1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,320 Speaker 1: Long Shot is a production of McClatchy Studios and I 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: Heart Radio m previously on Return, Men went out came here. 3 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: It really was a big town. Just the ranks to 4 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: people black sometime I'm associated with each other, were poor. 5 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: But we didn't know poor Mama always Blood, which was 6 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 1: an outstanding athlete from a little boy. He was good football, 7 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,319 Speaker 1: baseball and basketball. We all could have won pool at 8 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: Strange Control LANs. I mean everybody you knew what the 9 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: space people so lost men most and lankster did. This 10 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: is the Orange Bowl. It will be jam eighty tho 11 00:00:55,840 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: fans today Super Bowl Day. It's harder to imagine brighter 12 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 1: lights than the Super Bowl in a place further from 13 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: a dirt lot in Lancaster, South Carolina than the Orange 14 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: Bowl in Miami. Just before game time, it is already filled. 15 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 1: And believe me, it's been a tough ticket for those games. 16 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 1: For Jim Duncan, who was once to stand out at 17 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: bar Street High and now a star on the rise 18 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: for the Baltimore Colts, seventy was the best year of 19 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: his life. Hi, everybody, this is Kurd Galdy along with 20 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: Joe Namath here in Miami. You're to day as the 21 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: Baltimore Cols champs of the American Conference the Dallas Cowboys 22 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:40,279 Speaker 1: champs of the National Conference. Jim had left his southern 23 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: milltown in the early nineteen sixties. Some might say escaped 24 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: if they're not the right, but that's Sunday in Miami. 25 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: He was an NFL Swiss Army knife on the cusp 26 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: of stardom. In the eyes of sixty million people were 27 00:01:57,280 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: upon him. And now we're going to take a unique 28 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: look at the starting lineup. You haven't drunkard number thirty five. 29 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: The top took off the turned man in the American 30 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: convert From the poorest side of Lancaster's main Street, Jim 31 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 1: had arrived at perhaps the biggest game in the world, 32 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: culminating in a play that would go down in Colts history, 33 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: the high point in a life that soon began crumbling 34 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: around him. From the Herald McClatchy Studios and I Heart Radio, 35 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: this is return man. I'm Brett McCormick, and this is 36 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: part two. From the cotton Fields to glory. They turned 37 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 1: longest bridge in the world, spanning Chesapeake Bay is ready 38 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: for service. In en sixty four, Jim Duncan left Lancaster 39 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,519 Speaker 1: found for Maryland's Eastern Shore. As the cars began to 40 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: roll over the brand new bridge, each motorist is saving 41 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: a hundred and twenty five miles from the eastern end 42 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: of the western shore of Maryland. The year he graduated 43 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: from bar Street, Jim's High school head coach Sandy Gilliam 44 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: had been offered the head coaching job at Maryland State 45 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 1: College in rural Princess Anne. That was very loyal to 46 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:15,080 Speaker 1: friends and family alike. Rosie Gilliam is Sandy's son. When 47 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: he left South Carolina, I guess it went to Meryland 48 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,359 Speaker 1: State College. He took some of the players that he 49 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: had coached in high school. Obviously he knew their talent, 50 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 1: and it was his first recruiting I guess tests to 51 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: convince them to come, and that made them the success 52 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: that I think they were. Maryland State College is now 53 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: known as Maryland Eastern Shore, located about a hundred and 54 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 1: thirty miles from Baltimore. It's a historically black college and 55 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: was a safe harbor in a remote corner of Maryland 56 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: stalked by racial tensions. At the time, Princess Anne had 57 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: been the location of the last recorded lynching in the 58 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: state of Maryland. How can you tell black people to 59 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: be non violently and at the same time condone the 60 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: sinning of white killers. The summer before Duncan arrived at 61 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: college nearby Cambridge, Maryland was in flames after a visit 62 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: from h. Rat Brown, then the chairman of the student 63 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 1: Non Violent Coordinating Committee. We built the country up, we 64 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: will burn it down. You can quote that. I say 65 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: violence is necessary. Violence is a part of America's culture. 