who is Jim Thorpe?
Jim Thorpe is one of the most versatile and greatest athletes of the 20th century, named in 1950 by the Associated Press (AP), and ranked third by the AP in 1999. He won Olympic gold medals in both the pentathlon and decathlon, played American football both in college and professionally, and played professional baseball AND basketball. Unfortunately, he had to relinquish his Olympic medals when it was found that he was paid for playing two seasons of minor league baseball before he competed in the Olympics (which, at the time, was a violation of the Olympic rules). He did get his medals returned, posthumously (in 1983, 30 years AFTER his death). Jim Thorpe was born in Oklahoma. His exact date of birth has been debated but is recorded by his estate as May 28, 1887. He had some French and Irish blood but was mostly of Sac and Fox Indian (Native American) heritage.
