Here's a guy we can/should honor as well

[GimmeTheBall!]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...ering.willis.1st.ld.writethru.0870/index.html

Bill Willis guy helped desegregate professional football. Never a splashy kind of guy, just did his job and did it with dignity and helped his fellow man.

Possibly his photo atop the page and some kind words for him?

Former All-American and Hall of Famer.
Played when hotels would not accept blacks.
Recognized as the Jackie Robinson of professional football.

Good read on a football pioneer and all-around good guy.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Good Read.

Much thanks for that article, I didn't know he passed away.

 

[superpunk]

That was a pretty good article. RIP.

 

[1fisher]

motive???

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

motive???

The thought is where is all the genuflecting, the grief, the hand-wringing and self-serving tributes for this "Jackie Robinson" of professional football.

Does not HOFer Bill Willis, who just passed away, deserve the same treatment that we give a Taylor?

Just think, our page covered in the Browns' colors . . . .

Oh, I didn't think so.

(but read the story and then decide if he is worthy)

 

[zrinkill]

motive???

He is trying to prove he is not a pathetic human being .... No one is falling for it.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

He is trying to prove he is not a pathetic human being .... No one is falling for it.

As always, roadkill, thank you for your input.

And as for "no one is falling for it," thanks for taking a quick poll.

 

[BehindEnemyLinez]

Why is it that you generally here NOTHING about Willis breaking the NFL's color barrier but Robinson (who integrated baseball a YEAR later) gets his #42 retired by the MLB, statues, days dedicated to him, etc.? Is it because baseball is viewed as a great American pasttime or is it on the NFL for not bringing Willis' achievements to light? And this guy wasn't a bum, either, we're talking about a Hall of Famer who played both ways at an All-Pro level!

 

[Yeagermeister]

He is trying to prove he is not a pathetic human being .... No one is falling for it.

Your wasting your time trying to explain that to fish

 

[zrinkill]

And as for "no one is falling for it," thanks for taking a quick poll.

The fact that you are forced to keep bumping your insincere thread is all the proof I need.

You posting this thread just to make a point is even more disgusting than your attacks in the other thread.

Very classy of you, using the death of a very good man to try and justify your needless bashing of another dead young man.

Have a nice day.

 

[WoodysGirl]

The thought is where is all the genuflecting, the grief, the hand-wringing and self-serving tributes for this "Jackie Robinson" of professional football.

Does not HOFer Bill Willis, who just passed away, deserve the same treatment that we give a Taylor?

Just think, our page covered in the Browns' colors . . . .

Oh, I didn't think so.

(but read the story and then decide if he is worthy)

It's a good story, and I thank you for posting it. It was something I was never aware of and it's definitely something I'd like to look into more.

However, I think you're making the brief tribute thing out to be way more than it is. It was a simple thing that was up for less than 48 hours. If you want to pay tribute to Mr. Willis, then go for it. You are welcome to change your username, signature, and your avi. But the pissing and moaning over what the staff did for Sean Taylor needs to stop.

If you have anymore tribute suggestions that are non-cowboys related, then I suggest you PM someone on the staff instead of digging for more articles and then posting them with suggestions on whether we should provide a tribute to them.

Personally, I think people need to shut up about it and let Sean Taylor and anyone else who has passed rest in peace.

 

[1fisher]

The thought is where is all the genuflecting, the grief, the hand-wringing and self-serving tributes for this "Jackie Robinson" of professional football.

Does not HOFer Bill Willis, who just passed away, deserve the same treatment that we give a Taylor?

Just think, our page covered in the Browns' colors . . . .

Oh, I didn't think so.

(but read the story and then decide if he is worthy)

I guess if Cowboys/Browns had a storied rivalry then maybe there would be a tribute???

I think the mods did an excellent job of showing the skins fans this goes way beyond a rivalry and that we can find common ground.

 

[1fisher]

It's a good story, and I thank you for posting it. It was something I was never aware of and it's definitely something I'd like to look into more.

