Chicago Sun Times' Top 10 Black Sports Heroes in Chicago

I wonder if the "Corked Bat Problem" hurt Sammy Sosa's chance of making the Top 10 list?

Chicago's top 10 black sports heroes

Chicago Sun Times - February 19, 2006

February is Black History Month, so what better time for the Sunday Drive to take a spin down memory lane with Lacy J. Banks as he recalls the 10 top black sports celebrities who've made Chicago their home.

This is not a sophisticated poll, so there may be differences of opinion as to who should make the top 10, who should be first, second and third and who should make honorable mention.

But regardless of order and selection, Tim Black, a retired history professor in the Chicago college system, says, "There's no question that black athletes have brought much honor to Chicago and enriched its sports history.''

Here's Banks' list of athletes who've lived in Chicago for at least a couple of years.


1: MUHAMMAD ALI

Though born in Louisville, the three-time world heavyweight champion lived in Chicago, where he met and married his first two wives, from 1964 to 1969 and from 1974 to 1978.

The Greatest deserves top billing because he transcended sports and still might be the most recognizable athlete in the world. A human rights advocate, Ali refused induction into the army in 1967 during the Vietnam War because of his beliefs. He was stripped of his title and barred from the ring in his prime for 3-1/2 years. He supported his family through speaking engagements and lived in Chicago most of that time.

"He lived on the South Side, first in a house in the 8500 block of South Jeffrey,'' said Herbert Muhammad, his former manager.

"When he returned in the '70s, he bought a house in the 4900 block of Woodlawn for $65,000, rehabbed it and later sold it for about $500,000. Ali really loved Chicago. He especially loved running around that outdoor track in Washington Park.''

Howard Bingham, Ali's personal photographer and best friend for more than 40 years, said Ali lived and trained in Chicago for his first two bouts with Sonny Liston and seven other fights, including his 1967 victory over Ernie Terrell, another top heavyweight contender who lived most of his life in Chicago.


2: MICHAEL JORDAN

Acclaimed by many as the greatest basketball player ever, Jordan has lived in the Chicago area since the Bulls drafted him in 1984. He says Chicago always will be his home. He played his first 13 NBA seasons for the Bulls and led them to six NBA championships while winning a slew of individual honors, including 10 scoring titles, five regular-season MVPs and six Finals MVPs.


3: JOE LOUIS

Black remembers "The Brown Bomber'' moving to Chicago from Detroit in 1935. "He came here to marry his first wife, Marva Trotter,'' Black said, "and he lived here for at least 10 years while his boxing career took off. He lived in the Michigan Boulevard apartments, and I remember attending his first two fights.'' Louis was the world heavyweight champion for 11-1/2 years and had 25 title defenses.


4: JESSE OWENS

In his track and field heyday, Owens was the "world's fastest human.'' His greatest accomplishment was winning four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics in front of Adolf Hitler to shatter the Nazi myth of Aryan supremacy. Owens moved to Chicago in 1949, worked in public relations and lived in the city for the rest of his life before dying in his vacation home in Phoenix.


5: WALTER PAYTON

A native of Mississippi, the Hall of Fame running back was the darling of Chicago during his 12-year career with the Bears. "Sweetness'' was admired for his friendly personality and genuine kindness. He was involved with numerous charitable causes off the field.


6: WILLYE WHITE

For 46 years, this five-time Olympian and two-time silver medalist called Chicago home. She spent 37 of those years doing a lot of professional and volunteer work in the inner-city community helping poor children. The "Queen of Chicago Sports'' competed on 39 U.S. national teams in some 150 different countries.


7: ERNIE BANKS

During his 19-year career, "Mr. Cub'' never led the team to the World Series. But the Hall of Fame shortstop, two-time MVP and 11-time All-Star hit 512 home runs and became a local sports icon.


8: JACK JOHNSON

In 1908, he became the first black world heavyweight champion. He lived dangerously, beating white men in the ring and dating and marrying white women outside the ring. "He moved here in 1910 and lived here at least 20 years,'' Black said. "They had his funeral at Pilgrim Baptist Church at 33rd and Indiana and buried him in Graceland Cemetery.''


9: RALPH METCALFE

He won a gold medal and a silver medal in the 1936 Olympics. Metcalfe finished second to Owens in the 100-yard dash, and Hitler refused to shake their hands as he had done with other medal winners. He lived most of his life in Chicago and rose to political prominence representing Illinois in Congress.


10: ISIAH THOMAS

This native Chicago Hall of Fame guard was one of basketball's most talented little guys. He has been involved in every level of the game. Thomas won two titles with the Pistons and has been a coach, owner and general manager in the NBA and was the commissioner of the Continental Basketball Association.


HONORABLE MENTION

Dorothy Gaters, Barbara Jones Slater, Ken Williams, Gale Sayers, Sonny Liston, Ernie Terrell, Dusty Baker, Billy Williams, Donovan McNabb, Larry Doby, Sammy Sosa and Minnie Minoso.