Brian’s SongBrian’s Song

A teleplay by William BlinnA teleplay by William Blinn

About the authorAbout the author

William Blinn was born in Toledo, William Blinn was born in Toledo,

Ohio.Ohio. He worked as a screen writer.He worked as a screen writer.

Some of his famous works includeSome of his famous works include• Starsky and HutchStarsky and Hutch• RootsRoots

About the story…About the story…

The main characters are Gale Sayers and The main characters are Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo.Brian Piccolo.

They play for the Chicago Bears.They play for the Chicago Bears. They are competing for the position of They are competing for the position of

running back for the Bears during the running back for the Bears during the 1960s amidst desegregation across the 1960s amidst desegregation across the country.country.

They were the NFL’s first interracial pair of They were the NFL’s first interracial pair of roommates. roommates.

Who was Brian Piccolo?Who was Brian Piccolo?

Brian Piccolo was an outgoing, very ambitious Brian Piccolo was an outgoing, very ambitious Italian American.Italian American.

He played college football at Wake Forest. He played college football at Wake Forest. There, he led the nation in rushing and scoring There, he led the nation in rushing and scoring in 1964, but went unselected in the NFL draft.in 1964, but went unselected in the NFL draft.

Therefore, he tried out for the Bears as a free-Therefore, he tried out for the Bears as a free-agent. agent.

He played four years of pro-football for the He played four years of pro-football for the Chicago Bears as a running back before he was Chicago Bears as a running back before he was diagnosed with embryonal cell carcinoma – a diagnosed with embryonal cell carcinoma – a giant tumor in his chest.giant tumor in his chest.

Who was Gale Sayers?Who was Gale Sayers? Known as the “Kansas Comet,” he was a two-Known as the “Kansas Comet,” he was a two-

time All-American at the University of Kansas.time All-American at the University of Kansas. He was an African-American.He was an African-American. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs and He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs and

the Bears, but signed with the Bears. In his the Bears, but signed with the Bears. In his rookie year, he set an NFL record of 22 rookie year, he set an NFL record of 22 touchdowns. touchdowns.

Sayers spent his entire NFL career with the Sayers spent his entire NFL career with the Chicago Bears, starting as a running back.Chicago Bears, starting as a running back.

He won the NFL’s first three Pro Bowl MVP He won the NFL’s first three Pro Bowl MVP awards.awards.

He tore his knee in 1968 and again in 1970, He tore his knee in 1968 and again in 1970, ending his career.ending his career.

Segregation…Segregation…Then and NowThen and Now

Segregation in the 1960sSegregation in the 1960s

Although Jackie Robinson integrated Although Jackie Robinson integrated baseball as the first African American in baseball as the first African American in 1947, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, 1947, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, fans of all sports had still not become fans of all sports had still not become accustomed to seeing African Americans accustomed to seeing African Americans on the courts and fields. on the courts and fields.

Many teams refused to play the Bears Many teams refused to play the Bears because they had a white player rooming because they had a white player rooming with a black player. with a black player.

Segregation TodaySegregation Today Across the country, there is evidence that shows Across the country, there is evidence that shows

all universities (aside from denominational) have all universities (aside from denominational) have integrated since 1960. integrated since 1960.

There is further evidence to show that black There is further evidence to show that black athletes have excelled just as their white athletes have excelled just as their white counterparts. counterparts.

There are more black quarterbacks in college There are more black quarterbacks in college football than ever before.football than ever before.

In 1990, the twelve highest paid players in the In 1990, the twelve highest paid players in the National Basketball Association were all black.National Basketball Association were all black.

However, there is no doubt that some However, there is no doubt that some discrimination still exists in the world today. discrimination still exists in the world today.