Original subtitles

This is a story about two men.

One named Gail Sayers, the other Brian Piccolo.

They came from different parts of the country.

They competed for the same job.

One was white, the other black.

One liked to talk a lot. The other was shy as a three -year -old.

Our story is about how they came to know each other, fight each other, and help

each other.

Ernest Hemingway said that every true story ends in death.

Well, this is a true story.

Yo, heads up.

Here you go.

Thanks.

Get upstairs.

Yeah. Hey, Brian Piccolo.

Met up in Buffalo on that All -America game last June.

Yeah, sorry I didn't remember. I'm not very good at that kind of stuff.

Oh, golly. Hey.

That's all right.

I can see how you might forget, but, well, I sure couldn't. I mean, that was

heck of a talk we had, man. I said, I'm Brian Piccolo. I hear we'll both be

playing for the Bears.

And you said, well, I'll never forget it.

You said, uh -huh, just like that, uh -huh.

Whenever I'm feeling kind of low and depressed, well, I think about that

You know, a lot of guys wouldn't have talked to me at all, but not you. You

said, uh -huh, just like that, right out.

Where do I go to check in?

Well, that building over there, that's where Halas is.

Huh?

Hey.

Did you ever meet him before?

Talked to him on the phone a couple of times or so.

Yeah, well... Look, let me give you a little hint, all right?

See, he's...

I mean, he's a good guy and all that, but he's a little deaf in his left ear.

See, and it's a little too vain to admit it, you understand?

So you've got to kind of stand on his right -hand side if you want him to hear

word you say.

Mm -hmm.

Okay, thanks.

You bet.

Hey, look, he's got to stick together.

Come in.

Well, sirs.

I'm George Hallett.

Yeah, I know. I mean, everybody knows who you are.

No, you just intended to give me a hand with this thing.

My good luck picture.

That's the first professional team I ever played on.

The Decatur Stalings in 1920.

How'd you like it?

I understand we...

I understand why you heard it. It's fine.

100%. And your head?

My head.

Uh, there's nothing wrong with my head. Good.

Because being in that all -star game puts you three weeks behind everybody

It's going to be easy.

NFL ain't supposed to be easy.

That's right.

I don't know if I can promise you it's a fair shot.

But you're going to have a lot of company.

John Arnett, Ralph Keurig, Brian Piccolo.

Gonna be plenty... Gonna be plenty crowded out there.

Well, fair shot is all I want. Can't ask more than that.

We've been using our backs as receivers this year.

Did you do much... Did you do much pass catching when you were in college?

Well, yes, sir, I did.

Usually safety valve stuff.

Yeah, well, I like to keep my backs in a pattern.

That is, unless the other team's blitzing.

And that's something you're going to have to watch.

Those linebackers.

You got to make sure they're not coming in. I know, especially with the team.

What the hell are you doing?

I don't know what you mean.

Well, I mean, I know you got moves, but you don't have to show them to me now.

You're bouncing around here like a pauper in a pay toilet.

Well, I was just trying to get on the side of your good ear.

Good ear?

What are you talking about, good ear?

Brian Piccolo said that, uh... He, uh, said, uh...

and I have to stop eating like this, my wife's starting to get suspicious.

Hold it down, hey.

Some of you catch a pull in the day, haven't had a chance to hear what's

to be expected of you.

So hold it down, let me talk.

Now, you new guys are going to get a playbook tomorrow.

It's like the Bible.

Now, you lose your playbook, it's going to cost you $1 ,000.

Listen, I heard this thing twice already today.

You lose your playbook, it costs you $1 ,000.

Lose it a second time, they cut off your right foot and they feed it to the

defensive. Could you clue it, please?

I am just trying to be helpful.

Like you help me with housework, I don't need... Mr. Sayers!

I was just mentioning the fine for talking to the team meeting. Did you

to hear what I said?

No, I did not.

Well, the fine for talking in team meetings, Mr. Sayers, is $25.

And it's just been laid on you. Can you dig that?

Yeah.

Sorry, man.

Hey,

hold up. Hold it.

So draw to my attention that unless Sayers was saying it feeds, it might be

if Mr. Piccolo would sing us a song, say like maybe a fight song.

