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When Brians Song made its debut as an ABC Movie of the Week in 1971, this tear-jerker about a professional football player who died of cancer became a surprisingly popular hit. Brians Song emerged from an autobiography, I Am Third, by Piccolos teammate and star running back Gale Sayers, which was published soon after Piccolo died and contained a chapter on his relationship with Piccolo. Dying of cancer, Brian Piccolo (James Caan) seeks strength from his friend and teammate Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) in an emotional scene from the made-for-TV movie "Brian's Song . Editors note: This article was updated to correct the name of the actress who played Brian Piccolos wife, Joy, in Brians Song.. The inspiration for Brians Song came from a book, I Am Third, written by Piccolos Chicago Bears teammate Gale Sayers. He died at age 26 from embryonal cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of germ cell testicular cancer, first diagnosed after it had spread to his chest cavity.. Piccolo was the subject of the 1971 TV movie . Piccolo was an All-American running back for Wake Forest in 1964 when he led the nation in rushing and touchdowns. Piccolos friendship with Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers was highlighted in the film Brians Song, which premiered on Nov. 30, 1971, starring Billy Dee Williams and James Caan. In February 1997, he was declared free of cancer and by January 1998, he renewed serious bicycle training and went on to become the most famous bicycle racer in the world. After college, Piccolo was drafted by the NFLs Chicago Bears. Piccolo was named to the NFL All-Decade Team in 1970 for his two Pro Bowl seasons with the Bears. VIEWS. Almost four out of every ten men who are treated for the disease survive ten years later. That was the beginning of whats become the oldest and largest student-run philanthropic drive on campus. Studies consistently show that doctors may be too optimistic with their cancer patients. Her husband Brian died at age 26 from embryonal cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of germ cell testicular cancer, first diagnosed after it had spread to his chest cavity. Why was the movie so well received? Brian Piccolo was born on October 31, 1942 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Piccolo was a talented football player and was also close friends with Dave Kopay, a fellow player. Joy Piccolo is one of those amazing stories. In 1964, he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) player of the year. Most importantly, Morris reported that Piccolo and his wife Joy had grown increasingly skeptical of their doctors optimism but felt powerless to question them. The two men were deeply in love with one another, and the close friendship that they shared helped them through some difficult times. Gale Sayers, the will-o'-the-wisp running back who in a short but . At 4 years, I was the oldest. Piccolo was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Decade Team selection throughout his career, earning his reputation as one of the best tacklers in football. Brian began as Sayers full back in 1969, following Sayers return from injury. He died on June 16, 1970 in New York, New York, USA. For people or anybody, you go back so far and its hard sometimes for them to see the impact of Brian Piccolo that he had in the late 60s. Because his doctors also found a nearby lymph node that was positive for cancer, Piccolo also underwent chemotherapy. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Jeannie Morris. When more chemotherapy did not help, his surgeons performed a radical mastectomy, a highly disfiguring operation normally used to treat for breast cancer. In his first year with the Bears he played only on the taxi squad, which means that he didnt dress for games and only practiced with the team. Here is all you want to know, and more! He went on to play for the Chicago Bears and became close friends with Black teammate Gale Sayers; they were the NFLs first interracial roommates. Piccolos story is told through a series of intertwined events that include love, friendship, and cancer. He died at age 26 from embryonal cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of germ cell testicular cancer, first diagnosed after it had spread to his chest cavity. It just seemed appropriate that there should be something on campus, particularly from students, that would honor him, said Humphrey, who lives in Wylie, Texas. Piccolo played for the Bears for a total of 17 seasons, from 1971 to 1973. