Thorpe an athletic legend

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A hundred years ago on May 28, 1987, a legend was born. His traditional name was Wo-Tha-Huck, which means "Bright Path".

And it was prophetic.

To the world he became known as Jim Thorpe, the Sac-Fox Indian who went on to carve a name in the annals of sports that has probably never been matched.

This natural Indian athlete excelled in every sport he tried. In the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden he entered the five-event Pentathlon track and field contest. Not satisfied with simply beating the best athletes in the world in this event, he then entered the gruelling ten event decathlon. The decathlon is considered the test of the best all around athletes in the world at the Olympic Games. This "upstart" (as some writers labelled him) came out of Oklahoma "Indian Territory".

The writers also labelled these games the "Olympics of Jim Thorpe". He didn't just win the decathlon ? he set a record that would stand for years, scoring 8,412.955 out a possible 10,000 points to finish 700 points ahead of his nearest rival.

As Jim Thorpe stepped forward to receive his gold medal, King Gustav of Sweden placed a laurel wreath atop Thorpe's head, hung the gold medal around his neck, and presented him with a four-feet bronze bust in the likeness of the King. He took Jim's hand and proclaimed: "Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world." Replied Jim: "Thanks King."

But it wasn't long before Jim Thorpe's fortunes changed ? for the worse. Six months after the Olympic Games, he was accused of taking money for playing baseball during a college break one summer. By today's standards, with all elite athletes subsidized in one way or another, this is small potatoes. But in those days it was scandal.

Branded a professional, he was stripped of his amateur status, his name was erased from the Olympic record books, and, worst of all, his gold medals and trophies were taken away.

This great athlete was disappointed, but not beaten. He went on to professional sports. He batted a sizzling .358 for the New York Giants and also played for the Boston Red Sox, and the Cincinnati Reds. He once hit three home runs in one game.

In professional football with the Canton Bulldogs of Canton, Ohio, (now home of the National Football League Hall of Fame) Jim entered another era. In college football Thorpe had been an All American in 1911 and 1912 at a small Indian school called Carlisle.

As a professional footballer, he against stood out. In 1919 he was elected first president of the American Football Association ? later to become the National Football League.

There's more to tell about Jim Thorpe than I can cover here. But ther are two books out, one by George Richards and the other by Robert Wheeler. Both, surprisingly, the same title: "Jim Thorpe The Worlds Greatest Athlete". And both provide a more detailed description of his life and his achievements.

And there is a happy ending, even if he wasn't around for it. His medals and trophies were eventually returned to American soil and his name cleared. After some 70 years, the Olympic Committee voted to give Thorpe's medals to his family.

I attended the public unveiling of the medals just before the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. I received a commemorative medal of this event and a special silver and gold belt buckle bearing a likeness of this great athlete.

A movie was made of his life called, Jim Thorpe All American, starring Burt Lancaster as Thorpe.

Jim was married three times, and had eight children. He settled in the California town of Lomita, and died there in 1953 at the age of 66.

Jim Thorpe is a legend of another kind. His versatility in sports was unequalled. He had exceptional strength, speed and coordination ? but also incredible stamina.

To Jim Thorpe ? and I know where he is ? a happy 100th birthday.