Sports Hall Of Fame Honors Black History Month
DETROIT (WWJ) - The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is honoring Black History Month with the "Comebacks and Championships" exhibit at the Detroit Historical Museum.
Former Pistons coach Ray Scott, whose 1974 playoff team starred Dave Bing, played for the Pistons during the 1960's. The era when Civil Rights marchers were risking their lives and enduring police beatings to challenge Southern Segregation.
Scott recalls that Detroit fans were always great, even when he later played against the Pistons for Baltimore. But he and his African- American teammates were subjected to blood-boiling racist taunts and insults every time they played at St Louis. Worse, Scott adds, than any crowds in the deep South.
But, Scott reflects: "The majority of the athletes that I can think of, identified very heavily with Dr. King's philosophy, which was non-violence and really assuming a mantle of dignity and grace. And I think most of us tried to do that."