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/06/brian-piccolo-death-anniversary-chicago-bears-number-41-jersey-gale-sayers-nfl, The Red Sox found a loophole in the MLB shift ban and it stinks for Joey Gallo, The Warriors left Russell Westbrook ridiculously wide open and it worked to perfection, Survivor 44: Meet the castaways who will compete for $1 million in Fiji, Watch: Man tries feeding bison near Yellowstone; it doesnt go well, 2023 NFL Combine Winners Day 1: Blazing-fast DTs give the Bears plenty to consider, A 'Wheel of Fortune' contestant completely whiffed on a bagels and lox puzzle, Stephen A. Smiths wildly dismissive comments about hockey on First Take had NHL fans fuming, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I'm divorcing Patti.' He wanted to lose people like John Carpenter . Brian Piccolo is the man of courage who should receive the award. The money today is huge compared to what we raised, but you have to start somewhere., The success of the first drive was recognized at halftime of the Wake Forest-Appalachian State football game in Groves Stadium on Nov. 22, 1980. He had dark brown eyes and dark brown hair (color). He died from that disease in 1970. Piccolos second operation, the radical mastectomy, had been devastating both physically and emotionally. More than four decades ago, the Piccolo cancer fund drive got its start with a modest vision posed by fraternity guys. John Humphrey (81), who was president of Sigma Pi in 1980 and publicity chair for the first Piccolo drive, says Wake Foresters owe a debt of gratitude to Sayers, who died in 2020, for keeping Piccolos memory alive. So it's only natural he was careful with his money. Brian Piccolo, an American professional football player who died in 1999, had a net worth of $50 thousand at the time of his death (adjusted for inflation). Piccolo was a running back with the Chicago Bears. Brian Piccolo was a 26 year-old running back for the Chicago Bears in the fall of 1969 when he developed a cough and difficulty breathing. Performance & security by Cloudflare. This website does skew towards famous actors, musicians, models and sports stars, however we would like to expand that to include many other interesting topics. Gale Sayers, the Hall of Fame running back for the Chicago Bears, whose friendship with a dying teammate was depicted in the movie "Brian's Song," died on Wednesday, officials said . Brian Piccolo was featured in the 1971 television film Brians Song, which was followed by a remake in 2001. The series aired for the first time on ABC less than 18 months after his death in 1971. Brian Piccolo was born in 1940s. Exclusive analysis of biotech, pharma, and the life sciences. Brian Piccolo, a halfback for the Chicago Bears football team died here yesterday in Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases. The two men, both running backs, had been the first interracial roommates in the National Football League. Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of Brian Piccolo's death. A car parade in his honor was held in the Beverly neighborhood where he once lived with his family. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Subscribe to STAT+ for less than $2 per day, Unlimited access to essential biotech, medicine, and life sciences journalism, Subscribe to STAT+ for less than $2 per day, Unlimited access to the health care news and insights you need, Same patient, same drug, same insurer coverage denied, Experts weigh in on potential health hazards posed by, Experts weigh in on potential health hazards posed by chemicals in Ohio train derailment, Why fentanyl is deadlier than heroin, in a single, Why fentanyl is deadlier than heroin, in a single photo, Doctor: Lesion removed from Bidens chest was cancerous, An mRNA vaccine for cancers associated with HPV shows, An mRNA vaccine for cancers associated with HPV shows promise in mice, How physician wellness programs keep doctors captive. And when Piccolos wife Joy, played by Shelley Fabares, takes Piccolos hand shortly before he dies, Piccolo smiles and placidly says of his cancer, Whod believe it, Joy whod ever believe it?. Brian Piccolo died on April 19, 1967, exactly 50 years ago. We are still dealing with the challenging issues that Brian Piccolos illness and death raised: How hard should you push with aggressive cancer treatment, especially when the person is young and unlikely to survive? They're creative thinkers, economic, cautitous and appreciate the arts, they can also be indecisive. In 1963, The University of Maryland football team showed up for a game at Wake Forrest with Darryl Hill, the first and at that time, only African-American football player in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Dawkins was honored for his role in starting the Piccolo drive by then-president Nathan O. Hatch in 2009. Click to reveal Brian carried the ball most of the time for his team and in 1960, the team had its best record ever, four games won and four games lost. The film does not indicate how much is factual or embellished, and how much is made up is unclear. Touching on sports, race relations and early death, it became known as the movie men are allowed to cry at.. Brian Piccolo was featured in the 1971 television film Brian's Song, which was followed by a remake in 2001. Brian Piccolo removed himself from a game against the. The Piccolo fund drive is meaningful. Sayers was voted an award as pro football's most courage ous athlete in 1969 for the manner in which he returned to action after a knee operation. It turns out the actual story of what happened to Piccolo is even more instructive, and especially relevant for modern cancer patients and health professionals