'36 olympic fact or myth?

[Guest]

On Paul Harvey's "Rest of the Story" this morning, he told a story of Jesse Owens at the Berlin games long jump. According to Harvey, Owens had two fouls and needed a mark to get three more jumps in the final. A coach put his hand on Owens shoulder and told him that he was trying too hard and that a 50% effort would get him to the final. The coach rolled up a towel and placed it 6" prior to the board and told him to take his final jump from that mark. He did, and qualified, and went on to the final winning a gold medal of course. The rest of the story is that the coach was eventual German silver medalist Luz Long. I have never heard of this act of German sportsmanship, only the Hitler angle. Has anyone heard this or is it Harvey taking journalistic liberties?

[AS]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

That story is far from a scret. I'm sure it appears in Wallechinsky's seminal Olympic book.

Here's a version: http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illust ... _owens.htm

Also an interview with the author
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/sports/j ... _7-22.html

[Guest]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

I have heard this story before - but not with Lutz Long described as a coach. Owens just squeezed through to the final. Interestingly enough, in 1968, Bob Beamon in the long jump qualifier faced the same situation. On his last attempt, he came down the runway at less than full speed, took off well behind the board and still reached 26 feet 10 inches or so. This jump easily got him into the finals and was a longer jump than could be achieved by all but 3-4 long jumpers in Mexico City at the Olympics. This fact is often overlooked by those who denigrate Beamon's 29 feet 2 and one half inch jump.

I did not hear Paul Harvey's broadcast. But the "real story" as far as I know is
(1) Hitler did not single out Owens for disparagment or "slight" by not presenting him with his gold medals personally. He stopped
making these presentations when he saw that American (blacks) were doing pretty well.
(2) The American Olympic Committee are the "real villains" in this story banning Owens from further competition after the Olympics, and using their (two members of the) "black brigade" on the first two legs of the 4 x 100 m relay, so that a white American could breast the tape in victory.

[6 5.5hjsteve]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

and wasn't there another angle to all this, whereby Marty Glickman, who was Jewish, was not used on the sprint relay because it might offend the German hosts ? I might be all wrong on this, just inquiring.

[Guest]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

<and wasn't there another angle to all this, whereby Marty Glickman, who was Jewish, was not used on the sprint relay because it might offend the German hosts ? I might be all wrong on this, just inquiring.>

Yes, I do believe you are right.

[MJD]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

>(2) The American Olympic
>Committee are the "real villains" in this story

Avery Brundage. The fact he is such a hallowed figure is nauseating. I compare it to the(and this is likely going to get this post yanked) fact that the US has a very important building in Washington named after one of the worst southern racists imaginable which everyone glosses over just because he was more polite about it.

[gh]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

In his book "Olympic Facts & Fables" Tom Ecker puts the long jump story in the myth category. At the end of a long exposition on the subject he writes, "Owens himself finally settled the matter late in his life when he admitted that he and Long never spoke to each other until after the long jump competition was completed later that day."

[Guest]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

>> Has anyone heard this or is it Harvey
>taking journalistic liberties?>>

Do I take it that you actually believe that Paul Harvey is a journalist? Excuse me while I roll on floor awhile. I like the internet reference I found to Harvey as a "glurgemeister"!

[MJD]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

>The coach rolled up a towel
>and placed it 6" prior to the board and told him
>to take his final jump from that mark

Would that be breaking any rules?

[tandfman]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

I assume that Paul Harvey was speaking about the '36 Olympics because Leni Reifenstahl died last night. If not, it's an eerie coincidence.

[Guest]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

I'll reply to all I can:

Thanks to all for the input.
Garry, I read Ecker's book, which is why I wanted some other, maybe more informed opinions than my own.
I am aware of events surrounding Hitler, Glickman, and other stories surrounding the Berlin games. Clarifications were welcomed.

'Jounrnalistic liberties'? I chuckled writing it, but what else do I call it? Gobble-d-gook?

Is the towel breaking rules? I am not a certified official, but I would guess 'no' since there are tape checkmarks everywhere.

I'm guessing Harvey used 'coach' to keep in suspense who it was that helped Owens. He did not mention Reifenstahl, so possibly a coincidence.
Again, thanks to all.

[BillCarr]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

Metcalfe and Owens replaced Glickman & Stoller (both Jewish) on the order of Brundage . . . the relay was not necessarily the fastest 4 folks like it is today

they put Wykoff on the anchor because he was the "old timer" - it was his third Olympics, right ?

[6 5.5hjsteve]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

now I am getting "curiouser and curiouser" about this. I have always sort of heard that Glickman and Stoller were pulled because they were Jewish, butis is remotely possible that Metcalfe and Ownes were put in because they were faster ?! Last time I checked, Metcalfe and Owens were pretty fair sprinters.

Brundage probably was an ass in many ways and maybe a bigot too, but was it towards Jews, Blacks, or what ? Maybe, just maybe he's getting a bad rap on this one.

[Guest]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

As I understand it, they didn't always put the best runners on the relay at that time (just look at the 4x400 in the same games, where top runners were on the sidelines). I won't presume to know as much about this topic as others here do, but it was out of character to bring these guys across the ocean if they never were going to run.

I've read that both Brundage and Sullivan ruled with an iron fist and dealt harshly with anyone that crossed them. This is hardly unusual for people with unchecked power in any sphere, athletic or not.

[Pego]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

Yep. Just look at Their Majesties, Juan Samaranch and the late Primo Nebiolo. How comparable to Brundage in so many aspects were they?