However, I think you're making the brief tribute thing out to be way more than it is. It was a simple thing that was up for less than 48 hours. If you want to pay tribute to Mr. Willis, then go for it. You are welcome to change your username, signature, and your avi. But the pissing and moaning over what the staff did for Sean Taylor needs to stop.

If you have anymore tribute suggestions that are non-cowboys related, then I suggest you PM someone on the staff instead of digging for more articles and then posting them with suggestions on whether we should provide a tribute to them.

Personally, I think people need to shut up about it and let Sean Taylor and anyone else who has passed rest in peace.

Well said WG!!!

 

[1fisher]

Your wasting your time trying to explain that to fish

Alright yeag, Put up your dukes!!!!:fight:

 

[jackrussell]

Well I don't know what motives or agendas or whatever this may or may not be about, nor care.

I was going to come home from work today and post a Bill Willis story until I seen this thread.

I wanted to mention he is the only player from Ohio that whas been inducted into the Ohio High School Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame, and Pro Football HOF, along with crossing the color barrier with Marion Motley and a few others.

You may all return to whatever else this is or is not about.

 

[1fisher]

Well I don't know what motives or agendas or whatever this may or may not be about, nor care.

I was going to come home from work today and post a Bill Willis story until I seen this thread.

I wanted to mention he is the only player from Ohio that whas been inducted into the Ohio High School Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame, and Pro Football HOF, along with crossing the color barrier with Marion Motley and a few others.

You may all return to whatever else this is or is not about.

Don't know much about the gentleman but it sounds to me like he had a great impact on the game we love.


RIP Mr. Willis

 

[Yeagermeister]

Alright yeag, Put up your dukes!!!!:fight:

:gassy1:

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

The fact that you are forced to keep bumping your insincere thread is all the proof I need.

You posting this thread just to make a point is even more disgusting than your attacks in the other thread.

Very classy of you, using the death of a very good man to try and justify your needless bashing of another dead young man.

Have a nice day.

As always, thanks for your input, roadkill.

And, as expected, your overanalyzing and poor rationalizing and your stalking are right on schedule. You seem to follow me very well. But wouldn't getting a life be a better spent one?
I don't expect you to fully comprehend that either but thought I'd mention it.

The death of a very classy man, yes. And very classy for you to not ever post something on his behalf. But Willis would not be the in thing in your fawning over celebrity players. But maybe Willis is not important in your scheme of things.

As always, grateful for your, um, venomous but though-provoking input.

 

[1fisher]

:gassy1:

:shake:

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

It's a good story, and I thank you for posting it. It was something I was never aware of and it's definitely something I'd like to look into more.

However, I think you're making the brief tribute thing out to be way more than it is. It was a simple thing that was up for less than 48 hours. If you want to pay tribute to Mr. Willis, then go for it. You are welcome to change your username, signature, and your avi. But the pissing and moaning over what the staff did for Sean Taylor needs to stop.

If you have anymore tribute suggestions that are non-cowboys related, then I suggest you PM someone on the staff instead of digging for more articles and then posting them with suggestions on whether we should provide a tribute to them.

Personally, I think people need to shut up about it and let Sean Taylor and anyone else who has passed rest in peace.

First off, no one dug for anything. It was on the SI Web site. Today.
The fact that no one seemed to have seen it struck me as odd.
He broke the NFL color line. That inself puts him in the pantheon of NFL greats. He didn't make headlines for fighting with police and having his SUV shot at a dozen times.
He put his body on the line during games and his life on the line when he dared ask for public accommodations.
So this is not a small thing in the NFL.
So, tonight, if and when the NFL pays tribute to one of its recent players, I wonder if it will also mention Willis. Probably not. He's not a celebrity, just a civil rights pioneer. That's all.

As far as moaning and groaning, there is none, other than to object to the excessiveness of the pityfest/outgrieving each other event we had.
The intentions were good. The expressions were good.
But there comes a time when it is carried to excess and goes off into bizzaro world.
But I think you have answered my question. Forget Bill Willis. He's not worthy. And I am not saying you will forget him, I am saying the rest of the world will forget him.
So let's move (maybe), wish our best to both families.