The winter track season is in full swing. This letter reviews one incident in the history of the Knights Of Columbus winter running program.
Charlie won the preliminaries, qualified for the finals of the sprints in the Knights of Columbus winter track meet in the Boston Garden. Picture it! Roman Catholic dressed in tuxedos, white shirts and black bow ties. Instructions were given: One false start (jumping the gun) allowed, second and you were out, disqualified. Charlie Johnson, along with seven other sprinters, knelt in their blocks. “Set!” they rose to run. Charlie was away — a split second too soon — a false start
“On your marks!” try again. Charlie rose to run on command — then away — all by himself! Dead silence made the Garden’s air heavy. I know, I was there!
Charlie, quite alone, got half-way down the track — then the unmentionable: an expletive — (the Lord’s name taken in vain) not to be printed here.
Boston College’s priests did a double penance when back on campus. Charlie’s cry was one of pure anguish. The Devil had him by the heels. It still rings in my ears.
Paul T. Seamans
Greenfield