C. K. Yang
I just found that C.K. Yang died on January 31 from complications from a stroke. When I was in high school and college I used to have a picture of Yang on my bulletin board because I had seen compete at the Santa Barbara Easter Relays and had been impressed with him. He was one of a few decathletes to score over 9,000 points on any scoring table. When I was in eighth grade there was a terrific hour long special on Yang and his UCLA teammate Rafer Johnson. They shared the same coach, Duck Drake, who was also the trainer at UCLA. There trained together everyday leading to the Olympics in 1960. Yang represented
posted by Vern Gambetta @ 2/07/2007 10:06:00 AM
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(Note: the following is excerpted from 2- Gold Medal winner Olympic Diver, Dr. Sammy Lee's eulogy to C.K.)
C.K. loved to play golf with me because he knew if he did not keep his head down not only would he not see me, but he would miss the ball!
Last Saturday a giant passed on. What does one say to adequately portray the measure, the fibre & the stature of C.K. ? How does one say goodbye to a legacy? LAST SATURDAY HE TOOK HIS LAST AND MIGHTIEST JUMP LANDING ON TOP OF MT. OLYMPUS TO JOIN BOB MATHIAS, JIM THORPE, JESSE OWENS, FLO JO JOYNER, AND WILMA RUDOLPH WHO WERE CARRYING THEIR FLAMING OLYMPIC TORCHES BY THE GREAT WHITE THRONE. The light from their torches showed their faces as they were when they won their Olympic medals...void of pain and the wrinkles of time.
AS GOD SITTING ON HIS THRONE IS GREETING THEM THERE TOO IS OUR C.K. YANG JUST AS he was when he appeared on the pages of Sports Illustrated along with his adopted brother and competitor Rafer Johnson when they dominated the world of track & field.
But C.K.'s torch was not lighted....it was dark. Bob Mathias, Jesse Owens, and Jim Thorpe knew why because their torches were dark also...they could not light their torches for days, weeks, months and even years because of our worthless tears.
But GOD saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be found , so he put His arms around you and whispered "Come with me." With tearful eyes we watched you and saw you pass away, and though we love you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands put to rest. GOD BROKE OUR HEARTS TO PROVE TO US...HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST.
Yes, I can hear you say miss me but let me go. Bury your sorrows by doing good deeds.
And Daisy and family...
Today we are the saddest and yet the luckiest people on this planet because C.K.'s footprints are on our hearts now and forever!
Thanks C.K. for what you gave...thanks for what you left...Thanks for being you!
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