The math is simple here for Andy Reid and the Eagles brass, you wiffed on Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald re-signs with the Cards, Roy Williams is going to be locked up by the Lions, and Anquan Boldin may be in Fitzgerald’s teammate for another season so who’s left?

Current Cincinnatti Bengals wide reciever Chad Johnson is one of the top three at his position in the NFL, there is no question of his talent or his character. On a team full of repeat offenders Ocho-Cinco is dying to get out of those stripes.

I must give the Eagles front office credit for trying to give Donovan McNabb as many weapons as possible for what may be his last season in midnight green. Nothing would make Eagles fans happier right now than to land Johnson.

From what it looks like in Cincy, Johnson feels betrayed by his coach and others who feel as though his endzone antics and confident quotes are getting old and want him to tone it down. Have the Bengals  front office looked at the police blotter that seems to be filled with plenty of Johnson’s teammates? In his 7 NFL seasons Johnson has had no less that 1,100 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Many think that this could turn into T.O. II, but that’s not Johnson…never has been.

Make the move Andy, give up a third-round pick…a second if need be to get Johnson, you’re not going to find a player in the draft that can give you what Johnson can give you.

Picked by anyone with an NBA soapbox to finish last in the Eastern Conference, it’s safe to say that the Philadelphia 76ers have been reading their press clippings – thus proving the so-called experts wrong.  The 76ers are currently the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference and have flirted with going as high as the 5th seed.

In the middle of the basketball revival on Broad Street is former Sixers great Maurice Cheeks, who in three seasons has dealt with the issues of Allen Iverson, the trade of Iverson and life after Iverson – which hasn’t been as bad as predicted.

Once Iverson was jettisoned to Denver for point guard Andre Miller and Joe Smith; all signs pointed to Miller being trade bait this season and the franchise gaining draft picks to solidify the re-building process.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the NBA Lottery.

In a surprising development, GM Billy King was fired on December 4, 2007 and replaced by former New Jersey Nets GM Ed Stefanski.

Since then each player has been playing like their job is on the line. Stefanski became more of a calming presence as the trade deadline approached saying that the team would not be a seller (i.e. trading Miller) and would not be trade just to make a trade. Kyle Korver was traded to free up cap space for free agents this summer as the 76ers look to be an active player for the first time in almost a decade.

The catalyst for the 76ers this season has been point guard Andre Miller, Miller is enjoying his best all-around season in years giving us a scoring threat not seen from the point guard position since…Iverson.

Looking at the overall roster the Sixers are an athletic team, that chooses to run, and run, and run. With wingmen like Andre Iguodala and Rodney Carney (who one reporter prior to the season questioned whether or not he belonged in the NBA), the team realies on athleticism to create turnovers, setting up easy baskets. Defensively, Samuel Dalembert has worked well with free agent signee Reggie Evans who brings energy whether he’s starting or coming off of the bench. The emergence of Louis Williams as a solid contributor to the rotation has turned him into a crowd favorite.

The biggest surprise of the season may be in the form of rookie Thaddeus Young, Young was selected 12th in this season’s draft. Although many (including myself) wanted Florida State’s Al Thornton, Young has been better than advertised. The rookie has worked his way into the starting rotation playing either small or power forward. Willie Green has come all the way back from his knee injury and Kevin Ollie remains the professional answering the call when needed.

 Alot of the credit has to got to Cheeks, who despite what was said about this team, remained one with his players, didn’t let the press, divide the team and most importantly he kept their focus. Although the award may go to Phil Jackson or Byron Scott, I’m sure Cheeks will be recognized for his contributions to this team. 

With wins this season over the Celtics, Suns, Spurs, Rockets, Pistons, Magic, Mavericks and Cavs, this team is no fluke, they’re jelling at the right time and that’s always a plus. The reward is more than likely a trip to the playoffs and with a little luck maybe even a 4th seed and a first round series at home.

                            
Today Donovan McNabb returns to try and salvage the Philadelphia Eagles season against the N.Y football Giants. For the past two weeks backup A.J. Feeley has been at the helm while McNabb nursed ankle and thumb injuries. McNabb was sacked 12 times in the first meeting of these two teams, the Eagles will have tackle Williams Thomas and running back Brian Westbrook who did not play in the first meeting.

