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Lincoln defeats Wilson 35-0 on Kenny Washington Day
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Duration: 7:46
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Submitted: 8 years ago
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Published on October 3, 2015
Lincoln Heights California - MvpXtreme Student Sports Video
Lincoln defeats Wilson @ Home 35-0 on Kenny Washington Day
Forgotten hero: Kenny Washington broke NFL's color barrier in 1946. It was on the football field that Kenny Washington won glory. Growing up in Los Angeles' Lincoln Heights neighborhood, Washington led Lincoln High School to a City Section baseball title as a junior (he had a home run in the championship game) before leading his school to a football title in the fall.
Washington was the star of UCLA's football and baseball teams, but the pain of not being selected to college football's All-America team as a senior was tough for him to overcome. Washington played 580 of 600 minutes for the Bruins and led the nation in total offense in 1939.
Washington caught the eye of legendary Bears coach George Halas, who coached him in the College All-Star Game. Halas kept Washington in Chicago for three weeks on his own dime as he tried to lobby the NFL to re-integrate the league, but he didn't succeed, with Redskins owner George Preston Marshall the lone holdout.
Washington became a huge draw in semi-pro ball. His Pacific Coast Football League team often was billed as Kenny Washington and the Hollywood Bears. But it looked like he'd never make it in the NFL. Then, the upstart AAFC promised to add a Los Angeles franchise owned by actor Don Ameche, goosing the NFL into allowing the Cleveland Rams to relocate to Southern California.
When that happened, the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission and Los Angeles Tribune columnist Halley Harding pressured the NFL into integrating as a condition of allowing the Rams to play games at the Coliseum. To fulfill that obligation, the Rams had no better choice than signing Washington.
The Rams also signed Washington's UCLA teammate, Woody Strode, because they wanted somebody to room with him on the road. A few months later, the Cleveland Browns of the AAFC signed Marion Motley and Bill Willis.
But Washington's story often is forgotten because professional football wasn't nearly as popular as baseball at the time. Also, Robinson was a charismatic figure playing in New York -- the biggest city in the country.
Lincoln Heights California - MvpXtreme Student Sports Video
Lincoln defeats Wilson @ Home 35-0 on Kenny Washington Day
Forgotten hero: Kenny Washington broke NFL's color barrier in 1946. It was on the football field that Kenny Washington won glory. Growing up in Los Angeles' Lincoln Heights neighborhood, Washington led Lincoln High School to a City Section baseball title as a junior (he had a home run in the championship game) before leading his school to a football title in the fall.
Washington was the star of UCLA's football and baseball teams, but the pain of not being selected to college football's All-America team as a senior was tough for him to overcome. Washington played 580 of 600 minutes for the Bruins and led the nation in total offense in 1939.
Washington caught the eye of legendary Bears coach George Halas, who coached him in the College All-Star Game. Halas kept Washington in Chicago for three weeks on his own dime as he tried to lobby the NFL to re-integrate the league, but he didn't succeed, with Redskins owner George Preston Marshall the lone holdout.
Washington became a huge draw in semi-pro ball. His Pacific Coast Football League team often was billed as Kenny Washington and the Hollywood Bears. But it looked like he'd never make it in the NFL. Then, the upstart AAFC promised to add a Los Angeles franchise owned by actor Don Ameche, goosing the NFL into allowing the Cleveland Rams to relocate to Southern California.
When that happened, the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission and Los Angeles Tribune columnist Halley Harding pressured the NFL into integrating as a condition of allowing the Rams to play games at the Coliseum. To fulfill that obligation, the Rams had no better choice than signing Washington.
The Rams also signed Washington's UCLA teammate, Woody Strode, because they wanted somebody to room with him on the road. A few months later, the Cleveland Browns of the AAFC signed Marion Motley and Bill Willis.
But Washington's story often is forgotten because professional football wasn't nearly as popular as baseball at the time. Also, Robinson was a charismatic figure playing in New York -- the biggest city in the country.
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