Jackie Robinson to receive top civilian award from Congress (today)

[underpants]

I heard on ABC GMA that W will attend the event (a Congressional event?)

Also the Washington Nationals are having their first exhibition vs. the Mets and the Red Sox have a White House ceremony AND will visit injured soldiers at Walter Reed.

See below Rep.Neal and Sen. Kerry nominated Robinson for the award.
http://rdu.news14.com/content/headlines/?ArID=64729&SecID=2

CAPITOL HILL) - The son of baseball great Jackie Robinson said Americans will be honoring "ourselves as a nation" when Congress gives his father a posthumous award Wednesday.

Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's racial barrier when he began playing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Lawmakers will bestow upon him the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda. It's Congress's top civilian award and is meant as a culmination of Black History Month.




http://www.bristolpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14062899&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=464194&rfi=6

The Jackie Robinson ceremony earlier in the day is one that’s near and dear to the Sox. Three years ago, the team began an annual celebration of Robinson’s Jan. 31 birthday, inviting hundreds of kids to Fenway Park to learn about Robinson’s life. After the initial event, Rep. Richard Neal and Sen. John Kerry introduced legislation to award Robinson with the Congressional Gold Medal.

[underpants]

1. That was the best headline I could find-other links here

A new grand slam for Jackie Robinson
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0302robinson02.html

Jackie Robinson to get
Congressional award
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7053119/


Baseball's Jackie Robinson to get medal

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050301-041625-6898r.htm

[Bluzmann57]

2. I think it is great that Jackie Robinson is getting this honor

He was a pioneer in Civil Rights in this country. Now whether you like baseball or not, you have to admit he did a lot to help integrate Blacks and Whites in this country. In 1947, the climate was certainly one of segregation and a lot of people, even non fans, noticed that Robinson carried himself with class and dignity on and off the field, and was a fierce competitor as well. People began to realize that all races could live together and compete against each other on the athletic fields as well. Jackie Robinson, a true American hero. If only we had more like him. From a white guy who was raised in a small lily white town in Iowa, thank you Jackie Robinson. Thank you for opening peoples eyes to integration and helping to smash stereotypes that blacks were not able to compete equally with whites. And a special mention to Pee Wee Reese a white southern guy who embraced Robinson as his teammate and friend early on. I'm sorry if this tends to run on and ramble, but Robinson has long been a hero of mine.

[underpants]

3. I had heard that Reese was the one to first cross the clubhouse

and greet Robinson thus making it "okay" for others to do so although not everyone did.

Branch Rickey picked Robinson for several reasons
First and most importantly he was a fantastic athlete (baseball, football, and track at USC).
Second Robinson had the maturity to handle the situation(s) he would obviously face.