The game plan is simple for the Eagles today – win and your still alive for the postseason, lose – and it’s a wrap. Prepare to see rookie Kevin Kolb.

Desperate times call for desperate measures – and no team has killed the Giants more in the past 3-4 years than Westbrook, the plan is simple – get it to Westbrook as much and as often  as possible, including special teams – if last week’s near game-winning return wasn’t an indication that Andy Reid needs to stop playing him like he’s made of glass, nothing will. He’s been relatively healthy all season and he’s more rested at this point of the season than he’s ever been. Too much is at stake for him not to see about 30-35 total touches today, especially since the G-Men will be without linebacker Antonio Pierce.

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Jimmy Rollins has been named the 2007 National League MVP, beating out Colorado Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday.Rollins was the catalyst in a season that saw the Phils reach the postseason for the first time in 14 years. Rollins would go on record prior to the season stating that the Phillies were the team to beat in the National League East Division. Rollins drew the ire of the rival N.Y. Mets who were picked to win the division but coughed it up in the final two weeks of the season giving the Phillies the division crown and Rollins Cleo status.

The Phillies opened the season without last season’s MVP Ryan Howard for several games and down the stretch were without Chase Utley for a month, who at the time of his injury was the leading MVP candidate. Throughout the season J-Roll was the one constant that manager Charlie Manuel could count on.

Rollins season was one of the best ever by a shortstop or anyone for that matter his numbers are as follows: 716AB (All-time record) 139 Runs, 212 Hits, 38 2B, 20 3B, 30 HR(4th player in Major League History with 20 or more doubles, triples and home runs), 94RBI’s, 41 SB, .296 Avg., .344 On Base %, .531 Slugging %.

Rollins adds the MVP award to his 2007 Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

                                                                   
When Harry Edwards organized the Olympic Project for Human Rights in the fall of 1967, I don’t think he realized the long-term effect it would have on American sports and society.

For Jackie Robinson it took his signature, for Rosa Parks it was a simple “No”, for OPHR members Tommy Smith and John Carlos it took two black gloves, beads, no shoes, and balls the size of a Spalding to give us the most poignant image in the history of American sports.

This wasn’t a spur of the moment occurrence, this was a very well calculated move made by Edwards to show the world on its most harmonic stage that the Black Athlete is the by product of the Civil Rights nightmare in America. These athletes were facing the same struggles in institutions of higher learning as their parents were back in their hometowns. The fact that they were participating in the Mexico City Olympics was irrelevant. From Jack Johnson to Barry Bonds, the Black Athlete has been the object of. Bill Russell endured his home being vandalized over and over while winning 11 world championships as a Boston Celtic. Jim Brown still lives with the stigma of allegedly shoving a white woman off of a balcony, an accusation that even she to this day denies. Muhammad Ali being stripped of his heavyweight title for choosing not to partake in the Viet Nam conflict for religious reasons. In one of the greatest quotes of the 20th Century, Ali confirmed his reason for flipping Uncle Sam off was because, “No Viet Cong ever called me a nigger.” I wonder if Ali had never chosen to follow the Nation of Islam would he have ever been drafted. White America had a problem with Ali, not because he was Black, but because he was Black and fully conscious of the social, economical and educational injustices his people were dealing with.

No decade has had a larger impact on our lives than the 1960’s. The revolution was televised and brought into our homes daily; raw and uncut. Police dogs, fire hoses and billy clubs were the norm during the 6pm news and our people were on the short end of the stick – literally. The Black Man’s days of shucking and jiving were over; Steppin Fetchit was replaced by Gil Scott Heron, and it was on.

Dr. Edwards has been in the forefront of Race and Sports in America for over four decades now. When white America couldn’t understand how O.J. Simpson could turn his back on the Black community Dr. Edwards was quick to offer answers. When they wanted to know what separates today’s Black Athlete from the one that played in the 1960’s, Dr. Edwards gave them an earful. And when a psycho-analysis of Terrell Owens was needed they paged Dr. Edwards.

