Dorktales Storytime
Be the hero of your own story with Dorktales Storytime, the award-winning podcast for kids and their pop culture loving grownups. Enter their Once Upon a Time world where hosts, Jonathan Cormur and Mr. Reginald T. Hedgehog, take you on a storytelling journey of curiosity and acceptance. You’ll explore reimagined fairytales and fables with social emotional themes, discover inspiring stories of history’s hidden heroes, and experience imaginary tales of boundless possibilities.
Recognized by Common Sense Media as outstanding entertainment with an official seal for quality and impact. Common Sense Selections include age-appropriate media with the potential to spark family conversations, entertain families of all kinds, and have a positive, lasting effect on society.
Reach out to us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com
Dorktales Storytime
Astounding Athletes, Hidden Heroes of History
A tale of athletic feats and unstoppable spirit! Meet three superstars who took their shot and ruled their sport. Althea Gibson, the first Black woman to win a tennis championship, smashed records and shattered barriers on and off the court. Lusia Harris made history with the very first basket in Olympic women’s basketball, earning her crown as the “Queen of Basketball.” During World War II, Marge Villa was one of only 11 Latinas to play in the first professional women’s baseball league, and her stats at the plate put her in a league of her own. These astounding athletes proved that grit, talent, and a never-give-up attitude are the winning game plan for change.
Go to the episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/astounding-athletes/
Get a free activity guide on Alan Turing: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep116freePDF
If you enjoyed this story about Astounding Athletes, you may also enjoy learning about Wilma Rudolph, known as the fastest woman in the world: https://jonincharacter.com/wilma-rudolph/
CREDITS: Hidden Heroes of History is a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written by Rebecca Cunningham, edited and produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.
Get ready for a Fall and Winter season of stories! Follow, like, subscribe and support Dorktales Storytime https://pod.link/dorktales-storytime
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Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!
JONATHAN CORMUR: Hello Dork Squad. I'm Jonathan Cormur and you're listening to Dorktales Storytime, the podcast for kids and their pop culture-loving grown-ups, and this is an inspiring story about a hidden hero of history.
THEME SONG: It's a beautiful day for a story, adventure and glory, new friends and old ones too. It's an excellent day to get swept away in a tail, so let us regale you.
*Once upon a time, there was your favorite radio station … W-O-U-A-T.*
JONATHAN
Good morning, listeners. I’m your host, Jonathan Cormur.
REDGE
And I’m your other, slightly more attractive host, Reginald T. Hedgehog.
JONATHAN
… Riiiight.
REDGE
And you're listening to W-O-U-A-T, Once Upon a Time Land’s Favorite Publicly Funded Radio Station.
JONATHAN
We have been asked by Terry Goose, your usual radio host, to cover this year’s Summer Time Sportsball Smash. Isn’t this exciting, Redge?
REDGE
It sure is, Jonathan. The Summer Time Sportsball Smash is a major event where incredible athletes from far and wide come to prove they are the best at sportsball.
JONATHAN
Ahem … Redge?
REDGE
Yes, Jonathan?
JONATHAN
It’s just called sports.
REDGE
Potato tomato. Let’s call the whole thing golf.
JONATHAN
Speaking of … we’re here at the Pixie Putt Golf Club. Just behind us, outside of this building, Arnold Purr-mer, Once Upon a Time Land’s most famous feline golfer, is about to take their first swing.
REDGE
Jonathan, I’ve been practicing my golf clap for this very moment.
JONATHAN
Oh, great. Let’s hear it, Redge.
REDGE
(clears throat and clap SFX) WOOOO. YOU GO ARNOLD PURR-MER. SWING THAT CLUB. DRIVE THAT BALL. HOLE IN ONE BABY! ARNOLD! ARNOLD! ARNOLD!
JONATHAN
(whispering) Redge, Redge! Shh. Shh. Can you sit back down on your chair, please?
REDGE
Woo! That was fun. I love golf.
JONATHAN
I’m glad you’re having fun, but actually, a golf clap is a bit more subdued. A little quieter. Like this.
Jonathan does a very light clap.
REDGE
But where’s the fun in that?
JONATHAN
Well—
Thunder cracks and it starts to pour.
