This past week’s Sports Illustrated featured tonight’s football game for the National Championship between the University of Oregon and Ohio State University. It is the culmination of the first real playoff in Division I college football.
In this issue there was another article, one by Seth Davis about someone I have always loved spending time with and have great respect for—George Raveling. One of the early black head basketball coaches, I first met George when he was a hustling assistant coach.
I am not sure, but I think the first time we had a real conversation was in the lobby of a Los Angeles hotel which was the headquarters for the coaches at the Final Four, but don’t hold me to that. What I remember was George touting the end of UCLA’s reign as NCAA champion. Being a westerner and Head Coach at UNLV at the time, I informed him there was no chance.
This is, however, not why I am writing. I just wished that I had known about his relationship with Martin Luther King, Jr. In my own way, I was an advocate for the black athlete and their communities throughout my coaching career and my life.
For example, as a player for the Oakland Oaks of the American Basketball League I had the honor of having a black roommate, Governor Vaughn, a star athlete for the University of Illinois. We were the first black/white roommates in professional sports (1962-63). Brian
Piccolo and Gayle Sayers were the first in the NFL with the Chicago Bears (1967).
The best team I had at UNLV had five black starters in the 1967-68 season. Not the first time just the best team. But this is not why I am writing this. If I had known George’s relationship I think we could have had some great conversations and I could have learned so much.
George, your path in life was and is not accidental. The universe has a way of bouncing us around such that we end up where we are supposed to be. if there is ever anything I can do for you please ask. We are in many ways still dealing with the same old crap and the Reverend King would be disappointed.
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