The seeds of social conscience were planted early in his life, raised in East St. Louis; he credits internal focus and perseverance for his escape from the ghetto. An exceptional athlete Edwards was awarded an athletic scholarship to San Jose State University. There he witnessed firsthand the racial inequities on campus and how it extended into the classroom. Dr. Edwards tells David Leonard in an interview how Blacks were limited in what they were allowed to study. “If Blacks wanted to major in something outside of social welfare, physical education or criminology, they had to go through all kinds of changes. In order to major in sociology, I had to petition. The basic wisdom was that Blacks were natural athletes so we could cut it in physical education. Blacks could study social welfare or criminology, because we were always going to be criminals and welfare recipients. But we weren’t allowed the same freedom to enroll in sociology, a more academically challenging and less “applied” field.” Segregation stretched beyond the classroom; Black students were not allowed to be housed in facilities approved by the University in fear that the white students would move out. Blacks had no access to simple places such as the recreation hall or a restaurant on campus.

Upon graduating with honors from San Jose State, Edwards enrolled in the graduate program at Cornell University earning his Ph. D. in Sociology. He turned down tryouts with the Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers to pursue his Masters. Once he earned his Ph. D., Edwards returned to San Jose State as a part-time professor. By this time the enrollment of Blacks had increased largely due to the 1966 Texas Western NCAA Basketball Championship victory over the University of Kentucky. Black Power was gaining momentum but there were still issues that concerned Edwards. Edwards now a member of the staff went through every channel to try get living and academic conditions for Black students improved, other than laughing in Edwards’ face school officials didn’t have too much to say to Edwards on these matters.

Black Athlete’s were organized by Edwards and made aware of their purpose; make an impact, because we can. The first protest by the movement had historical significance, it marked the first time in the 100 year history of NCAA Division I football that a game had been cancelled due to an on-campus protest. Edwards began to get letters from all over the country from athletes who wanted to join the cause; this prompted him to travel across the country organizing what would come to be known as the Revolt of The Black Athlete. From his travels Edwards would see that the same Athletes being denied the simplest of conditions were being counted on to represent the same country that has turned a blind eye to the plight of the Black Man for centuries. These Athletes were being asked to overlook the sufferings of their people for a few weeks just to please “massa.”

NCAA Committee as well as the United States Olympic Committee were the culprits basically one beast with several heads that needed to be exposed.

Edwards would be more than willing to oblige.

The OPHR was out to show the world that the United States used Black Athletes to project racial harmony and equality when it was anything but that. In the mission statement of the OPHR Edwards wrote:

“We must no longer allow this country to use a few so called Negroes to point out to the world how much progress she has made in solving her racial problems when the oppression of Afro-Americans is greater than it ever was. We must no longer allow the sports world to pat itself on the back as a citadel of racial justice when the racial injustices of the sports world are infamously legendary…..any Black person who allows himself to be used in the above manner is a traitor because he allows racist whites the luxury of resting assured that those Black people in the ghettos are there because that is where they want to be. So we ask why should we run in Mexico only to crawl home?”

The OPHR had three central demands:

1. “Restore Muhammad Ali’s title.”

2. “Remove Avery Brundage as head of the United States Olympic Committee.” A known white supremacist, Brundage sealed the deal that allowed Adolf Hitler to host the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

3. “Disinvite South Africa and Rhodesia.” This was to express a consciousness with the Black freedom struggles in these two apartheid states.

Only the third demand was met, regardless there was widespread support by and for the athletes. 1968 was a year where the world was turned on it’s ear, by the time the Olympics rolled around the world had witnessed the U.S. forces weaken in Viet Nam, The Prague Spring where Czech students challenged the Stalinist tanks, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the uprisings in urban cities across the country, and the emergence of the Black Panther Party. In Mexico City ten days before start of the Olympics, Mexico security forces massacred hundreds of students occupying the National University.

The Mexico City games got off without a hitch; but on the second day one of the most enduring images in American sports history would be etched into the world’s conscience.

Smith and Carlos took their stand after Smith set a world record. While both were on the stand Smith took out the gloves as the flag was being raised up the pole and the national anthem played, Carlos and Smith bowed their heads and raised their fists in a Black Power salute. They also wore no shoes to symbolize Black poverty and beads to protest lynching.

Definitely Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos.

The magnitude of this effected Australian silver medalist Peter Norman from to the point that he went into the stands to get an OPHR patch in a show of support. The Olympic Crew team mostly white and from Harvard issued this statement; “We – as individuals – have been concerned about the place of the Black Man in American society in their struggle for equal rights. As members of the US Olympic team, each of us has come to feel a moral commitment to support our Black teammates in their efforts to dramatize the injustices and inequities which permeate our society.” Not everyone that supported this movement was a Black male; one of the flaws that Edwards pointed out was that women and other non-Black supporters would not have been shut out of the movement.