Wake Forest, right, Mr. Piccolo?

Yeah, that's right.

I can't really get to you, man. It's just a question of style.

Style, I say.

Excuse me.

Here's to Wake Forest.

The clouds of finest, red -ruddy, reddish bill to the brim.

Her sons, they are many, unrivaled by any. With hearts are flowing, they will

sing her hymn.

exercise. One, two, three.

One, two, three.

One, two, three.

Ding, ding, ding. What the hell's wrong with you? You're not trying.

You're not trying.

You're making me sick.

Those uniforms are just for you guys. Don't you know that?

We're going to let you keep them as long as you play like Chicago Bears.

But the minute you start tiptoeing around, we're going to want those

back, gentlemen.

42 traps, stairs up.

getting you overconfident.

got the lock that you have on making a team, and Alice said that they're going

to use that option a lot this year.

And, uh, it's not one of my strong points, understand?

Try going to your left.

They don't look for a right -handed guy to throw going to his left.

Okay. I will. Thank you.

Hey, Sears.

I did say thank you.

I know.

Well, that usually calls for a response like, uh, you're welcome or how's your

mother or something.

How's your mother?

Well, she's very fine. Thank you for asking.

You're welcome.

First cut. Where do we start?

Back there.

Brenner. Cut.

Daniels. Cut.

Sayers. Are you kidding?

Charles. Shoot him.

Justifiable homicide.

What about Piccolo?

He's too slow and he's too light. But I don't know, Ed. He hangs in there like a

terrier. Let's keep him on the final cut.

Okay.

Take a look at your boneheaded spaghetti. That was fake draw screen

the hell do you do on fake draw screen right?

Well, on fake draw screen right, I pick up a linebacker if he's coming.

Unless, of course, he's butchered, then I simply notify the quarterback sent for

a precinct.

All right, all right, knock it off. Come on, don't encourage him. Let's run that

again, huh? Come on.

Come in.

I saw him.

But he's not giving him pressure. He didn't at the time he gave him.

Hello, Gail.

What? Sit down.

All right. You know Ed McCaskey, J .C.? I'll call you back, all right?

Want some iced tea?

Yeah, please.

I'll tell you what we wanted to talk to you about, Gail.

You see, I'm a... Well, I'm an old -timer in a lot of ways.

At least that's what some people keep telling me.

But I don't think it's all that common for a man of my age to... to be used to

the way things are.

To be comfortable with things.

What it comes down to is that...

J .C. had a notion here, and Ed seems to think it's a good idea.

I guess maybe we are due for some changes around here.

You want me to play flank and not running back?

No, no, no.

No, it's not that simple, Gale.

J .C.'s idea, and yes, I did agree with him, is that this is 1965,

and we'd like the Bears to room together according to position without any

regard to race.

So we'd like you and Brian Piccolo to room together.

That's all?

That's what this is about?

Is that all?

Yeah.

You had me worried. I thought it was something really.

It is. It is something really.

Man, you're talking about a white man and a black man rooming together on a

that's never been done before.

And you're going to be called a tom by some blacks and uppity nigger by some

whites.

And when we go on the road, man, I'm talking about we going to Atlanta.

Houston, Miami, New Orleans.

It ain't gonna be no better than Detroit or Minnesota or San Francisco or any

other town we play in.

You're gonna rock the boat, says.

And the people out there that saw it already see sick.

What J .C. is saying is that there may be some pressures.

Severe ones.

Now, what do you say?

Who's who?

Who else?

That was terrific.

It's all of a shame he couldn't ask me how I felt about it, isn't it?

Look, you want me out?

Yeah.

I don't want you out to stay. I guess I'm just esteemed. The old man's not

putting me in that skirmish this afternoon.

Is that your wife?

Yeah. Pretty.

So is yours and the little girl.

I'm supposed to call her tonight.

Tell her how I'm going.

I guess that might be the shortest phone call in history.

Maybe not.

Dick.

They wouldn't assign us a room together unless we both made the team.

That's right, isn't it?

Uh -huh.

Come on, let's go call the wives, huh? Oh, wait a minute. I just called.

Come on. Come on. Wait a minute.

Congratulations

on

making the deal, gentlemen.

Well done. You know, Coach Hallis kind of frowns on the hazing of new men. But

now that you've made the team, it's really like you're one of us.

Welcome to the Chicago...

Is playing in the NFL any easier than you thought it would be? My first game,

not exactly an expert.

J .C. Caroline says he hasn't seen anybody carry the ball for the Bears

that since Willie Gallimore.

The blocks were there.

I saw what you said last night.

You called the offensive line the, uh... Seven blocks of silly putty, I think it

was, huh? Big.

You're Brian Piccolo.

Sure, uh, that's right.

Piccolo, P -I -C -C -O -L -O.

You two are the only black and white player rooming together on the team.

Any problems so far?

As long as he doesn't use the bathroom.

Period.

Hey, uh, yeah, when you run, do you think about what you're doing or do you

do it?

I just do it.

Yeah, well, just start thinking about it, will you?

I want to play some, too.

Oh, I saved it.

Anyway, so, Tad calls this trap play, see? You know what trap play is?

Um, yeah, I think so.

Trap play is when all the linemen go one way, and hopefully the defense goes the

same way, and if they do, see?

It's a big hole. And if they don't, well, it's bad news.

Anyway, Concannon calls this trap plate.

And just beautiful.

43 yards. One at 43.

Look at this.

Alice sees he's tired and sends me in. So I go in and he comes out.

Concannon then figures he's going to get really foxy now. Concannon is.

When he says, same plate.

Very same plate.

Trap plate is also called.

A sucker plate.

Because it makes the defense look real bad when it works.

Now, defenses do not like to look real bad. See, it makes it kind of surly.

So, anyway, all the line would go this way. And it's like I am looking at a

portrait of the Los Angeles Rangers.

Hey, Dinkin.

Merlin, how's your family, Rosie?

I was afraid to get up. I figured not everything was going to come with me.

You have never seen anyone so black and blue in your life.

It's like...

I'm rooming with the colored play again.

Gail told the joke.

The stone face from Kansas speaks.

All right. Hey, Chicago.

Chicago.

Sarah speaks.

He speaks.

Hey, Black Magic.

Listen to this letter I got.

You must have been raised with pigs to stay in the same room with one of those

darkies. You must not have been taught anything when you were a boy.

You must have crawled out from under some slimy rock.

Is that all?

Except the usual.

Love, Mother.

Magic.

I think I'm gonna write you a speech.

What kind of speech?

Well, an acceptance speech. Rookie year.

You can't miss.

But I gotta give a speech?

No way.

The man we're honoring tonight was a two -time All -American at the University

of Kansas. He was the top draft choice of the Chicago Bears in 1965, and three

times during the course of the season, he gained 100 or more yards.

Perhaps his best individual performance came last December. All right, go ahead

from the top. I want to thank you all for this honor.

I really think it's not right to give it to one man.

Football is a team sport.

Start from the top. Look up.

Gale Sayers.

I'd like to thank you all for this honor.

Those are really right.

Believe it.

Who would ever believe it?

Um... All right,

let's go. On the line, Davis Turner.

Ready, set,

go.

Smitty, Lyle.

Ready.

Set. Go.

Get him.

Go get him. It's Caroline.

Hey, hey.

Since when does the defensive lineman have to race the defensive halfback?

You're not racing against me. You're racing against the clock. I still ought

have some kind of a handicap.

Well, you said the defensive back view was your handicap all last year, O .B.

Oh, shut up, Vic. You're still a rookie to me.

Come on. Come on. Cut it out. Come on, Vic. Get back to the line.

Ready?

Set.

Did you just get in? Yeah.

I would have been in earlier, but my plane got fogged in in Detroit.

You look like you're in pretty good shape.

Yeah, I am. I'm working hard all winter. You get a chance to talk to Linda

today? No, why?

I thought you might have heard.

Joey's expecting again.

Hey, that's great.

Yeah, we think so. You know, if it's a boy, we kind of like to name it after

you. Yeah,

it's got a real nice ring to it.

Spade Piccolo.

Last season is history.

You're going to run. and hit and hurt and run some more.

All right, now let's go.

42 trap, piccolo up.

