Connection: Just like Jackie faced problems in baseball due to his skin color an African American named Val James did too. Val James was the first African American to play professional baseball, so just like Jackie he was taking a chance to show people that it doesn't matter about your skin color, but how good you play. Val would get harassed by fans throwing bananas at him and would hang a money doll over the penalty box acting like they were killing it. Now today it's hard for James to feel comfortable watching the sport he had once loved. Whenever he watches hockey he can remember the dark memories that fill his past. Just like Jackie he had the guts not to fight back or show the pain. He put his feelings into the game which made him play more aggressive and better. Val wrote a book in the end to get him through his tough times and to finally be able to explain the pain he went through. For example, before a game Val was trying to get on his teams bus the Sabres but he found angry fans waiting for him. They were blocking the bus and throwing beer bottles into the windshield demanding to see his face. This made Val upset that his own people would do this and frustrated but happy his coach didn't let him confront the mob. James has always been hurt and tried to wrap his finger around why people would do such horrible things. In conclusion, Jackie and Val's life was similar because they both followed their dreams no matter the extent.