Smith and Carlos were stripped of their medals and removed from the Olympic village. Brundage justified their expulsion by saying, “They violated one of the basic principles of the Olympic Games: that politics play no part whatsoever in them.”

And I guess Hitler claiming that the Germans were a master race had no social or political undertone?

For the past three decades Dr. Edwards has been somewhat busy. He has worked in the Commissioners office of Major League Baseball, he was a consultant for the Golden State Warriors but most of us know him from his days as a special consultant for the San Francisco 49′ers. He is a quote machine who will say what is exactly on his mind. What struck me in listening to Dr. Edwards is his command of the English language, Edwards baritone voice comes off with a confidence and authority that borders on hearing your father or your favorite fire and brimstone preacher. He has continued to fight for social and racial equality for Blacks in all areas of society. He is most questioned about the Black Athlete; where he has come from and where he is headed. He talks about the image conscious athlete of today as opposed to the socially aware athlete of yesterday. Today’s athlete would compromise his Blackness in order to keep his Nike contract while yesterdays athlete was lucky to find a shoe store that would even service him. In an interview with Terrence Green, Edwards gives a chilling thought to where we’re headed as a people. “I see the same future for the Black Athlete (and for other Blacks in sports) that I see for the Black masses; we are not going anywhere that the Black masses not only cannot go, but that Black masses do not provide a foundation for. We are at the end of the golden age of the Black Athlete, thanks to such phenomena as NCAA propositions 48, 16, and 42. Such phenomena as the homicide rate among young Black males ages 15-29 in a traditional Black community; and such phenomena as a quarter of all Black males ages 15-29 are under the control of the judicial system – either incarcerated, under indictment or probation. The age group impacted by AIDS, and suicide in that age group, also happens to be from which athletes are drawn.” He continues, “We are at the very end of the golden age of the Black Athlete, which lasted approximately fifty years.” It began in 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. It possibly ended when Michael Jordan retired early in 1999.”

If that’s the case we may need Dr. Edwards for a long overdue fire and brimstone sermon.

Ronald Glover is a freelance sportswriter and can be reached at ronglov1972@hotmail.com

                                                                
The 76′ers have been reading their own press clippings; it has shown 6 games into the season. They have been in all of their games except one. They are off to a 2-4 start, but the team has shown hustle. Willie Green has looked good in the starting 2-spot. And Reggie Evans has been a monster on the boards allowing Samuel Dalembert to roam more defensively.  Andre Miller has been the glue to the team and has given more offensively. The team is still young and there will be some bumps in the road but I like the fact that they are in every game. One faux pas that the team has is guarding the perimeter and a physical presence in the paint. Other than that, it’s a far cry from what many pre-season pundits said about the team.

The one down side early on is that management failed to re-sign Andre Iguodala meaning that they are not able to discuss a new deal until after the season ends.

Whether I want to believe it or not; barring a miracle, Donovan McNabb will not be back as quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles next season. Since his “it’s not just me” press conference last week, #5 has been under the gun on talk radio and blogs across the city. I look at these last seven games in the Eagles 4-5 disappointment of a season as an open audition for anyone in need of a top 7 or 8 quarterback in the league.

Looking at McNabb’s numbers the only stat that is down seems to be touchdowns, his passer rating is around 85-90 his completion percentage is at 60 percent. He hasn’t turned the ball over but his pass selection has not improved and his accuracy seems to have taken a step back. With all of that being said I still can’t name 5 quarterbacks that I would take ahead of him.

I’ve been through it with Randall Cunninghan, Charles Barkley and most recently Allen Iverson. Philadelphia ownership always gets rid of it’s notable Black athletes and more often than not it’s a move that comes back to haunt them.

My heart bleeds for Tony Dungy for two reasons. Only one reason has to do with football.

Last year in the span of about a week, Dungy went from living a dream to living a parent’s worst nightmare. On the verge of a perfect season, the Indianapolis Colts were defeated by the San Diego Chargers in Week 14. That loss would pale in comparison, to what would follow. On December 22, his son James was found dead by his girlfriend of an apparent suicide.

I’m the father of a three year old son and the first time he received his shots I cried because I couldn’t stand to see my son in that much pain to be so small. My mind cannot fathom placing my only child into the cold earth and walking away knowing I’ll never see him again. No loving parent deserves to outlive their child (ren), it isn’t the natural order of things, but in today’s world what is natural anymore.

Dungy would return a couple of weeks later as his Indianapolis Colts would finish out the season and reach the AFC Championship, where they would lose to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

Next Sunday in Miami, Tony Dungy could’ve actually been coaching in his second Super Bowl. In 2002, Dungy was fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and replaced by Jon Gruden, who coached the Dungy-built Bucs to their only Super Bowl title in 2003.

To Gruden’s credit, he did acknowledge that Tony Dungy built the current team in Tampa.

Once moving to Indy, coach Dungy found the road to the Super Bowl almost unreachable, as Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots would win three titles in four years, using the Colts as a stepping-stone along the way on two occasions.

The bridesmaid tag was placed on Dungy and the Colts, some went as far as to say that Dungy was too nice, he needed a “mean streak” to get over the hump.

Many said the same thing about former Dallas Cowboys Coach Tom Landry before he won 2 Super Bowls.

Like Landry, Dungy is a man of unbelievable faith; in his darkest hour, he relied on the hand of God to lead him and his family back to the light.

Now a year later Dungy is in the Super Bowl facing his good friend Chicago Bears Coach Lovie Smith as one of these men is poised to make history.

The past 13 months of Tony Dungy’s life resemble the parable of Job, where God allowed Job to lose all that he had in order to prove to Satan that Job would not curse his maker, for Job’s faith he was rewarded all that he lost tenfold.

No, a Super Bowl victory will not bring James Dungy back, but for Tony Dungy’s faith, I’m sure that holding the Vince Lombardi trophy will be a welcome sight for the Dungy family.

Win or lose on Sunday, Dungy has reaffirmed my faith that nice guys do finish first.

Next Thursday, two words will grab everyone’s attention – March Madness.

Those two words bring me to a name, Hank Gathers

Each year, my mind goes back to March 4, 1990. I was up watching games all day and Temple was playing UMass for the A-10 Championship, I went to bed before the game was over and I remember hearing that Hank had collapsed again, I remember saying to myself “God please let him pull through this again.”

The next morning my mom told me Hank was gone.

I was 17 years old, and by my most accounts a good ballplayer on my way to college. Growing up in North Philadelphia, I was a short walk from Temple University and along the way, I could stop over at 16^th and Susquehanna Ave. Philadelphia was a hotbed for college basketball at the time; Lionel Simmons was the National Player of the Year and John Chaney was working his usual magic with the Temple Owls. In addition, there was plenty of young blood on the playgrounds honing their skills. Aaron McKie, Jerome Allen, Malik Rose, among others.

However, out in California, there was a two-man show moving at warp speed. Gathers and his teammate and close friend Bo Kimble had their own rendition of Showtime appearing on the campus of Loyola Marymount University. Coached by Paul Westhead, the Lions put up a shot an avg. of 7 seconds after the inbounds pass. No one would benefit from this style of play more than Gathers and Kimble. As a junior, Gathers would lead the nation in scoring and rebounding, (At the time only the 2^nd person to do so) as a senior Kimble would lead the nation in scoring.

They made it look so easy, and since playing defense was not at a premium there; the goal was simple; try to outscore them. Watching LMU required wearing a seatbelt because you knew you were going to be in the passing lane for the entire ride.

Hank collapsed in December 1989 for the first time, but came back in time to play two games in Philadelphia against LaSalle and St. Joseph’s. On the second night, Kimble hit a three at the buzzer to give the Lions the victory. For most of us that would be the last time we saw Hank alive in person.

Three months later Hank was gone, and I along with everyone else was in shock. Forasmuch as basketball meant the world to Hank, it meant nothing to us in the days that followed. I saw the biggest men reduced to tears John Chaney, who is a personal hero of mine wept, Sonny Hill held Pooh Richardson whom he considers his son in his arms as he wept at Hank’s funeral. However, the image that sticks with me the most is one of Lionel Simmons weeping on the court once he got word of Hanks passing. My eyes are filling up as I relive these moments because it’s a deep cut and it still hurts. Hank played with and against some of the players that I mentioned, Simmons was from South Philly, some were from West Philly, but the majority were from North Philly and they went to one another’s part of town to play, from mere competition, a brotherhood was formed.

