Opinion

DAZE WORK: We could use more folks like Gale Sayers right now

Thursday, September 24, 2020
Gale Sayers

About a dozen years ago, my then-wife Ruth was in line at O’Hare Airport, ready to board a flight from Chicago to Omaha.

Suddenly there was some confusion as a slender middle-aged Black man made his way through the waiting area. She got close enough to get a good look before calling me on her cellphone.

Ruth described the fellow in general terms that meant little or nothing to me until she detailed that he was wearing a ring with diamonds and a large No. 40 on it.

“That would be Gale Sayers,” I remember screaming into the phone. “Oh my god!”

Just my luck. She gets to share a flight with a superstar she wouldn’t have known from Adam. Never even gets his autograph. No wonder the marriage didn’t work out.

Gale Sayers, the legendary Chicago Bears running back who died Wednesday at 77 from illness related to dementia, was so good he was voted in to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as its youngest honoree ever at 34 years old. His career was cut short in years (seven) but not highlights (many). If you need further proof, go to NFL Films and check their footage, specifically a six-touchdown game in the mud against the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 12, 1965. Pay particular attention to his 80-yard punt return. Try to refrain from gasping.

Of all the Bears I’ve cheered for and followed over the years, Gale Sayers has always been my absolute favorite. Not Dick Butkus. Not Walter Payton. Not William “The Refrigerator” Perry. Not Jay Cutler (joking). Gale Sayers.

As I’m writing this I can hear broadcaster Jack Brickhouse in my head, hollering, “Galloping Gale carries the mail” -- quite eloquent actually for a fellow whose trademark was screaming “Hey! Hey!” whenever one of the Cubs homered -- as Sayers ran away from another defense.

Personally I own two autographed footballs among my sports collectibles -- one from Peyton Manning, and the other Gale Sayers. That should tell you something.

The thing about Sayers -- who had difficulty just speaking publicly in his early days -- is that he was a hero not only for his on-field exploits but his life off the field as well.

He developed a legendary friendship with fellow Chicago Bear running back Brian Piccolo, who would replace him in the Bears’ backfield when Sayers went down with a severe knee injury in 1968. Piccolo was an inspiration as Sayers battled back from injury, and then became an even bigger part of his life when Piccolo was diagnosed with cancer.

In a speech to sportswriters and broadcasters in 1970 while being honored with an NFL courage award for his comeback from knee surgery, Sayers told the world succinctly and beautifully, “I love Brian Piccolo.” That speech became the inspiration behind the famed 1971 made-for-TV movie “Brian’s Song” with Billy Dee Williams as Sayers and James Caan as Piccolo.

Hearing Sayers say that about Piccolo, who was dying of cancer, I was uncharacteristically moved. It was the first time in my young life that I could recall a Black man saying he loved a white man. It brought tears to my teenage eyes.

Without a doubt, we could use more folks like Gale Sayers here in 2020.

Maybe that’s why he left us so soon, to send another important message during this god-forsaken year.

For that, Galloping Gale, would have indeed carried the mail.

Comments
View 2 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • Such a beautiful article about a beautiful man. Thank you, Eric.

    -- Posted by small town fan on Fri, Sep 25, 2020, at 9:56 AM
  • *

    Mr. Sayers was a class act on and off the gridiron... Mr. Bernsee your words are spot on...

    -- Posted by ridgerunner54 on Fri, Sep 25, 2020, at 3:57 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: