Every picture tells a story
by benzduck on Feb 13, 2010 3:13 AM PST
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A while back, EBay had an auction running on this wire service photo of an Oregon defensive back from the early 60s, Michael "Mickey" Bruce. It was listed at $5.99.
Without the caption at the bottom of the photo, this is just another picture of a healthy-looking mid-20th-century football player. Not mentioned in the ebay listing itself, the caption refers to Mickey Bruce being offered $5,000 by two Chicago gamblers to help throw the 1960 Michigan game.
An event that created national headlines and Senate hearings, and ended with a scandal of sorts, along with the first public notoriety of a very interesting individual, has its 50th anniversary this year.
The story of how an Oregon pre-law student fingered a future Hall of Fame gangster in a Senate hearing, then essentially told the legal system to go fly a kite, is online at Duck Downs: Tales of Oregon Football Prehistory.
Special thanks to AtQer grimc for additional reporting.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or the Addicted To Quack Moderators. FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable Oregon fans.
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Yet another great historical piece.
Bravo on educating us youngsters!
LaMichael James + Kenjon Barner + Lache Seastrunk + Dontae Williams + Josh Huff + Keanon Lowe + Remene Alston +...
And once again, I'm fascinated by your knowledge.
How do you know all this, benzduck? Nice job again.
Addicted To Quack [dot] com
I have a Ropert is God™ complex.
Amazing story.
Interesting that one of our own players stood up to these gangsters and wouldn’t take the bribe. Crazy that Rosenthal was one of the men involved. Great piece. Thanks for the history lesson!
No football like OREGON football....
Nice piece.
Now you’ve got me playing Google detective.
Here’s a Register Guard story from 1961 that identifies Bruce as a halfback.
A Mickey Bruce out of Oregon was drafted in 1962 by the Oakland Raiders as their 24th pick at guard.
U of O awarded him a Leo Harris Award in 1981.
There’s also a professional bass fisherman and a transgendered Georgia councilwoman named Mickey Bruce, both of whom are too young to be DB/HB/G Mickey Bruce, but would each be an awesome epilogue.
See, this is why I like sharing.
If he got a Harris award, obviously, he’s not wearing cement overshoes. Thanks for the added research. I’ll incorporate the Harris award into the story (with props).
But drafted as a lineman? I know the AFL liked to play fast and loose, but that’s a headscratcher.
Have to dig in some more on that one.
As for being a baci.. These were the single-platoon days, so anyone who wasn’t a lineman could be listed as a back. Not sure if he did anything on offense. More research required.
If he got a Harris award, obviously, he’s not wearing cement overshoes.
everything is history, eventually.
ah the 60's.
when a college halfback could play guard. Or a QB play FB….wait a minute. Could Tebow be from 1965?
Proud winner of the 2009 ATQ Jersey Contest
He’s ageless.
Tebow’s a throwback player in many ways. I can see him playing single-platoon, 8-man football and being world-class at it.
everything is history, eventually.
6 man texas high school ball from the 50's for 400 alex?
Proud winner of the 2009 ATQ Jersey Contest
Great Story
How in the hell do you know all this?
LaMichael to you, THE Michael to me....I have a man-crush on the Maehlman.
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Feb 13, 2010 8:15 PM PST reply actions
Benzduck is like President Eden from Fallout 3.
Addicted To Quack [dot] com
I have a Ropert is God™ complex.
I'm going to need you to explain the simile.
I’m more of a COD and sports video game guy..lame, I know
LaMichael to you, THE Michael to me....I have a man-crush on the Maehlman.
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Feb 13, 2010 11:37 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Nothing wrong with those.
President Eden is an omniscient robot that runs the destroyed country over a radio.
Seriously, you need to get Fallout 3.
Addicted To Quack [dot] com
I have a Ropert is God™ complex.
Only if you’re buying.
LaMichael to you, THE Michael to me....I have a man-crush on the Maehlman.
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Feb 14, 2010 11:30 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
For what?
LaMichael to you, THE Michael to me....I have a man-crush on the Maehlman.
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Feb 14, 2010 1:27 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Don't have Bioshock, and my friend has stolen NCAA 10 from me.
LaMichael to you, THE Michael to me....I have a man-crush on the Maehlman.
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Feb 14, 2010 8:09 PM PST up reply actions
Leo would be proud?
Fascinating story, well told! Thanks, Benzduck. Nice bit of irony that Bruce ended up with a Leo Harris 20 years after standing him up.
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