10個改變運動歷史的運動員(上)
The world of sports is a tough field to pursue at the best of times. All of the athletes on this list set goals and achieved them in an era when society made an awful deal about their race and gender. Those factors were used to shut them out of competitions, but in spite of the obstacles they faced they proved that nothing can douse their competitive spirit and love of their games. If these athletes had admitted defeat, where would the world of sports be today?
體育世界是一個競爭的領域，要去追尋最佳狀態。當社會對他們的性別和種族存在歧視的時候，以下名單中所有的運動員設立並實現這些目標。但是儘管他們面臨重重困難，那些原本可能拒他們於競爭之外的因素，恰恰證明了沒有什麼能夠幻滅他們的競爭精神以及他們對體育比賽的熱愛。如果這些運動員屈服於失敗，那麼今天的體育世界會怎麼樣呢？
10. Curt Flood
10. 科特· 弗蘭德
Though St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Curt Flood lost a U.S. Supreme Court case against Major League Baseball in 1972, his actions ushered in the era of the free agent. Refusing to let the Cardinals trade him at the end of the 1969 season, Flood challenged the MLB about the reserve clause, which stipulated that a team owns a player for life until their release or trade. Flood was fully aware of the repercussions for his career, but knew the case would benefit other athletes.
儘管1972年聖路易紅雀（St. Louis Cardinals）的中外野手科特· 弗蘭德輸了美國最高法院對美國職棒大聯盟（MLB）的起訴，但他的所作所爲開闢了自由球員時代。在1969年賽季結束的時候，弗蘭德拒絕讓紅雀對他進行“交易”，他向MLB的保留條款發起挑戰（保留條款規定球隊終生擁有球員直至將其釋放或交易）。弗蘭德完全知道這個案子會對他的職業生涯產生巨大影響，但是他也知道這會有利於其他運動員。
The lost Supreme Court case was not a lost cause, however. In 1976, through collective bargaining, two pitchers became free agents when they agreed to play one season with no contract. Flood overcame a rough post-baseball life of alcoholism, debt and a failed marriage to receive the NAACP Jackie Robinson Award in 1992.
然而，輸了最高法庭的案子並非一件失敗的事情。在1976年，通過集體談判，兩名投手成爲自由球員，他們同意不籤合同打一個賽季。弗蘭德度過了一段坎坷的棒球后時代，他克服了酗酒、經歷了還債和一段失敗的婚姻，最終於1992年獲得全國有色人種協進會（NAACP）傑基·羅賓森獎（Jackie Robinson Award）。
9. Joe Louis
9.喬·路易斯
Joe Louis was the first African-American athlete to receive crossover appeal in mainstream America, earning reverence from black and white people alike. His astounding wins as a heavyweight champion got him the name "The Brown Bomber," a man who, no matter what a boxing match or life threw at him, always rebounded. He even famously overcame his only boxing defeat with German fighter Max Schmeling in a much-publicized 1938 rematch. To many Americans, this rematch represented the United States overcoming Nazi Germany.
喬·路易斯是第一位受到美國主流社會歡迎的美國黑人，同時受到黑人和白人的愛戴。作爲一名重量級冠軍，他驚人的勝利爲他贏得了“褐色轟炸機”的美譽。在1938年公開復賽中，他甚至僅用一回合就擊倒德國拳手馬克斯·施姆林（Max Schmeling），從此聞名遐邇。對於大多數美國人來說，這場比賽意味着美國戰勝了納粹德國。
Growing up in poverty, Louis started training at around 10 years old. Though he was the top boxing champion from 1937 to his 1949 retirement, Louis maintained his characteristic integrity, which instilled dignity in a sport long riddled with brutal violence and gambling.
出生貧寒，路易斯10歲左右開始訓練。儘管他在1937年至1949年退役期間一直是頂級拳擊冠軍，路易斯一直保持着正直的品質，向一項充斥着殘暴和賭博的運動灌輸尊嚴。
8. Billie Jean King
8.比利·簡·金
With her tireless crusade for women's equality in sports, Billie Jean King greatly leveled the playing field. She launched many organizations for women athletes including a sports magazine, a sports foundation and a professional women's tour. Her numerous accomplishments include six Wimbledon singles championship wins. However, the turning point in her life and women's sports was when she accepted a challenge to play against one-time Wimbledon champion Bobby Riggs. In 1973 at the Houston Astrodome, the 29-year-old King defeated 55-year-old Riggs in straight sets in what became known as the “Battle of the Sexes.”
