Welcome to The Edge of Sports podcast. I'm Dave Ziron.

Today's show is about the black radical tradition in sports, a political tradition that exists

outside the mainstream discourse, but has always been a part of the political soil of this country.

It is a tradition that is resurfacing today with the protests and words of 49ers quarterback

Colin Kaepernick, and it is a tradition that has its roots with our guests today.

Former Cleveland Brown, Walter Beach.

I am black in attitude.

I'm black in behavior, belief, and thoughts. I am an African in spirit. I accept and acknowledge the fact of my African self-being intuitively. I have developed the cognitive strength to function as a black man in America. I must

decide what my relationship to racism will be. I am a man of peace and love. I have an unbridled love

for black people.

And this is from ancient chemic, Egypt statement called La Husea.

I do not speak falsely, for I am great.

I do not act lightly, for I have weight.

I am not untrue, for I am the balance. And I do not act lightly, for I have weight. I am not untrue, for I am the balance.

And I do not swerve, for I am the standard.

And Dave, that's the final statement, the standard.

I'm just telling you what my standard is.

I speak for no other man.

Now who is Walter Beach? Well, he turns 84 in January, and he was part of the Cleveland Brown's team, which won the NFL championship in 1964, a team led by Walter's lifelong

friend, the legendary Jim Brown.

Walter Beach was also part of a group of black athletes who publicly supported

Muhammad Ali's refusal to be inducted into the United States Army as a conscientious

...