Behind The Scoreboard – Uglies Who Did Good

Garden City NY

20 April, 2022

8:20 AM

Description

My philosophy is "Everything I ever needed to know about business I learned on the sports field." From Behind The Scoreboard, I feature the sports stories that tell us much more than simply who won or lost. These personal and inspiring experiences of grade school, high school, college, other amateur and even pro athletes allow all of us to reflect a little more on what is important in life. ~ James C. Metzger, Chairman and CEO, Whitmore -- The Agency _______ Football Teammates Became Wild West Buds They were a couple of no-name college football players during the 1920s. Their work on the gridiron helped lead the University of Southern California to its first national championship. The guys in the trenches were known, with affection, as the Uglies. At about this time, Hollywood director John Ford cast a number of USC teammates in his 1929 film Salute. The film focused on the Army-Navy rivalry. "Get me that one with the ugly face," Ford reportedly said as he gestured toward one player, who actually was one of the Uglies. He was given the role of Midshipman Harold. A teammate and close friend of the handpicked player worked as a prop boy and uncredited extra for the film. These guys didn’t become football stars. Instead, they remained best friends and appeared in many films and television shows, a considerable number of them side-by-side. Midshipman Harold was Ward Bond. The prop boy was Marion Morrison, who we know better as John Wayne. Learn a little bit more about this story in my latest blog.