Paper
BRIAN PICCOLO: A SHORT SEASON
The book, “Brian Piccolo: A Short Season” by Jeannie Morris, really depicts how one’s true dream can become shattered by the monstrous disease that has come to be known as Cancer. One might think that this book is a boring, no-point book, but quite to the contrary. More books like this one need to be out on the shelves today to really illustrate to those healthy people out there that life is not always just a bowl of cherries. There are people out there suffering and cancer has ruined, if not taken, there lives.
Brian Piccolo was a running back for the Chicago Bears in the late 60’s. One night, during a game, “Pic”, as his refrends referred to him, had made two touchdowns on his own. After his last touchdown, however; Pic began to feel light headed and naseaus. Once to the touchdown zone, Brian fell to his knees in agony and collapsed. The cause for this was due to a large tumor in his body that turned out to be mallignent. Once the doctors tried to go on and remove the tumor, they were shocked to see that it was the size of a grapefruit. His wife, Joy Piccolo, stood at his side the entire operation and everynight there after. Brian and Joy were what most people would call the “ideal” couple. Brian was the All-American hardworking athlete, while Joy was the loving supportive wife that stood by his side no matter what his successes or failures might bring. Brian lived through the operation, but then the Piccolo’s got another piece of disheartening piece of news. What was this piece of news, you might be asking yourself. The answer is in the book, “Brian Piccolo: A Short Season” by Jeannie Morris. This book traces the life and death of a superstar hwo had a dream. A dream to make his loving fans happy and to become a big name in the National Football League. With his friends and family, Brian will live on.
The author of this book, Jeannie Morris, was a close friend of the Piccolos. Once the entire predicament that the Piccolo’s were in was all said and done, Joy asked Jeannie if she would finish the book that Brian started. And the rest is history. Jeannie completed the book and began a fund that helped in the research of cancer and in the research to finding the cure for the deadly disease that comes in so many forms.
In closing, one of Pic’s best friends, Gale “Magic” Sayers, went to an awards ceremony for the George S. Halas award, an award given to athletes who show above average character, performance, stature, and is viewed in the public eye as a hero. This award was given to Sayers and was quoted as saying this:
“I accept the George S. Halas award for Brian Piccolo, a dear friend of mine. It is mine today, it is his tomorrow… I love Brian Piccolo and I’d like you to love him, too. Tonight, when you hit your knees, please ask God to love him, too…”
-Gale Sayers, 1970