Skip to content
Toggle menu
SportsTravel SportsTravel

Breaking News, Podcasts and Analysis Serving People who Organize, Manage and Host Sports Events

Primary Menu
  • News
    • Hosts & Suppliers
    • Recently Awarded
    • Sports Organizations
    • Sports Venues
    • Sponsors & Media
  • IN DEPTH
    • Editor’s Picks
    • On Assignment
    • Perspectives
    • Technology in Sports
  • Podcasts
  • Sports
    • CATEGORY
      • Amateur Sports
      • Youth Sports
      • Collegiate Sports
      • Professional Sports
      • Olympic Sports
      • Paralympic Sports
      • National Governing Body
      • Adaptive Sports
      • Sustainability
      • Water Sports
      • Winter Sports
      • Women’s Sports
    • INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
      • Baseball
      • Basketball
      • Bowling
      • Cycling
      • Football
      • Golf
      • Gymnastics
      • Hockey
      • Lacrosse
      • Motorsports
      • Pickleball
      • Rugby
      • Running
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • Swimming
      • Tennis
      • Track & Field
      • Triathlon
      • Volleyball
      • Wrestling
  • Esports
    • Esports News
    • Esports Guide
    • EsportsTravel Summit
  • Resources
    • Bid Bowl
    • Submission Form
      • About Bid Bowl
    • Destination Spotlight
    • Destination Guides
    • Downloadable Guides
    • Venue Guides
    • Media Kit
      • Media Kit
      • 2023 Editorial Calendar
    • Digital Edition
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe to E-Newsletter
  • EVENTS
    • TEAMS CONFERENCE & EXPO
    • TEAMS Europe
    • EsportsTravel Summit
    • SportsTravel Road Trip
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Instagram


Home > Perspectives > 1968 in Hindsight

1968 in Hindsight

Posted On : November 20, 2018 By : Bob Latham

S

ports do not exist in a vacuum. Rather, they reflect the times and societies in which they take place. The year 2018 has spawned numerous 50-year retrospectives of 1968—a chaotic year in American life, politics and culture—inevitably accompanied by a soundtrack that includes the Beatles’ “Revolution” and the Rolling Stones’ “Street Fighting Man,” which were recorded in 1968, as well as Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth,” which was actually recorded two years earlier in 1966.

It was no different in sports. The resetting of the political dial in 1968 was mirrored on the sports dial. The indelible image of Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the medal stand at the 1968 Olympic Games is a visual that captures the tension of the times as much as the lyrics to “For What It’s Worth” do.

Photograph: AP Images

Other examples abound. In the summer of 1968, rising UCLA senior Lew Alcindor converted to Islam (it would be three more years before the public would know him as Kareem) and though he was already an NCAA player of the year with two NCAA titles under his belt, he refused to play for the U.S. team in the 1968 Olympics—for the same reasons Smith and Carlos raised their gloved fists in the air. Muhammad Ali did not have a fight between March 1967 and October 1970, having been banned from boxing for refusing his military draft orders. Ali, however, became a ubiquitous presence fighting battles outside the ring, and 1968 was the year when he began to migrate from heavyweight champion to cultural icon. In the Mexico City Olympics, we would get our first glimpse of heavyweight gold medalist George Foreman who, in contrast to Smith and Carlos, carried a small American flag around the ring after his triumph. Six years later, Ali would reclaim his stripped heavyweight title in a fight against Foreman.

UCLA alum and 1st Lt. Arthur Ashe won the U.S. Open, as tennis majors became “open” by abandoning their amateur code. The U.S. Open champions are now crowned in Arthur Ashe stadium. Vince Lombardi coached his last game for the Green Bay Packers in the 1968 Super Bowl. The Tigers and Cardinals staged a memorable World Series featuring 31 game-winner Denny McLain and Bob Gibson, whose season ERA of 1.12 is now almost inconceivable. Major League Baseball would lower the mound for the following season, significantly shifting the advantage from pitcher to hitter. It would also be the last year that league winners advanced directly to the World Series—a second playoff round would be added in 1969. And the Stanley Cup playoffs were played for the first time in a venue west of the Mississippi (barely west—St. Louis) as the NHL finished its first season of expansion beyond the original six teams.

So while reflecting on the assassinations of MLK and Robert F. Kennedy, the divisive war in Vietnam, the riots at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Apollo 8 and the music that accompanied it all, it is worth realizing that sports was right there at the epicenter, reflecting the changing consciousness of a nation and of those who play and watch the games. 


Bob Latham is a partner at the law firm Jackson Walker, L.L.P., and a World Rugby board member. A compilation of his best columns titled “Winners & Losers: Rants, Riffs and Reflections on the World of Sports,” is available for purchase at amazon.com.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Email
Posted in: Bob Latham: Winners and Losers, PerspectivesTagged : Bob Latham,SportsTravel,Winners and Losers

Post navigation

The Stadium Game
The Times Are Changing

Follow us on Twitter

sportstravel

We are on location for the next few days at the #s We are on location for the next few days at the #superbowl to do some interviews and reporting on the scene in the buildup to Eagles and Chiefs on Sunday. Be sure to follow along!
Pro Bowl Games 2023 #probowl #football #flagfootb Pro Bowl Games 2023

