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Legendary Gayle Sayers greeted fans at Red Rock Las Vegas

November 18, 2012 Chellie Cervone
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Celebrity News, Celebrity Gossip, Celebrity Rumors | CelebrityFeast.com
 

Legendary Gayle Sayers greeted fans at Red Rock Las Vegas

 Legendary Gayle Sayers greeted fans at Red Rock Las Vegas

Gayle Sayers, NFL Hall of Famer, arrives at an USO show on Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan on August 19, 2005. ID: 050819-A-0575B-001 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What a treat! The Legendary Gayle Sayers greeted fans at Red Rock Las Vegas today.

You don’t know who Gayle Sayers is?

Let me tell you a little about him.

Known as “The Kansas Comet”, he was born on May 30, 1943 and was a running back in the NFL for seven seasons ending in the 1970s. He played his entire pro career for the NFL’s Chicago Bears.

He also won “All NFL” honors for five straight years, and was named “Offensive Player of the Game” in three of the four pro bowls so he had a very impressive career.

Sayers suffered serious knee injuries which ended his NFL career way too soon.  He tried to make a few comebacks but it just wasn’t meant to be.

But that’s not why he is so great.

His real strength is being a great human being.

He was best friends with Brian Piccolo. If you have never heard that name before, please be sure to watch the movie Brian’s Song.  It’s a real tear-jerker.  The original movie was made in 1971 and there was a remake in 2000.

They were both running backs for the Chicago Bears and both helped to improve race relations, and raised some eye brows along the way, when they roomed together; the first ever black (Sayers) and white (Piccolo )pro football guys to do so.

Sayers got injured and Piccolo was by his side helping him recover.  And then tragedy struck Piccolo.  He was diagnosed with terminal testicular cancer. The bond these two guys shared is unbelievable.

Sayers received the George S. Halas Award in 1970 for the most courageous player of 1969 and Brian Piccolo was too sick to attend. They had both planned on attending with their wives.

When Sayers accepted the award with tears streaming down his face, he said,

You flatter me by giving me this award, but I’ll tell you here and now that I accept it for Brian Piccolo. Brian Piccolo is the man of courage who should receive the George S. Halas Award. I accept it tonight, but I’ll present it to Brian tomorrow. I love Brian Piccolo. And I’d like all of you to love him, too. And tonight, when you hit your knees, ask God to love him, too.”

He has the heart of a giant and that rare form of courage that allows him to kid himself and his opponent — cancer. He has the mental attitude that makes me proud to have a friend who spells out the word ‘courage’ 24 hours a day of his life

Sayers went on to do many great things with his life including being a stock broker, an Athletic Director at Southern Illinois University and founded a successful computer consulting company.  He is also involved in a lot of charitable work.

That’s why it was such a treat that the Legendary Gayle Sayers greeted fans at Red Rock Las Vegas.

 Legendary Gayle Sayers greeted fans at Red Rock Las Vegas