比利·簡·金不懈從事爭取女性體育平等的改革運動，大大促進了競技場上的女性平等。她爲女性運動員創辦了許多組織，包括一家體育雜誌社，一個體育基金會以及一場職業女運動員的巡遊。她一生功勳無數，包括6次溫布爾頓（Wimbledon）單打冠軍。然而，她的一生和她開始女子運動的轉折點要從她接受溫布爾登網球錦標賽一度的冠軍波比·裏格斯（Bobby Riggs）的挑戰之後算起。1973年，在休斯頓天文館球場（Houston Astrodome），29歲的金直接戰勝了55歲的裏格斯，上演了一場著名的“性別之戰（Battle of the Sexes）。”
7. Jesse Owens
7.傑西·歐文斯
The first American athlete to win four gold medals in one Olympics, Jesse Cleveland was born James Cleveland Owens in 1913. He became known as “Jesse Owens” instead of going by “J.C.” when a school teacher thought he said “Jesse” during a classroom roll call.
傑西·歐文斯，第一個在一次奧林匹克競賽中獲得四枚金牌的美國運動員，出生於1913年，原名詹姆斯·克利夫蘭·歐文斯（James Cleveland Owens）。開學點名時，他的老師以爲他說的是“傑西”(Jesse)，他開始被稱作傑西·歐文斯（Jesse Owens），不再叫作“J.C. ”。
Owens' record-setting track and field career began in high school, when he set national records in the long jump and the 100 and 200-yard dashes. He shattered more track and field records while attending Ohio State University. The pinnacle of his career was the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, when he garnered four gold medals in track and field. Gerald R. Ford granted him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1976. Owens died from lung cancer complications in 1980. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush awarded him the Congressional Gold Medal.
歐文創紀錄的田徑生涯始於高中，從他創造了跳遠和100、200碼（1碼=0.9144米）短跑的國家記錄開始。進入俄亥俄州立大學之後，他創造了更多的田徑記錄。1936年德國柏林夏季奧運會是他職業生涯的巔峯，他獲得了四枚田徑金牌。1976年傑拉爾德·魯道夫·福特（Gerald R. Ford）授予他總統自由勳章。1980年，歐文死於肺癌併發症。1990年，喬治·赫伯特·沃克·布什（George H.W. Bush）授予其國會金質獎章。
6. Charlie Sifford
6. 查理·斯福德
In spite of his significant role in breaking the racial barrier in the Professional Golf Association (PGA), Charlie Sifford said he wasn't trying to make a historical statement, but simply wanted to play the game he loves. "I just wanted to play golf, you know?" he told Fox Sports. "That's all there was to it."
儘管斯福德對打破職業高爾夫球手協會（PGA）的種族障礙起着重要的作用，他說他並非想名垂青史，他只是想參與自己熱愛的運動而已。 “我只想打高爾夫，你知道嗎？”，他告訴福克斯體育臺，“這就是我所有要做的事情。”
Sifford honed his golfing skills as a young caddy in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he practiced on the green after work. In 1952, Sifford received an invitation to play in the Phoenix Open after boxer Joe Louis passed on the invitation from the PGA. As an African-American in those days, he received much mistreatment during his career. Sifford's career highlights include winning the UGA National Negro open five times prior to winning his first PGA Tour. He was the first black individual to get inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.
在北卡羅來納州夏洛特市的時候，斯福德還是一個年輕小球童，工作之餘他在綠茵茵的球場上苦練球技。1952年，斯福德接受到一份由拳擊手喬·路易斯從職業高爾夫球手協會遞過來的邀請函，邀請他參加菲尼克斯公開賽。那時，由於非洲裔美國人的身份，他在職業生涯中受到了許多不公正的待遇。斯福德職業生涯中的亮點包括5次喬治亞大學全國黑人公開賽的冠軍以及之後他贏得第一個美巡賽（PGA Tour）。2004年，斯福德成爲第一個被列入世界高爾夫名人堂的黑人。
注：本文轉載自前十網，譯者：杉杉
