Wright loves soccer. And he’s most interested in St. Louis’ premier rival in the early 1970s: the historically black Howard University.
Opposing coaches would tell their players to shout racial slurs at Howard players to knock them off their game. Several players remember being called the n-word on the pitch. But even still, Howard was really, really good. "The first time I met him was in the lunch room," Wright says."He was one of the teachers on lunchroom security detail, I guess. Just kind of making sure that kids didn’t walk on tables or throw food at each other."
"I worked at a dental office," Wright says."Everything from cleaning the equipment and making sure things are put away. Taking out the garbage." "I kid you not — a voice just said to me, ‘Google Coach Bain,’"Wright remembers."It had been probably eight years to that point since we'd spoken." Wright got in touch with a friend from ESPN Films named Kenan Holley. And together, they got approval to make a documentary short. But they were missing something.
The NCAA alleged that two of Howard’s players hadn’t taken the correct college entrance exams. It alleged that two others had already used up eligibility by playing in their home countries over the summer. "We played against this entire wretched system of this society," Phillips said at the banquet."Any time they decide to get together to deprive any people of what is due to them, I would say that the NCAA is guilty of practicing racism. St. Louis did not beat Howard University last night. They beat the remnants of what was left of Howard University."
"A triangle of Blackness," Howard alum Rock Newman says."And that triangle, he said, started in Africa, went to the Caribbean and then goes, at its furthest point away, in America. And they were that link that would link back to Africa with the kind of excellence. The whole African diaspora could look on this one team, an example of the best that we can be."
Phillips and members of his team say that the St. Louis players treated them with respect. They knew they could beat Howard by playing the right way.
OnlyAGameNPR How could anyone ever accuse npr of having an agenda with a story like this? Lol
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Carnegro OnlyAGameNPR Redemption Song is right! There are so many sports comeback stories in the HBCU family.
OnlyAGameNPR BRAVO Howard & to ALL who fought for justice, equality & the rights of the people! God bless you all. I, as a young white woman from the north, lived through the Civil Rights Era. I witnessed your struggle & I tried to participate in aiding you, as best I could, in that quest.
OnlyAGameNPR Mmmmm. A soccer story from the early 70's. Sounds like an excellent read. I think I'll give this a gander after I give the phone book a cover-to-cover reading.
OnlyAGameNPR 🤣🤣🤣 are the women playing on the team yet?