There you go, Brian. That's the way to go.

See, Sayers, that's why you will never make it.

See, pizza has magical properties. They give Italian guys a lot of strength, a

lot of speed, you understand?

Oh, yeah, a lot of great Italian running back. That's right, there are. There's

Leroy Kelly, Lenny Morinelli, all them guys.

Hey, JC.

Hey, Ben.

That Sunday's lineup?

Yep. What's the back for you? Ron Cannon, Ralph Keurig, and you.

Come on, Magic. Peach is going to get cold.

They're going to play pass me alive!

Butchie, be alive!

All right, buddy, get in there. Come on. Let's go.

You got him. You got him now.

Come on, Jeff.

Way to go, Jeff.

Bears fall first and 10 on the San Francisco 42 -yard line.

Come on, Bobby. Let's go. All right, let's go, Bobby.

Let's go.

Yours, Gail.

28 toss and on three.

All right, let's go. Come on.

Let me help you. Hello.

Gil, it's just so good to have you home. Yeah, it's good to be home.

Can I get you anything?

Nope.

Well,

it's almost lunchtime. Would you like a sandwich or something?

No, I'm not hungry. You go ahead, though.

Well, I left the kids at Joy's, so I guess I better go pick them up.

Will you be all right?

Yeah.

You sure?

Yes, sure.

Rah, rah, Wake Forest, rah.

Old alma mater sons we are.

Had you met?

Yes, it is.

Thought you'd never get here.

What are you doing down here?

You know, that is not a bad act, but peg leg baits does do it a little better.

What is that thing supposed to be?

That is not supposed to be anything other than what it is, which is a leg

machine. What for?

What for?

Getting that knee back in shape is not going to be a take -it -easy

If you're afraid, I mean, that's understandable.

I'm not afraid.

You ought to be afraid, Gale. I am not afraid. I'm just tired of being bugged

reporters, Linda, you.

Hey, you know, you are a real charmer, Sears. I mean, an absolute saint.

Look, maybe you think it's a real friendly thing to do. Hey, you can stick

in your ditty bag, too, you dumb jackass.

You know, Gale, when I was in high school,

I was one of the best backs in the state.

Unfortunately for me, the best back in the state, Tucker Fredrickson, went to

the same school.

Well, colleges used to come down and watch us play, and old Tucky wound up at

Auburn, and I wound up at Wake Forest.

Good school, nice place, but, well, not exactly centering, you understand?

So I worked my tail off at Forest.

My senior year, I led the nation in rushing and scoring.

I mean, I led the entire nation.

So, I go look for a pro team, and I pick the Bears.

Now, who else comes to the Bears?

Mr. Sayers.

Big gun from big school.

I'm number two all over again.

Well...

Old buddy.

I'm number one guy now.

But for all the wrong reasons.

Unless you come back 100%, people are going to say, Piccolo get in on a

pass.

Lucky break.

See, I don't want it like that.

I'm going to whip you, Sayers.

But you've got to be at your best. It won't mean a thing.

You're not going to be one second slower.

One degree weaker.

I am going to work your tail off and get that leg back in shape.

For my sake.

You got that.

Piccolo was awarded the game ball.

Also on the West Coast, the San Francisco 49ers...

Hello?

Dr. Fox, this is Brian Piccolo.

How's he doing?

Pretty well, Brian, I think.

Though it is boring going through all those exercises all by yourself.

It's drudgery and it's painful.

A lot of people just give up when they're alone in that situation.

That's good, babe.

Five.

No way.

Don't bone me, man. Come on. Hang tough. Five more and that's it for the night.

Come on.

Five more.

Come on, get tough.

That's six.

Seven.

Get it up. Eight.

No way.

No way.

Can't make it.

Nigga. Chicken nigga.

Oh, man.

Don't make me laugh, please.

I'll do what I'll do.

I'll call Gatlin, nigga.

And he'll do all the reps and be so mad.

Too much.

Nigger, nigger.

What am I supposed to do, call you a wop?

Now that would make me mad.

What are you guys doing?

He wouldn't believe it, baby, but he tried, tried to call me a nigger.

First man to the stand for a beer.

All right? You're out.

