RIP Lee Evans

[HanSenSE]

One of the founders of the Olympic Project for Human Rights, but did not protest when he led a U.S. sweep of the 400 meters. Also anchored the winning USA 4x400 relay team.

Was a teammate of John Carlos and Tommie Smith during the heyday of "Speed City" at San Jose State.

Lee Evans, 1968 Olympic 400m champion, dies at 74

 

[goalmouth]

His book was a good read.

 

[Splendid Splinter]

Was expecting the former Bills wide receiver when I read the title.

 

[HanSenSE]

A more comprehensive obit, from the legendary Lawrence Fan.

 

[maumann]

The 1968 U.S. track and field team may be the greatest ever assembled, even if you factor in the synthetic track and altitude of Mexico City.

Hines, Smith and Evans all set world records, as did the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Hurdler Willie Davenport, miler Jim Ryun, pole vaulter Bob Seagren, **** Fosbury revolutionized the high jump and then there was Bob Beamon, who jumped out of the damn stadium.

Matson, Oerter, Toomey. Add Wyomia Tyus, Barbara Ferrell and Madeline Manning.

Really the gold standard for track and field in this country.

RIP, Lee.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Hopefully, this will get the black glove treatment it deserves.

 

[HanSenSE]

Hopefully, this will get the black glove treatment it deserves.

Well played, sir.

 

[maumann]

Newark and Detroit burned in 1967. MLK was killed in April of 1968. Bobby Kennedy was gunned down in June. The war was raging. Then you had the violence at the Democratic National Convention.

With all that happening, it's amazing two Black athletes standing on a podium with their heads bowed and gloves raised after winning a track meet still resonates.

 

[goalmouth]

Platform tennis was an exhibition sport at Mexico City, a former publisher showed me his Olympic pin set he received for playing.

 

[HanSenSE]

Newark and Detroit burned in 1967. MLK was killed in April of 1968. Bobby Kennedy was gunned down in June. The war was raging. Then you had the violence at the Democratic National Convention.

With all that happening, it's amazing two Black athletes standing on a podium with their heads bowed and gloves raised after winning a track meet still resonates.

Nowadays, it's a kneeling quarterback.

 

[Songbird]

This wasn't a "drop" but a perfect throw by an elite quarterback and then a perfect defensive play.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

Newark and Detroit burned in 1967. MLK was killed in April of 1968. Bobby Kennedy was gunned down in June. The war was raging. Then you had the violence at the Democratic National Convention.

With all that happening, it's amazing two Black athletes standing on a podium with their heads bowed and gloves raised after winning a track meet still resonates.

Detroit was runner up to Mexico City for the 1968 Games

 

[qtlaw]

Nowadays, it's a kneeling quarterback.

As much as I want to praise Kaepernick for raising the issue, the Black Gloves was so much more powerful. It was direct, simple, and clear. Evans and Tommie Smith put out the message and people got it.

Kaep, it was so passive. It took, what 3-4 games for people to even notice that he was doing something. He was waiting for someone to notice then ask him. How about just say it in the locker room during your interview? THEN, kneel.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Detroit was runner up to Mexico City for the 1968 Games

At that time in the city's history, they would not have had any trouble finding someone to light the Olympic flame.

 

[da man]

The 1968 U.S. track and field team may be the greatest ever assembled, even if you factor in the synthetic track and altitude of Mexico City.

Hines, Smith and Evans all set world records, as did the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Hurdler Willie Davenport, miler Jim Ryun, pole vaulter Bob Seagren, **** Fosbury revolutionized the high jump and then there was Bob Beamon, who jumped out of the damn stadium.

Matson, Oerter, Toomey. Add Wyomia Tyus, Barbara Ferrell and Madeline Manning.

Really the gold standard for track and field in this country.

RIP, Lee.

It IS the greatest track team ever assembled, and it's not close, really. Evans' record lasted 20 years. Beamon's lasted 23 (and has still only been surpassed once). Smith's lasted 11 years and Hines' lasted 15. The 4x400 record wasn't broken until 1992 -- and is still the seventh-fastest of all time.

They were epic performances.

And, as noted, Ryun, Seagren, Fosbury, Davenport, etc., etc.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

Don’t forget Spencer Haywood, Charlie Scott and Jo Jo White of the championship men’s basketball team

 

[micropolitan guy]

There's a statue of Fosbury at the approximate site of the high jump pit at the 1968-era Microville Tech track facility. The bar is set exactly at his Mexico City clearance.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0266/5404/8313/files/banner-****-fosbury.png?v=1594766208

 

[Spartan Squad]

When Smith and Carlos got their stairs at SJSU in 2005, I think it was Dr. Harry Edwards who recounted that the San Jose State contingent had all agreed to do something if they got on the podium. Love that all of them were on board. It’s a travesty that the college hasn’t done more to really highlight its civil rights history. Apart from the statue and some token displays in the library, they’ve punted to Cal and Stanford. Will be interesting to see if more is done to honor Evans as students come back to campus in the fall.

RIP

 

[HappyCurmudgeon]

If you can check out the HBO Documentary on the 1968 U.S. track team it's a hell of a watch.

Fists of Freedom: The Story of the '68 Summer Games - Watch the Original HBO Sports Documentary | HBO

 

[HanSenSE]

Don’t forget Spencer Haywood, Charlie Scott and Jo Jo White of the championship men’s basketball team

And while we're topic drifting from track and field, George Foreman comes to mind as well.