On the TunneySide of Sports October 5, 2020 #816 Up next… The Kansas Comet!
After further review… As a 60–year follower of the National Football League, I am saddened at the number of early player deaths. I knew so many of them when I was an on-field official. With few exceptions, I knew most of them off the field as well. Many have recently passed-away in their 70s. I’ll not burden you a repeated sadness by naming them, except for one – Gale Sayers.
Sayers died September 23, 2020, just a couple of months into his 77th year with an obituary that read: “Was an American football player who was both a halfback (a term not used much in today’s NFL) and a return specialist with a brief but productive NFL career.” His seven seasons with the Chicago Bears (the only team he played for) brought him such honors as “Rookie of the Year” in 1965 and Induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 – his first year eligible.
Although there are many stories I could tell about Sayers when I was on the same Wrigley Field with him, I think the following describes Sayers best. It was sent to me by my good friend, Dr. Norm Jones who writes: “Many years ago, I coached football at Palatine (Illinois) High School with a guy named Gary Duff. Gary played football with Gale Sayers at University of Kansas. One evening Gary invited me over to his house to watch a game. When I sat down, I noticed a big trophy beside me. Printed on it said, GARY DUFF-FOOTBALL MVP-KANSAS UNIVERSITY and gave the year. It was the year he and Gale were seniors together. I asked Gary, “How could you be MVP when you played with Sayers who was an All-American, set several records at Kansas, and became a first-round draft choice of the Chicago Bears?”
Gary said, “The team voted me MVP. I kicked field goals, extra points, played wide receiver and safety, and did the punting. I led the team in scoring, and I guess the team felt I deserved it.”
Norm continued, “Several years later I had an opportunity at an event both Sayers and I were attending. I had a chance to ask Gale, ‘How could it be that your teammate at Kansas, Gary Duff, was chosen MVP when you were both seniors yet you went on to set school records, be chosen an All-American and were a first-round draft choice of the Bears? Gale didn’t blink an eye and said, ‘Gary Duff had a better year than I did.”
There is no better way to sum-up the man Sayers was than this tribute. Thanks, Norm!
Will you look at the man or woman inside his or her physical talents?
– – – – – – – – –
To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com or email jim@jimtunney.com.
Jim’s books take issues from the sports world and transform them into positive messages. Please visit the store at JimTunney.com for product information.
Thank You!
Jim Tunney
