"Breaking The Huddle" on HBO was very good

[Syrinx]

It is a documentary about the civil-rights movement of the fifties and sixties (and seventies), viewed through the prism of the integration of college football in the south. It is a sad, inspiring, humorous, and uplifting film.

The funniest part, to me, was the tale of the two buddies on one team... I think it was Clemson or Maryland (I didn't take notes). One player was the only black guy on the team, and the other one was the only Jew. They took to calling themselves "the Only's." They went into the local Woolworth's store, and sat at the lunch counter. The Jewish player was served ("because he didn't have the Star Of David tatooed on his forehead"), but when the waitress got to the black player, she said "I'm sorry. We don't serve colored people here." And the Jewish player replied, "That's okay, because we don't eat them, either!"

:rofl:

The movie tells the touching story of Jerry LeVias, the first scholarship athlete in the old Southwest Conference, and his coach, Hayden Fry. LeVias talks about how he used his hatred of "white people" to excel at his game, while at the same time he had a deep love and respect for his white coach. That, in itself, is a complicated and greatly human story.

The film also paints an accurate portrait of Bear Bryant's wishes and efforts to integrate the Alabama football team, in a time that the prevailing public mood was against such matters of basic human decency. I think, in this regard, if you will excuse the phrase, it was "fair and balanced." (I've had people criticize my avatar of Bryant, accusing me of being racist, because he supposedly was. Well, he wasn't.)

Anyway. I recommend Breaking The Huddle: The Integration Of College Football. From HBO.com:

Focusing on football programs in the Southeastern, Southwest and Atlantic Coast Conferences, Breaking The Huddle: The Integration of College Football chronicles the heyday of football programs at historically black colleges and universities, and explores the profound effect of the Civil Rights movement of the '60s on the racial status quo of college athletics. The story culminates with the Sept. 1970 game played in Birmingham between the University of Southern California, featuring star African-American running back Sam "Bam" Cunningham, and the University of Alabama team of legendary Crimson Tide head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Among those interviewed are college football trailblazers Thom Gossom, Darryl Hill, Jerry LeVias, Willie Lanier, John Mitchell, Bubba Smith, Wilbur Hackett, Jr., Jimmy Jones and Sam Cunningham; journalists Jeff Prugh, Howell Raines, Ed Krzemienski and Keith Dunnavant; and George Wallace, Jr.

For showings (and there are a lot of them), click here.

[tom_paine]

1. Thanks for the history lesson about Bear. Good to know.

[Syrinx]

2. I don't think I presented a "history lesson," at all

I offered a comment on an HBO show. What did I do wrong? :shrug:

EDIT: Maybe you weren't being sarcastic. It read like you were. Sorry if I was wrong. :hi:

[tom_paine]

3. Nope, not sarcastic. Just a football fan who liked the Bear, except when he played JoPa and the

Nittany Lions.

(I'm probably one of the few people who still remembers Major Ogilvie)

I never cared enough to look into the history of Bear Bryant, and I supposed that I just sort of assumed he was just another Bushie Rebfederate.

Nice to know that wasn't the case, and I look forward to seeing that special sometime.

[Syrinx]

4. thanks!

I think my mom had a crush on Major Ogilvie! She won't admit it, though. :)

Sorry to half-accuse you of sarcasm. You're one of my favorite posters on here!

[tom_paine]

5. No worries. We all make mistakes. And thanks for the kind words.

:hi: