American Decades
The War and Sports
War Effects.
World War II affected every aspect of American life in the early 1940s, including sports. For the first time directors of athletic events had to consider the impact of using "war-necessary materials"—which included able-bodied athletes—and the possibility of invasion—which resulted in the relocation of the Rose Bowl from the West Coast to the East. As the war progressed so did its impact on sports.
Athletes Respond.
In 1941 Minnesota running back Bruce Smith, winner of the Heisman Trophy as the best player in college football, was the 119th player taken in the professional football draft; Smith was 1-A (the draft board designation for men eligible for immediate induction into the military), and professional teams were unwilling to take the risk of drafting a player who might not return from the war. The spirit of patriotism that swept the nation left little room for the special privileges athletes...
[The entire page is 1345 words long]
1940's Sports
