Latest / Sports History Network / This Week in NDN All-Stars History: August 30–September 5, 2026

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This Week in NDN All-Stars History: August 30–September 5, 2026 · Sports History Network

• 0:58
  It's 1904 and it's 91 degrees.
• 1:02
  The road is covered in dust.
• 1:04
  There are almost no opportunities for the runners to get water.
• 1:09
  One competitor rides part of the course in a car.
• 1:13
  Another is given rat poison and brandy by his trainers.
• 1:18
  And somehow, this is an Olympic marathon.
• 1:22
  But hidden inside one of the strangest races in Olympic history is an important moment in Native American sports history.
• 1:30
  One runner is about to do something no Native American athlete has ever done before.
• 1:35
  And that's where our journey begins this week in Indian All Stars history.
• 1:41
  Welcome to Indian All Stars.
• 1:44
  I'm Bill Black and every week we travel back to discover how Native athletes help shape the world of sports.
• 1:50
  Because history isn't trapped behind museum glass, it comes alive.
• 1:55
  Indian All Stars celebrates great Native American athletes from the past and the present, bringing these great All Stars back into the spotlight for new generations.
• 2:05
  Now let's look back and find out what happened.
• 2:08
  Here's what happened the week of August 30th through September 5th in Indian All Stars history.
• 2:15
  It's August 30th and we begin in 1904 with one of the strangest Olympic marathons ever run.
• 2:23
  The course is hot, dusty and brutally difficult with temperatures climbing above 90 degrees.
• 2:32
  But for us, something much more important is happening.
• 2:36
  His name is Frank Pierce.
• 2:38
  He is Seneca.
• 2:40
  And today Pierce becomes the first Native American athlete ever to compete in the Olympic Games.
• 2:47
  Pierce runs at the front of the field during the early stages of the race.
• 2:52
  However, he will not finish this grueling marathon, but simply by taking his place in the race.
• 2:59
  Frank Pierce has already made history.
• 3:02
  More than a century of Native American Olympic history begins right here on the marathon course in St.
• 3:09
  Louis.
• 3:10
  We move ahead to 1933 where Iroquois boxer Henry Armstrong steps into the ring against Hoyt Jones.
• 3:19
  The four round fight goes the distance and ends in a draw on points.
• 3:24
  Four years later, Cherokee heavyweight champion Joe Louis faces Tommy Farr.
• 3:30
  The two battle through all 15 rounds with Lewis earning the victory by unanimous decision.
• 3:36
  Next we jump to 1979 Salish and Kootenai boxer Marvin Campbell takes on David Cabrera in McAllen, Texas.
• 3:46
  One minute and 24 seconds into the third round, Camel knocks Cabrera out and brings the scheduled 10 round fight to an early end.
• 3:55
  Finally, we arrive in 1993 and Ponca and Oto heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison is supposed to defend his WBO title against Mike Williams.
• 4:07
  But shortly before the fight, Williams pulled pulls out.
• 4:12
  Journeyman Tim Tomashek, gets the call to take his place and suddenly finds himself fighting for the heavyweight championship of the World Morrison goes to work and after four rounds Tomashek is unable to continue.
• 4:26
  Tommy Morrison successfully defends his WBO Heavyweight championship in Kansas City, Missouri.
• 4:34
  We move ahead to August 31st.
• 4:38
  In 1937, Iroquois boxer Henry Armstrong takes on Orville Drouillard.
• 4:45
  Armstrong needs just five rounds to put Drouillard away, earning the victory by technical knockout.
• 4:52
  Then we jump ahead to 2014 and Lumbee gymnast Ashton Locklear is competing at the Pan American Championships in Mississauga, Ontario.
• 5:01
  Locklear takes her place on the uneven bars, the event that is quickly becoming her specialty.
• 5:07
  She delivers when it matters, scoring a 14.975.
• 5:12
  That performance puts Ashton Locklear on top of the podium with the gold medal.
• 5:18
  Now we move into September.
