About this series

The Los Angeles Times is publishing a yearlong series of articles about 1968, and how developments 50 years ago continue to shape and define our world. Here are the sports-related articles from the past seven days:

SUNDAY: 1968 was a year — perhaps more than any other — that blurred the line between sports and more serious issues, with athletes swept up by Vietnam War protests, political tumult and racial tensions.

MONDAY: UCLA’s and Houston’s “Game of the Century” proved college basketball worthy of prime time, opened the way for multi-billion-dollar TV contracts, and sparked debate over who should share in the windfall.

TUESDAY: The story of the Vegas Golden Knights this year is just the latest success story in hockey’s migration west, which started in the 196768 NHL season when Los Angeles proved fit for the Kings.

WEDNESDAY:

Colin Kaepernick may have started the trend, but the first NFL player to protest during the national anthem was David Meggyesy. His actions, though subtle, loudly resonated — and likely shortened his career.

THURSDAY: As baseball executives acted clumsily in the wake of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination — the Dodgers initially insisted on playing a home opener hours after his funeral — longsilent players started to find a their voice.

FRIDAY: If you think today’s NBA lacks competitive balance, consider that 50 years ago not even the acquisition of reigning league MVP Wilt Chamberlain to join Elgin Baylor and Jerry West tipped the scales in the Lakers’ favor.

TODAY: Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ protest on the Olympics medals stand was expected to inspire a wave of social consciousness among athletes. A crusade never materialized. The reason lies in the backstory of their actions.