Atlanta Daily World

SPORTS OF THE WORLD

BY MARION E JACKSON

Florida A. & M. will spotlight the college queens of all the teams that have played the Rattlers in the Orange Blossom Classic during the Silver Anniversary game on Dec. 14 in Miami's Orange Bowl Stadium Harlem Globetrotters will send basketball scout Phil Brownstein to cover the Georgia Invitational Tournament in Atlanta, Dec. 5-7 . . . Grambling has turned down a Dec. 7 game with Tennessee State . . . . Mobile, Ala., recently cited Henry Aaron, star outfielder of the Milwaukee Braves. The tribute reminded us that until this day, Alabama has never cited Joe Louis, former heavyweight champion of the world!!!!!

Many stars have been born in Alabama: Bill Bruton (Milwaukee Braves). Tallulah Bankhead (stage and screen), Willie Mays (N. Y. Giants). Dan Bankhead (Brooklyn Dodgers). Al Worthington (N. Y. Giants). Dixie Walker (Brooklyn Dodgers) and many, many others.

Yet, Joseph Louis Barrow, who grew up in the heart of Alabama's Black Belt has never been publicly-honored by his native state.

Henry Aaron, who has been a key performer for the Braves since 1954 is the first Negro to be honored for athletic achievement in his native state.

It is almost unbelievable that the Brown Bomber who defended his title a record twenty-five times has never been honored in any public ceremony in Alabama. The Brown Bomber during World War II was stationed at Camp Sibert, and regularly visited Birmingham and Montgomery during his tour of duty. No organization, Negro or white, attempted to capitalize upon the inspirational value of his career.

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The southerner who wins fame in national or international competition generally relinquishes his right to acceptance on his home soil. The prime reason for this is that his viewpoint is no longer sectional in scope. The performer must become a cross-blend of the cultural heritage of the nation and his philosophy must be as liberal as the climate in which he competes. There are no color lines in competitive excellence. Ability alone counts.

A performer with the complexities of race, color or creed crowding his mind will never be a winner. You wonder why athletes steeped in the tradition of the antebellum South, suddenly aboutface and become integral cogs in professional team play. Many of these athletes, who have never competed against Negroes, suddenly find partnership and fraternalization in men whom they've seen abuse inflicted upon, prejudice retard, and hate reduce to shadow men.

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It is when this climate of excellence and fair play is established that rule of ability and fair play becomes insurmountable. You can't help but admire a competitor with grace, skill, brawn and the skill to score and score again then turn about and defend like a tiger.

It is only in the defiant South that the native born champion becomes a man without a country. For his southern hospitality does not exist.

Once the nation acclaims the integrated athlete he becomes a prophet without honor in his own country.

The Joe Louises, Henry Aarons, Tallulah Bankheads, Bill Brutons never go back to their land of birth. For them there are no fawning governors, beaming mayors and triumphant aldermen For their sins were competing against the children of the good earth and finding that the myths and stereotypes of color, race and national origin were as fictional as Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels.

The Lilliputians whom they left behind at home cling to the ways o cotton and magnolias and refuse to look to the skies to see what the Soviet Sputnik has made the entire world live under one roof.

EYE-OPENER: Second-guessers who are maneuvering for a replay of the '56 Orange Blossom Classic thriller which saw Tennessee State nip Florida A&M, 41-39 is indulging in just so much wishful thinking.

The facts in the case appear unshakeable that the Midwestern Athletic Association will be left stone cold dead in the market when Jake Gaither gets around to picking the Rattlers' opponent for the 25th annual game. The reason is obvious.

The Rattlers played Grambling in 55 and Tennessee State in the 1956 class.c. If a MWAA team is chosen it would likely be Lincoln Mo which has played a powder puff schedule. Only Central State, Kentucky State and Jackson State are MWAA football powers. Each has been beaten and is likely to get another pasting.

The CIAA can be eliminated too. FAMU plays North Carolina A&T College and N. C. A&T on its regular season slate. N. C. College looms as the CIAA champion. Morgan State and Delaware State, who are CIAA powers have been beaten,

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Bluefield State looms as the only challenger to N. C. College's supremacy but if you accept a CIAA team then remember that Maryland State took a frightful beating in the Orange Blossom Classic in 1954.

The dope sheet points to either Wiley College or Prairie View in the Southwest since Texas Southern, Langston and Arkansas State have been solidly thrashed.

Thus it narrows down to Wiley and Prairie View with powerful Bluefield State a dark horse. However, don't discount an SIAC opponent; However, look for a frightful outcry if an unbeaten team like Tuskegee Institute is chosen. Rabid FAMU alumni no doubt would shout down such a pairing.

Thus the logical team choice is likely to come from the Southwest Best bet appears to be Wiley College