Gridiron Greats

Jim Thorpe

Jim Thorpe was arguably the greatest athlete in American history. A member of the Sac and Fox Nation, Thorpe played baseball, football and basketball but achieved his greatest fame with two gold medals in the 1912 Summer Olympics. Organizers of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics wanted to honor Thorpe, but he could not afford to attend — he was digging ditches for a living at the time. US Vice President Charles Curtis, himself a Native American, brought Thorpe to the Opening Ceremonies where he received a standing ovation.