I think I owe you a beer.

I think I owe you a lot more than that.

Yeah.

Two beers, please.

You're healthy.

Yeah.

What do you think? Training camp is some kind of a country club?

Is that what you think?

Because no man's as sure of a job around here.

And if you think you are, you've got another thing coming, gentlemen.

Get him up.

Get him up.

Get him up. Get him up.

Come on, man. Come on, man. Get him up.

Hey. Come on.

Get out.

Come here.

Hey, Brian.

Oh, hello, Coach.

Mind if I come in?

Oh, no, not at all.

Gail?

How's the knee?

Ah, real strong.

Excuse me, Coach, if you want to talk to Gail here for a while, I'll just... No,

actually, I want to talk to the both of you.

Well, how are things looking here, Coach?

Good. Real good.

Matter of fact, there's one boy I'm very impressed with.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him replace you as number two halfback.

Because I'm going to make you number one fullback.

Hey, Vic, you and me starting backfield, what do you say?

Coach, I didn't think it was possible, but I think you finally found a way to

shut him up.

Hey, Vic. Yo.

You know you got a 4 .3 Russian average?

Oh, but I'm a few bars. I'll see if I can fake it for you.

Oh, Vic.

Touchdown, Piccolo.

941.

Holloway.

Holloway, 251.

Piccolo. Hey, Gibbs.

Scrimmage tomorrow. Teach you some new trick plays or what?

Only trick I'd like to give you is how to keep some meat on.

You're down another pound.

You've got to admit what's there is all choice, though, isn't it?

206 and a quarter.

Skinniest fullback in the league. Oh, Gibbs, I don't know what's the matter

you. First you sweat all the fat off us, then you complain that we're too thin.

You're a very hard man to please.

Get out of here.

Sir. I ought to tell your Italian buddy to load up on the pasta.

Maybe he just wants to be quicker, you give him. Ten pounds lighter, half a

second slower in a 40 -yard sprint.

It ain't working.

Come on, Brian, hit that hole! Hit it!

What's wrong with you, Piccolo?

What is it, Gale? Is he really hurting?

Gotta move.

Not hitting.

Come on, baby, come on. We gotta get it.

Come on, baby, come on!

Nice block.

Thanks.

There must be 90 million pounds of pollen in here.

Get here, Dr. Fox.

We gave you something for that hay fever.

Huh? The only thing I'm allergic to is Nitschke.

Come on, stick it in her ear!

I'd never know we won the game.

I don't feel very much like a winner about that.

Why not?

Galen sent Brian Piccolo back to Chicago.

He's not going to finish their own trip.

Ralph Keurig's been assigned next week.

Why?

Because I've always had a policy on this team right from the start.

Best players play, no exceptions.

Right now, Curate's the best player.

A lot of guys take a while to get started.

And Piccolo's never been one of those guys.

He's always been in shape, willing to give 100%. But he's not doing that

anymore. And that's what worries me.

I don't know what it is.

Could be something physical, or it might be an emotional disturbance.

Something with his wife, children.

Piccolo! Well, something's taking the edge off. I got to find out what that

something is.

For his sake as well as the team's.

When's he going to find out?

Abe's selling them now.

That's why I didn't want you to go back to the hotel right away.

I wouldn't want to be in Abe's shoes right about now.

Well, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes about ten minutes from now.

Really, who'd believe it?

Alice just wants you to see the doctor. Alice don't know what he wants.

He brought his boy.

You should have heard that lecture.

He wants me to patch things up with Joy.

I'd say things are fine with me and Joy.

He just smiles at Father Flanagan's smile of his.

Tells me I shouldn't be afraid to level with him.

Do you wrap me in a jockstrap?

Pick be fair.

Dr. Fox says that... Hey, don't give me no crud about our great team doctor.

Wants me to get a physical for the cough. No allergy.

What is it I say he says?

Well, could be a virus.

Could be a staph infection.

Could be any one of a thousand things.

Not being treated in a damn Chinese restaurant.

Column A.

Column B.

I guess you're right.

It's also pointless, Gail.

I mean, I know perfectly well what's wrong with me.

Gail, I, uh, I think I'm pregnant.