66 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 1: It is as American as cherry pie. Rosie Williams's father 67 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: was Jim's coach at Maryland State, and Gilliam remembers his 68 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,479 Speaker 1: family's home there became an oasis for the football players 69 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: and in the process Rosie's parents got some free babysitting 70 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 1: out of it. Our parents, would you know, I think 71 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 1: they had almost manufacture of reason for them to go out, 72 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: and they would have several players over in our house. 73 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: You know, they hang out in our basement, play records. 74 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: They would make sandwiches and leave mean a refrigerator. These 75 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: young men and women became my brother and I babysitters, 76 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 1: and and at to say time they were quote having fun. 77 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: Rosie Gilliam rubbed elbows with some all time grades at 78 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: Maryland State. During the four years Duncan played for the Hawks, 79 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:10,600 Speaker 1: twelve football players from the school went on to the NFL. 80 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,159 Speaker 1: I'm sure on some levels we were brandy little kids 81 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,280 Speaker 1: to the players because we're always around them and there 82 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: are heroes. I mean, we may not appreciate that this flayer, 83 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 1: that player was NFL player quality, but if you're on 84 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: the team, you were considered a big person. And yeah, 85 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: we'd hang out with them as much as you know, 86 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: a kid could hang out with somebody ten or so 87 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 1: years older than they were. Duncan played offense, defense, and 88 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 1: special teams for the Hawks. He lined up at quarterback, safety, 89 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: and return punts. He ran two kicks back for touchdowns 90 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: in a game against lock Haven with sixty seven and 91 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:52,840 Speaker 1: eighty seven yard returns. Outside of football, he played on 92 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: the school's basketball and baseball teams for at least one 93 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 1: season each and earned his way into Maryland States Athletic 94 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame. You can still find Maryland State yearbooks online. 95 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: In one, Jim is pictured with other multi sport athletes 96 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 1: at the school, standing directly in front of his football coach. 97 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 1: Jim is beaming in the front row, wearing snazzy white 98 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 1: dress shoes, dark sunglasses and a giant grin. Darton was very, 99 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: very quiet, a really nice pat would you would say, 100 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 1: make him? I going to find particularly to play date 101 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: Upton Bell was the Baltimore Colts director of player personnel 102 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: from nineteen sixty six to nine, and he was the 103 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 1: first NFL scout to see Jim's potential. Most days Frenches 104 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 1: were much toughers better, and you have to really be 105 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 1: tough to fight, and here's toughness to be light. It's 106 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: really almost sweet personality. In nineteen sixty seven, Bell urged 107 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 1: the Colts head coach, future Hall of Famer Don Shula, 108 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: to make the drive across the Chesapeake Bay and check 109 00:06:55,240 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: on Maryland States overlooked players. Johnny Unitas already has such 110 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: a grip on the slippery bubble of sports immortality that 111 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: one expects red velvet ropes to go up around this 112 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: dressing cage on the day he retires into the record 113 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: books of pro football. The Colts were all set at quarterback, 114 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: as is evident from this episode of Woody's World on 115 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: CBS from that year. Woody Brune is profiling John Uniteds, 116 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: one of the most mythologized quarterbacks in NFL history. As 117 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: a leader, Unitis belongs to the school of that other 118 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: great quarterback, the Duke of Wellington, a man whose coolness 119 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: only grew as Napoleon's old guards came close to breaking 120 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: the pocket at Waterloop. But Upton Bell was certain Jim 121 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: could help the Colts in other ways. He has such 122 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 1: Greek speed witness and he was told by said Ms. 123 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: Scott would be a great punt return but remember himlike 124 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: today where there's no don't kick off the punt return. 125 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: Potentially man we was much more for special teams were important. 