I'm working on the front page tonight and I come across an article on Tommie Smith, who I find as an inspiration. So I start reading it but I can't believe what I read in the first two paragraphs.
Has this allegation ever been made before - that Tommy Smith "fully expected" to hear a gunshot during his Olympic protest? I don't recall every reading this before and when I google Tommie Smith and gunshot, nothing pops up.
I really think sloppy journalism is bad and am wondering if this is what's happening here. Notice, the author doesn't quote Smith directly. Thinking about it logically, it seems to me to be crazy that he'd fully expect to be shot. It's not like their normally are lots of armed people in the Olympics. And even if someone was armed in Mexico City, why in the hell would they shoot an American? It logically makes very little sense.
Has the "he expected to be shot" storyline been written before?
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/oct/14/people-shunned-me-like-hot-lava-the-runner-who-raised-his-fist-and-risked-his-life