The former San Jose State runner has put his gold medal for the 200 meters and spikes up for auction at New York-based M.I.T. Memorabilia. The bid starts at $250,000, and the sale is scheduled to close Nov. 4.
The 66-year-old Smith, who now lives in Georgia, declined comment to the San Jose Mercury News.
M.I.T.'s Gary Zimet says Smith is selling the medal for the money but also because he wants to share it with the public.
Smith won the 200 in world-record time but then was expelled from the Games along with bronze medalist John Carlos when they bowed their heads during "The Star-Spangled Banner" and raised their black-gloved fists in protest. The human rights protest eventually earned Smith and Carlos international acclaim.
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Comments (Page 1 of 6)
If he just wanted to "share it" with the world, he would do so, but not sell it. Sharing should not include selling it, he could always just make it available for anyone who wants to see if. No, he needs the money...and thats ok, but just tell the truth!
One man's lie is another man's truth. he did say that he wanted the money, but also wanted to shar it with the world.
OH, so if the high bidder is a private collector who is going to lock it away..That bid won't be accepted because he wants to share it with the world. Lets keep it 100..He sees the value and wants to cash in.
Screw him. He insulted the entire country. If I had the money, I might buy it just so I can melt it down and throw it away.
After the racism he had to endure both BEFORE and after the '68 Olympics, he's entitled to at least that much. And for all you stupid, bigoted yahoos out there, eat s--t and die.
I bid 50 cents.
50 cents? I'm out, too rich for my blood.
I guess the reason you bid so low is because that's all the money you have...........
That's all the medal is worth. I would take it if he paid me 50 cents.
"M.I.T.'s Gary Zimet says Smith is selling the medal for the money..."
Just like people turn their eyes from the slaughter going on to enrich oil and drug lords in the Middle East/Africa/Columbia today, people turned their eyes from the slaughter going on a few miles from the Olympic stadium in Mexico in 1968, in the same way people turn their eyes from what is written to see what they want to see in their fantasy world.
I'm glad this gold medal is receiving notoriety: it should be the most celebrated gold medal of all time: Tommie Smith and Juan Carlos took a stand on what the Olympics are supposed to be all about(instead of succumbing to the hypocrisy of the main stream). Look at how the corporate mind-set props up an Olympic athlete for advertising gains; when you call Smith a loser crack head only out for the money...I have to ask you how much money did he leave on the corporate mind-set table, as an Olympic gold medal winner and world record holder, to make a stand for human dignity? Would you, do you, have that much courage, self respect and respect for humanity? Long live Tommie Smith and Juan Carlos in health, wealth and prosperity! In what truly matters you will always be golden, thank you.
Olympics is about sport and competition - not about political views. It is competition for the purpose of who is best at a sport - not your political view, the color of your skin, nationality or ethnic origin. This was a childish and immature thing to do at the Olympics. Should have saved it for the press conference, not for the award of medals.
Right on, Matthew!!
Is that redundant or what? A salesman telling someone else to just tell the truth!I am not into namecalling, but the facts speak for themselves, all salespeople are liars.
I think the word you want is "ironic", not "redundant".
Not all sales people are liars but the majority that sell things that aren't needed have to lie to get you to buy it. That's why sports figures are paid so well to advertise products. Doesn't make it right, just a reality. As long as there are people dumb enough to buy something they don't need based on the opinion of someone they don't know, it will always be the same.
To Dvdfrnzwbr & rogan1968: Only someone caucasian would say something like that what an anus comment. He sacrifice alot to bring awareness to a very bad and demoralizing situation that was taking place in the United States but like in the 1960's a lot of people saw things the way they wanted to see them and also wanted people to stay in there place whatever that means he spoke volumes with his stance of belief along with John Carlos but the establishment did not appreciate that, so they "blacklisted" him no pun intended, someone will buy it for the significance that it stood for, don't forget other people find stranger thing to have value in that they pay a tremendous amount of money for, thats ridiculous to conceive someone with money from that time will buy it anonymously enough said.
Take it to Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Vegas. Ask for Chumlee.
I've never seen a 122 word sentence before.
I wish Mr. Smith didn't have to sell the Gold Medal, but our memories and our triumphs are in our minds and our hearts and those of our loved ones. Your story should always be told so the world will know.
Mr. Smith spoke at my son's school in Honolulu where he told his story to the students. My son was very moved by his struggle with the world's expectations of his actions to either make a statement or not make a statement and the pressures he faced after coming home. Thank you Mr. Smith and good wishes to you.
Karen Schilf
LOL...I can't stop