126 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: If he did nothing else, he could break one in 127 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: a close game and you win. The Colts picked Jim 128 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: in the fourth round of the seventeen round nine NFL 129 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 1: draft held that January. He signed a contract with the 130 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: team three months later, and six months after that, Jim 131 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: bought a wooded plot of land in his hometown of 132 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 1: Lancaster for sevres. There, he had a local contractor built 133 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 1: a three bedroom house for his mother and siblings. Everyone 134 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: in the neighborhood felt invested in Jim's success, including Floyd White. 135 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: Oh Man, we have to be we have. I worked 136 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: with my buddy. He was in construction then he bet 137 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: but it was you know, it was nice. It was nice. 138 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 1: It's kind of like what you see on to you now. 139 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: White helped pour the concrete foundation of Jim's new family home, 140 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: and once it was finished, County records show the house 141 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 1: at Street was valued at twenty dollars about a hundred 142 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: and eighty thousand in today's money. The home was still 143 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 1: on the east side of Main Street, but in a 144 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: safer part of town, closer to the high school. The 145 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:08,080 Speaker 1: move reflected the promise carried in Duncan's two d pound 146 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 1: frame and offered a path out of poverty for his family. 147 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 1: And you can made eight kids and the shotgun out. 148 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: When I said, shotgun straight through the front door like 149 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: a long narrow You've got people sleeping in one or 150 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 1: two bays, and you've got sleeping on the floor and 151 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: there witha do what you got to do. As Floyd 152 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: White said, it was just a few blocks, but a 153 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: whole world away from that shotgun house in Newtown. That 154 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:39,199 Speaker 1: street house was a man. There's a change in the environment. 155 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 1: So they had the chancy to bribe the side of 156 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: life that all the negative side us. We'll be back 157 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: after the break. The year Jim Duncan was drafted, the 158 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: Colts were loaded with veterans on defense and special teams. 159 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: If the called offense was efficient, it's defense was invincible, 160 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 1: flawless and superb. NFL films couldn't say enough about them. 161 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: It was a defensive swarming Blue Jerseys that forced so 162 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 1: many breaks. The offense rarely had to take the ball 163 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: more than half the field. So Jim spent that nineteen 164 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:17,079 Speaker 1: eight season practicing in Baltimore as a defensive back and 165 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:20,439 Speaker 1: kick returner during the week. Then he headed to Harrisburg, 166 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: Pennsylvania on weekends to play for Baltimore's farm team, the 167 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: Capitol Colts. The players called it the taxi squad. Yeah, yeah, 168 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: they just wanted to give us. He was probably good experiences. 169 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: Jeff Beaver was the quarterback for the Capitol Colts team 170 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 1: Jim played on. Like the fans in the middle towns, 171 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: we played for secial teams. There were four Colts rookies 172 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: on that Harrisburg team, which was largely made up of 173 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: part time players with day jobs. The team are just 174 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 1: extra money for us. Yeah, here we were they you know, 175 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: they were thinking we were a hot doot and we 176 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: were trying to make a living just like they were. Yeah, 177 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 1: I was playing football for six months and we had 178 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 1: a job of the bank, and the other six months 179 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: that we were living large nice. Early in his time 180 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 1: with the Colts, Jim also had another job in the 181 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,559 Speaker 1: off season. He worked in the mail room at Springs 182 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: Mill back in Lancaster. But they're on the field in Harrisburg. 183 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,680 Speaker 1: Jim clearly stood out. After one of the team's wins, 184 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: a local reporter wrote that he quote looked like a 185 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: record setting dash man during the sixty five yard interception 186 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: return for a touchdown. You're a lanky, tough guy. Yeah, 187 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: I had a great small athlete. Remember. Baltimore fans remember 188 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,079 Speaker 1: that season mainly for the team's historic loss in Super 189 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 1: Bowl three, when Colts quarterback Earl Morrell had a lousy 190 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,199 Speaker 1: game in place of the injured Johnny Uniteds and Jets 191 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 1: quarterback Joe Nay engineered one of the greatest upsets in 192 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: sports history. The Colts fans in Harrisburg remember something different 193 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,679 Speaker 1: the raw promise in that linky rookie from South Carolina, 194 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: and the next year, when the Colts cleared out their 195 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 1: aging defensive backfield Baltimore gave Jim a chance. He quickly 196 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: made the most of it, scoring his first touchdown. In 197 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 1: the third game of the sixty nine season. The Colts 198 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 1: trailed the Falcons fourteen to seven with twenty four seconds 199 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,079 Speaker 1: left in the first half when Jim Duncan took a 200 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: kickoff and raised ninety two yards to tie the game 201 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: at half time. The Colts finished eight five and one 202 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 1: in nineteen sixty nine and just missed the playoffs. But 203 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: by early the next season in nineteen seventy, Jim was 204 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:45,199 Speaker 1: at the peak of his football powers. Six ft two 205 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: and two d pounds, he had become the most feared 206 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: kickoff return man in the league. We're just about ready 207 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 1: to get the second half underway. Easily recognizable by his 208 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: black pooma cleats with taped white laces, Public Colt Jim 209 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: Duncan against the Dolphins that November, Ji caught the second 210 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 1: half kickoff and knife towards the right sideline past the 211 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:08,599 Speaker 1: teammates block. Then he gallops yards for the scoring outside. 212 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 1: The Miami tacklers were left in the literal dust of 213 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:31,839 Speaker 1: the grassless Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. It's not like Baltimore 214 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: didn't have its own issues with civil rights. This is 215 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 1: the story of a street which has been rejected by 216 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: a large segment of society. Pennsylvania evangel became the bustling 217 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 1: center of the black man's working life and leisure robbers 218 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 1: because downtown was more or less off limits to negros. 219 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: By the early nineteen seventies, Baltimore's historic black cultural corridor Downtown, 220 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 1: once home to theaters and countless jazz clubs, had fallen 221 00:13:56,679 --> 00:14:00,199 Speaker 1: onto hard times. But the solens of Pennsylvania Avenue are 222 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 1: not all musical. There is, for example, the sound and 223 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: fury of the spoken words so vividly projected by the 224 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 1: man known simply as X. Whether you are a Christian 225 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: or a Muslim or a nationalist, we all have the 226 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 1: same problem. They don't hang you because you're a Baptist. 227 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 1: They hang you God, you're black. The government has failed this. 228 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: You can't deny that any time you're walking around here 229 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: singing we shall overcome. The government has failed. The year 230 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: Jim was drafted by the Colts, Baltimore too had been 231 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: inflames after the killing of Martin Luther King Jr. CBS 232 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: News reported from the front lines of that uprising Pennsylvania 233 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: Avenue in Baltimore's Western Negro district where the severe trouble 234 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: was last night. Maryland Governor Spiro Agnew instituted a curfew 235 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: and the army was sent into control the city. At 236 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 1: six eleven this evening, I requested federal reinforcements. They should 237 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 1: now be taking for Asians in the critical areas great 238 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: We know now as never before, that violence is no 239 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 1: friend to freedom, and that the mob there's no allies 240 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: of civil rights. Still. Players from the time remember the 241 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: Colts as a unifier. At the very least, white people 242 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: had no problem with the black players wearing Colts blue. 243 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 1: And by nine seventy when the Colts and their marching 244 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: band took the field, there was nothing but celebration among 245 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: the fans. We didn't have to pay for anything, hardly 246 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: any place that we went. Throughout my research on Jim's life, 247 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 1: I spoke multiple times to Bob Grant, he was drafted 248 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: by the Colts the same year as Jim. Sometimes they 249 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: would ask to sign a few autographs. Even at the 250 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: grocery store. Cash here would ask you for the stock, 251 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: Wars would ask you for That's the way that it 252 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: was back then. We true. We were princes of the 253 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: city at that time, so Jim grew his hair out 254 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 1: a little bit. I bought a lincoln Mark three luxury 255 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: car in Canary yellow. He told a reporter that year. 256 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: He loved Burt Backer Acts music, and Jim began teaching 257 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: himself to play the piano. He was an amazing dresser. 