Hey, coach, which end of the field do you want me to take if we lose talk?

Come in here. We just

got a call from the hospital.

Brian Piccolo has cancer.

They've scheduled an operation for tomorrow morning.

An operation to do what?

They're going to have to remove part of Brian's right lung.

The doctors have no explanation.

Just something that Brian carried around inside him all his life.

What kicked it off, they don't know.

Whether or not they got it in time, I'm afraid they don't know that either.

Who's going to tell him?

I'll tell him.

No.

I'll tell him.

You, Gale?

Look at me.

I'll tell him.

Let

me

have your attention a minute, fellas.

One over here.

Gale has something he wants to say to you.

Gale?

We hand out a game ball to the

outstanding player.

Well, I'd like to change that.

We just got word that Brian Pickle is...

That is sick, very sick.

And it looks like he

might

never play football again.

Or a long time.

I think we should dedicate ourselves to

give our maximum effort

to win this game.

Give the game all.

We can all sign it.

And take it up.

Oh, my God.

Fantastic.

Could you believe it?

Sayers, I mean, you've got some moves on the field, but in the locker room, you

are one big klutz.

Now, listen to me.

Listen, Al.

When you dedicate a game to someone, you are then supposed to go out and win it,

idiot.

You know, Pat O 'Brien never said, let's blow one for the gipper.

Dad, you is so bad.

He probably would have won a game. Can't count how to call that trap play more,

but he just sort of hates to call it without you in there for the repeat.

Thank you.

Pete Samhock's doing it.

Hey, anybody want to see my score?

Out.

What's the matter? Out. Now.

No discussion.

We just got here.

Take care, guys.

We're just going to lay that one?

Hang on a minute.

Lay the pig.

Take Gail down and have them give that little girl his autograph downstairs.

Little girl I met.

The day I came in, I had an operation the same day I did. I told her I'd give

her your autograph.

You don't mind, do you?

No problem. I'll be glad to.

All right.

You go.

Time now, Mrs. Piccolo.

I'll be right back.

Won't you?

May I help you?

My name is Mrs. Piccolo.

My husband's a patient on the third floor, and he told me about a little

Patty Lucas, who wanted this gentleman's autograph.

Mrs. Piccolo, Patty isn't with us anymore.

Oh, well, do you have a home address?

Mrs. Piccolo, Patty's... My husband wanted her to have the autograph very

Mrs.

Piccolo, Patty's dead.

She passed away this morning.

Nothing wrong with that knee, I'll tell you.

Congratulations, Dr. Pickleup.

Yeah.

You know what, Joy?

I've been thinking.

With Gail healthy and Ralph Keurig healthy, I'm going to have a real tough

getting back in that lineup next year.

So I was thinking.

What's so difficult about being a kicker?

I mean, uh...

I just wonder if it's something you could teach yourself, you know?

Because you don't need a great amount of wind or stamina or size.

I don't know what you think of my brainstorming, Loomy Gus.

Well, I don't know, Brian. I mean, I'm no expert on kickers and things.

You're just running that run.

Red Green you'd be proud of.

Don't make fun of me, Brian.

I'm scared.

What of?

What of?

You can't be serious. You know perfectly well what of.

No, I don't.

I swear to God I don't, honey.

Now look, I'm a... I'm no idiot.

This thing I got's bad, I know that.

But, uh, well, it's just a detour, Joy.

I'm not gonna let it stop me.

I'm just not. There's no way.

I got too much to do yet, Joy.

Pick it up.

Pick it up, you dummy.

Damn. Mr.

Piccolo, calm down.

Calm down.

Calm down.

The ball was wearing a white sheet.

Well, I was gonna catch it, but when it started coming down, I said to myself, I

wonder what Pick would do in a situation like this.

And rubbing it seemed to be the answer.

Well, at least you won the game.

That's right.

Yeah.

You didn't dedicate this one to me, though, did you?

Nope, dedicated it to Butkus.

Why? Because he threatened us.

How you doing, Pick? Seriously.

I am.

I'm hanging in there, Magic.

Just doing what they tell me to do.

Hey, listen, man.

You do me a favor, huh?

You got it. Name it.

Call Joy, will you?

