Inspiration-Needed for everyone
By Saarang Vinodh
Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali
Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali were both very talented and inspirational in their respective sports. Michael Jordan played basketball and led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles from 1991-93 and 1996-98. Ali was a boxer and won three World Heavyweight Boxing titles in 1964, '74 and '78. Neither of these achievements has been equaled in their respective sports.
In addition, these men have also won a gold medal in the Olympics, Jordan in 1992 and Ali in 1960. Their sporting careers have had similar paths with breaks for retirement and comebacks after retirement. While basketball is a team sport, boxing is an individual sport. Muhammad Ali was a part of a team when he represented the United States in the 1960 Summer Olympics. Muhammad Ali was honored as a torch bearer for the Olympics in Rome, 1996.
Bill Gates' Life
In 1987, at age 31, he then became the youngest billionaire ever. Then in 1994 he started the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Soon after, in July of 1995, at age 39, with a fortune of $12.9 billion he became the world's richest man. In 2000, he stepped down as the CEO of Microsoft. Then in 2005 he was bestowed an honorary Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to UK. He continues to be the richest person in the world and the Gates foundation has helped children around the world with immunization and other programs.
Beethoven- What a Musician!
His father frequently beat him due to his failure to practice correctly. Beethoven had a very difficult childhood. His father also beat his mother due to her protesting against his violence. He also encountered major setbacks at a young age because of his mother's death and his father becoming an alcoholic. As a result, Beethoven had to take care of his two brothers.
From his early 20's his ears started to deteriorate and soon left him completely deaf. Without the hearing ability, it is really difficult for a musician to play his instrument anymore let alone compose music for others. Even though he was deaf he still composed many more masterpieces including Sonatas, Symphonies and Concerto pieces. He overcame all the adversities through sheer talent and hard work and perseverance, he made an everlasting mark in Music History as one of the best composers of all time.
Jackie Robinson, A Hero
He was, just by playing baseball, a social activist. He helped break the color barrier between whites and African Americans in the Major League. This was a big step for baseball in the United States. Before he broke the color barrier, there were separate leagues for African Americans and White Americans.
In his career, many people were racially discriminating against him being in the MLB league. This was because he was the African American to play in the league. Many spectators and members of his team were also racist and they did not like him. The league's President Ford Rick Supported Jackie Robinson and allowed him to play.
In the initial games, Robinson was nervous and his batting and fielding averages were quite low due to lack of confidence. He eventually fought back and returned to his peak performance before his retirement.
His career success resulted in racial tolerance in the game of Baseball for years to come.
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was a former South African president and social activist. He fought for abolishing apartheid from South Africa. He has been and is still one the most renowned heroes of human rights.
Early life and education
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, into a royal family of the Thembu tribe where his father, served as chief. After the death of his father in 1927, 9-year-old Mandela—then known by his birth name, Rolihlahla—was adopted by Jongintaba Dalindyebo, a high-ranking Thembu regent who began grooming his young ward for a role within the tribal leadership.
At a local missionary school he was named Nelson by his teacher. In his secondary school he excelled at boxing, track, and academics. Then in 1939 he entered into the University of Fort Hare, which was the only university for blacks at the time. He later fled to Johannesburg and studied law at the University of Witwatersrand, where he became involved in the movement against racial discrimination and forged key relationships with black and white activists. In 1944 he joined the ANC (African National Congress).
Mandela with the ANC and the Armed Forces movement
Mandela helped lead the ANC’s 1952 Campaign for the Defiance of Unjust Laws, traveling across the country to organize protests against discriminatory policies. Also in 1952, Mandela and Tambo opened South Africa’s first black law firm, which offered free or low-cost legal counsel to those affected by apartheid legislation. On December 5, 1956, Mandela and 155 other activists were arrested and went on trial for treason. All of the defendants were acquitted in 1961.
In 1961, Nelson Mandela co-founded and became the first leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, also known as MK, a new armed wing of the ANC, which was the Armed Forces Movement. Several years later, during the trial that would put him behind bars for nearly three decades.
Mandela as President
After attaining freedom after 27 years, Mandela led the ANC in its negotiations with the government party to end apartheid. The racial stabilization made by Mandela and the former president in South Africa earned them the Nobel peace prize in 1993. In 1999 he retired from politics, but he still continued his contributions to humanitarian causes until he passed away on December 5, 2013.
A very inspirational quote said by Nelson Mandela, "Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back again." This quote basically tells us that you have to go through life no matter how hard it is.
Bibliography
"Jackie Robinson Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 31 May 2015.
"Michael Jordan Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 31 May 2015.
"Muhammmad Ali Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 31 May 2015.
"Nelson Mandela Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 31 May 2015.
"Nelson Mandela: Champion of Freedom Video." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 31 May 2015.
"Nelson Mandela." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 31 May 2015.
"Timeline: Bill Gates." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 31 May 2015.