There is a mural of Hank’s in his old neighborhood at 25^th and Diamond Sts. in North Philadelphia covering the entire side of a building, a recreation center in his honor on the same street. Sonny Hill named one of his many leagues after Hank.

For some reason, I feel the need to tell the world about Hank Gathers, and what he meant to me. I don’t know if it’s because I saw him play on the playgrounds and I felt a connection with him through basketball. Is it because he was one of us meaning he was from an area of the city where dreams are just that dreams, and he as someone that came along and proved that wasn’t the case. Maybe it’s because I look at his life as unfulfilled, but who am I to say whose life is fulfilled. That is one of the beauties of writing, instead of putting this in a journal and tucking it away in a drawer; I’m sharing it with people that may feel the same way the world. Even in writing this, I know I haven’t done enough.

I feel like I have to keep the torch burning for Hank.

I’ve made a commitment to myself to one day sit down with the Gathers family and those that knew him best and have them tell their stories about Hank.

What saddens me the most is that Gathers was not a victim of random violence as Chicago high school phenom Benji Wilson, and he did not suffer the fate of Len Bias. Gathers had a heart condition that could not be helped.

I read the story of Wilson and how one of his teammates just stopped living after Wilson was killed, he would visit his gravesite once a week. But other than that, his life just stopped.

In the days following March 4, 1990, I can relate to those feelings.

I’ve been laboring for weeks on how to acknowledge the 60^th anniversary of the color barrier being broken in professional football. I could go on for days about Jim Brown, Deacon Jones, and Deion Sanders. And while they deserve credit for bringing pro football to the forefront and “Prime Time” of American sports, there were those that came before the signing bonuses and sneaker deals whose only luxury came from playing the game that they loved in exchange for minimal pay and sometimes hostile treatment. The Civil Rights Movement only reached its peak in the 1960’s; it was fought in locker rooms of professional teams with as much intensity as inside any Southern diner long before protest marches became commonplace.

I’ve chosen to salute three men who put money, glory and prestige on hold, just to put their skills against the best in their profession. Today’s Black Athlete needs to take note the next time they hop into their late model BMW, sporting the latest iced-out jewelry; that regardless of who you are and what you’re making; you’re drinking from a well that you did not dig.

Bill Willis

While many consider Jackie Robinson’s signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 the induction of the Black Athlete’s participation in American sports in the modern era, it actually occurred an entire year earlier when William “Bill” Willis signed with the Cleveland Browns as an offensive guard. Willis would later double as a defensive tackle, as two-way players were common in football prior to the Super Bowl era. Willis, considered too small for either position was listed at 6’2”, between 215-225 pounds. A speedster, Willis was valued as both a blocker and tackler. From his days at Ohio State and throughout his professional career Willis’ speed was so deceptive it led many to believe that he was playing offsides; but upon further review Willis’ timing off the ball gave him an undeniable advantage over his opponents.

Willis entered The Ohio State University in 1941 and focused on running track; he was a star in the 60 and 100-yard events. From 1934 to1940, no Black athletes were allowed on the football team. New Ohio State head coach Paul Brown came in and set things straight, he brought Willis out for tryouts, although Willis was small for his size he saw his speed as an advantage and started Willis in his sophomore year of 1942.

That season Ohio State won the Big Ten and National Championships. The following season the team was reduced greatly due to inductions into the war effort. Willis volunteered but was considered a 4F due to varicose veins. That season Willis became First Team All Big 10 as Ohio State finished the season undefeated. Willis made the UPI and Look Magazine All-America Teams, and was invited to play in the 1944 College All-Star Game in Chicago.

Upon leaving Ohio State, the pro football ranks were not an option for Willis. Due to an unspoken ban, Blacks had not been permitted to play professionally form 1934 to 1946. It was a step back for a league that finally gained credibility in the 1930’s. ‘Name’ Black players we no longer signed, largely in part because of the Great Depression that left much of America unemployed. The hiring of any Blacks at that time for anything was considered a “bad public relations move.” Willis went on to coach at Kentucky State College an HBCU; there Willis also served as the athletic director. However, football was still in his blood, so much so that he considered playing in the Canadian Football League for the Montreal Alouettes.

