Sports Illustrated: Not So Revolutionary Back Then
Ha, noted radical political journal Sports Illustrated is running these ads in South Africa insinuating that SI is very, you know, radical, and political. A big black panther for the ‘68 Olympics, Fight the Power! How did SI really cover that story? We will show you!:
Yes well there is a black fellow on the cover, I suppose. Here’s the magazine’s actual, revolutionary reporting of Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ iconic black power salute on the medal podium:
Beyond Mexican riots and Mexican altitude, the third and what should have been one of the more obvious threats to Olympic peace was the likelihood of a demonstration by a small group of American Negro athletes led by John Carlos, Tommie Smith and Lee Evans. They had been hinting at it for months but communication between them and the U.S. Olympic officials broke down long ago, and the officials seemed satisfied to fill the void with a kind of tacit, Pollyanna belief in the surfacing power of harmony.
The Olympic 100 meters passed without incident because Jim Hines was the winner and Hines does not buy all that the militants try to sell. Then Smith won the 200. He won it in courageous style. He had torn a groin muscle in the semifinals and had to be iced down and taped from the waist to the bottom edge of his running shorts in order to continue. In the final, two hours later, Carlos held the lead with 50 yards to go. At that point, as he is wont to do when on the verge of victory, Carlos looked around. He need not have bothered. Smith, settling down in the stretch, was streaking past him. Carlos broke stride, and then when he looked to his right the Australian Peter Norman was passing him for second place. It was a fine race, one that Smith could be proud of, but he will not be remembered for his 19.8. He will be remembered for what happened next.
On the victory stand during the playing of the national anthem, Carlos and Smith made their now famous black glove gesture. They were booed. At a press conference afterward Carlos flayed into white America in a familiar soliloquy, demanding as he did that reporters quote him accurately or not at all.
Advertising: Bullshit as usual.
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
Mexican riots and Mexican altitude and negro athletes! Sounds like the party in my loft last night, which also involved having to be iced down and tearing a groin muscle.
JorgeLuisGorgeous
@Kid Twist: "What's with these black kids and their bad attitudes? Talk about ruining a fun day at the track! Why, I'd like to grab them by their teeth and swing 'em around!
My kids agree with me, and so does my second much younger wife!"
Wow, are there other advertisements that put their products in the best possible light, despite the fact that the reality might be a little more complicated?
EastEndguy
@Claire Buoyant: Another observation: the cover in the ad uses the "colours" spelling. Was there a South African edition of SI back in 1968? Because if it's supposed to be an authentic American issue, then the spelling would've been "colors."
If only Rick Reilly had been with SI in '68 ...
@allyzay: Is that a barcode on the cover? I don't think they were used (for consumer goods) back in 1968.
@Mount_Prion: C.U.C.A.R.A.C.H.A.: Right on. Nice work.
Awesome X
they couldn't at least try for realism and use the old SI logo?
Oh man, this is awesome. Seriously. More calling bullshit and investigating, please. These kinds of posts are rapidly becoming my favorite thing about Gawker.
I saw a doco about Peter Norman- the white guy who came second. He was a Christian- in the rare, good sense of the word- ie actually gave a shit about making the world a better and fairer place. Carlos and Smith had spoken to him beforehand about what they planned to do and he agreed to participate. He didn't think raising his hand would be appropriate (not being a black American) so he wore one of their gloves and bowed his head as a sign of respect to their cause.
Far from being seen as a hero in Aus, he was totally shunned by the athletics community and punished by never being able to really race again. He stayed mates with Carlos and Smith for the rest of his life.
FionaK
Huh? Was it the Green Bay Packers who were in that plane crash in the Andes?
I'd always thought it was some soccer team.
It's nice to see that SI writers were a bunch of whiney little hall monitors back in the 60s as well.
@Mount_Prion: C.U.C.A.R.A.C.H.A.: best thing I've seen all day. I mean, the balls on SI!
the revolution will not be advertised.
shostakobitch
@Mount_Prion: C.U.C.A.R.A.C.H.A.: Thirded
PomPom
Pete , or Mr. Norman was a legend in Australian Athletics , to watch him change gears half way down the straight was truly amazing .
At the Olympic games he didn't wear a glove as either Tom or John had forgotten theirs and they almost didn't do the raised arm salute , Peter said why not wear one each , you have two gloves . hence the gloves are on opposite hands . Peter wore a badge given to him by Tommy.
Peter was a true gentleman and a great humaitarian. I am blessed to have ran on the same track team with him, E.M.H. and considered him a friend. He is missed not only by his athletic frindes but those hundreds of young kids he helped at the Surf Life Saving Club in Williamstown
chrisp1