History headlines 1976
FILE — In this June 21, 1980, file photo, Edwin Moses, gold medal winner in 1976 in Montreal, wins in the 400 intermediate hurdles as the 1980 Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore. Moses, the man who once won a remarkable 107 finals in a row from 1977-87 and who lowered the world record to 47.02 seconds during his prime, says he has been enjoying watching hurdlers break new barriers over the past two years. (AP Photo/File) AP PHOTO
In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, America250-Ohio is presenting the Ohio Sports Forum, a three-part series of live conversations bringing together athletes, coaches and leaders to discuss Ohio sports history.
The forums take place Thursday, Sept. 3 in Cincinnati, Tuesday, Sept. 8 in Columbus and Thursday, Sept. 24 in Canton. Each event will be livestreamed free of charge through the Ohio Channel.
Ohio Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, the former head football coach at The Ohio State University, will moderate all three forums.
"Sports is one of the few things that still brings all of Ohio into the same room,” said Todd Kleismit, executive director of America 250-Ohio, in a press statement. “As we mark America's 250th birthday, these forums let us celebrate something Ohioans already share, and hear it directly from the legends who lived it."
Ohio Sports Forum – Cincinnati: Thursday, Sept. 3 at TQL Stadium
Emcee: Longtime Cincinnati sportscaster John Popovich.
Panelists include: Mike Brown, president of the Cincinnati Bengals; two-time Olympic gold medalist and Dayton native Edwin Moses; Tony Pike, former Cincinnati Bearcats and Carolina Panthers quarterback and host of Cincy360 on ESPN 1530 and radio analyst for the Bearcats and Bengals; George Foster, Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer, and Olympic gold medalist Mary Wineberg.
Ohio Sports Forum – Columbus: Tuesday, Sept. 8 at The NetJets Landing
Emcee: Paul Keels, the Voice of the Buckeyes.
Panelists include: Jack Nicklaus, one of the most decorated champions in golf history; Archie Griffin, college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner; Clark Kellogg, former Ohio State standout and CBS college basketball analyst; Rick Nash, former Columbus Blue Jackets captain; and Katie Smith, former Ohio State and WNBA star.
Ohio Sports Forum – Canton: Thursday, Sept. 24 at Pro Football Hall of Fame
Panelists include Bernie Kosar, former Cleveland Browns quarterback; Anthony Munoz, former Cincinnati Bengals lineman and Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee in Residence; former world boxing champion Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini; LPGA trailblazer Renee Powell; and Daniel "Booby" Gibson, former Cleveland Cavaliers guard.
All three forums will be livestreamed from 6:30-8 p.m. and are free. Viewers may register for one or more livestreams at america250-ohio.org/ohio-sports-forum.
Russell Florence Jr. covers life and culture in the Dayton region. Email him at russell.florence@coxinc.com.