Tommie Smith

article is a mess ← Previous revision Revision as of 06:44, 23 June 2016 Line 1: Line 1:   {{For|others with a similar name|Tommy Smith (disambiguation){{!}}Tommy Smith}}   {{For|others with a similar name|Tommy Smith (disambiguation){{!}}Tommy Smith}}   + {{BLP sources|date=June 2016}}   + {{citations|BLP|date=June 2016}}   {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}}   {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}}   {{Infobox sportsperson   {{Infobox sportsperson Line 68: Line 70:   Smith, who had been drafted by the [[National Football League]]'s [[Los Angeles Rams]] in the ninth round of the 1967 [[NFL Draft]], signed to play for the [[American Football League]]'s [[Cincinnati Bengals]] and was part of the team's taxi squad for most of three seasons as a [[wide receiver]].<ref>Moore, Kenny (August 5, 1991) [http://web.archive.org/web/20140203114010/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1139998/]. ''Sports Illustrated''</ref> During the 1969 season, he played in two games, catching one pass for 41 yards.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/player/tommiesmith/2526095/profile Tommie Smith, WR at]. Nfl.com. Retrieved on June 13, 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitTo01.htm Tommie Smith NFL & AFL Football Statistics]. Pro-Football-Reference.com.</ref>   Smith, who had been drafted by the [[National Football League]]'s [[Los Angeles Rams]] in the ninth round of the 1967 [[NFL Draft]], signed to play for the [[American Football League]]'s [[Cincinnati Bengals]] and was part of the team's taxi squad for most of three seasons as a [[wide receiver]].<ref>Moore, Kenny (August 5, 1991) [http://web.archive.org/web/20140203114010/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1139998/]. ''Sports Illustrated''</ref> During the 1969 season, he played in two games, catching one pass for 41 yards.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/player/tommiesmith/2526095/profile Tommie Smith, WR at]. Nfl.com. Retrieved on June 13, 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitTo01.htm Tommie Smith NFL & AFL Football Statistics]. Pro-Football-Reference.com.</ref>     − After his track and football careers, he became a member of the United States [[National Track and Field Hall of Fame]] in 1978. In 1996, Smith was inducted into the [[California Black Sports Hall of Fame]], and in 1999 he received that organization's Sportsman of the Millennium Award. In 2000–2001 the County of Los Angeles and the State of Texas presented Smith with commendation, recognition and proclamation awards. + After his track and football careers, he became a member of the United States [[National Track and Field Hall of Fame]] in 1978. In 1996, Smith was inducted into the [[California Black Sports Hall of Fame]], and in 1999 he received that organization's Sportsman of the Millennium Award. In 2000–2001 the County of Los Angeles and the State of Texas presented Smith with commendation, recognition and proclamation awards.{{cn|date=June 2016}}       He later became a track coach at [[Oberlin College]] in [[Ohio]], where he also taught [[sociology]] and until recently was a faculty member at [[Santa Monica College]] in [[Santa Monica, California]].   He later became a track coach at [[Oberlin College]] in [[Ohio]], where he also taught [[sociology]] and until recently was a faculty member at [[Santa Monica College]] in [[Santa Monica, California]]. Line 74: Line 76:   With author [[David Steele (sportswriter)|David Steele]], Smith wrote his autobiography, entitled ''Silent Gesture'', published in February 2007 by [[Temple University Press]].   With author [[David Steele (sportswriter)|David Steele]], Smith wrote his autobiography, entitled ''Silent Gesture'', published in February 2007 by [[Temple University Press]].     − In August 2008, Tommie Smith gave 2008 Olympic triple gold winner [[Usain Bolt]] of Jamaica one of his shoes from the 1968 Olympics as a birthday gift.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.pumarunning.com/#EN/running/content/main/chasingBOLT |title=Time To Dance: Usain v Asafa |publisher=Puma |date=August 25, 2008 |deadurl=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428114815/http://www.pumarunning.com/#EN/running/content/main/chasingBOLT |archivedate=April 28, 2010 }}</ref> + In August 2008, Smith gave 2008 Olympic triple gold winner [[Usain Bolt]] of Jamaica one of his shoes from the 1968 Olympics as a birthday gift.