He never asked to be a hero <br />For him, playing ball would be just fine <br />Potentially his chance was less than zero <br />To overcome that black-white racist line <br /> <br />Unlike Duke, Dimag and Mickey <br />Jackie entered through back doors <br />The stage was set by Mr. Rickey <br />For Robinson to fight that Civil War <br /> <br />Sports, they say, mirrors society <br />So, they should have hung their heads in shame <br />For what was then America's propriety <br />Brought prejudice to every game <br /> <br />The Brooklyn Bums, at long last, found salvation <br />When Robinson's talents were revealed <br />With the awesome double-play combination <br />Reese and Jackie brought to Ebbetts Field <br /> <br />Stealing fan's hearts with baseball fire <br />Displaying skills in every way <br />Robinson played with such desire <br />Stealing bases most every day <br /> <br />They could never expect fom him the expected <br />He turned the most racist hate to love <br />And finally he was most respected <br />Respect that came from more than bat and glove <br /> <br />For Jackie, baseball was more than just a game <br />He opened doors for Campy, Mays and others <br />Number 42, now in the Hall of Fame <br />Proved men of all colors could play in life as brothers <br /> <br />He never asked to be a hero!<br /><br />Stanley Cooper<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/jackie-robinson-an-american-hero/
