Reactions From Officials, Coaches, Reporters

(T&FN, December 1967)

PAYTON JORDAN, Stanford and US Olympic coach: "There must be some coercion to have an individual who has worked so long and hard (to qualify for the Olympics) to change his mind in the middle of the stream, but I don't know all the reasons. I really feel very badly that an individual might be denied this opportunity if he wants it. It's too bad that the liberal loudmouth gets all the attention, and the person who speaks rationally is not heard."

ARTHUR LENTZ, executive director of the US Olympic Committee: "The officers and committee members have been aware of this situation for a long time They resent being used as an attention-getter no matter how worthwhile the cause may be."

PEDRO RAMIREZ VASQUESZ, chairman of the organizing committee for the 1968 Olympics: "It's a domestic problem of the US. I think the chief aspect of the Games is that youth, independent of the color of their skin, country or religion, should get acquainted with each other, achieve recognition and not miss this opportunity to meet their contemporaries."

ROSS MC WHIRTER, co-editor of the Guinness Book of World Records in London: "The London Observer newspaper was much taken with your taped interview with Tommie Smith and Lee Evans and printed about 1000 words of it Dec. 3 with full acknowledgement."

BOB FACHET, Assistant Sports Editor of the Washington Post: "We saw your interview with Smith and Evans in the London Observer and thought it was quite revealing. It's not often that you can read the opinions of the average Negro. We'd like to reprint it."

IRVING LIND, Special Events Director of Voice of America: "We read your interview with Tommie and Lee in the Washington Post, and the article indicated you had taped the interview. We'd like to acquire that tape."

STEVE MURDOCK, T&FN photographer: "I was very interested in your Smith–Evans interview. I intend to reprint portions in People's World."

NEIL ALLEN, London Daily Times and World Sports writer: "I would like to congratulate T&FN on the interview done by Dick Drake with Tommie Smith and Lee Evans on the subject of the possible Negro boycott of the Olympic Games.

“Dick's taped interview covers most sides of the subject, but I think it may be relevant to quote, as I did in the Times last week, the view of Stokely Carmichael in his book 'lack Power' that 'we reject the goal of assimilation into middle class America… because that class as a social force perpetuates racism.' I think this underlies the view of some American Negroes that the place in the sun which they can find through sport is no longer as important as contributing towards what they regard as a battle for equality for their people.

“Frequently the view is expressed that we should not bring politics into sport. But the most significant development in international sport in the last decade is that in many cases (East and West Germany, Communist China, South Africa, etc.) sport cannot altogether escape from the wider problems of our time. I am glad, therefore, that T&FN found space to give the views of the two athletes."

ANITA VERSCHOTH, Sports Illustrated reporter, Los Angeles: "I thought your interview was just beautiful. It's the first article I've seen that has examined their opinions in an objective manner."

SAM SKINNER, Negro reporter for the San Francisco Sun: "Congratulations on your Smith-Evans interview. It is the first time I have seen an objective presentation of how and why the Negro athlete thinks. There is going to be a great deal more involvement of the racial problem into athletics and all of us must be prepared for it. Dick Drake's interview is a big step toward better understanding."

REV. ANDREW YOUNG, executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference founded by Dr. Martin Luther King: "Dr. King applauds this new sensitivity among Negro athletes and public figures, and he feels that this should be encouraged not discouraged. Dr. King told me that 'this represents a new spirit of concern on the part of successful Negroes for those who remain impoverished. Negro athletes may be treated with adulation during their Olympic careers, but many will face later the same slights experienced by other Negroes. Dr. King knows that this is a desperate situation for the Negro athlete, the possibility of giving up a chance at a gold medal but he feels that the cause of the Negro may demand it."

AVERY BRUNDAGE, International Olympic Committee president: "These misguided young men were being badly misadvised. If these boys are serious, they're making a very bad mistake. If they're not serious and they're using the Olympic Games for publicity purposes, we don't like it. They would be depriving themselves of an opportunity that comes only once in a lifetime."

DAVE YOUNGBLADE, Central Ohio State coach on leave of absence, Lusaka, Zambia: "I feel I must reply to Walter Mack's pot shot at the American Negro boycotting the Olympics. When the Games roll by we wave the American flag and expect everyone to join battle to outdo the Russians and whoever else is a so-called threat to our so-called supremacy in track & field. So, the Negro is expected to rally around the flag just like he is expected to pay taxes, obey the laws of the land and fight in Vietnam. All this is okay, but what does he get in return?

“I'll give you personal examples of my own athletes. Martin McGrady and I used to play billiards to kill time on some of the big indoor trips we took the past two winters. In Mobile, for the Senior Bowl, we were escorted out of a billiard parlor for 'our own safety.' Bob Lipscomb got his commission as a US officer and was denied housing for his wife and family in Pittsburgh, even when he put cash on the table. This was after he called by phone to verify the vacancy. McGrady and Lipscomb are two fine young men, welcome to eat and sleep in my home anytime. As Negroes, they don't request 'red carpet' treatment, but is it out of reach to expect a fair shake?”