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Tommie Smith

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Athlete

The Resume

    (June 6, 1944- )
    Born in Clarksville, Texas
    Won the gold medal in the 200-meters (1968)
    With bronze medalist John Carlos, delivered a black power salute during the medal ceremony
    Played football for the Cincinnati Bengals (1969-71)
    Inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame (1978)
    Wrote the autobiography 'Silent Gesture' (2007)

Why he might be annoying:

    Many considered his and Carlos' gesture disrespectful.
    He and Carlos were kicked off the relay team and escorted out of the Olympic village following their protest.
    Brent Musberger called him and Carlos 'black-skinned stormtroopers.'
    He and Carlos disagree about who came up with the idea for the protest.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He said, 'On the track you are Tommie Smith, the fastest man in the world, but in the dressing rooms, you are nothing more than a dirty Negro.'
    He set a world record at the Olympics.
    He received death threats over his protest.
    He commented, 'When you have a platform, use it. You're kind of dumb if you don't.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 27 Votes: 74.07% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 15 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 76.92% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 204 Votes: 57.35% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 34 Votes: 64.71% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 21 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 27 Votes: 62.96% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 65 Votes: 78.46% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 71 Votes: 81.69% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 25 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 42 Votes: 59.52% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 42 Votes: 61.90% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 53 Votes: 62.26% Annoying