I watched the movie 'The Express' starring Dennis Quaid and Rob Brown. This is the story of Ernie Davis an American Football legend from the 50/ 60 s who despite tough race related issues in the States made it to the very top. His incredible speed and athletism on the field made him an incredible force to be reckoned with. During these years race related tension in the States was at a high and being a black man made his life very difficult. Segregation was widespread.
Despite the forces against him, Ernie didn't aspire to be the best black man on the field but more so the best American Football player that lived. Playing for Syracuse University, Ernie faced his toughest competition in the Cotton Bowl against the Uni of Texas. Being a truly physical game with cheap shots and hard tackles, Ernie excelled. He was the first black man to win the Heisman Trophy. Ernie never saw a professional NFL career as leukemia stole him from Earth and at the age of 23 he succumbed to the disease. Yet his memory lives on forever and his name has now reached as far corners of the world as Sri Lanka and Australia. More than 10 000 people attended his funeral.
John F Kennedy congratulated Ernie Davis personally after receiving the Heisman Trophy and was said to have spoken of Davis as -
'Seldom has an athlete been more deserving of such a tribute. Your high standards of performance on the field and off the field, reflect the finest qualities of competition, sportsmanship and citizenship. The nation has bestowed upon you its highest awards for your athletic achievements. It's a privilege for me to address you tonight as an outstanding American, and as a worthy example of our youth. I salute you.'
Ernie was a superstar because -
1) His talent spoke more than his words. He did not need to showcase himself like athletes do today, he just went on the field and his action spoke louder than words.
2) Incredible commitment to be the best, hard work and raw ambition.
3) Talent nurtured from his youth by running along rail tracks.
4) Drawing from past experiences e.g. overcoming bullies by breaking through gang formations in American Football style
5) A patient grand father who mentored him, looked out for him and patiently taught him to be the best through motivation and inspiration rather than rebuke.
6) An incredible coach who stood up for his team and made them be the best. His coach was a tough man, hard on his team and almost militant. But he did not let his arrogance dominate the sport, he was a person who worked with people to get the most out of them and make them the best at what they do. He was a mentor and an inspiration, almost the star General the army looks up to or would love to look up to.
7) A team who performs like a team on and off the field. After beating Texas at the Cotton Bowl, segregation demanded that black men were not allowed to the country club function afterward. Not even the MVP - Ernie Davis! The team told the country club to stick it where the sun doesn't shine and they all had their own private function.
8) He was the Martin Luther King Jr and the Gandhi of his moment in time i.e. his generation and placement in society. He did not resort to violence and did not work to antagonize people but rather through peaceful means worked hard to make his point through his talents so that the world would listen and begin to see that the bullshit segregation of his day belongs in tragic history rather than the future or present
9) He is an inspiration to the countless numbers of people living in the world today (2009) under segregation or persecution of their own kind. Thousands today are faced with political, ethnic or religious persecution. Violence only breeds violence and those who live by the sword die by it. Peaceful means, through sport, arts, peaceful protests, ecological or economical means should be much more sought after than violence.
10) No matter who you are, or where you are, don't ever let people put you down. The world is bent on putting you down. Do not let the world put you down. You have the potential to be the best, no one can take that from you. All you need to do is work extremely hard and the rest will be history.
The Bible verse that Ernie recites as a little boy in the Express movie -
1 Corinthians 15:10: "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
which is simplified as -
But God was kind! He made me what I am, and his wonderful kindness wasn't wasted. I worked much harder than any of the other apostles, although it was really God's kindness at work and not me.
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