His family was poor, like everyone else was at the time, and so he, like everyone else, took to the cotton fields s at the age of 7 to earn whatever he could to help his folks. He wasn't in the best of health, either -- he once nearly died from a bout with pneumonia. But his will was about as strong as they come.
He went by "J.C." (his first names were James Cleveland) but when the family move to Cleveland, Ohio, area, his nickname was misinterpreted for "Jesse," so that's what everyone began calling him. He wasn't a big kid -- as a mater of fact, he was on the frail side. So much so his family, his teachers, his friends all worried about his health.
A coach at his new school suggested he start running to strengthen his lungs to deal with the harsh northern Ohio winters. He had no idea the kid would become so good at running the name "Jesse" and "track" for many years meant the same thing.
Jesse Owens went to Ohio State, worked his way through school and in May 1935, set five world records at the Big Ten track meet. The following year, he went to the Olympics in Berlin where he won four gold medals and upset the "Master Race" applecart being pushed by Adolf Hitler. He won golds in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the 4X100 and the long jump.
He came home to a hero's welcome, went back to work and finally finished his degree at OSU.
But all was still not right with the world. Witness his words after he returned: "I wasn't invited to shake hands with Hitler, But I wasn't invited to the White House to shake hands with the president either."
A family man in 1949, he took a public relations job in Chicago that year. There were ups and many downs as time passed by. On March 31, 1980, Owens died of lung cancer.
I had met him just five months before that at a conference hosted by Dave Thomas of Wendy's fame. Jesse told me something that I happened to recall the other day. I had asked him, you see, how he handled all that pressure in 1936.
His response was long and thoughtful. He told me about how tough it was to grow up. How hard it was to get to college and then to stay in school. And he also told me something else. "I just did my best," he said. "That's all."
"Just?" I thought. Four golds. Geez. I've been walking a couple of miles a day for weeks now. I don't think my "best" -- even when I was 21 -- was in the same universe as Owens' worst. Oh well.
HASH UP: OK, so the ol' Irishman had been a-thinking this Pirates cah-rap-ola would fade faster than a cheap T-shirt in the washer. Bro-other, was I wrong.
The Bucs have to be considered the Story of the Year for 1997. I can't get over how they took all that raw, unproven talent and turned it into one tough team to beat.
So I was wrong. So sue me.
SOOOOOOOO: Will someone please tell Martina Hingis to shut up her punk, cheap, egotistical, ugly mouth? Crimeny. The ol' Irishman hasn't heard a braggart like this since, well, come to think of it -- never.
Yeah, she can play tennis. And yeah, she's more developed at 16 than most 30 year olds. But pity the poor guy who dates her. She'll likely spend the whole night telling him how great she is.
Hey M.E. Do you think Jose Canseco was dogging that back injury?
From Carl T. at a nix.net kind of .com.
Sure do, Carl. It is might suspicious that when he was dangled as trade bait to the Yankees he suddenly developed his normal case of bench-itis. Personally, I think it's time Canseco went off to San Jose and stayed there.
Please settle a bet: I say Mickey Mantle's best friend with the Yankees was Roger Maris. My friend thinks I am nuts.
From Jim Z-ster at the AOL place.
Sorry, Jimbo. You lose. The Mick's best bud from the Yanks was Billy Martin, bar none.
I think I can hit 62 home runs this year!
From M. McGwire, now coming out of a St. Louie net.
Yo, Marky Mark. I think you are pipe-dreaming, dude. In the NL? In Busch? You'll get your 50 plus but I really don't think you can sail it outta there with as few games as there are remaining.
1) Who was his first track coach at Ohio State? Give up?
2) Who did he marry? Give up?
3) In the 1936 Olympics, how many world records did he set? Give up?
4) After his return to the U.S., times got tough. So tough, he had to run 100-dashes against who to make a buck? Give up?
5) How far did he jump in the Olympics to win the gold? Give up?
Mike Emmett has been kicking around sports departments in newspapers and online operations around the U.S. for years. Got something to say to the Irishman? Email him with a click here.
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