Just a quick post for today. As many long-time readers know, Theodore Roosevelt is one of my heroes. I love writing about him because he was such an inspiring person who truly lived like he spoke.
On April 10, 1899, Roosevelt gave a speech called The Strenuous Lifethat encapsulated his grand life philosophy. “A life of ignoble ease, a life of that peace which springs merely from lack either of desire or of power to strive after great things, is as little worthy of a nation as of an individual.”
Roosevelt was probably the most active president we’ve ever had. How could anyone surpass him? But he did it all with such grace and strength of character. No one would ever guess that his parents were told when he was small that he was a weakly child who would have a short life. To the United States’ great fortune, the boy’s spirit rebelled.
Roosevelt took up wrestling and jiu jitsu in college. 
Check out Roosevelt’s perfect posture and dress as he casually guides his horse to leap over a fence.
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Roosevelt seated in boat during the during the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition to Brazil. This was when Roosevelt traversed the River of Doubt in 1913, a dark and uncharted tributary of the Amazon that winds through the treacherous jungles.
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What a great American and a great man he was!
old spirituals 
I love watching football, especially college football, as do millions of other American men and women. I wonder how many know that college football, the seed that produced professional football, owes its continued existence to Teddy Roosevelt?
Teddy wanted to play football at Harvard but his nearsightedness disqualified him. Nonetheless, he loved any sport that contributed to “the strenuous life” on and off the field and he felt the football field was the training ground for the battlefield. His son was on the Harvard football team.
Roosevelt knew the sport could be lethal because of the manner it was played. It took Teddy’s involvement using his “big stick” to change football. In 1905, Roosevelt called the President’s of Harvard, Yale, and Princeton to the White House to discuss the matter. Nothing changed. During the 1905 season there were 19 player deaths and 137 serious injuries. Teddy’s son broke his nose and was badly bruised in one game . . . . some say intentionally.
Many schools dropped football in 1906. Harvard’s President found it more dangerous than “prizefighting, cockfighting and bullfighting.” Roosevelt again interceded and this resulted in the establishment of an “intercollegiate conference” which developed many of the rules in existence today. That “conference” later evolved into the NCAA of today.
We owe the creation of the “Teddy Bear” and the NCAA, in large part, to Teddy Roosevelt.
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I thought I knew most of Roosevelt’s main accomplishments but I didn’t know about this! Thank you Jax!
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