258 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: Even back in Maryland State, Jim's sense of style had 259 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: stood out, and Bob Grant told me a pro football 260 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: player's salary only amplified it. All of the clothes had 261 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: to match, including the shoes and socks. There would not 262 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 1: be one single thing out of place whenever we dressed 263 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: to go out or when we were hot. Grow Back 264 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: in Lancaster, Jim's family and friends knew him as butch, 265 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: but they're in Baltimore. Teammates called him speedy. According to Grant, 266 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: it seemed as fitting off the field as it did 267 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: on it. There was lots of female o companionship available, 268 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: and it was pretty easy to meet young ladies back then, 269 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: especially if he wore a ball player or an entertainer, 270 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 1: and we were ball players. I spoke to Ernie A. 271 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 1: Corsi during my research. He was the Colts public relations 272 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: man during the nineteen seventy season. He chose not to 273 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: appear in this podcast, but of course he told me. 274 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: Jim's base salary that season was probably about fifteen thousand dollars. 275 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: That translates to roughly a hundred thousand dollars a year 276 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: in modern terms. It's a far cry from today's half 277 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:27,680 Speaker 1: million dollar minimum contracts. Even then, it was much less 278 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: than what Colts stars like Johnny Unitis or tight end 279 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:32,879 Speaker 1: John Mackie were paid, but of course he said it 280 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 1: was right in line with what most other players earned. 281 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: Outside the locker room. The black Colts players had few 282 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: equals in their socio economic class. A solid middle and 283 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,359 Speaker 1: upper class for people of color in this country was 284 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,920 Speaker 1: still largely absent during the Civil Rights era. So even 285 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 1: if fifteen thousand dollars might not have been enough to 286 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: live like a king, teammate Bob Grant said it was 287 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:58,159 Speaker 1: enough to live like a prince, especially there in Baltimore, 288 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: where their money was no good in the places they went. 289 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 1: The two friends both rented luxury apartments downtown in a 290 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 1: building called Sutton Place. They drank beer on Grant's twelfth 291 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: floor balcony and watched the sunset over the Inner Harbor. 292 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:14,440 Speaker 1: It was the first time in Jim's life he could 293 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 1: embrace financial comfort, even wastefulness. We would talk and we 294 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 1: would listen to music, and he would drink half of 295 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 1: a bottle and he would open a new one. So 296 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: when Speedy like you left, there would always be somewhere 297 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:32,160 Speaker 1: between six and twelve half bottles that were just left there. 298 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 1: When we were on the road or the restaurants in 299 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 1: the city, Speedy always ordered two meals. He would never 300 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 1: eat the second meal. And he told me that when 301 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 1: he was a young man, he had had a lot 302 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 1: of days that he didn't have enough food, and now 303 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: that he had made it, he was never going to 304 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:54,639 Speaker 1: have a day whereas he did not have enough food 305 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 1: in front of him. Grant also said that Jim had 306 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,120 Speaker 1: planned to write a book. I asked him once. I said, okay, well, 307 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 1: what are you gonna call this book? Speedy and he says, 308 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: from the cotton Fields to Glory. Jimmy Duncan was a 309 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:12,239 Speaker 1: good man. I think that he would have done some 310 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 1: good things in life. We'll be back after the break. 311 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 1: Baltimore won seven of its first eight games that v season, 312 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: and of the nine people I interviewed for this podcast 313 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 1: who worked with or played alongside Jim all said he 314 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: was a fine guy to have in the locker room. 315 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: The first thing you noticed was that he had a 316 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 1: great attitude. He's cheerful up the Bill Curry was the 317 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: Colts center and team captain during Jim's time in Baltimore. 318 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: The second thing you noticed, and there's some good about 319 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,160 Speaker 1: it and there's some real bad about it. In the NFL, 320 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: this is what counts the most. But if you can 321 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: really play, if your hell of a player, you get 322 00:19:57,520 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: instant credibility. Yeah, he can find out playing. Probably would 323 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 1: have been a great player had he lived. Jim Duncan, Well, 324 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 1: we see this kick That nineteen seventy season, Jim led 325 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: the league in kickoff return yards with a thirty five 326 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 1: point four yard average. It is coming a Duncan a 327 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: real threat to the plan fifteen, to the plenty and 328 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: the twenty five. But that's not all. Jim took over 329 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: a starting job as cornerback too, and what's now considered 330 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 1: one of the greatest defenses ever and him on a 331 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 1: great play by Jim Duncan. He's made two good tackles 332 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 1: coming up from the quarterbacks every day. You know, he 333 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: gave me the look of the opposing player that were 334 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 1: teams were gonna play. Eddie Hinton was a receiver with Baltimore. 335 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 1: He remembers Jim as a lockdown defender on a Colts 336 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 1: team that only allowed fifteen and a half points per 337 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:54,359 Speaker 1: game that season, and he just stayed on me. I 338 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: mean just sometimes I would defeat him, and sometime he 339 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 1: defeat me. When he defeated me up with all my man, 340 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 1: why could not state as he got the best of me, 341 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 1: And you don't realize I'm thinking about how great that 342 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:10,440 Speaker 1: makes name practice Hidden scored seven touchdowns for the Colts 343 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 1: that year, tied for the most on the team. He 344 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,359 Speaker 1: told me that was partly thanks to Jim. When that 345 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: kind of battling all week. When I got to play 346 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:21,440 Speaker 1: on Sunday on Monday night, I already played the person 347 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 1: maybe four or five times because Jim would give me 348 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: the look. And having that kind of teammate kept you 349 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:29,920 Speaker 1: on edge. You know, you never had time relaxed, and 350 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 1: he was always prepared for every game. The Colts finished 351 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:37,160 Speaker 1: the nineteen seventy regular season eleven two and one, then 352 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: charged into the playoffs back to throw fires the passes 353 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:47,919 Speaker 1: because five the Colt are playing fine football and tapped 354 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 1: it out. The Colts swept aside Cincinnati and then Oakland 355 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:57,160 Speaker 1: the japan Soon they were headed to Miami for their 356 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 1: second championship game in three years. NBC Sports resents for 357 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 1: the Championship of Professional Football super Ballpie the American Conference champions, 358 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 1: the Bollimar Colt. First, it was the National Conference champions, 359 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:21,159 Speaker 1: the Dallas Cowboy. On January sevent Jim suited up for 360 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,680 Speaker 1: the biggest game of his life. Two years ago we 361 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,919 Speaker 1: covered the Colts and the Jeffs, and so far everything 362 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 1: started going wrong for Bollimore, almost like it was two 363 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 1: years ago against New York. Footage of the game shows 364 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 1: Jim eager to throw himself into pile ups, though early 365 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,200 Speaker 1: on his impact was mostly felt on special teams. There 366 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 1: was a kick off a yort one. He returned four 367 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 1: kicks in the Super Bowl for ninety yards total and 368 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 1: almost broke this one near the end of the first quarter. 369 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: Running up on the Jim Duck in a great kickoff, 370 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: rejoined earth to the thirty brings it out to the 371 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 1: thirty six. He's averaged thirty five yards a kick returned 372 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:58,160 Speaker 1: and he years against Baltimore good field position after a kickoff. 