5 American sports figures who were more important than you thought they were.

By Sean Capalbo

Sports are an integral part of our society in the U.S. These different athletic events bring not only entertainment, but opportunity for change. While change within individual sporting events is common, some athletes and personnel transcend the games themselves. This can be through lasting rule changes, social activism or simply changing the status quo. Most of us automatically think of Lebron James or Michael Jordan, but these are 5 people who's accomplishments may not be on your radar.

1. Dean Smith

Dean Smith was a basketball coach at The University of North Carolina from 1961 to 1997. In his time coaching, he led the Tar Heels to two national championships and also went on to becoming the winningest college basketball coach at the time of his retirement. Dean smith became known not only for his coaching prowess but the connection he built with his players. former Tar Heel forward James Worthy referenced

the equal amount of respect that coach Smith gave to all of his players, " Everybody was treated the same, from the towel boy to anybody." You can find this entire interview by clicking the button bellow.

Coach smith also lead UNC at a time of social unrest. During the civil rights movement, Smith's fundamental idea of how to treat other people differed from what was normal at the time. In 1967, Charlie Scott was recruited by Dean Smith at North Carolina. Scott would be the first African-American student to be on athletic scholarship. Despite the backlash that he faced, Smith helped form a small southern town into a place that was safer for everyone.

You can find more information about Dean Smith and Charlie Scott by clicking the button bellow

2. David Stern

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/02/us/lebron-james-david-stern-spt-trnd/index.html

From 1984 to 2014, David Stern was the NBA's commissioner. The 30 year period in which he held that position, the sport of basketball grew like it never had before. He is famously credited with emphasizing taking basketball worldwide. Stern also played a big part in the establishment and growth of the WNBA. While he is controversially remembered for the NBA lockout in 2011, this blemish does not overshadow his spreading of the game worldwide. Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson called David Stern a "history maker" in an interview with CNN following Sterns passing

3. John Elway

John Elway was an NFL quarterback for the Denver Broncos from 1983 to 1998. Widely regarded as one of the best to ever play the position professionally, Elway won the NFL's most valuable player in 1987. He also claimed 2 Super Bowl titles in 1998 and 1999. However, his significance to this list comes when he was first drafted into the NFL in 1983. This year, the Baltimore Colts made Elway the first overall selection. Elway, who was a two sport athlete, was also selected in the MLB draft by the New York Yankees. Elway would refuse to play for the Colts and use baseball as leverage to demand a trade. In an unheard of move, John Elway made it clear, players have control too. While the specific action of demanding a trade from the team that drafts you is very rare, players ability to choose where they will play out their careers is more evident than ever. Elway was one of the first players to demonstrate, in a semi-modern era, that the organizations did not possess all of the power.

4. Junior Seau

Junior Seau was an NFL Middle Linebacker from 1990 to 2009. He played for the San Diego Chargers, the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots in his time in the league. He was a 12-time pro bowler, 6-time first team all pro selection and a member of the 1990's all decade team. Despite this long list of accomplishments, it is what happened following his career that he will be remembered for. Despite his charasmatic nature, Seau's family noticed he wasn't acting right following his playing career. Seau would commit suicide in 2012. His death sparked further research into the link between repeated blows to the head and chronic brain degeneration. This research and has led to better safety protocols, better equipment and more peace of mind. Though he didn't spearhead these discovery's himself, his story is a prime example of why it is important.

5. Odell Beckham Jr.

Odell Beckham Jr. appears much more recently than anyone else on this list. He entered the NFL only ten years ago. Coinciding with his arrival, social media was starting to grow exponentially. Fans could access content more easily than ever before. Whether it was in-game or even sideline content, it was reaching more people than it would have even 5 years prior. Beckham burst onto the scene in 2014 not only with his stellar play, but with his personality. Aided by making a ridiculously difficult one handed catch that went viral, Beckham became the most marketable player in the NFL at the time. He was the first of his kind in this way, and he set the gold standard for athletes in terms of brand building and social media marketability.

Athletes and personnel for professional sports leagues tend to have impacts that go unnoticed. Like those listed above, there are plenty who have changed the landscape of their sport or even the world around them and we don't recognize it. As sports continue to evolve, we always have to remember those who paved the way for these games to grow, even if their influence is often forgotten by the general public.