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Mayar Zokaei mzokaei@media.ucla.edu

It’s time for a history lesson.

This much you may know:

The year was 1947, and the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson was on his way to becoming a pioneer, the first black player in the major leagues.

This much you probably don’t:

The year was 1947, and Wat Misaka was on his way to becoming a pioneer, the first Japanese player in the NBA.

As much as we have always embraced sports in the context of black and white, it’s important to note that the reality is a far, more colorful cry from our notions.

You’re probably familiar with the sight of Michelle Greco sinking a three-pointer.

But did you see that diminutive, Japanese women’s basketball player slicing her way through the forest of trees and swish that jump shot?

It might be normal for you to observe DeShaun Foster picking up 20 yards on a carry.

But were you looking long enough to catch a glimpse of that powerful, Iraqi linebacker lay his foe on his back with that thunderous tackle?

If you were asked to conjure a cerebral picture of the stereotypical athlete from any of the two-dozen sports teams at UCLA, I’d bet you wouldn’t see what I see.

You might see Greco, but did you overlook Natalie Nakase? I know who counted Foster’s carries, but did you defer Audie Attar?

From glorified pioneers in professional sports to their less glossy cohorts in the college ranks, minorities are making strides in athletics.

Sometimes, though, our eyes don’t always get to see that.

Stigmas are what hold us back, but role models that have been in the same position as us are what catapult us to strive and reach new pinnacles. But it’s hard when the one that’s supposed to inspire you to do something is buried as a footnote in NBA lore, or hidden in an enigma that is the NFL media.

Nakase, who is of Japanese descent, probably does know of Misaka. Two years ago, an exhibition in reverence of Japanese professional athletes was held in Los Angeles, and it warranted media attention that actually enlightened many Japanese athletes that had no idea of the accomplishments of the forefathers.

But what about Attar or other athletes of Middle Eastern descent? Do they know of Shar Pourdanesh, an Iranian football player from Irvine, who became the first player of Middle Eastern background to play in the NFL?

If I hadn’t had the opportunity to go to UCLA, chances are I might have never seen an Asian play college basketball, a Middle Easterner excel in football, or a Hispanic dominate in water polo (i.e., Stanford’s Brenda Villa).

But others aren’t afforded the same opportunities as me. Our city is a diverse, cultural melting pot, and with 35,323 students strong (according to the school web directory), UCLA embodies that.

What about that sophomore in Utah? Or the junior at Colorado?

The proverbial ax can come down on the media. If any entity is to blame, it’s us.

Every newspaper article written today should come with the caveat, “contents of these articles may not necessarily represent all the people who actually read it.”

What is the biggest regret of Misaka, Pourdanesh and other minorities that have succeeded in fields no one like them has? That others don’t get the chance to see.

None of these athletes, with the exception of Robinson, have been recognized by American sports hall of fames for their achievements. And only a minute percentage, like Misaka and Pourdanesh, have been acknowledged by the media.

But there is a disparity between mere athletic accomplishments being overlooked and an illustrious, athletic career and simultaneous, bona fide, real-life heroism being forgotten by a respectable institution.

One such victim? Francis Wai, a four-sport, Chinese-American collegiate athlete in 1939-1940. It’s quite possible that Wai could have done for Asian-Americans in baseball what Robinson did for African-Americans. But he never got the chance, being called to duty for the National Guard and serving under the General MacArthur led 34th infantry regiment of the 24th infantry division. He died in battle in 1944.

Oh, and one more thing: he accomplished all this while a student at UCLA, a fact my colleague Diamond Leung enlightened me on just yesterday, which no one in my time at UCLA has ever publicly acknowledged.

So, go ahead, enjoy what’s in front of you the next time you watch an athletic contest. Just make sure you open your eyes, because history might just be slipping by.