1. THE GREATEST ATHLETE JIM THORPE

2. PLEASE TAKE CAREFUL NOTES DURING THE PRESENTATION. AN OUTLINE WILL BE PROVIDED TO HELP YOU ORGANIZE YOUR NOTES.

3. ATTENTION! WHENEVER YOU SEE AN INFORMATION SYMBOL DURING THE PRESENTATION WRITE THE SLIDE INFORMATION UNDER THE PROPER HEADING IN YOUR OUTLINE

4. Please take five minutes and answer the following questions in the worksheet provided. Answer the questions to the best of your ability. When the music stops, we will briefly discuss your answers.

5. 1. Name someone that is great at what they do; someone that surpasses everyone else in their field. 2. How do we judge greatness? 3. For those of you who follow sports, who would you characterize as the greatest athlete, why?

6. THE NATURAL

7. CHILDHOOD Sac and Fox Native American Grew up in OklahomaGrew up in Oklahoma Deviant child, father sends Thorpe to school, runs awayDeviant child, father sends Thorpe to school, runs away Father sends Thorpe to a school 300 miles away, Thorpe runs home.Father sends Thorpe to a school 300 miles away, Thorpe runs home.

8. ADOLESCENCE AND ASSIMILATION Thorpe’s father becomes fed up with his son and sends him thousands of miles away to Carlile Indian School in PA.Thorpe’s father becomes fed up with his son and sends him thousands of miles away to Carlile Indian School in PA. The teachers at Carlile break Thorpe down; teach him about Western culture and religion.The teachers at Carlile break Thorpe down; teach him about Western culture and religion. During this time Thorpe retains little of his Native American culture.During this time Thorpe retains little of his Native American culture.

9. What’s the definition of assimilation? To absorb a minority into the main stream culture The process by whereby a minority group gradually adopts the customs and attitudes of the majority

10. ATHLETICS AT CARLILE

11. Meets Pop Warner on the TrackMeets Pop Warner on the Track Breaks school high jump record on first try, 5’9’’Breaks school high jump record on first try, 5’9’’ 1908 he is a two sport athlete1908 he is a two sport athlete

12. Football at Carlisle

13. Begs Pop Warner to playBegs Pop Warner to play First play of first game he runs for a 70 yard touchdownFirst play of first game he runs for a 70 yard touchdown In 1912 he scores 25 touchdowns, 205 pointsIn 1912 he scores 25 touchdowns, 205 points

14. Twice in 1912 he runs so swiftly down the field he catches his own punt.Twice in 1912 he runs so swiftly down the field he catches his own punt. Future President Dwight Eisenhower is hit so hard by Thorpe he never plays football againFuture President Dwight Eisenhower is hit so hard by Thorpe he never plays football again All American halfbackAll American halfback

15. Track at Carlisle

16. Spring of 1919, he competes in every event against Lafayette College and wins the meet, 6 gold medals and one bronze.Spring of 1919, he competes in every event against Lafayette College and wins the meet, 6 gold medals and one bronze.

17. THE BIG TIME

18. Dominated Pro-Football

19. Played offense, defense, and special teams.Played offense, defense, and special teams. Scored more points in a season than any other player in history.Scored more points in a season than any other player in history. Played professional football for Canton Bulldogs, 1915Played professional football for Canton Bulldogs, 1915

20. In one game Thorpe punts the ball 90 yards

21. In the same game he kicks a 75 yard field goal

22. In 1920 he helps organize and is named president of the American Professional Football Association. Thorpe’s play on the field helps expose the sport to a wider audience

23. Dominated Track and Field

24. 1912 Olympics in Stockholm Won pentathlon and decathlon by enormous marginWon pentathlon and decathlon by enormous margin Fifteen separate events.Fifteen separate events. Nine of which he placed first Nine of which he placed first

25. Professional Baseball Player

26. Played for the New York Giants, Boston Braves, Cincinnati RedsPlayed for the New York Giants, Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds Hit three homeruns in three separate states on the same day in the same fieldHit three homeruns in three separate states on the same day in the same field

27. Batted.252 as an outfielder for the New York Giants

28. Batted.327 in his 60 games with the Boston Braves

29. SCANDAL

30. Olympics in the early 1900’s for amateurs only.Olympics in the early 1900’s for amateurs only. Prior to Olympics Thorpe had played minor league baseball in North Carolina for money.Prior to Olympics Thorpe had played minor league baseball in North Carolina for money. Barred from future Olympics, and had to return his medalsBarred from future Olympics, and had to return his medals

31. Remainder of Thorpe’s Life Married numerous timesMarried numerous times Works as a bouncer and ditch diggerWorks as a bouncer and ditch digger 1936 Olympics in Los Angeles, Thorpe is working for $1.00 a day and unable to afford tickets to see Olympics1936 Olympics in Los Angeles, Thorpe is working for $1.00 a day and unable to afford tickets to see Olympics

32. In 1953 Jim Thorpe died of a heart attack in his trailer in Lomita, California

33. What Makes Jim Thorpe So Great? Achievements came at a time when there was no national commercial broadcast industry, no radio, no T.V., no sports magazines, etc.Achievements came at a time when there was no national commercial broadcast industry, no radio, no T.V., no sports magazines, etc.

34. His athletic achievements alone, he excelled in nearly every sport, from marksmanship to cattle-roping, to basketball, to billiards.His athletic achievements alone, he excelled in nearly every sport, from marksmanship to cattle-roping, to basketball, to billiards. Helped establish the NFL.Helped establish the NFL. Went through the process of assimilation, had to learn a new way of life at an early age.Went through the process of assimilation, had to learn a new way of life at an early age.

35. The music that accompanied this album was from Joe Satriani’s Flying in a Blue Dream album. The following tracks were played: Flying in a Blue Dream The Feeling The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing One Big Rush The Forgotten (Part I) Headless