Robinson family was also full of athletes besides Jackie. His older brother Mack had the high school record for the long-jump for a little while and he was a Olympic Silver Medalist in the 200 meter dash. Whatever Jackie's parents were doing to make their kids elite athletes should be studied because his parents lived in extreme poverty in the slums of LA and they still created some of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen.

Like and share with anyone who doesn't hate Jackie Robinson... which should be everyone right guys. Basically if you do not hate Jackie Robinson you should share the link with someone. Therefore this blog should be seen by everyone, just saying.

That is today's Tea, with T