ANNOUNCEMENT OVER LOUDSPEAKER
Attention, all players and spectators. Due to sudden thunder and lightning, we ask that you please clear the course immediately. The tournament is suspended until further notice.
REDGE
Oh no! Now no one will get to hear my golf clap.
JONATHAN
I think the whole world heard your golf clap, Redge. But this isn’t great. We were hired to talk about the golf tournament for the next 15 minutes and now we have nothing to talk about …
REDGE
That puts us in a bit of a pickle. What to talk about … what to talk about ….
JONATHAN
I mean, we were supposed to talk about athletes … I could tell you a few facts about other athletes I find inspiring.
REDGE
Oooo. Like a Hidden Heroes of History story?
JONATHAN
Precisely.
REDGE
Who’s up first?
JONATHAN
The first athlete I’d like to talk about is … hmm … oo! Althea Gibson.
REDGE
What can you tell me and our lovely listeners about her?
JONATHAN
Althea was a professional tennis player and later, golfer. She was the first Black athlete to win two major tennis tournaments: the French Wimbledon and the U.S. Open singles championships.
REDGE
Tennis? I love tennis. I have an excellent tennis clap. Would you like to hear it?
JONATHAN
Well, I–
REDGE
YOU GO ALTHEA GIBSON! SWING THAT RACKET. HIT THAT BALL. OVER THE NET. WHEN I SAY ALTHEA YOU SAY GIBSON ALTHEA –
JONATHAN
(less enthusiastic) Gibson.
REDGE
ALTHEA
JONATHAN
Gibson.
REDGE
ALTHEA
JONATHAN
Okay, Redge. Let’s take a chill quill.
REDGE
Ah, I love tennis. What else can you tell me about Ms. Gibson?
JONATHAN
Althea’s road to becoming a tennis champion wasn’t easy. She was born in 1927 in Silver, South Carolina, and she grew up in the neighborhood of Harlem in New York City. Racist laws made it hard for her to access tennis courts and compete, but she never gave up. She learned to play at night and won ten straight tennis championships with the ATA, or the American Tennis Association.
REDGE
Ms. Gibson sounds like a truly impressive woman. She deserves another Reginald T. Hedgehog tennis clap! And I am so glad she found a way to play!
JONATHAN
Absolutely! The ATA was created to support Black athletes because back then, they were left out of what were considered the main tennis competitions.
REDGE
I’m glad there was some support for an incredible competitor like Althea!
JONATHAN
I agree! Eventually, in 1950, Althea was finally able to compete in a U.S. national competition, and she was the first African-American athlete to do so.
REDGE
I believe they call a person like that a trailblazer.
JONATHAN
I believe you’re right, Redge. In 1956, she became the first African American to win a Grand Slam title. That means she won all four major championships in one calendar year! But despite all of these achievements, Althea wasn’t allowed to use the front door when going to the competitions. She had to go in the back door. She couldn’t even use the same locker room as the white players or dine in the dining room.
REDGE
What, why?
JONATHAN
There were still laws that allowed people and businesses to discriminate against others because of the color of their skin. It didn’t matter that she was one of the greatest tennis players in the world.
REDGE
I admire Althea’s strength. I don’t think I could’ve done what she did while facing so much meanness in the world.
JONATHAN
I’m not sure I could have either. But she did. After her tennis career, she became a pro in golf. She wrote a book and was honored again and again for her achievements.
REDGE
And we continue to honor her by telling her story today.
JONATHAN
We do! Ready for another athlete’s story?
REDGE
Oh, yippee! Who’s next?
JONATHAN
The Queen of Basketball herself…
JONATHAN / REDGE
Lusia Harris! / Reginald T. Hedgehog!
REDGE
Wait a minute. I thought I was the Queen of Basketball.
JONATHAN
Do you play basketball?
REDGE
Not exactly. But I could!
JONATHAN
I believe it. You can do anything you set your mind to, Redge. But today, we’re talking about the real Queen of Basketball, Lusia Harris.
REDGE
Ooh, yes please! Tell me everything.
JONATHAN
Lusia Mae Harris was born in Mississippi in 1955.