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.pumarunning.com/#EN/running/content/main/chasingBOLT |title=Time To Dance: Usain v Asafa |publisher=Puma |date=August 25, 2008 |deadurl=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428114815/http://www.pumarunning.com/#EN/running/content/main/chasingBOLT |archivedate=April 28, 2010 }}</ref>     − In 2010, Smith announced that he would sell the gold medal he won at the [[1968 Summer Olympics|1968 Olympics]] in Mexico City. He put his gold medal for the 200 meters and spikes up for auction. The bid started at $250,000, and the sale was scheduled to close November 4, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tommie Smith selling '68 gold medal|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=5682536|work=espn.com|accessdate=October 14, 2010}}</ref> + In 2010, Smith put his gold medal and spikes up for auction. Bids started at $250,000, and the sale was scheduled to close November 4, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tommie Smith selling '68 gold medal|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=5682536|work=espn.com|accessdate=October 14, 2010}}</ref>       ==Recognition==   ==Recognition== − Tommie Smith is featured in the 1999 HBO documentary "Fists of Freedom: The Story of the '68 Summer Games." The documentary looks at events leading up to, during and after the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City, featuring interviews with athletes, including Tommie Smith, [[John Carlos]] and [[George Foreman]], activist Dr. [[Harry Edwards (sociologist)]], journalists and archival footage of the Games and the fallout after the raised fisted gloves by Carlos and Smith. + Tommie Smith is featured in the 1999 HBO documentary "Fists of Freedom: The Story of the '68 Summer Games." The documentary looks at events leading up to, during and after the Olympics, featuring interviews with Smith, Carlos and sociologist Dr. [[Harry Edwards (sociologist)|Harry Edwards]], journalists and archival footage of the Games and the fallout after the raised fisted gloves by Carlos and Smith.       :"We were not Antichrists. We were just human beings who saw a need to bring attention to the inequality in our country. I don't like the idea of people looking at it as negative. There was nothing but a raised fist in the air and a bowed head, acknowledging the American flag – not symbolizing a hatred for it."<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Roy, George (Director) |year=1999 |title=Firsts of Freedom: The Story of the '68 Games |medium=documentary}}</ref>   :"We were not Antichrists. We were just human beings who saw a need to bring attention to the inequality in our country. I don't like the idea of people looking at it as negative. There was nothing but a raised fist in the air and a bowed head, acknowledging the American flag – not symbolizing a hatred for it."<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Roy, George (Director) |year=1999 |title=Firsts of Freedom: The Story of the '68 Games |medium=documentary}}</ref>     − For his lifelong commitment to athletics, education, and human rights following his silent gesture of protest at the '68 Olympics in Mexico City, Smith received the Courage of Conscience Award from The Peace Abbey in Sherborn, Massachusetts.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.peaceabbey.org/awards/cocrecipientlist.html|title=The Couage of Conscience Award|publisher=The Peace Abbey|accessdate=August 22, 2008}}</ref> + For his lifelong commitment to athletics, education, and human rights, Smith received the Courage of Conscience Award from The Peace Abbey in Sherborn, Massachusetts.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.peaceabbey.org/awards/cocrecipientlist.html|title=The Couage of Conscience Award|publisher=The Peace Abbey|accessdate=August 22, 2008}}</ref>       [[Image:Three Proud People.jpg|thumb|''Three Proud People'' mural in [[Newtown, New South Wales|Newtown]].]]   [[Image:Three Proud People.jpg|thumb|''Three Proud People'' mural in [[Newtown, New South Wales|Newtown]].]]     − In 2004, was inaugurated in his presence in [[Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Ouen]], France, a sports hall bearing his name. + In 2004, was inaugurated in his presence in [[Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Ouen]], France, a sports hall bearing his name.