| |
BGonline.org Forums
How about Shoeless Joe?
Posted By: Bill Riles In Response To: How about Shoeless Joe? (Coolrey)
Date: Tuesday, 4 November 2008, at 4:26 a.m.
Come on, Ray, do a little research before you start throwing around the race card defending Winfield et al.
In the article it says the black Ohio State players say it was entirely a racial thing by the Minnesota players -- they did not bother the black Ohio State players, only going after and attacking/beating the white players.
Ron Behagen and Corky Taylor were the instigators and most serious offenders; however, Winfield came off the bench to beat a guy in the face that was already down and restrained by others. I never had any use for him or respect for him as a person after that.
http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1085766/1/index.htm
Also, from a 2000 Sports Illustrated Article:
The Season of Forgiveness The victim of a famous on-court assault embraces his attackers
For the first time since the attack that made him part of college basketball lore, Luke Witte stood up in the middle of March Madness and said he's not mad anymore. Witte, a former Ohio State center, still flinches when he recalls the night in January 1972 when he was stomped and beaten by Minnesota players Corky Taylor and Ron Behagen in the final seconds of a Buckeyes win over the Gophers. Despite suffering lacerations to his chin that required 27 stitches, as well as other injuries, Witte played several seasons in the NBA with the Cavaliers before entering the Presbyterian ministry and settling down with his wife, Donita, in Charlotte, where they live with their three children.
On Sunday morning Witte revisited the past at Forest Hill Church, where he's a minister. During a sermon by senior pastor (and former North Carolina forward) David Chadwick on forgiveness, Witte stood up in front of the 1,800 worshipers, next to a photo of himself lying on the basketball court that night, his face soaked in his own blood, and told them that though he still feels the mental anguish from 28 years ago, he's ready to embrace his attackers.
"I struggled this week," he told the congregation, thinking about having to get up for the first time in his church and profess his love for the Minnesota players who hurt him. But Witte, 49, said he has come to the conclusion over the past decade mat he had two choices: wallow in bitterness or bask in the liberation that comes with breaking loose from the past. "I can choose to live in anger and hurt," said Witte, "but I can also choose to live in the freedom of knowing Christ is in charge."
So that's how Witte, wearing an Ohio State-red sweater for the occasion, bared his soul on a weekend when his Buckeyes were competing in the NCAA tournament. He wanted people to know how much better it feels to love your enemy. "Your heart is free, isn't it?" Chadwick asked Witte in front of the congregation.
"It is very free," Witte answered. —Ken Garfield
| |
BGonline.org Forums is maintained by Stick with WebBBS 5.12.