6 thoughts on “Courage+42= Jackie Robinson”

1. I agree this is one of the best sports movie of all time, Sure makes for such a great conversation movie also.. Like Drew – if you havent seen this, you really need to. Oh and by the way, Harrison Ford is Branch Rickey and deserves an Oscar.

2. Excellent, as usual, Drew

3. I do very much plan on seeing this – he was a pioneer in every sense.

   I (and many of your regulars, Drew) have lived through some important barrier-breaking athletes – Doug Williams, Jeremy Lin, Annika Sorenstam, Danica Patrick, Jarome Iginla, Hines Ward, Ichiro, Jim Plunkett, Kristi Yamaguchi, to name only a fraction – but Jackie broke through before Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. made their stands, before a Civil Rights Act, before a majority of Americans favored integration, before hurling racial slurs became the career-killer that it is now. Jackie threw himself into the maelstrom of the then-most popular sport in the nation. I shudder to think what the round-the-clock news and sports coverage cycle would have covered it now.

   And let’s also give credit to the visionaries who look past color for talent. Rickey, Don Haskins (Whom I know is dear to your heart, Drew), Hank Stram and Ben Schwartzwalder. These guys know that sports isn’t really a popularity contest, but rather the closest things humans have developed to a true meritocracy.

4. Good Morning from Omaha,

   42 is a good movie. When we went to see it saturday, the audience applauded at the end of the picture. Its portrayal of the attitudes of the people of that era is scary. Everything seemed so ugly on one side and so pleasant on the other based on the color of ones skin.

   Living in the moment, that group think mentality takes hold and we can be lead by the nose by the the biggest and loudest. We wish we were better people but our nature, good or ill, is revealed every day in the choices we make.

   We hope we have moved on from that point in time and that we are more accepting of each other for our differences that make us all similar.

   Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.

   Gene

5. Well said, all! Excellent cartoon, Drew. Did anyone listen to Reggie Jackson this morning on Dan Patrick?

6. Dear Drew,

   Best tribute picture you ever drew (no pun intended)

   All the best

   Louis