Did you hear on the news that one of the four gold medals won by Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin is up for auction? Jesse Owens gave the medal to his friend, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson a few years after the Olympics. Bojangles Robinson's widow is now selling the gold medal.
I also have a video for you which is from the 1936 Olympics...and tell me if you recognize who is pictured beside Jesse Owens for just a few seconds, at the 2:18 mark....
It is Mr. Louis Zamperini! I was so pleased to recognize him! I have written about Mr. Zamperini before, he wrote the book "Devil At My Heels" and I sent a letter to Mr. Zamperini in 2004 and he wrote me back! (He is also the subject of Laura Hillenbrand's best-selling book, "Unbroken".) When I visited Alabama (which is where Jesse Owens was born), I purchased a post-card showing a beautiful statue of Jesse Owens from his hometown of Oakville Alabama, and that is the post-card that I sent to Mr. Zamperini! I thought he would like the gesture since Mr. Zamperini and Jesse Owens were roommates at the Olympics and Mr. Zamperini had written very warmly of his memories of Jesse Owens. ( He called him "a prince of a fellow" and said that he had tried to look out for him, Mr. Zamperini being younger than Jesse Owens.)
Now, if you have watched the video, you will have heard of the German Olympian, Lutz Long who helped Jesse Owens make a change in the way that he set up for his long-jump, and thereby helped Jesse to win his first gold medal. Lutz Long came in second, winning the silver, but he was the first one to congratulate Jesse on his gold medal win.
Here is the quote from Jesse Owens...
"You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn't be a plating on the twenty four karat friendship I felt for Lutz Long at that moment".
You may read more about Lutz Long here.
I realize that I have spoken of these men...Jesse Owens, "Bojangles" Robinson, Louis Zamperini and Lutz Long without really saying too much about any of them, but I am hopeful that you already know about them and if not, you will follow the links and learn of them. I promise you it is very much worth your time.
I didn't know so much of this, Kay. These friendships really restore your faith in mankind. Thank you for telling us about it. I'll show this to my husband when he returns from the dentist. It's bound to cheer him up.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kay! I really don't care how rich or famous someone is, I just care about how nice they are!
DeleteOh, Jesse Owens. I enjoyed the video, aside from all the Nazi business. I noticed Louis in my first viewing so I was pleased to see you mentioned him. Oh Louis. What a man ~ what a story. As for Lutz Long, his sportsmanship is commendable in this story but he's still a Nazi. Maybe it's just me but I can't get past that. I hope you're doing well, Kay, and that you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteOh Audrey, I understand that is not easy to see the Nazi salute and Nazi flag when we know what is coming...but the point is, in 1936, the athletes did not know what would happen. You need to read Mr. Zamperini's book!! Louis Zamperini actually shook Hitler's hand when he was called over, and he shimmied up a flag-pole and stole a Nazi flag too! He just did it, not because he was trying to make a political statement or anything, just because he thought he could get away with it!
DeleteAnd we had a very nice Thanksgiving, my dear, and I hope you did too!
Oh, I forgot to tell you.....I finished Unbroken. Loved every word of the entire book!!! Zamperini is AMAZING and has the most incredible story. It's really inspiring...
DeleteI am so glad that you read UNBROKEN!!! Can you see why I wrote to the publisher of "Devil At My Heels" and asked them to tell Mr. Zamperini how much I thought of him? I wish I could go and hear him speak, he has actually come to Altanta, and people have come up to me and said,"Oh, you know the man you have talked about for years and years, the one you like so much and admire? He was just in Atlanta YESTERDAY". (What??!!!)
DeleteJust wait until the movie comes out, you know Americans...nothing is real until it is either in a movie or on TV!
Oh nuts -- the video won't play in Canada. But a great story nevertheless!
ReplyDeleteType this in a search engine...Jesse Owens and Enduring Spirit. It is a film made by Ohio State and you would love it!
DeleteWhile I knew about Jesse Owens, and through your blog also about Mr. Zamperini, I didn't even know Lutz Long's name. That goes to show how much Germany tries NOT to take note of anyone who did anything during the Nazi-years, as long as it wasn't something to do with the resistance against the regime.
ReplyDeleteCan't watch the video, because it is not available for my country... Nonetheless, this was an interesting post and, as is so often the case on your blog, I learned something new!
Oh, I'm sorry you can't see the video. If you type in his name in a search engine for Youtube, I am sure you could find one that works in Germany!
DeletePleased that you find this interesting too. I just thought the quote by Jesse Owens kind of went with the story of his medal coming up for auction. I wish I could have written a better post about Jesse Owens, not just a fantastically gifted athlete, but a truly gracious individual.
I can't see the video, I am afraid, but there are some inspiring stories that came out of that era
ReplyDeleteOh, I am sorry, but hopefully, with the sale of this gold medal, perhaps someone will do a great documentary about Jesse Owens. Watch out, I might do one myself! :-)
DeleteWhile i've heard the story before, i enjoyed reliving it here! It's sad when a later bad happening is allowed to overshadow the good that came before.
ReplyDeleteJesse Owens led a life that everyone should know about, and not just as being an athlete.
DeleteAnd to see all those Nazi flags and salutes! Mr. Zamperini said that they hid all the "No Jews Allowed" signs while they were there (when the cameras were around) but he noticed they put them right back after the newspaper reporters had departed. Read his book! It's fascinating!
I saw that headline and wondered why it was being sold. Hope she gets a lot of money for it.
ReplyDeleteI hope that it sells for a lot too but only because I hope it raises awareness of the name of Jesse Owens, someone we should all emulate.
DeleteInspirational video, Kay. What Lutz Long did was the definition of sportsmanship. Jesse Owens was a trailblazing athlete! And Zamparini's life story is compelling! I hope you are having a great day!
ReplyDeleteLutz Long received the De Coubertin Medal (posthumously, of course) for his great sportsmanship. I am glad you liked the video too and of course, I knew you would find all these men fascinating too!
DeleteJesse Owens is a well known figure here, respected by the UK and indeed Germany, yet when he returned home his colour meant he was disregarded and suffered much abuse. He also lost medals, had them replaced and gave some away. There is a question as to where these lie today.
ReplyDeleteJesse Owens, actually was paid to race against HORSES, if you can believe it, but he said that he had to do whatever he could to survive. It was especially stinging to him when FDR would not meet with him, due to the President's fear of losing votes in the South.
DeleteEven with everything against him, Jesse Owens still loved his country and tried in every way to affect positive change in his understated, gentlemanly style.
He has my utmost respect.
No matter if his medals were taken away or if he gave them away, he still knew that he had won FOUR gold medals and no one can take that away!
Friendships are worth their weight in gold! I'm sorry but I disagree. Friendships far transcend such paltry values.
ReplyDeleteThe words that I type on my posts very often are not quite what I want to say, but I hope you got my meaning, very much what you have typed above.
DeleteOf course I knew what you meant, Kay, and my words came out as being rather critical which they weren't meant to be. I just wanted to emphasise the point. Friendships to me have been such an important thing in my life and gold has not.
DeleteI am very disappointed with myself you see, when what I am trying to say just does not come across in what I am writing! Of course, I knew you were just driving the point home, that friendships are worth so very much.
DeleteIt made me a bit sad you see, because my son is not around anymore to proof read his Mom's posts! My sadness might have come through there a bit. I appreciate your comment, my friend! Hope New Zealand is treating you well.