(Black PR Wire) (June 18, 2009) -- What a year 2009 has been so far for professional sports -- especially among our talented black professionals. First, in February we had the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl to win their sixth title. History was made when Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin became the youngest African-American coach to win a Super Bowl and the third black coach ever to coach in the big game. Then his star wide receiver Santonio Holmes captured the game-winning pass and was selected as the Super Bowl MVP. 

A couple of months later, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by their star player Kobe Bryant, defeated the Orlando Magic to capture their 15th NBA championship ring. Bryant also won his first NBA finals MVP award and is the first player to receive the award since being renamed the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award back in February. 

These professional athletes have shown that when talent is combined with determination, just about anything can be achieved, both individually and collectively as a team. It is professionals like Santonio Holmes, Mike Tomlin and Kobe Bryant that motivate young black athletes to never give up on their dreams regardless of what obstacles may stand in the way. 

With the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) season just beginning and NFL training camp a month away, there may be even more history-making moments among our black athletes.