"It's Alright to Cry" really hit me as a kid, watching Free To Be You And Me in school.
But did you know that football star Rosey Grier also wrote a book called "Needlepoint for Men" and wrestled the gun away from RFK assassin Sirhan Sirhan?
THREAD on Rosey Grier incoming...
But did you know that football star Rosey Grier also wrote a book called "Needlepoint for Men" and wrestled the gun away from RFK assassin Sirhan Sirhan?
THREAD on Rosey Grier incoming...
To see this giant man, who sacked quarterbacks ferociously, playing guitar and singing "it's alright to feel things, though the feelings may be strange" - ran counter to every version of masculinity I knew other than Fred Rogers.
Rosey was one of 12 kids growing up on a sugar cane farm in Georgia. He had to work at age 6 and only made it to school a few days a week.
When his family moved to New Jersey, Grier discovered his talents in football & track. He earned a scholarship to Penn State in 1951.
When his family moved to New Jersey, Grier discovered his talents in football & track. He earned a scholarship to Penn State in 1951.
He withstood horrendous namecalling on the field in college, where he was one of only a few black players. He was quick, 6'5" 240 lbs, and composed.
He played in the NFL for the NY Giants & LA Rams, making the Pro Bowl twice, before leaving in 1968 for a career in television.
He played in the NFL for the NY Giants & LA Rams, making the Pro Bowl twice, before leaving in 1968 for a career in television.
In 1968 he met Bobby and Ethel Kennedy at a charity event in Washington DC for underprivileged children. They hit it off. He became an unofficial bodyguard for Ethel and spoke at RFK's campaign events.
On June 5th at a campaign stop in LA, Rosey Grier was next to Bobby Kennedy when Sirhan Sirhan opened fire. Grier wrestled the weapon from the assassin and when the mob began pummeling Sirhan, Grier stopped them.
Grier continued to appear on television shows and with political candidates into the 1980's. In 1976 he published a book called "Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men" based on his love for macrame.
When his hyper-masculine friends teased him about it, he won them over.
“Every one of them does needlepoint now"
“Every one of them does needlepoint now"
You might ask, "Brian, you're a drummer in a band, why are you writing up a profile about Rosey Grier on Twitter?"
I was a sensitive kid. I watched pro wrestling, loved sports, but secretly craved to know that versions of masculinity existed beyond the models I knew...
I was a sensitive kid. I watched pro wrestling, loved sports, but secretly craved to know that versions of masculinity existed beyond the models I knew...
We are in a moment where we need to redefine masculinity. So many people are associating it with ego, narcissism, and victimhood.
The posters I wanted on my wall were men like Rosey Grier and Fred Rogers - men bold enough live their truth regardless of what others thought.
The posters I wanted on my wall were men like Rosey Grier and Fred Rogers - men bold enough live their truth regardless of what others thought.
Rosey Grier is still going strong at age 91. Take a listen to "It's Alright to Cry" if you have a minute.
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