#probowl #football #flagfootball #lasvegas @allegiantstadium @vegas @nfl #fans
There's so much to discover at the new Virginia Be There's so much to discover at the new Virginia Beach Sports Center! 285,000 square feet of convertible space can accommodate 12 basketball courts, 24 volleyball courts, nine field hockey courts, and a 200-meter hydraulically banked track—and it can hold up to 5,000 spectators to watch the action.
SportsTravel is on location in Philadelphia for th SportsTravel is on location in Philadelphia for the @unitedsoccercoaches Convention that starts tomorrow and lasts throughout the week. We’re looking forward to the next few days of connecting with friends old and new on location.
CES 2023 is going strong in Las Vegas. CES 2023 is going strong in Las Vegas.
Virginia Beach may be famous for its gorgeous outd Virginia Beach may be famous for its gorgeous outdoor spaces, but the city’s newest sports facility makes it a pleasure to be indoors. The @vbsportscenter is your premier sports facility in Virginia Beach, offering high-quality basketball, volleyball, field hockey, track & field facilities, and plenty of room for your team to shine. Find out more at https://vbsportscenter.com
Michigan won’t go away. What an instant classic. Michigan won’t go away. What an instant classic.
The TCU faithful have had a lot to cheer about in The TCU faithful have had a lot to cheer about in the first half.
The College Football Playoff kicks off with the fi The College Football Playoff kicks off with the first semifinal between TCU and Michigan at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.
Some sights and sounds from the Rivalry Series gam Some sights and sounds from the Rivalry Series game between Team USA and Team Canada on December 15.
Hilary Knight tied the game for Team USA in the th Hilary Knight tied the game for Team USA in the third period of a Rivalry Series game with Team Canada on December 15.
Michelle Lupo, the business development manager fo Michelle Lupo, the business development manager for the @northstarmeets Sports Division, moderated a session today at the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism, featuring Kara Bachman from the Chicago Sports Commission, Curtis Francois from World Wide Technology Raceway and John Groh from the Rockford Area CVB. Thank you for the opportunity to talk about sports-related travel!

@chisportscomm @wwtraceway @gorockford #travel #tourism #sportstravel #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness
The Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok kicks off wi The Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok kicks off with a 2 a.m. start Sunday to give runners the best conditions possible across the city. The Expo is taking place at Royal Paragon Hall, where runners can pick up their bibs and prepare for the race.

#marathon #running #sportsevents #sportstourism #sportstravel @tourismthailand
Thank you to @worldathletics and Mass Participatio Thank you to @worldathletics and Mass Participation World for the chance for SportsTravel Executive Editor and Publisher Jason Gewirtz to present the latest data on sports-related travel to delegates at the World Athletics Global Running Conference in Bangkok. Friday’s schedule also included remarks from the prime minister of Thailand and the country’s sports and tourism minister, who emphasized the importance of sports events to the nation’s economy and quality of life.

#athletics #thailand #bangkok #running #sportstravel #sportstourim @tourismthailand
Love high speed sports? We are at the @ibsfsliding Love high speed sports? We are at the @ibsfsliding World Cup event in Park City at @utaholympicpark this weekend. Friday morning’s action was the women’s monobob event, won by American Kaillie Humphries. Scroll through to see the #bobsled in action at full speed, then slow motion, and hear from Humphries after her win.
SportsTravel is in Bangkok, Thailand, this week mo SportsTravel is in Bangkok, Thailand, this week moderating sessions and presenting on sports-related travel at the @worldathletics Global Running Conference, including an opening day session on government relations in sports events featuring @sport_singapore, Portas Consulting, @laliga and @houstonsports_janis from the @hc_hsa who appeared virtually from Doha where she is attending the World Cup.
#sportstourism #sportstravel #mpw22 #wagrc
Winner buys dinner! When you bring your sports eve Winner buys dinner! When you bring your sports event to World Equestrian Center – Ocala, you can refuel with something heavenly from seven different on-site restaurants. From pub burgers and #taco salads to fine dining, WEC has a #winning option for everyone.
Twickenham Stadium in London is the largest rugby Twickenham Stadium in London is the largest rugby union stadium in the world, seating 82,000. The home of England Rugby, it is owned and operated by the Rugby Football Union and hosts events year round. 

#rugby #rugbyunion #twickenham @twickenhamstadium
Black in a sea of orange: the courage of the oppos Black in a sea of orange: the courage of the opposing fans.

@raiders @broncos @nfl #fans #raiderfans #broncofans @empowerfieldatmilehigh
One of the NFL’s best traditions is the @broncos One of the NFL’s best traditions is the @broncosthunderstorm skydivers who jump into Empower Field at Mile High before every @broncos game.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • Club América, Xolos de Tijuana to Meet in San Diego
  • Check Out The Proving Grounds
  • Cedar Point Sports Center Adds Esports Venue
  • Las Vegas Approves F1 Race Contract Through 2032
  • Paris 2024 Unveils Pictograms, Branding for Games
  • 2023 WWE SummerSlam Headed to Detroit
  • USA Cycling Bringing Championship Event to Pennsylvania
  • 2024 U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials Heads to Louisiana
Sports Travel Magazine

About Us

Since 1997, SportsTravel magazine has served the sports‐related travel and event industry. It is the only publication written and designed to serve the people who organize, manage and host sporting events of all types at all levels.

  • Subscribe to E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • SportsTravel Foundation
  • Supplied Content
  • Privacy
  • Terms

NORTHSTAR TRAVEL MEDIA SITES

  • Northstar Meetings Group
  • Meetings & Conventions
  • Meetings & Conventions Asia
  • Meetings & Conventions China
  • Successful Meetings
  • Incentive
  • Meeting News
  • Retail Travel
  • Travel Technology
  • Corporate Travel
  • Hotel Investment
  • Data Products
  • See All Northstar Brands

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

Sports ETA

Destinations International
Northstar Travel Media LLC Copyright © 2023 by Northstar Travel Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000
scroll to top