When she left here tonight, she, uh... Well, she was really down. I never saw

her that down, no.

I'll call as soon as I get back.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

Phone call from Mr. Sayers.

Lady says it's an emergency. She seems very upset.

I'll take it.

I hope I did the right thing.

I'm sure you did. Thank you very much.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Enjoy the piglet.

I, uh... I know it's an awful thing to ask you to come back here in the middle

of the night.

It doesn't bother us, so don't let it bother you.

Julie, why don't you just say it?

They found more of the tumor.

They, uh... They told me this morning.

That they want to operate again.

And... I was going to tell Brian.

But I... I just couldn't, Gail.

I mean, I don't know whether or not he can take the disappointment.

And if he can't...

I know I can.

The, uh... The doctor is going to tell him in

the morning.

And if you could be there, Gail, it might help.

Would you try?

Yeah, run.

Oh, Lordy, I had my linebackers in a blitz. All right.

Well, did you gain a what?

Come in.

Oh, I'm sorry if I'm disturbing anything.

Oh.

Beat him later. What can I help you with?

Well, I know this is a bother at a time like this, Mr. Piccolo, but hospitals

have rules and regulations, you see.

I need your signature on this.

What is it?

Well, it... The doctor has been here, hasn't he?

He's talked to you, I mean.

No, why?

Oh, well... I'll step back a little later. Oh, no, wait.

What would the doctor have to say to me?

There's more of the tumor than they thought, Dick.

They have to operate again.

Mr. Sayers, can't you talk to your friend?

Mr. Everly, I think I'd rather talk to you.

Brian is a professional athlete, Mr. Everly. A professional gets into a habit

after a while.

He gets himself ready for a game mentally as well as physically.

Because he knows those two things are all tied up together.

And there's a clock inside.

And when the game starts, he's 100 % mentally and physically.

And what Brian is saying is that you're scheduling the game before he can get

ready.

Couldn't it wait until over the weekend?

Well, yes, it could, Ben. Let it.

First thing Monday morning, Mr. Piccolo.

Looks like I scored touchdown.

We're going to put you to sleep now.

That could be the worst choice of words I've ever heard in my life.

The winner of this year's George S. Hallis Most Courageous Player Award,

Sayers.

I'd like to say a few words about a guy I know, a friend of mine.

His name is Brian Piccolo.

And he has the heart of a giant.

And that rare form of courage which allows him to kid himself and his

Cancer.

He has a mental attitude which makes me... Proud to have a friend who spells

courage 24 hours a day, every day of his life.

And you flatter me by giving me this award.

But I say to you here now, Brian Piccolo is the man of courage who should

receive the George S. Hallis Award.

It's mine tonight.

And Brian Piccolo's tomorrow.

I love Brian Piccolo.

And I'd like all of you to love him too.

And tonight,

Hit your knees.

Please ask God to love him.

Hi, Magic.

How you doing, Pip?

Oh, I'm, uh, I'm hanging in there.

I heard what you did at that, uh, banquet last night. You know, if you

here, I'd kiss you.

Glad I'm not there, then.

Huh?

I gave a, uh, tell me you gave me a pint of blood. Is that true?

Yep.

That explains it to him.

Explain what?

I've had this craving for chitlins all day.

I'll be there tomorrow.

See you there.

All right.

I ain't going anywhere.

How is he, Linda, really?

Hurry, Gail. Please hurry.

Okay.

A race is what you want.

It's the biggest from head to toe.

You've got to believe me.

How you doing, Dick?

Oh.

Uh.

Fourth and A.

I know you.

I won't let me fall.

Go for it, then.

I'm trying, yeah.

Jesus.

Jesus, God, I'm trying.

Remember when you caught me with those mashed potatoes?

You deserved it.

The way you sang that dumb fight song.

I'm going to get you your next training camp.

I'm going to get you.

I'll be waiting.

Hey, again.

I'm feeling...

Try to get some sack.

Okay.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Yeah. Usually so.

I love you.

Brian Piccolo died of cancer at the age of 26.

He left a wife and three daughters.

He also left a great many loving friends who miss him and think of him often.

But when they think of him, it's not how he died that they remember, but rather

how he lived.

How he did live.