Boxing 1900-1909

1. Boxing 1900-1909 • “The Fight of the Century”: A Black Man Refuses to Learn His Place • Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries fought on July 4, 1910, in Reno, Nevada • In 1910 many citizens of the United States believed that the color of one's skin made one inherently unequal, and in the ring that day was a man who embodied that white sense of hatred toward African Americans, Jack Johnson • Whites regarded his opponent as “The Great White Hope.” • Jeffries came out of retirement convinced by American fight supporters that Johnson represented a threat to the reputation of boxing and to American notions of proper society. Jack Johnson won the fight in the fifteenth round

2. Boxing 1900-1909 • Johnson not only rejected the idea that African Americans accept their low status in American society but also flaunted his opposition • In the ring, Johnson mercilessly pummeled his white opponents, showing no mercy whatsoever and fighting with a seeming rage • Outside of the ring, Johnson dated white women, showed off his wealth driving his prized cars around town, and generally disregarded the racial boundaries of the age

3. Cycling 1900-1909 • Sprints, touring, and endurance events all became immensely popular • An African American led the way in American cycle racing, Marshall “Major” Taylor – the powerful track-racing sprinter won his first world championship in 1899 and collected numerous national and world titles in his career • Long-distance races also proved popular - 6-day races at Madison Square Garden drew massive crowds. • The new format proved even more popular as fans could interact with racers while they took their breaks for food and rest

4. Cycling 1900-1909 • Motorpace racing also became popular - Racers would draft behind an automobile, which acted as a pace car • The racers were able to reach speeds of fifty miles an hour in these events and fans loved the speed • Bobby Walthour Sr., the “Dixie Flyer” from Georgia, excelled at these dangerous events • At high speeds, tires would burst, often leaving riders with broken bones and other injuries

5. Cycling 1900-1909 • Cycling internationally grew incredibly and opportunities to compete in international events in cycling outpaced any other sport besides possibly boxing or the Olympic Games • During this decade the world's most famous international cycling event began, the Tour de France (the inaugural event in 1903 ran flawlessly) ***Villagers lined roadways to watch the excitement of the race. However, in 1904, the event suffered scandals and riders went to extreme measures to win including spreading nails out on the road behind them, having gangs of thugs mug other riders, and hopping trains to get to the next checkpoint***

6. Cycling 1900-1909 • Fortunately, officials punished offenders and the event recovered and continued to grow in scope and popularity through the decade • Cycle racing during this period provided great opportunities for financial gain for both the cyclists and the promoters • Professional cyclists could earn up to $15,000 a year in prize money and appearance fees

7. Skiing 1900-1909 • While skiing was seen as the national sport of Scandinavian countries, American enthusiasts developed the sport in the US during this decade • In the 19th century downhill ski racing had flourished in California's Sierra Mountains, but the sport barely survived the opening of the 20th century • Replacing it were ski jumping competitions, which became popular throughout the country, jumping competitions used manmade structures that could be built anywhere

8. Skiing 1900-1909 • Downhill racing relied upon natural features, which were typically far away from major urban centers of turn-of-the-century America • New York's Central Park was a hotbed, and in Chicago authorities erected running platforms for ski jumping in the parks that had no hills • Ski jumping became immensely popular throughout the country, attracting up to 15,000 spectators to events • The heart of this craze was Ishpeming, Michigan, where in 1904 members of the local ski club founded the National Ski Association of America (NSA)

9. Skiing 1900-1909 • They held the first National Ski Jumping Tournament that winter(This group would continue to organize and sanction events around the country and host the national championships throughout the decade) • The winter of 1904–1905 also witnessed the rise of the nation's first winter sports and ski resort as the Lake Placid Club decided to stay open for the winter season • The gamble paid off, installing the resort as a leader in the skiing movement

10. Surfing 1900-1909 • In a new U.S. territory in the South Pacific, surfing—a sport unfamiliar to Americans—emerged • For Native Hawaiians, surfing held religious significance and had been a popular sport for centuries • Publisher Alexander Hume Ford, while in Hawaii, watched native Hawaiians display their skills at riding the waves on their handcrafted boards • Surfboards, measuring up to 16 feet long & weighing 150 lbs, were mastered by these young natives on the beaches of Oahu • Ford befriended these young surfers, who helped him learn how to surf

11. Surfing 1900-1909 • Jack London arrived in the islands in 1906 & Ford took London to observe the surfers in action • London wrote “A Royal Sport,” which introduced surfing to the world • London's article highlighted the surfing abilities of George Freeth • He and Freeth organized the beach boys in establishing the club as they held competitions in surfing, canoe riding, and other aquatic events • Ford also started a magazine promoting Hawaii called Mid-Pacific Magazine. On his first cover, he featured a photo of a young surfer named Duke PaoaKahanamoku, who would become regarded as the father of modern surfing • Ford took Freeth with him to the mainland United States where Freeth provided demonstrations of surfing at Huntington Beach, California

12. Tennis 1900-1909 • Tennis consisted of two styles of play at the turn of the century • The 1st was court tennis, an indoor game played almost exclusively by wealthy Americans who had the resources to build their own court or belong to exclusive clubs that had courts • The game, played in an enclosed court where the walls and even the roof are in play, is a complex game where the chase is the heart of the game • The greatest court tennis player of the decade was Jay Gould, famous financier, won his first singles title in 1906 and was defeated only once in singles in his career spanning from 1906 to 1926

13. Tennis 1900-1909 • The 2nd style was amateur lawn tennis, which contrary to the limited access of court tennis was played by multitudes of people in the United States • Tennis at this time remained an amateur sport • In 1900 American Dwight F. Davis established a cup in his name for play between England and the United States • In 1907 the competition opened up to other nations and Australia became a formidable foe for the Davis Cup. • The winner of the cup from the previous year would act as the host for the Cup championships the next year

14. Tennis 1900-1909 • Both men and women participated in tennis • It provided an acceptable competitive outlet for women • In fact, at Wimbledon, the greatest international tournament, a woman was the only American to win at the championships • May G. Sutton won the women's singles title in 1905 and 1907

15. Tennis 1900-1909 • The U.S. Lawn Tennis Association held national championships in a number of disciplines, including men's and women's singles and doubles, mixed doubles and all-comers singles and doubles for men • National Intercollegiate Championships were held • At the national level, Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman began an impressive playing career at the end of this decade as she won singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles in both 1909 and 1910 • Wightman would later donate a trophy for international competition between women, in 1923, as a complement to the Davis Cup