Legends

Don Cantrell

The so-called sports experts of today can talk pro grid runners til

they’re blue in the face, but none of them will ever put a clear

measuring stick on the total life of the great Indian athlete Jim Thorpe.

Although imagery of his heydey in athletics has him fixed at Carlisle

Indian School in Pennsylvania, he was no stranger to Southern California

and his name still lives on at Cypress College in Orange County.

Thorpe, a Sac and Fox Indian, died in 1954.

By 1976, however, his name would emerge again in the midst of

America’s bicentennial celebration and former Newport Harbor High

football Coach Don J. Lent would be a central figure in the ceremonies.

Lent, as athletic director at Cypress College, would greet one of

Thorpe’s daughters, who had flown out from Oklahoma, and watch happily as

she cut the ribbon to Thorpe House - the name finally chosen to fit the

college’s physical education division’s facility.

The April sun was bright and smiles were wide after the ribbon was

snipped. Many gathered around Grace Thorpe to extend a warm welcome while

Lent beamed, then exclamed, “Isn’t that great?” This corner covered

Cypress College photography.,

Thorpe’s daughter then told the press that efforts were being stepped

up by her family and supporters to have her father’s Olympic victories

reinstated from the 1912 upheaval. His medals were taken away because he

had reportedly accepted $60 a month for playing semi-proi baseball in

1909-10, making him “ a pofessional.” Thorpe explained to officials that

the funds were only used for living expenses during the baseball season.

It was a long, frustraing battle, but seven years after Grace Thorpe’s

visit to Cypress College, the victories were reinstated. Replicas of his

medals were given to his seven children.

Although Thorpe’s name was fading by the 1940s, actor Burt Lancaster

and the movie-makers helped revive the legendary Thorpe for the memory

book and for new generations. Many had never heard of him prior to the

film production in 1959.

It was no snap to portray the great Jim Thorpe, which became apparent

to the late Lancaster. Hence, the 37-year-old Lancaster labored hard to

get into top physical condition.

Thorpe had been hired by the producers to serve as an adviser during

the filming, but had no contact with Lancaster until one day during the

drop-kicking scenario.

That’s when Lancaster took note of a lone man up in the stadium making

his way toward the star actor. One can imagine Lancaster’s first view of

“The Great One” face-to-face.

Thorpe, sporting a top coat and homburg, took the ball from Lancaster

and said, “I think I better show you how to do that. He then drop-kicked

the ball a great distance, at age 62.

He was still amazing pro football fans in 1948 while in his 60s by

drop-kicking 50-yard field goals during halftimes of several NFL games.

But he made his first sterling marks in athletics more than 90 years

ago as a member of the Carlisle football team, which was coached by

another legend, Glenn S. (Pop) Warner.

With the addition of Thorpe, Warner could schedule stronger opponents.

In fact, he added major college powers. No problem. Thorpe and his mates

had little trouble whipping most all comers. And the won-loss-tie record

during the Thorpe years is astonishing: 43-4-1.

It was not uncommon to find Thorpe averaging more than 10 yards per

carry.

Out of research some years in the recent past, one writer said, “The

skills of the 5-foot-11, 185-pound athlete were sometimes described in

such mythic proportions that some attributed to him defy belief.”

One example: Newspaper reports (1911 against Pittsburgh) say Thorpe’s

punts sailed up to 70 yards. In each case, Thorpe either tackled the

returner or grabbed the ball himself, as rules allowed. Once Thorpe

retrieved his own punt, shook off five tacklers and went on to score a

touchdown, according to the report.

The Associated Press named him the greatest American Athlete of the

half-century in 1950. In 1977, Sports Magazine named him the all-time

greatest football player.

Thorpe has been enshrined in at least six halls of fame. His Olympic

decathon performances in 1912 set a world reecord that held up for 17

years.