• 5:20
  Arriving at September 2nd in 1957, Lumbee Stock Car driver Roy Tyner takes on one of NASCAR's toughest races, the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
• 5:34
  Heiner starts deep in the field rolling off in 41st position.
• 5:40
  By the time the checkered flag falls he has worked his way forward 18 spots to finish 23rd.
• 5:49
  Then we jump ahead to 1995.
• 5:52
  Mandan Hidatsa and Arikara boxing champion Virgil Hill faces Drake Fadzi.
• 5:58
  The fight goes the full 12 rounds when the judges scorecards are announced.
• 6:03
  Hill earns the victory by unanimous decision.
• 6:07
  Next we arrive at September 3rd.
• 6:10
  In 1936, Iroquois boxer Henry Armstrong meets Elmer Buzz Brown in a ten round bout.
• 6:18
  Neither man is able to find the knockout.
• 6:20
  When the final bell sounds, Armstrong gets the victory on points.
• 6:25
  It's another win and a busy stretch for the future world champion.
• 6:30
  Fast forward to 2021.
• 6:32
  It's September 4th and Cherokee pitcher Adrian Hauser takes the mound for the Milwaukee brewers against the St.
• 6:39
  Louis Cardinals.
• 6:41
  Howser is dominant from start to finish.
• 6:43
  He goes the distance throwing a complete game shutout and leading Milwaukee to a 40 victory.
• 6:50
  That same day Mohawk race car driver Dexter Stainsy is at Canadian Tire Motorsport park in Bowmanville, Ontario for the first time.
• 6:58
  The NASCAR Pintes Series is holding two races at the famed road course during the same weekend.
• 7:05
  Stacy runs on the lead lap for all 30 laps of the opening race when the checkered flag falls.
• 7:11
  His number 92 Chevrolet finishes seventh.
• 7:15
  That matches Stacy's career best result at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
• 7:21
  Our final stop for this week begins in 1933.
• 7:25
  Its September 5th.
• 7:27
  Iroquois boxer Henry Armstrong meets Perfecto Lopez for the second time.
• 7:32
  Just as in their first meeting, neither fighter comes away with the victory.
• 7:36
  After four rounds the bout has scored a draw.
• 7:39
  Fast forward to 1987 Mandan Hidatsa and Arikara boxer Virgil Hill is fighting Leslie Stewart for the WBA Light Heavyweight World Championship.
• 7:51
  Hill doesn't leave the decision to the judges.
• 7:54
  He stops Stewart by technical knockout in the fourth round.
• 7:57
  For the first time in his professional career, Virgil Hill is a world champion.
• 8:03
  Two years later, Ponca and Oto heavyweight Tommy Morrison faces Rick Innis.
• 8:09
  Morrison wastes little time earning the technical knockout in the opening round.
• 8:14
  Now we jump to 2020 and Assiniboine and Sioux Mix martial artist Hunter Azure faces Cole Smith at UFC Fight Night.
• 8:23
  The fight goes the distance and Azure earns the victory by unanimous decision.
• 8:29
  Finally, we arrive in 2021.
• 8:32
  Mohawk racer Dexter Stacy is back at Canadian Tire Motorsport park for the second race of the Labor Day weekend doubleheader.
• 8:41
  One day earlier, Stacy finishes seventh in the opening race.
• 8:45
  Now he's back behind the wheel of the 92 Chevrolet for the 60 lap finale.
• 8:51
  Stacy stays on the lead lap and battles through the road course feature to finish 8th with finishes of 7th and 8th.
• 9:00
  Dexter Stacy wraps up a strong and consistent weekend at one of Canada's premier road courses, and that brings this week in Indian All Stars history to a close.
• 9:12
  If you enjoyed today's look back, I invite you to visit IndianAllStars.com where you'll find more athlete stories, blog articles, videos, podcast episodes and exclusive merchandise celebrating great Native American athletes from the past and the present.
• 9:29
  I hope you'll join me again next week as we bring more great Native athletes back into the spotlight.
• 9:35
  Until then, this is Indian All Stars.