REDGE
Mississippi. That’s in the southern United States, right?
JONATHAN
That’s right! Lusia, nicknamed Lusi, grew up shooting hoops outside her house. She dreamed of becoming a basketball star like the ones she saw on TV. And she had the height for it, 6 feet 3 inches tall!
REDGE
Perfect for basketball!
JONATHAN
Exactly. She played on her high school team, then went on to crush it at Delta State University in Mississippi, leading her team to three, count ‘em, three national championships.
REDGE
One… two… THREE!
JONATHAN
Great counting.
REDGE
Thank you.
JONATHAN
Then came 1976. The Summer Olympics in Montreal were the first to include women’s basketball, and Lusia was chosen for the U.S. Women’s National Team.
REDGE
Go, Lusia!
JONATHAN
She made history, scoring the first basket ever in Olympic women’s basketball. And her team brought home the silver medal. But after that… there weren’t many places for her to keep playing.
REDGE
No professional league?
JONATHAN
Not for women. At the time, pro basketball was only for men.
REDGE
Boo! Not fair.
JONATHAN
The New Orleans Jazz, a men’s NBA team, even invited her to try out.
REDGE
Whoa! Did she go?
JONATHAN
She said no. She didn’t feel confident she could compete with the men.
REDGE
Oh… but I bet she would’ve done so well.
JONATHAN
No doubt. Lusia Harris opened the door for so many girls who came after her. And that’s what makes her a legend. She went back home and coached at her old high school, and she raised her kids. She had no regrets when it came to not joining the NBA, but she knew if she were born a man, things would’ve been very different. Her basketball career would’ve been much longer.
REDGE
But still, she made history. And I’ll certainly never forget her name.
JONATHAN
Lusia Harris.
REDGE
Queen of Basketball. Any other athletes you can think of?
JONATHAN
I’ve got one more. Marge Villa.
REDGE
Marge Villa. Who is she?
JONATHAN
She was one of only eleven Latinas to play in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
REDGE
What’s that?
JONATHAN
It was a baseball league that was started in America during World War II when many of the male baseball players were away at war. It was the first professional baseball league for women.
REDGE
Wow!
JONTHAN
Marge was from Montebello, California, and was Mexican-American. She started playing baseball at 13-years-old with a local team.
REDGE
That’s young for a human, isn’t it?
JONATHAN
It is! Eventually, Marge became the catcher for the Kenosha Comets in Wisconsin.
REDGE
What’d she catch? Butterflies? A cold?
JONATHAN
Baseballs. She caught baseballs.
REDGE
Oh, that makes sense.
JONATHAN
But she really could play any position in baseball. She was very versatile and hit many records, including a game where she hit 9 runs and scored 11 bases.
REDGE
That’s amazing!! I’ve never hit 9 runs in one game!
JONATHAN
Isn’t it impressive? She played 500 games in her career.
REDGE
500?!
JONATHAN
Then she retired and decided to get into golf, where she became a national champion.
REDGE
Hey, like Althea Gibson!
JONATHAN
Yeah, that’s right! And speaking of golf, I see Arnold Purr-mer heading back to the tee. The rain must’ve cleared up.
REDGE
I see him too! ARNOLD! ARNOLD! ARNOLD!
JONATHAN
ARNOLD! ARNOLD! ARNOLD!
REDGE
Excellent, golf clap, Jonathan.
JONATHAN
Thank you, Redge. And thank you for joining us, listeners, at W-O-U-A-T, your favorite public radio station. We’ll head to commercial and then come back for more highlights from the Summer Time Sportsball Smash.
REDGE
It is sure to be a slam dunk!
Repeat: W-O-U-A-T
JONATHAN CORMUR: This has been a Jonincharacter production. This Hidden Hero of History story was written by Rebecca Cunningham, edited and produced by Molly Murphy, and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks. We love hearing from you! Contact us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com or try our one-way text feature as a safe way to reach out. You can find even more ways to reach us in the show notes.
Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!
THEME SONG: So gather your squad for all to see. It's a universe that we've imagined. There's twists and turns and lessons learned. This is where the unexpected happens. Join our humble hosts and hit the trails of the wonderful, wacky, wild world of Dorktales.
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