Client Log #1- The Detroit Lioins O-Line Tackle

Every now and then I meet clients who have various interesting backgrounds. The next series of blogs that I will be writing will be of those clients. To insure privacy, names of the clients will not be disclosed.

The first client that I'll be discussing is in his mid 70's. We have been working on strength and cardio. He former Offensive Tackle for the Detroit Lions. He played between 1965-1968. During that time, he told me that, Detroit was not a place for blacks. "There were only five of us," said the former Detroit player, referring to the number of black players on the team. He told me that players bunked together two in a room but because he was black none of the white player wanted to bunk with him, so we slept alone. "When we traveled to other states we had to fine hotels that housed blacks." The former O-line Tackle said that before they traveled each state to play a team, the management surveyed the hotels to see who allowed blacks. Once they were in the state he had to take a taxi to the nearest hotel that would allow him to stay. During pre-season games, the former Lions player told me that the white players would intentionally pick fights with the black players in order to cause conflict and get the black player penalized and cut from the team. After three years of playing in the NFL the former Lion moved to Canada to escape segregation and play for the Canada Football League. 

I was lucky enough to have my client sign a football with his autograph, years played, team, position and jersey number.