As the world anxiously awaits the start of the Olympics in London, From The G-Man would like to take this opportunity to salute a man that it considers to be "the greatest Olympian" in the history of the games: Jesse Owens.
At the 1936 Olympic games, Owens won a total of four gold medals and broke world records in the process. The fact that he was competing against Adolf Hitler's "Master Race" of athletes provided an even greater level of drama and tension during the event.
Owens received star treatment and an abundance of love and support during the competitions. However, when he returned to the United States, racism prevented him from obtaining a good paying job. The "Black Superman" that won four gold medals for America, and received a hero's welcome during his return to the states, had to support himself by making public speeches and racing against horses.
A number of years ago, ESPN selected former Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan as the "Athlete of the Century". The title should have been bestowed on Jesse Owens, without question. Why? The track and field icon's incredible performance was a foreshadowing of things to come for Hitler and the Aryan Nation. The German madman truly believed he and those of his race could not and would not be defeated under any circumstances, but Owens stood on the world's greatest stage and proved Hitler wrong. Ultimately, the allies involved in the second world war proved him wrong, too.
Thank you, Jesse Owens. May you forever rest in peace.
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