Lee Evans!

 Lee Evans died this past week. Who you say? Well let me tell you.

Lee Evans was a track athlete. A runner. A sprinter. An Olympic 400 meter specialist. He was a social activist willing to blow up his career for what was right. But Tommie Smith and John Carlos, two American heroes, beat him to it in 1968 in Mexico City . After the famous protest after the 200 meter sprint by Smith and Carlos, black gloved fists in the air during the National Anthem, Evans was willing to leave the Olympics , giving up a dream, to support Smith and Carlos. But they said no, run and win and win he did. He set a world record in the 400 that stood for 20 years. 

On the victory stand, Evans and his fellow Americans wore the black berets, stood in defiance of being used by a country that would never accept them as equal men. The country would use them as propaganda, then force them to the back of the bus again after crossing the border. But they didn't  do the fist thing, instead removing the berets and standing at attention during the anthem. How difficult that must have been.

Lee Evans was an American hero, he just happened to be the 3rd place guy to two others who beat him to the punch. He died in Nigeria while coaching track teams there to be their best.

Rest in Power