They encouraged each other when both were having physical issues. Meant to be the story of a major professional football star recovering from a devastating knee injury, the book became the inspiration for the movie brians song. I am third has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Known also as a community leader and great friend to all, sayerss credo is, the lord is first, my friends are second, and i am third. From 1951 to 1963, he was editor of sport magazine and from 1972 to 1988, he was ceo and chairman of book of the month club. He is the coauthor of i am third with writer al silverman. Based on the book i am third, by gale sayers producer, paul junger witt. But, it was chicago bears hall of fame running back, gale sayers, who made the sentiment famous 48 years earlier, in his 1970 book, i am third. I first learned of this book long ago after seeing brians.
In 1970, gale sayers wrote i am third, an autobiography of his football career. Two years ago i got this old beatup book as a gift from someone in my family. He wrote, brian piccolo and i began rooming together in 1967 and we became close friends. Its easy to make a big deal out of the fact that he was white. Gale sayers generally travels from il, usa and can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. I am third book by gale sayers 2 available editions. Sayers story of his friendship with teammate brian. Gale sayers, the great chicago bears running back, wrote a hit book back in the 1970s, called i am third. Halas award as the most courageous player in pro football. Gale sayers book i am third, with al silverman, is a stirring, painful. Sayers also went through a hard time with the media. Al silverman is a noted sports writer and the author of ten books and numerous essays published in playboy, saga, and sport magazines.
Gale sayers book i am third, with al silverman, is a stirring, painfully honest account of his struggle to become the greatest running back in. I am third gale sayers book i am third gale sayers book. When he went up to recevie the award he said my friend and teamate brian piccolo is. He is an actor and writer, known for brians song 1971, guiding light 1952 and brians song 2001. I am third by gale sayers, 1970, viking press edition, in english.
Brians song is a 1971 abc movie of the week that recounts the details of the life of brian piccolo played by james caan, a chicago bears football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro in 1965, told through his friendship with bears teammate gale sayers billy dee williams. This book is about the life of gale sayers who his parents died when he was a little kid from cancer. As explains, sayers says in his book that the title is based on his lifes motto, that his god and his friends take priority over himself. I am third is a nonfiction novel by gale sayers and bill cosby introduction. Gale sayers a copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. Its easy to make a big deal out of the fact that he was white and im black and to wonder how we got along. In addition, his 1971 autobiography, i am third, was produced into an awardwinning television movie, brians song, starring james caan and billy dee williams.
During his time of recovery, gale wrote the book i am third. It is also the story of his friendship with brian piccolo. Al silverman, a onetime editor of sport magazine and chief executive of the bookofthemonth club who also was the coauthor of football star gale sayerss autobiography, which became the. Gale sayers speakers bureau and booking agent info. The lord is first, my friends are second, and i am third. The book is 238 pages long and has black and white vintage football pictures in it. The book i am third written by gale sayers is the best autobiography i have ever read. During his teen years,gale was playing football,but made his team lose almost a streak of luck. In 1977, he was inducted into the pro football hall of. Gale sayers is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. Publication date 1974 topics sayers, gale, 1943publisher new york, bantam books collection. He has been married to ardythe bullard since december 1, 1973.
In 2007, he released a new book, gale sayers, my life and times. The inspiration for brians song by gale sayers 646 ratings, 3. Saw brians song as a kid and always had great respect for gale sayers. I read this book, an autobiography of gale sayers, in november and december of 2010. I am third by gale sayers, bill cosby introduction, al. Sayers talent on the field is surpassed only by his faith and the great works he has accomplished in the chicago community. This book is compassionate, emotional, and sometimes comic. The book is 1970 by gale sayers and al silverman, library of congress catalog card number 70119775 sbn 670389773 third printing december 1971. When i was a sophomore at the university of kansas i had seen this sign on the desk of bill easton, who is my. I think his i am third philosophy began after him playing days.
Gale sayers played college and professional football. Gale sayers book i am third, with al silverman, is a stirring, painfully honest account of his struggle to become the greatest running back in history and that agonizing moment between immortality and becoming a cripple. I am third is the memoir of gale sayers, one of the best running backs in the history of the ncaa and pro football. Nfl hall of famer gale eugene sayers was born on may 30, 1943, in wichita, kansas. I recall at the time seeing the book for sale at safeways at the woodlawn shopping center in littleton, colorado. The books title is from sayers motto, the lord is first, my friends are second, and i am third. After his nfl career, gale went back ku to recieve his postgraduate degree in education. In the book, sayers also discusses his strong faith and his philosophy towards life.
During his teen years, gale was playing football,but made his team lose almost a streak of luck. Silverman has also worked as an editor and publisher. Al silverman, writer behind brians song, is dead at 92. Gale signed with the chicago bears and played witht them for seven years as a running back.
Al silverman, a magazine editor and publishing executive who collaborated with the chicago bears halfback gale sayers on an autobiography that. Once he came back from his injury, he would play his best but there was always something in the papers about how he wasnt as good as when he first started. I am third by gale sayers, al silverman, paperback. He was a running back for the chicago bears for 7 seasons during the 1960s and 1970s.
An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. In reality the book is about gale and his accomplishments and he puts himself first through most if it. In part 2 of i am third, sayers talks about his elementary and high school years with his brother win. Among his publications is i am third, cowritten with gale sayers, which was adapted for the 1971 television film, brians song. The iconic film about the iconic friendship between pro football hall of fame running back gale sayers and his chicago bears teammate. Then he was getting tough times when the producer of brians song quit. In 1968, gale had a knee injury which changed his life. It tells the story of a man with such love for a sport when a knee injury almost destroys his career and all the friends he didnt even know he had. I first heard this saying in this biography of one of the greatest football players to. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers.
Brians song is a 1971 abc movie of the week that recounts the details of the life of brian piccolo, a football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro, told through his friendship with chicago bears running back teammate and pro football hall of famer gale sayers, who helps him in his difficult struggle directed by buzz kulik. I am third by gale sayers with al silverman the greg. I first learned of this book long ago after seeing brians song. The title comes from this anecdote, in the introduction to the book. Piccolos and sayers sharply differing temperaments and racial backgrounds made. My title, i am third, symbolized my philosophy about life. Gale sayers was in new york to attend professional football writers annual dinner and receive the george s. In 1970, gale sayers wrote i am third, an autobiography of his. He and a white teammate brian piccolo were bosom buddies. Gale sayers was born on may 30, 1943 in wichita, kansas, usa as gale eugene sayers. Gale eugene sayers born 1943 was a famous running back for the chicago bears for seven seasons. About i am third gale sayers book i am third, with al silverman, is a stirring, painfully honest account of his struggle to become the greatest running back in history and that agonizing moment between immortality and becoming a cripple.
I am third by gale sayers, 9780142000755, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. At first i knew nothing of gale sayers and brian piccolo, and the friendship the two had, or the saying i am third. It tells the story of a man with such love for a sport when a knee injury almost destroys his career and all. But, it was chicago bears hall of fame running back, gale sayers, who made the sentiment famous 48 years earlier, in his 1970 book, i am.
522 1140 582 1054 725 1473 1540 1251 994 72 610 1337 1572 1154 421 847 637 1589 996 1044 478 1341 1254 496 340 185 1404 124 345 11