Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Grantland Rice

Role / Field:

The "Dean of American Sports Writers," known for elegant sports commentary and poetry.

Born:

1880-11-01

Died:

1954-07-13

Century / Era:

1880s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Henry Grantland Rice (November 1, 1880 – July 13, 1954) was a sportswriter, columnist, and poet from Tennessee known as the "Dean of American Sports Writers". He published three books of poetry, and coined the famous phrase that it was not important whether you “won or lost, but how you played the game.” His writing was known for its elegance and published in newspapers around the country, and broadcast on the radio. He and his writing are among the reasons that the roaring 1920s in the United States are sometimes referred to as the "Golden Age of Sports". In 1924, he nicknamed the Notre Dame backfield the "Four Horsemen".

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 1925 he replaced Walter Camp in selecting college football All-America teams. Rice set out to make heroes of sports figures who impressed him, most notably in baseball Babe Ruth, in boxing Jack Dempsey, in football Red Grange and Knute Rockne, in golf Bobby Jones and Babe Didrikson, and in tennis Bill Tilden. Rice was born on November 1, 1880, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the son of Bolling Hendon Rice, a cotton dealer, and Mary Beulah (née Grantland) Rice. His grandfather Major Henry W. Grantland was a Nashville cotton farmer...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexander Grin — Contemporary (Born in 1880) (1880): A celebrated Russian writer known for romantic fantasy novels and sea adventures.
• Alfred Wegener — Contemporary (Born in 1880) (1880): Pioneering geophysicist known for proposing the theory of continental drift.
• Alice Bailey — Contemporary (Born in 1880) (1880): American esoteric writer known for neo-theosophical works and pioneering New Age concepts.
• Aarathi — Contemporary (Born in 1954) (1954): Veteran Indian actress celebrated for her roles in Kannada cinema during the 1970s and 1980s.
• Alan Hollinghurst — Contemporary (Born in 1954) (1954): Acclaimed English novelist, poet, and literary figure known for mainstreaming gay-themed fiction.
• Alan Turing — Contemporary (Died in 1954) (1954): Father of theoretical computer science, known for the Turing machine and codebreaking.
• Aaron Beck — Shared historical date (11-01 · Died) (2021): Father of Cognitive Therapy and CBT, revolutionizing psychiatric treatment.
• Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz — Shared historical date (11-01 · Born) (861): Abbasid prince, renowned poet, and author of early Arabic literary theory.
• Aisha — Shared historical date (07-13 · Died) (678): Prominent scholar and political figure in early Islam, wife of Prophet Muhammad.
• Alberto Ascari — Shared historical date (07-13 · Born) (1918): Iconic Italian racing driver, two-time Formula One World Champion for Ferrari.
• 1880 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1880
• November 1 (11-01) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 1
• 1954 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1954
• July 13 (07-13) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 13

Frequently Asked Questions about Grantland Rice