Lost another Great one
By Bensen32
@Bensen32 (28658)
United States
September 23, 2020 2:51pm CST
Today we lost a sports star and by all accounts a good guy. Gale Sayers NFL Hall of Famer and former Chicago Bears running back passed away today at age 77.
If you are not aware of the NFL you may not have heard of him but if you Know the NFL you probably have and certainly if you’re a fan of the Chicago Bears you certainly have.
Although his career only lasted 7 years, he really made a name for himself. Being drafted 4th over all in the 1965 draft he showed in his first season why. He set a record 6 touchdowns in one game and for the season set a record 22 touchdowns in a single season. He would go on to be an All-Pro 5 of his 7 seasons. He would go on to be the youngest player ever inducted into the Football Hall of Fame.
His popularity extended outside of football too. In 1971 a movie called Brian’s Song came out and told the story how two men became unlikely friends. Gale Sayers a black man and Brian Piccolo a white man played for the Chicago Bears both running backs and in 1967 when the Bears dropped its policy of segregating players by race in hotel room assignments the two were set to be roommates while on the road.
Brian help Sayers through a rehab of his knee and with that help Sayers came back the next year and earned All- Pro. In 1969, when Brian pulled himself out of a game due to shortness or breath Sayers was there for him when he was diagnosed with cancer.
The movie Brian’s Song is a great movie and if you have not seen it I suggest you do. You do not need to be a football fan to see this movie. This movie is about compassion, love, friendship.
4 people like this
4 responses
@snowy22315 (208951)
• United States
23 Sep 20
OMG, Brians Song has to be the saddest movie ever made. It made James Caan a star, probably even more than Godfather.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (208951)
• United States
23 Sep 20
@Bensen32 It was super sad. you are right, people should see it today. I would not watch it though...too darn sad.
1 person likes this
@Bensen32 (28658)
• United States
23 Sep 20
@snowy22315 I was actually thinking, I need to find a way to watch this again. It's been many years since I have seen it. I am going to do a little searching and see if I can find it on any streaming service.
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Sep 20
I was aware of who Gale Sayers was and that he was a great player, but I didn't know much about him. I did read of his passing though. I have not seen Brian's Song. Sounds like it would be a great movie to watch.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128835)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Sep 20
@Bensen32 I'll add it to the list of movies I need to see. I wish I had more time now to watch movies. I had several months during the lockdown that I was sitting at home doing nothing that I could have been watching all these good movies! haha
1 person likes this
@Bensen32 (28658)
• United States
28 Sep 20
@moffittjc I fit in a few here and there. I'm not much for sitting and watching for hours on end.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56257)
• Canada
24 Sep 20
@Bensen32 Isn't it though?
I have watched the movie more then once, but to tune in to it yesterday, the day before he passed away is coincidental.
One positive thing about that movie was the fact that not all white people look down on black people. I am that way and I am glad that it was portrayed with honesty, even though back then it discrimination was far worse.
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