JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================TK" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?6$+-?dHmoK6I"]Ԗ=<鷷s2YM${[k`Q>s&&XWn$@Ab _^EIA'fv{mNiE^̣gpJ17~5:ŶTqHJk4/߭.3GAj`ydwoڮq麣YA<x{X$n ߚ*ijdsɗn}cCBqv($F+mJt/-9Qzޥk}R@M(%)i$6sD\ (ԫr|dq#I#=efݍҬEu"-cU@uŠ(rP"6PpOZ t{i9NhжS4&(iDKQ@r, 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 American families discourage careers in which their sons or daughters may be so engrossed as to lose touch with