373 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 1: The Colts trailed thirteen to six at the half, and 374 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:04,639 Speaker 1: in the locker room the news got worse. The Colts 375 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:07,159 Speaker 1: learned before the second half that their star quarterback was 376 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:10,720 Speaker 1: questionable at best after hit earlier in the game fractured 377 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 1: Unitus's ribs. Johnny United does not come back out on 378 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 1: the field. We understand from the Baltimore bench he was 379 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: having his ribs x raid. But right now this ball 380 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:21,239 Speaker 1: game is in the hands of Earl Morl. Then, as 381 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 1: if the Colts needed any more adversity to overcome, Jim 382 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:26,120 Speaker 1: gave it to them at the start of the second half. 383 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:30,000 Speaker 1: Here's the kick back. Farre Duncan fields it on the 384 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: seventh that's twenty oho, he bubbles and that's the fifth 385 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: Baltimore turnover. It was one of the only fumbles of 386 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,919 Speaker 1: Jim's career, and a series of punishing runs by running 387 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: back Dwayne Thomas pushed the Cowboys toward the goal line. 388 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: Then on the two yard line, Dallas looked to go 389 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 1: up twenty six and take control of the game. The 390 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:54,959 Speaker 1: old standard d give it to Thomas, trying to spending 391 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:57,920 Speaker 1: that goal line but in one of the most consequential 392 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:00,919 Speaker 1: plays in Colts history, Dwayne tom Miss plunged toward the 393 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 1: goal line right into the heart of Baltimore's defense, and 394 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:07,440 Speaker 1: a bubble and a Colt every covering and it was 395 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: Jimmy Duncas and the cover of that bumble. Jim recovered 396 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: the ball. Earl Morrill settled down the Colts offense. With 397 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,159 Speaker 1: the score tide at thirteen and time running out, Colts 398 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: kicker Jim O'Brien lined up for a thirty two yard 399 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 1: field goal nine doors your clubs, O brian. He's been 400 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: slightly a raticod time and the kick did too, but 401 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: suck a costly sixteen thirteen. Moral was the focus of 402 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,440 Speaker 1: the postgame interviews, having avenged that Super Bowl loss to 403 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,639 Speaker 1: the Jets two years earlier. Well where in the Colts 404 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:47,200 Speaker 1: loop room again in the world champion Baltimore Colts, I 405 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:49,879 Speaker 1: should say Old Marl, who came off the bench following 406 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:52,440 Speaker 1: the Andrew Due Johnny united. For a long time, you 407 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:54,440 Speaker 1: and john both have waited for this. He's a great 408 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 1: feeling be on the side, on the wedding side, and 409 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 1: I hate to see anything I have to Johnny. I 410 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 1: just take a faints about. It's a great feeling, but 411 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:03,920 Speaker 1: Jim got his due as well. Each player in the 412 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:06,679 Speaker 1: Colts was given a fifteen thousand dollar bonus for the win. 413 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 1: Jim was young, handsome, and now a Super Bowl champion. 414 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 1: Are the world professional football champion. But no matter how 415 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:20,479 Speaker 1: fast he moved, Jim Duncan could never outrun his demons. 416 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: And on part three of return Man, look out out 417 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:29,879 Speaker 1: to Kansas City nine yard. But I just thought, you know, 418 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 1: we all got on the log when he as long 419 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:33,440 Speaker 1: as he did what he needed to do in the field, 420 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 1: that's all I was interested. The end going deep touchdown, 421 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 1: Docan is combiding it was out of bounds. Duncan is 422 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: complaining because he wasn't covering a really good NFL team. 423 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:46,679 Speaker 1: You don't have a bunch of really well adjusted Sunday 424 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:50,000 Speaker 1: school guys. Jim had some problems, but I didn't remember 425 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:55,640 Speaker 1: what they were, and I did not get involved. I'm 426 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: Brett McCormick. Return Man is a production of The Herald, 427 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 1: McClatchy Studios and I Heart Radio. It's produced by Matt Walsh, 428 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 1: Kara Tabor Cotta, Stevens, Rachel Wise, and Davin Coburn. The 429 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:12,480 Speaker 1: executive producer for I Heeart Radio is Sean Titone. For 430 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 1: lots more on this story, go to Harold online dot 431 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:18,840 Speaker 1: com slash return Man. If you have any additional information 432 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:22,639 Speaker 1: about Jim Duncan's life or death, email us at return 433 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:26,399 Speaker 1: Man at Harold online dot com. To continue supporting this 434 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 1: kind of work, visit Harold online dot com slash Podcasts 435 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 1: and consider a digital subscription. And for more podcasts from 436 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:37,879 Speaker 1: my Heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 437 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows,