Daiyaan Kabir Mr. Jones US History GT, Period 3 26 March, 2017 The 1966 Texas Western Men’s Basketball Team and the Progression Towards Equality in Sports The 1966 Texas Western Men's Basketball team demonstrated the outstanding athletic ability of African-Americans by winning the NCAA championship title in 1966 and overcoming the harsh racism, this represented a progression toward equality in all sports. The 1966 Texas Western Men’s basketball team won the NCAA Championship title with an all African-American starting lineup. The team was led by a white man by the name of Don Haskins. The team was hated by most in the south, especially for the number of African-Americans playing on the team. This happened in the 1960’s, when racism was an …show more content…
Bobby Joe Hill was one of the most dominant players on the court. In the national championship winning game, he led his team to victory with a number of steals and 20 points. He was also a prominent playmaker for his team and set up his teammates, Harry Flournoy, Nevil Shed, David Lattin, and Willie Worsley.(Anthony) Rupp describes Bobby Joe Hill: “He was Bobby Joe Hill, who used his cut-and-go skills to run around and through Kentucky. The 5-foot-10-inch junior from Detroit dropped in some of the fanciest shots of the tourney and scored 20 points. He was also a demon on defense, often taking the ball away from Kentucky players.” (Rupp) Bobby Joe Hill was described as a challenge for Kentucky, the 1965-66 Kentucky Men’s Basketball team was also known as ‘Rupp’s Runts.’ A nickname given for their ruthless skills on the court. The accounts and the statistics prove that the 1966 Texas Western Men’s Basketball team achieved great things all because of the talented African-American players including, Bobby Joe Hill, Harry Flournoy, Nevil Shed, and David Lattin. The skill and performance they had shown to the NCAA was eye-opening for the nation to not underestimate African-Americans’ athletic ability and that they should be given equal …show more content…
According to Glory Road, Nevil Shed and the rest of the team had gone to a restaurant to eat. Nevil then goes to the restroom, and in the restroom two white men corner him and attack him. He walks out the restroom with his face covered in blood, and was then unable to play the next couple of games due to injury. According to Nevil Shed himself, the attack did not actually happen. However it was highly possible for him to have been attacked. It was a potential danger that went for all African-American athletes at the