"Until Lions have their own historians,
tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter."
African Proverb
This is my synopsis / treatment
by Michael Tillery
Clarence Reece's name could possibly have been aligned with the all time
receiving greats of the NFL. Instead of the glory of a pro career and the ease
of NFL retirement, he has been on a lifelong quest to tell his intriguing and
dramatic story--a story which highlights the real deal of behind the scene
shadiness of every day life at big time power USC.
USC wasn't high on his list and used deception--shamefully through his
mother--to get Reece to basically sign his life away.
What happened during his time there was absolutely criminal.
USC of the seventies was very similar to the team dominating college football
today. He played during the era of Lynn Swann, Anthony Davis and Pat Haden.
Reece was a speedy receiver that stretched the field at will, but nepotism and
politics kept him on the sideline behind inferior talent--which just so happened
to be the head coach's son.
Instead of taking advantage of his 4.2 speed, Coach John McKay went with J.K.
McKay and the effect of such a blatantly obvious move caused seismic ripples
throughout the team. His talent was never allowed to develop with the Trojans.
Could you imagine the frustration of suiting up for a national power and not
being able to show the world that you are the best receiver alive?
Being of strong will, Reece would not take no for an answer. He made sure anyone
and everyone knew of his plight and even took his story to the L.A. Times.
Things were never the same again as USC went into cover up mode.
Reece went to the CFL for a year and later signed a 3 year deal with the Houston
Oilers.
The NFL at the time had qualifying rules for players to protect the "integrity"
of the league. In 1975, Commissioner Rozelle disapproved the contract between
Clarence Reece and the Houston Oilers, on the grounds that Reece had not yet
satisfied NFL eligibility requirements. Reece withdrew from the University of
Southern California in 1974, following his sophomore year, and signed with the
Canadian Football League for the 1974 season. In 1975, he signed with the Oilers.
When the Commissioner disapproved his Oilers' contract, Reece filed an antitrust
suit in federal District Court in Los Angeles, alleging that the NFL eligibility
rules constituted an illegal group boycott, and was in violation of the Sherman
Antitrust Act.
He was the first to fight the legality of the NFL's ruling. Players like Bernie
Kosar, (NFL Draft Controversy) ... Michael Vick, who left Virginia Tech without
graduating after three years, and became the top pick in the 2001 NFL Draft.
Vince Young, who left Texas U. without graduating after three years... Then you
have ... Reggie Bush, LenDale White and Dwayne Jarrett --coincidentally from The
University of Southern California -- who left USC without graduating after three
years ---owe a debt of gratitude because of the trailblazing efforts of Clarence
Reece.
His story is one that could help an untold number of players unaware of what's
in store when signing on the dotted line.
Clarence Reece sacrificed a good part of his life because of the disloyal
activities of USC.
Now he has a story to tell....
This is quite a life I've led and it would certainly make an amazing book if not, an awesome movie.
copy and paste this link in your browser to my website:
http://home.comcast.net/~spytime/
I believe this topic is hot right now and NCAA scandals are always in the news.
“Only the truth can make a man free.” - Peter Tosh
Thanks,
(Book / Screenplay coming soon)
“If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it”-- Albert Einstein
