Sometimes we need to remember not to project our values when look back at the game.

[Willie Pep 229]

In 1928, schoolboys in Bellville, New Jersey were polled to determine whom they would most like to emulate.

The Results:

Charles Lindbergh (363)
Calvin Coolidge (110)
Henry Ford (66)
Thomas Edison (27)
Al Smith (16)
John Pershing (14)
Gene Tunney (13)

Lindbergh I get, but I would never have seen Coolidge coming in second.

Then I asked myself, how would a teenage boy today answer?

The Results:

"What does emulate mean"?

[Marchegiano]

funny as ****

I like Edison.

[Bundana]

In 1928, schoolboys in Bellville, New Jersey were polled to determine whom they would most like to emulate.

The Results:

Charles Lindbergh (363)
Calvin Coolidge (110)
Henry Ford (66)
Thomas Edison (27)
Al Smith (16)
John Pershing (14)
Gene Tunney (13)

Lindbergh I get, but I would never have seen Coolidge coming in second.

Then I asked myself, how would a teenage boy today answer?

The Results:

"What does emulate mean"?

LOL... reminds me of those hilarious clips on Jimmy Kimmel, where random people are completely clueless, when asked simple questions. Like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRh1zXFKC_o

[GhostofDempsey]

I think most teenage boys today would answer with an athlete or rapper. You won't see any politicians, soldiers or scientists on the list.

[Willie Pep 229]

I think most teenage boys today would answer with an athlete or rapper. You won't see any politicians, soldiers or scientists on the list.

I think you would see some, but kind of in the reverse of the 1928 list.

This list makes me wonder if sport in the 1920s was still thought of as a vulgar (low class) endeavor and a boy in school wouldn't consider it a proper answer to give.

How come no 'Babe Ruths'? We are always told he was a living legend, this list suggests otherwise. But again it could be the 'school' thing.

It says something that the first athlete to appear on the list was a fighter not a baseball player.

[GhostofDempsey]

I think you would see some, but kind of in the reverse of the 1928 list.

This list makes me wonder if sport in the 1920s was still thought of as a vulgar (low class) endeavor and a boy in school wouldn't consider it a proper answer to give.

How come no 'Babe Ruths'? We are always told he was a living legend, this list suggests otherwise. But again it could be the 'school' thing.

It says something that the first athlete to appear on the list was a fighter not a baseball player.

Back then, hero worship was constructed through men of achievement and those who had contributed to society as a whole in some way. Schools and parents taught their kids who to respect, who they should emulate, and strive to be. Most parents of that era wanted their kids to value education and better themselves through hard work or entrepreneurship. Being a pro athlete wasn't high on the list, especially since very few actually earned piles of money back then.

Even up to the 1960s, kids still respected and praised astronauts, soldiers, fireman, etc. Now they praise athletes, Youtube celebrities, and rappers. They see the money and lifestyle that comes with the territory of making it in those industries. Even still, I don't think most teens today would rank Bill Gates or Elon Musk high on their lists.

[billeau2]

In 1928, schoolboys in Bellville, New Jersey were polled to determine whom they would most like to emulate.

The Results:

Charles Lindbergh (363)
Calvin Coolidge (110)
Henry Ford (66)
Thomas Edison (27)
Al Smith (16)
John Pershing (14)
Gene Tunney (13)

Lindbergh I get, but I would never have seen Coolidge coming in second.

Then I asked myself, how would a teenage boy today answer?

The Results:

"What does emulate mean"?

Nobody gonna emmemulate me! Im a real man!!! Oh...emulate, I see...

[billeau2]

LOL... reminds me of those hilarious clips on Jimmy Kimmel, where random people are completely clueless, when asked simple questions. Like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRh1zXFKC_o

Like when Michael Moore sat on a street corner asking Muricans who the president of Canada was?

[The Old LefHook]

In Pep's imagination there is some connection between what he wrote and his title.

[Willie Pep 229]

In Pep's imagination there is some connection between what he wrote and his title.

Read Ghost and then how I replied.

OK I'll make it easy for you.

Should the 1920s really be called the 'golden age of sport' or is that just us projecting back our own current values.

1928 School boys sure didn't seem to think it (sport) too important, at least not as important as I thought they would.

If I had given you the question and the year 1928 would you have predicted only one athlete, at the bottom of the list no less?

Maybe those million dollar gates and legendary fighters didn't reach as deep into the culture as CW sports history usually suggests.