Every once in awhile, you're reminded of the power of words, and the importance of what we do here every day.
Yesterday I was invited to the board meeting of the Sports Legends Museum of Delaware County. The museum is now located in the Radnor Township municipal building on Iven Road, just a stone's throw from Route 30 and the Blue Route. By the way, if you have not been there, I highly recommend it. The entire lobby of the municipal building has been turned into a Delco sports shrine, filled with mementos and memorabilia celebrating the best athletes ever produced in Delaware County. That includes Olympians, hoops stars and football greats.
Those walls will soon have one more addition, an editorial I wrote hailing the achievements of Radnor native and NFL Hall of Famer Emlen Tunnell.
Who is Emlen Tunnell? Unfortunately, that's a question all too many, even here in Delaware County, have to ask.
Tunnell grew up in the Garrett Hill section of Radnor Township, was a multi-sport star at Radnor High, enjoyed a stellar college football career and spent a decade with the New York Giants. Tunnell was the first African American player to suit up for the Giants, and is the first African American enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Now he has been properly enshrined right here in his home county.
As you enter the municipal complex, you are greeted by a 7-foot bronze statue of this local standout who interrupted his college career to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard in World War II. He was credited with twice saving the lives of crewmates.
I wrote the editorial in the midst of the great national debate over protests by NFL athletes during the playing of the National Anthem before games.
President Trump has pitted himself against the athletes' actions, which were initially instigated by former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who took a knee during the anthem.
Eventually the NFL ruled that all players either must stand for the anthem if they are on the field, or stay in the locker room until it is completed.
This wasn't about that. This was about a genuine American hero - one who grew up and starred right here in Delaware County, and one who to this today is still very much under-appreciated.
Now the folks at the Sports Legends Museum of Delaware County are pushing a national movement to have the NFL retire Tunnell's No. 45.
I wholeheartedly endorse their efforts.
And I hope the editorial that I penned helps in some small way.
Yeah, some days this is a good job.
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