A short Season
            
             One had speed and flash, one had power and the intangible ability to get first downs. One was black, one was white. One went to the University of Kansas and one went to Wake Forest University. One was a high draft pick and one was signed as a free agent. Both had heart.
             Gayle Sayers and Brian Piccolo, star running backs for the Chicago Bears, created a sensation as the first black and white men in professional football to room together. Once rivals for the national rushing title, Brian and Gale were now roomies. Thought of as an experiment, the roomies soon became best friends. Sayers and Piccolo formed a friendship rooted heavily in laughter. Often they joked in racist terms but as Sayers would say, "He could call you a nigger and you'd know-you'd know-he was kidding."
             Although Sayers started in front of Piccolo, Brian held no jealousy. He rather, dreamed of playing in the same backfield as Sayers, Gale at halfback and himself at the fullback position that he played at Wake Forest. Brian's dream did not happen immediately, and when it did happen it was for a short time. Ironically, Brian's big break happened when Gale injured his knee. This however did not affect there friendship, and Brian encouraged Gale to work to get back to his all-pro form.
             Then, Brian got cancer. This was not only devastating to Brian, but to Gale as well. Gale and the rest of the team was hit hard by the news. In the seven months that Brian lived after first being diagnosed with cancer, Gale was the Bear that visited him the most. Gale tried to be an encouragement to Brian but it was Brian that motivated Gale to work harder. Probably the greatest testament of their friendship was when Gale accepted the George S. Halas award for Brian. This award is given to the most courageous player. Gale was awarded it for his comeback after his knee injury, but he gave it to Brian because of his fearless ...