Few would argue that Jim Thorpe is one of the most accomplished American athletes of the entire twentieth century. His time in the National Football League (NFL) and Football Hall of Fame enshrinement data attests to this fact. Here, it is noted that he was an "All-America halfback at Carlisle [and] 1912 Olympic decathlon champion … First big-name athlete to play pro football, signing with the pre-NFL Canton Bulldogs in 1915 … Named 'The Legend' on the all-time NFL team … Voted top American athlete of first half of 20th century. …" Additionally, Thorpe won Olympic gold in both the decathlon and pentathlon. That his medals were ingloriously stripped away because he had briefly played professional baseball is one of the less-than-honorable deeds of the International Olympic Committee.

James Francis Thorpe, a Sac and Fox Indian, was born in the Oklahoma Territory. His indian name was Wa-tho-biuck (or "Bright Path...