Hi, this is Fred Wallace with Off the Wire…brought to you by Auto Logic, the Logical Choice.
On a tour of San Francisco, California, we drove by Galileo Academy of Science and Technology which is located in the Russian Hill and Marina District neighbourhoods of the city.
While the school was an impressive structure, so too was the football field that was clearly in view.
Diane, our YMT Vacations host, related the football field was George White Field. However, she somewhat reluctantly explained that in previous years it had been named in honor of a prominent Galileo graduate…………O.J. Simpson.
One of the goofs on the tour bus put his hand up and asked,’ Why did they change the name ? ‘, which drew a big laugh.
As the bus rolled on, I thought to myself, they should have left the name of the field in place.
I know it would diminish the pride and lustre of the playing field, but what a tremendous lesson for the students and community at large.
The lesson would simply be, things are not always as they appear, or the lesson could illustrate the danger and folly of placing athletes, or anybody on a pedestal.
I’d never suggest O.J. Simpson be used as a role model for Galileo students, but Simpson’s story and a lasting label on a high school football field could be an excellent cautionary tale for both students and residents of the Bay Area forever.
I’m Fred Wallace