{{cn|date=June 2016}}       In 2005, a statue showing Smith and Carlos on the medal stand (but not Norman, whose silver medal position is vacant) was constructed by political artist [[Rigo 23]] and dedicated on the campus of [[San Jose State University]].<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/10/18/SPGJTF9THS1.DTL|title=OLYMPIC PROTEST: Smith and Carlos Statue captures sprinters' moment|author=Crumpacker, John |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 18, 2005|accessdate=August 22, 2008}}</ref>   In 2005, a statue showing Smith and Carlos on the medal stand (but not Norman, whose silver medal position is vacant) was constructed by political artist [[Rigo 23]] and dedicated on the campus of [[San Jose State University]].<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/10/18/SPGJTF9THS1.DTL|title=OLYMPIC PROTEST: Smith and Carlos Statue captures sprinters' moment|author=Crumpacker, John |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 18, 2005|accessdate=August 22, 2008}}</ref>     − A mural of the photo taken with Smith on the podium at the 1968 Olympics with Carlos and Norman was painted on the brick wall of a residence in [[Newtown, New South Wales]], Australia, titled "Three Proud People Mexico 68". The house's owner, Silvio Offria, allowed an artist known only as "Donald" to paint the mural, and said that Norman came to Newtown to see the mural and have his photo taken with it before he died in 2006.<ref name="smh" /> The mural faces the train tracks linking Sydney city to the Western and Southern Suburbs. In 2012, the Sydney City Council [[heritage site|heritage listed]] the mural to safeguard it, after it had faced possible demolition in 2010 to make way for a railway tunnel.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/realestate/heritage-with-a-spray-can/story-fndctkaw-1226433501719 |title=Graffiti granted wall of protection in Sydney |last=Campion |first=Vikki |publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph (Australia)|The Daily Telegraph]] |date=July 24, 2012 |accessdate=January 1, 2014 }}</ref> Smith, along with Carlos, was a pallbearer at Norman's funeral in [[Melbourne]] in 2006.<ref name="smh">{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/last-stand-for-newtowns-three-proud-people-20100726-10smr.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Last stand for Newtown's 'three proud people' | first=Josephine | last=Tovey | date=July 27, 2010}}</ref> + A mural of the photo taken with Smith on the podium at the 1968 Olympics with Carlos and Norman was painted on the brick wall of a residence in [[Newtown, New South Wales]], Australia, titled "Three Proud People Mexico 68". The house's owner, Silvio Offria, allowed an artist known only as "Donald" to paint the mural, and said that Norman came to Newtown to see the mural and have his photo taken with it before he died in 2006.<ref name="smh" /> The mural faces the train tracks linking Sydney city to the Western and Southern Suburbs. In 2012, the Sydney City Council [[heritage site|heritage listed]] the mural to safeguard it, after it had faced possible demolition in 2010 to make way for a railway tunnel.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/realestate/heritage-with-a-spray-can/story-fndctkaw-1226433501719 |title=Graffiti granted wall of protection in Sydney |last=Campion |first=Vikki |publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph (Australia)|The Daily Telegraph]] |date=July 24, 2012 |accessdate=January 1, 2014 }}</ref> Smith and Carlos were pallbearers at Norman's funeral in [[Melbourne]] in 2006.<ref name="smh">{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/last-stand-for-newtowns-three-proud-people-20100726-10smr.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Last stand for Newtown's 'three proud people' | first=Josephine | last=Tovey | date=July 27, 2010}}</ref>     − On July 16, 2008, John Carlos and Tommie Smith accepted the [[Arthur Ashe Award for Courage]] for their salute at the 2008 [[ESPY Awards]] held at [[L.A. Live|NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE]] in Los Angeles, California. + On July 16, 2008, Smith and Carlos accepted the [[Arthur Ashe Award for Courage]] for the salute at the 2008 [[ESPY Awards]].{{cn|date=June 2016}}       ==See also==   ==See also== − *[[1968 Olympics Black Power salute]]     *[[Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement]]   *[[Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement]]   *[[Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame]]   *[[Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame]]