NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

This week in NDN All-Stars history, we begin with one of the strangest Olympic marathons ever run — and one of the most important moments in Native American sports history.

At the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, Seneca marathon runner Frank Pierce becomes the first Native American athlete to compete in the Olympics. He will not finish the grueling race, but simply by taking his place in the field, Pierce makes history and begins more than a century of Native participation in the Olympic Games.

And that’s only the beginning.

Cherokee heavyweight Joe Louis battles Tommy Farr for 15 rounds. Iroquois boxing great Henry Armstrong appears throughout the week. Salish and Kootenai boxer Marvin Camel scores a knockout in Texas. Ponca and Otoe heavyweight Tommy Morrison successfully defends his WBO title.

Lumbee gymnast Ashton Locklear captures uneven-bars gold at the Pan American Championships. Lumbee stock car driver Roy Tyner races the Southern 500 at Darlington. Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara boxer Virgil Hill earns a 12-round victory — and later in our journey, captures his first world championship.

Cherokee pitcher Adrian Houser throws a complete-game shutout for Milwaukee. Mohawk racer Dexter Stacey puts together a pair of strong performances during a historic NASCAR Pinty’s Series doubleheader at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. And Assiniboine and Sioux mixed martial artist Hunter Azure earns a unanimous-decision victory at UFC Fight Night.

Travel back with NDN All-Stars as we bring great Native athletes from the past and present back into the spotlight for new generations.

This episode covers August 30 through September 5.

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NDN ALL-STARS BACKGROUND

Hey there—I'm Bill Black, and welcome to the NDN All-Stars Podcast. If this is your first time hearing about us, let me tell you what we’re all about.

This podcast is where Native sports history comes alive. Each episode shines a spotlight on the great Native American athletes you should know—past and present. From Hall of Famers to hometown heroes, we tell the stories of Native athletes who made their mark—on the field, on the court, and in history.

We keep it real. No sugar-coating. No museum talk. Just straight-up stories told with pride and purpose—because representation matters, and these All-Stars deserve to be remembered right.

Some episodes are deep dives into a single athlete’s life. Others bring on guests—historians, authors, even the athletes themselves—who help us connect the dots between culture, identity, and achievement.

Whether you’re Native, a sports fan, a history buff, or just curious—this podcast will give you a new perspective on what greatness really looks like.

So if you're ready to learn, laugh, and maybe even get a little fired up—hit that follow button and join the team.

You can find more stories, merch, and updates at NDNAllStars.com. And be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube—just search for NDN All-Stars and you’ll find us.

NDN All-Stars – Promoting Great Native Athletes – Past & Present!

Mentioned in this episode:

Sports History Network Theme Song

This theme song was produced by Ron "Tyke" Oliver of Music Meets Sportz https://sites.google.com/view/sportsfanztastic/sports-history-network?authuser=0