Jay Berry’s Sports Odyssey and Beyond:
From Turf to Television & the Black 14 Protest
From award-winning sports broadcaster Jerome Berry comes an insider account of the Black 14 incident and how he fought for success in a society designed to make him fail.
In Jay Berry’s Sports Odyssey and Beyond, Berry tells the story of how he rose from humble beginnings in segregated 1950’s America to become one of the first Black sports anchors in local TV news. In October 1969, Berry was one of fourteen Black football players suddenly kicked off the University of Wyoming’s undefeated football team, an event later termed the Black 14 incident which sparked nationwide condemnation.
One among many talented Black athletes struggling to rise despite systemic racism, Berry refused to let the incident derail him. Through perseverance and the grace of God, he became a popular local sports journalist in some of the largest markets in America. Berry’s book is one of hope, achievement and the best football biography for any sports fan who wants to learn more about the longtime intersections of race and sports in the United States.