Legends
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Don Cantrell
The so-called sports experts of today can talk pro grid runners til
they’re blue in the face, but none of them will ever put a clear
measuring stick on the total life of the great Indian athlete Jim Thorpe.
Although imagery of his heydey in athletics has him fixed at Carlisle
Indian School in Pennsylvania, he was no stranger to Southern California
and his name still lives on at Cypress College in Orange County.
Thorpe, a Sac and Fox Indian, died in 1954.
By 1976, however, his name would emerge again in the midst of
America’s bicentennial celebration and former Newport Harbor High
football Coach Don J. Lent would be a central figure in the ceremonies.
Lent, as athletic director at Cypress College, would greet one of
Thorpe’s daughters, who had flown out from Oklahoma, and watch happily as
she cut the ribbon to Thorpe House - the name finally chosen to fit the
college’s physical education division’s facility.
The April sun was bright and smiles were wide after the ribbon was
snipped. Many gathered around Grace Thorpe to extend a warm welcome while
Lent beamed, then exclamed, “Isn’t that great?” This corner covered
Cypress College photography.,
Thorpe’s daughter then told the press that efforts were being stepped
up by her family and supporters to have her father’s Olympic victories
reinstated from the 1912 upheaval. His medals were taken away because he
had reportedly accepted $60 a month for playing semi-proi baseball in
1909-10, making him “ a pofessional.” Thorpe explained to officials that
the funds were only used for living expenses during the baseball season.
It was a long, frustraing battle, but seven years after Grace Thorpe’s
visit to Cypress College, the victories were reinstated. Replicas of his
medals were given to his seven children.
Although Thorpe’s name was fading by the 1940s, actor Burt Lancaster
and the movie-makers helped revive the legendary Thorpe for the memory
book and for new generations. Many had never heard of him prior to the
film production in 1959.
It was no snap to portray the great Jim Thorpe, which became apparent
to the late Lancaster. Hence, the 37-year-old Lancaster labored hard to
get into top physical condition.
Thorpe had been hired by the producers to serve as an adviser during
the filming, but had no contact with Lancaster until one day during the
drop-kicking scenario.
That’s when Lancaster took note of a lone man up in the stadium making
his way toward the star actor. One can imagine Lancaster’s first view of
“The Great One” face-to-face.
Thorpe, sporting a top coat and homburg, took the ball from Lancaster
and said, “I think I better show you how to do that. He then drop-kicked
the ball a great distance, at age 62.
He was still amazing pro football fans in 1948 while in his 60s by
drop-kicking 50-yard field goals during halftimes of several NFL games.
But he made his first sterling marks in athletics more than 90 years
ago as a member of the Carlisle football team, which was coached by
another legend, Glenn S. (Pop) Warner.
With the addition of Thorpe, Warner could schedule stronger opponents.
In fact, he added major college powers. No problem. Thorpe and his mates
had little trouble whipping most all comers. And the won-loss-tie record
during the Thorpe years is astonishing: 43-4-1.
It was not uncommon to find Thorpe averaging more than 10 yards per
carry.
Out of research some years in the recent past, one writer said, “The
skills of the 5-foot-11, 185-pound athlete were sometimes described in
such mythic proportions that some attributed to him defy belief.”
One example: Newspaper reports (1911 against Pittsburgh) say Thorpe’s
punts sailed up to 70 yards. In each case, Thorpe either tackled the
returner or grabbed the ball himself, as rules allowed. Once Thorpe
retrieved his own punt, shook off five tacklers and went on to score a
touchdown, according to the report.
The Associated Press named him the greatest American Athlete of the
half-century in 1950. In 1977, Sports Magazine named him the all-time
greatest football player.
Thorpe has been enshrined in at least six halls of fame. His Olympic
decathon performances in 1912 set a world reecord that held up for 17
years.
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