JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================,K" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?Ɔ8rw;e_\u:+b'YԄ9P~l!X0\'qޞy>,&n#! h?2WutzQkOy\/UGPURp\矺9+uN4X(J|\~U#DwN[\y#}:nwIiw,mjV8]:j:osӡӼ8 =GX<Se4gBxXn13h$RY<ROrtoikAU qIY_]Xxr-PDa)QCz.ɤ\M$`+D~YQ׎}S][U {vKƕge<^d3قn g"W!*)': ͠jW@BnjFNp+~#En< K7I!@8OXO;'USGU5ͮZhκ"K_B3Q<$WT=RУ0+sW;{ˍU-ļEm$xY*A{։%)45CT6Fmc{o=N:Rj,?>ė-'  8Nͱ?D};8Sߎf ]մ/o #eqIc"ZB.) *8e>+3ůAuKHe E#.AϦ Wծ˺͞vW0$ )Mgꖎ| לx6FzU 6h.cVTv@sU1~Hi|Cj T_ uhfy vd^vllowed in Thorpe s enormous footsteps? As a partial answer, consider the discouraging fact that Thorpe s Olympic medals were stripped from him, due to an unfair and regrettable decision made by an Olympic sports body, less than a year after his record-setting performances. The ruling claimed he had lost his amateur status by accepting payment for minor league baseball while on vacation several years earlier. The truth is he had earned a paltry $25 a week and did not realize that his playing would jeopardize his amateur status. Although Thorpe went on to experience a long career in baseball and football, he died medal-less in 1953. Later, facsimile Olympic medals were returned to his family, and his name returned to the record books.<br> Even though Thorpe s athletic contributions are held in wide regard today, there are additional reasons more Native Americans have not pursued sports careers. In preserving their culture, some Native