I am third (book)

I read the Gale Sayers autobiography (co-written with Al Silverman) "I Am Third" this past weekend. I'd read this book as a youngster but it was still just as enjoyable.

I had no idea my $1.25 paperback was so valuable until I looked it up for this post. The original hardcover came out in 1970, and this was published in 1972. A new one is currently selling for $1,002.00!! Of course my copy is yellow and worn and not worth the electricity it costs to type this. At any rate, it is a classic and inspiring read and I'm glad I snagged it out of my mom's storage room. 

There are several interesting tidbits about the book:

• You may recall the movie "Brian's Song" about Sayers' teammate Brian Piccolo. It came from this book, retelling the friendship between the two on and off the field prior to Piccolo's death. They were the first black and white players to room together for the Chicago Bears.
• I had no recollection that Sayers wrote this book just before his twenty-seventh birthday. It seems crazy now that he was writing an autobiography at such a young age. 
• The introduction is written by Bill Cosby. Ha! My how things have changed. Some of the racial language would be cause for concern today too. You just never know...

Some points that really stuck out to me: 

1. I AM THIRD - This was on a placard on the desk of Sayers's college track coach (Bill Easton). Gale finally got up the nerve to ask him what it meant. "The Lord is first, my friends are second, and I am third." Though Gale was not a religious person, he was fascinated by the concept and tried to live his life by this motto.
2. THE YOUNGEST CHILD - On p. 32 they talk about Gale's wife and her need to be needed. She was the youngest child in her family and never felt like she was needed for anything. Everyone did everything for her. Totally unrelated to the book, this really resonated with me as a youngest child. I've always hated it when people do things for me! I know they're only trying to help, but even to this day it makes me feel like a child. I WANT TO DO IT MYSELF!
3. NOPE, JUST DOING MY JOB - Around pages 195-202 are a few stories about Gale's work ethic. His first interview after an NFL game was classic. Gale had a great game and the interviewer asked him if it had been the highlight of his career. Gale just said, "Nope." That was it. He didn't expand or anything. Everyone made fun of him for his one-word interview. :) He later explained, pretty much for the rest of his career, that he was 'just doing his job.' He was getting paid to gain yards and score touchdowns. All he wanted to do was to do his best at his job. I appreciated reading that and need to put it into practice at my job. I have such a bad attitude. I need to simply do my job, and quit worrying about everything and everyone else.
4. RESPECTFUL LISTENER - Gale grew up poor, moved a lot, was shy and didn't apply himself to learning all through school, but he always tried to be a good listener and to show respect to others. From the ghetto, to college at the University of Kansas, with the Bears, as a stockbroker, to his reconciliation work with Jesse Jackson - even before "I Am Third" - he knew the value of respecting others. This, again, is something I wish I were better at. I want to be, but it's so easy to forget.

The last chapter begins with this quote from the Reverend Jackson:

"As long as I live I'm going to try to change. Change is an indication of life."

That's something I hope to live by myself. Doing my job, being respectful of others, listening to others, and being "third." I've got a lot of work to do, and probably always will. Still, I'm glad I read this little book again. It took me two days while letting my second covid vaccine shot sink into my system, but it's a super easy read. I'd maybe even consider selling you my copy - for a thousand dollars or so! ;)

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"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." -2 Peter 3:9