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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1984)
Black Americana sat world records As the Relentless "T ic k-lo cks o f the clock move closer to the twentieth renewal o f the O lym pic pageant at Los Angeles next summer, the question How ard P. Drew was a sprinter in the 1912 Olympics and a favorite to win the gold, but tragedy hit him and he never ran in the finals. Drew was stricken with a leg injury after winning the semi-finals in the 100 meters. A l though he suited up for the finals, he never ran, as the injury was too pain ful. Perhaps the most hard luck story o f the Olympics happened in Munich in 1972 when Ray Robinson and Eddie H a rt, then two o f Am erica’s standout sprinters, were disqualified as they failed to report at the starting post on time for the second heat o f the 100 meters. Six Olympic gold medal winners were honored last year as they were among the 20 charter members o f the U .S. Olympic H a ll o f Fame. The list was topped by Jesse Owens, winner o f four gold medals at the Berlin O lym pics, and the lone boxer was Cassius Clay, now known as M u h a m m a d A li, who won the light-heavyweight title in Rome in I960. Others include W ilm a Rudolph, winner o f three gold medals in the O lym pic W om en’s events in I960; Rafer Johnson, I960 decathlon champion; Bob Beamon. 1968 long jum p victor with a still-standing world record o f 29 feet. 2 H inches; Harrison D illard, four-tim e gold medal winner in sprints o f " W h a t becomes o f Olympic gold medal winners" persists. Likewise we reflect on the past and wonder where they are and what they are doing. W e. too. reflect on what has happened in past Olympiads, and we find: That more than 20,000 athletes have competed since the modern renewal or the Olympics began in 1896 am id the particularly smiling aspects o f the Gay-Nineties. That one o f the m ajor highlights o f the global competition, o f course, has been the tremendous trium phs Black athletes have recorded under the swirling Old G lory, our Star-Spangled Banner, during the past 87 years. That in individual running and jumping events. Blacks have accounted for a total o f 41 gold medals; 6 o f them prevailing today as all-tim e Olympic standards. The record follows: In the historic words o f Baron deCouterteu, who is considered the father o f M odem Olympics; "T h e important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part. The essential thing is not conquering, but fighting well. This may have been fine when the Modern Games were renewed in 1896, but the simple fact is now the athletes and the nations "g o for the gold” be cause winners o f gold Olympic medals find gold— real gold—easier to ob tain once that gold medal is dangling on a ribbon around your neck. Thus, some o f the gold winners have gained success, and some o f them have been like Tennyson’s snowflake— " A moment white on water, then gone forever” — but the story o f those who have survived the OlvmDics and moved into successful careers in a part o f history— Black history particular ly— that we can never overlook. Clocking Jim Hincs(100 meters) Tom m ieSm ith(200 meters) Lee Evans(400 meters) Rod M ilb u rn fl lOhigh hurdles) W y omia TysotM 100 m eten) Bob Beamon(long jum p) 9 .9 s 19.8 s 43.8 s 13.24 s 11.0 400 Meter Hurdles (M en 1 9 7 6 ,.., Edwin Moses Long Jump (M en) 1 9 2 4 ... . D eHart Hubbard 1 9 3 2 ... . Ed Gordon 1 9 3 6 ... . Jesse Owens 1 9 4 8 ... W illie Steele 1 9 5 6 ... . Gregory Bell I9 6 0 ... Ralph Boston 1 9 6 8 ... Robert (Bob) Beamon 1 9 7 6 ... . Arnie Robinson 1300 Meters (M en ) 1 9 6 8 ... Kit Keino Namc/event 1 9 6 8 .... W illie Davenport 1972___ Rod M ilburn High Jump (M en) 1 9 3 6 .... Cornelius Johnson 1 9 5 6 ... . Charles Dumas 400 Meters (M en) 1936.. . . Archie W illiams 1932.. . . George Rhoden 1936.. . . Charlie Jenkins 1960.. . . Otis Davis 1968.. . . Lee Evans 1972.. . . Vince Matthews 800 Meters (M en) 1936.. . . Johnny W o o d ru ff 1948.. . . M ai W hitfield 1952. . . . M a i W hitfield and hurdles in 1948 and 1932. It should be remembered that coaching techniques are imperceptibly altered as time goes on, making it impossible for any clocking to remain un challenged. Jesse Owens, for example, was not permitted to use the modern starting block. H e had to break the tape, but today the dash man need only make contact with the tape. Perhaps the Owens’ 9.4 o f 1936, today, would be a probable 9.1. 200 Meters (M en) 1932.. . .E d d ie T o la n 1936___ Jesse Owens 1932___ Andrew (A ndy) Sunfield 1968.. . . Tom mie Smith 1976.. . . Don Quarrie Decathlon (M en) 1936.. . . M ilto n Campbell 1960.. . . Rafer Johnson 110 Meter Hurdles (M en) 1932.. . . Harrison Dillard 1936.. . . Lee Calhoun I9 6 0 ----- Lee Calhoun 1964.. . . Hayes Jones Marathon 1964. . . . A bebe Bikila -. >• - ’ i V- I » * Black History Month * 29 feet. 2 h inches Healthy Body — Healthy Mind 4 ' Black Children — Education v Guard Our Youth Concept Black American Gold Medalists- Track and Field Investment in our children for their future. 100 Meters (M en) 1932 Fdd ieT olan 1936___ Jesse Owens 1948.. . . Harrison Dillard 1964___ Robert (Bob) Hayes 1968.. . . James (Jim ) Hines 1976___ Hasley Crawford People to People Ministries Box 22344, Milwaukie, OR 97222 6630131 ■w vww- aMflgni xr •«» ♦’«» ’•»"«♦•krt • TIIE YEAH OF THE PARENT Success m the held ot science demands outstanding ettort in one 8 discipline and the discipline to make one s effort outstanding Before this scientist was a teen her parents had already measured her intelligence, tested her talents and researched her potential We salute the successful scientist, but. more than that, we salute the guardians ol genius who guide the growth of tomorrow the parents Success Is no surprise when you consider the source The foundation for futfUhnont l i provided by our first leechers, most concerned coaches, closest counselors and beat fnsnds our parents The Seven-Up Company salutes the real sources of success parents and guardlana who quids the growth of tomorrow by providing love snd affection today As we compete in Me s race toward high achievement, even the most agile athlete cannot get around the need lor all star parents Practicing teamwork in the tom e, and enercising patience in the parenting process mom and dad successfully provided the groundwork lor a moral victory before any material medals are collected Without demanding super stardom yet encouraging e.cellence the parents ran the first leg providing a firm anchor m the relay of reality Befixe we lace our ma|<x missions m Me. our childhood is full of significant simulations guided by Ibe command center ot horn«« Parents provide our countdown Io success Their examples guide <>ur paths their sacrifice and supervision launch our careers their care and confidence reduce the weight ot youthful stress and help us Io lace foe pull ol gravity in adult world situations Sugar Ray Leonard, who became the great professional champion, won the 1976 Light-welterweight championship in Montreal. e & t: V. Franklin Î FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSN. W ALNUT PARK OFFICE 5775 N.E. UNIONAVE. « B t t Jffi. «4? r s s î f 9 Î’ ’ 248-1494 a . r \ *■ 1 Portland Observer, February 2 2,198 4 Section II Page 11 . ‘ ’. V