In 1946, the All-America Football Conference was formed; Paul Brown was placed in charge of the Cleveland Browns franchise. Willis would contact Brown about trying out for the franchise; Brown assured Willis that there was no reason why a Black man couldn’t play in the AAFC. Brown would later respond indirectly through Columbus dispatch reporter Paul Hornung that it would be worth his while to show up. Showing up without a formal invite, Willis made the team as a walk-on.

Within 24 hours, Willis signed a contract for $4,000.

During the late 1940’s and early 1950’s the Browns became professional football’s first dominant team, Paul Brown put together an offensive juggernaut that scored at will. Willis started out playing offense and defense for the Browns but eventually he play defense full-time while revolutionizing a position. Paul Brown employed a 5 man defensive front that placed Willis in the middle, because of his speed Willis was able to assist in run support or drop back into coverage on passing downs. Willis’ position would come to be known later as middle linebacker. Willis would anchor the league’s best defense for four of his first six years in the NFL, while enjoying a successful career highlighted with a game-saving tackle against the N.Y. Giants that saved a championship season in 1950. Willis was selected to three Pro Bowls (1950-1952) prior to his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.

Marion Motley

If you thought it was easy being the first Black player in pro sports, try being its first star. Dominant and virtually unstoppable were words associated with Marion Motley, the second signee of Paul Brown just three days after Bill Willis. Motley learned the game of football in Canton, Ohio, where his career would come full circle. Brown had known of Motley from his scholastic days at Canton McKinley High, Brown coached at rival Massilion High, their paths would cross again as Motley played for Brown at the Great Lakes Naval Center during WWII and finally for the Cleveland Browns in 1946.

A marvelous athlete, Motley attended the University of Nevada, where he ran track, threw the javelin and even boxed, participating in the Nevada Golden Gloves.

In 1946, while working in the lumber mill near Leesburg, Va., (his birthplace) Motley received an invitation from Brown to play for him in the newly formed AAFC, thus solidifying their partnership forever.

Upon his arrival in Cleveland, it became evident that Motley’s size and talent would be more than the league could handle. At 6’1” 238 lbs., he became the personal bodyguard for quarterback Otto Graham as a fullback. The last line of defense for Graham often meant the end of the line for anyone trying to get to him. With that type of protection, the Browns were able to develop their passing game into one the most prolific in the early NFL.

The same aggression that Motley displayed as a blocker he probably used twofold as a runner. In a league that was still in its developmental stages Motley became the league’s first star Black or White. He was a bulldozer, his runs often ending with two or three opponents bringing him down while several others lay in his wake. He ran with a downhill style that meant plenty of shoulder dipping, forearm shivers and high stepping so if you were on the receiving end on any of this you probably felt like Rick James after a late night tussle with Charlie Murphy. Besides being a bona fide bruiser, Motley was a skilled runner. There were two plays in the Browns playbook that Motley enjoyed; one got there by accident. The Browns ran a trap play where the guard kicks out and become a lead blocker as Motley follows. The last play came because of Graham trying to avoid oncoming lineman, he pitched the ball to Motley for a productive gain, known today as the draw play.

Being the league’s Black standout star in Jim Crow America did not come without a price. There were times where Willis and Motley were segregated from their teams when it came to meals and lodging on the road. An incident in Miami, Fl. was the last straw for Coach Paul Brown.. As rookies, Blacks were forbidden by Jim Crow law against competing against white players in Miami and were required to sit out their game against the Miami Seahawks. An infuriated Brown gave both men an additional $500 in their checks and promised them that the problem “would be taken care of.” The next season there was no franchise in Miami. Motley struggled with the notion that in one moment a group of men could unite for a common cause and in the next moment when the lights were dimmed and the uniforms came off you can act as if you never knew this person. He went as far as to seek an explanation from his white teammates, “How is it that we can be so close during a game, but before a game and after a game you go back to this routine?” The best they could muster was a shrug of the shoulder. Hurt and embittered Motley used that as fuel to blaze his way into Canton’s hallowed halls.

Motley also had to deal with the dirty play from white players, Motley dealt with everything short of firehoses and German sheppards, the refs were no help proving that the U.S. government was not the only entity turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to injustice. It’s well documented how Jackie Robinson took his abuse silently played through it much to his credit; Motley let it be known that all of his transgressors would eventually pay.

Known as the precursor to the great Jim Brown, Motley would retire after 9 seasons as the AAFC’s leading rusher, his career totals were 4,712 yards with a 5.7 yards per carry average (NFL yards included). In 1950 he was the last person to lead the league in rushing with less than 140 carries, that season he averaged 5.8 yards per carry.

In 1968, Motley returned to Canton a conquering warrior, immortalized with it’s greats. He was also named to the NFL’s 75^th Anniversary Team.

Despite the social climate in his playing days, Motley would not allow himself to be intimidated regardless of what the status quo called for.

Fritz Pollard

Imagine being the original, the prototype and never being recognized for it. You were the cornerstone that would later become the Rock of Gibraltar. Even in your final days acceptance never came, not even a phone call to acknowledge your greatness. You never expressed bitterness but in your heart you know that you are the father of all of this, you smile at what your sons and daughters have become but sadly the fact remains that many of your own seeds do not recognize your name or existence, led astray by dead men with green faces and material idols. Many have strayed, but those that remain true to your cause are looked upon as outcasts, rebel-rousers, and being too Black. Left to suffer for the sins of their father.

This is the plight of Frederick Douglas “Fritz” Pollard. One of the rocks upon which the National Football League was built, was honored posthumously at the 2005 Hall of Fame induction by the senior selection committee.

Pollard’s contribution to professional football extends beyond the playing field. An All-American from Brown University Pollard led the Bruins to a 1915 Rose Bowl victory as a 5’9” 165 lb. running back. He was lauded up and down the East Coast as Brown beat up on Ivy counterparts Harvard and Yale.

Pollard joined the Akron Pros in 1919 after serving in WWI, in 1920 the Pros joined the American Professional Football Association (later became the NFL). In the Pros first season the compiled an 8-0-3 record on their way to the league championship. The team did not lose in their first 19 games with Pollard going 15-0-4. Pollard had the distinction of becoming not only the first Black player in pro football history but also its first Black head coach as well.

Pollard was described, as the league’s most feared runner because of his elusive style; he was also an excellent punt returner. Pollard experienced the haters on the field as well, but employed a method that would prevent him from being intentionally injured. Upon being tackled, he would quickly roll on his back and stick his cleats and knees into the air to prevent piling on.

Since bench coaching was not allowed in pro football during this time, Pollard was relied upon for his sheer knowledge of the game, coming from a complex offense at Brown; he was tailor-made for the position. Over the course of his career, Pollard played and coached as many as 4 different teams. Pollard organized and coached the Chicago Black Hawks, and all-African American pro team that played against White teams in the Chicago area but enjoyed greater success in playing exhibitions on the West Coast.

The team folded as a result of the Great Depression, thus ending Pollard’s pro football career.

Life after football was prosperous for Pollard who ran several businesses and even had his hand in entertainment as a theatrical agent.

Although Pollard never lobbied for induction into the Hall of Fame, he was regarded by many as a pioneer who was overlooked. Jim Thorpe, who came into the league at the same time as Pollard was inducted in the Hall’s inaugural class in 1963, Pollard’s day, would come some 42 years later and 19 years after his death. Pollard died at the age of 92 in 1986.

Pollard’s daughter Leslie summed it up best when she spoke to the Boston Globe last February, “It’s strange. This generation does not know anything. Almost all of my younger life, there was mention of my father in his football days almost every time you picked up a newspaper. Now, people have never have heard of him.”

I saw something some years back that shocked me, there was a video clip of an interview with Emmitt Smith and the reporter asked him if he knew who Marion Motley was, and he had this grin on his face and said, “No, I don’t know who Marion Motley is.” I was embarrassed for Emmitt because some one of that stature should not only know the history of the game, but also know the contributions of our people to this game.

As a boy, I dreamed of playing this game as a professional, my dream was to graduate from the University of Michigan and break all of Anthony Carter’s receiving records. I mention him because he is the first football player that I remember watching as a kid. Instead, I became a sports enthusiast who just happens to write about this great sport, I can’t think of a bigger thrill.

I went to the Fritz Pollard website and I saw a quote that I used in the opening that read: “We drink from wells that we did not dig.” In my lifetime, I know I’ve been to that well too often, to ignore it, so today I raise my glass.

Ron Glover is a freelance columnist questions and comments can be sent to ronglov1972@hotmail.com