Jackie Robinson Obstacles
The clouds part and the sun shines down on to Jackie Robinson as he steps on the field for the first time. The grass folds under the footsteps of the champion. Fans stare anxiously as they watch Jackie step up to the mound. They anticipate the base-stealing adrenaline that they all know so well. The suspense builds in the stadium by every second. The pitcher throws, Jackie swings. Crack! From home runs to strikeouts, Jackie Robinson risked everything he knew and loved to become the first African-American Major League Baseball player. He faced many obstacles and barriers throughout his life and he strived to break through them. Jack will easily go down in history as the one of the humblest, bravest, and most influential individuals of all time.
…show more content…
He continued to dominate in sports. He was the leading scorer in basketball and the best player in the conference. In a track meet, he jumped 26 feet and six-and-a-half inches, winning the event and break the record which was set by his brother Mack. In baseball, great hits and stolen bases help his team go to the league championship. He earned nicknames like “Dusky Flash,” “Midnight Express,” and “The Dark Demon.” After graduating from Pasadena Junior College at 20 years old, he had dozens of scholarships lined up but no idea where to go. He found himself leaning toward UCLA when a disastrous family tragedy helped him decide. His brother, Frank, was killed in a motorcycle accident. Going to the University of California in Los Angeles meant that he would be able to be near his mother and help Frank’s wife and two kids. While attending UCLA, Rachel Isum became an inspiration to Jackie. “She became the most important and helpful and encouraging person I ever met in my whole life. When I became bitter or discouraged, she was always there with the help I needed,” quoted Robinson. Jackie became UCLA’s very first four-letter athlete. However, even though he excelled in every sport he played in, money always seemed to be a problem. He dropped out months before graduation in order to make money to help support his mother. (Coombs
He continued to dominate in sports. He was the leading scorer in basketball and the best player in the conference. In a track meet, he jumped 26 feet and six-and-a-half inches, winning the event and break the record which was set by his brother Mack. In baseball, great hits and stolen bases help his team go to the league championship. He earned nicknames like “Dusky Flash,” “Midnight Express,” and “The Dark Demon.” After graduating from Pasadena Junior College at 20 years old, he had dozens of scholarships lined up but no idea where to go. He found himself leaning toward UCLA when a disastrous family tragedy helped him decide. His brother, Frank, was killed in a motorcycle accident. Going to the University of California in Los Angeles meant that he would be able to be near his mother and help Frank’s wife and two kids. While attending UCLA, Rachel Isum became an inspiration to Jackie. “She became the most important and helpful and encouraging person I ever met in my whole life. When I became bitter or discouraged, she was always there with the help I needed,” quoted Robinson. Jackie became UCLA’s very first four-letter athlete. However, even though he excelled in every sport he played in, money always seemed to be a problem. He dropped out months before graduation in order to make money to help support his mother. (Coombs