struggling to balance hope and reality. Chicago Bear Brian Piccolo remembered 50 years after his death ABC 7 Chicago 347K subscribers Subscribe 16K views 2 years ago Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo and his teammate Gale. He encouraged student leaders to develop a couple of larger events to replace the multitude of smaller ones. See the article in its original context from. Also known as "boomers", are the result of the end of World War II, when birth rates across the world spiked. Dawkins, who lives in Fayetteville, North Carolina, recently recalled the beginning of the Piccolo drive. Under co-chairs Richard Trip Chalk (05) and Meghan Claffey Cline (04), students raised about $4,000. My sisters and I didn't go to the funeral,. He was previously married to Joy Murrath. https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2020/06/16/chicago-bears-its-been-50-years-since-brian-piccolos-passing/, Mitchell Trubisky entering make-or-break season in 2020, Bears TE Demetrius Harris hits the training room and the field, Former Bears RG Kyle Long wouldn't return to team under current staff, 5 reasons why the Bears offense will be better in 2020, Mitchell Trubisky says lack of details, health were offense's major issues in 2019, 2023 NFL mock draft roundup: Bears find trade partner in Colts for No. The ultimate diagnosis was embryonal cell carcinoma, a rare type of testicular cancer. That to me was really the main message, Eberflus said. Piccolo played football that year despite his friends diagnosis, and the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl. Former NFL running back who died at the age of 26 with embryonal cell carcinoma; became the subject of the 1971 TV movie Brians Song. In the fall of 1969, he developed a severe cough and shortness of breath. Piccolo was well-known for his humanitarian work despite his success on the field. "He says, 'I am making changes. He was best known for being a Football Player. Losing Seasons at Wake Forest For men with testicular cancer that had spread to the body, the survival rate in 1970 was five percent. In the aftermath, ABC produced Brians Song in 1971, a TV movie that chronicled Piccolos (James Caan) close relationship with Hall of Famer Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams), especially as Piccolo fought cancer. 205 ratings27 reviews. There was a good level of enthusiasm because there were a lot of like-minded people in the fraternities who said, We should be doing something like this, said Camp, who lives in Tequesta, Florida. In the 1960s, many hotels segregated hotel room assignments by race. After his death, the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund was founded. He died on 16 June 1970 in Chicago, Illinois, USA at the age of 26. CNN James Caan, the veteran screen actor known for his work in such films as "The Godfather," "Misery" and "Elf," has died, his family said in a statement on his verified Twitter account. Todays cancer specialists are trained not just to treat cancer but also to acknowledge the potential limits and harms of therapies. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a28394ca8ab92ad Brian Piccolo was a 26 year-old running back for the Chicago Bears in the fall of 1969 when he developed a cough and difficulty breathing. Physicians today do a much better job of explaining prognosis and treatment options. Morriss book was far more frank, a harbinger of greater openness about cancer to come over the succeeding decades. Piccolo played in the shadow of one of professional football's greatest stars, Gale Sayers of the Chicago Bears. In the end, his coach asked the Wake Forest coach to recruit Brian after he learned that Wake Forest was interested in his teammate, tackle Bill Salter. In his final college game, he scored three touchdowns to lead Wake Forest to a 27 to 13 victory to deprive North Carolina State of the ACC championship and give Wake Forest its best season in years, with five wins and five losses. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. Today testicular cancer has among the highest cure rate of all cancers. In his sophomore year, he rushed for 324 yards for a team that also lost all ten of its games. The couple had three daughters together. Fifty years ago on May 25, 1970, Gale Sayers accepted the George S. Halas Award at a dinner in New York City. Rub-a-Dub-Thon in a hot tub in front of Reynolda Hall? Remarkable advances have been made in cancer care since Brian Piccolo died but thousands of people including young people still die from the disease each year. Mosers father had just died of cancer, and he was familiar with a basketball tournament fundraiser sponsored by the Notre Dame bookstore, so he thought Wake Forest should have a similar fundraiser. The actor who portrayed Bears running back Brian Piccolo in the original version of Brian's Song has died. No colleges were interested in a guy who was a mediocre running back for a mediocre high school team. 1 of 3. 0:53. Brian Piccolo is the subject of a film called Brians Song, which is based on his true story. OConnell asked me to thank every one of you for your support in this project. Brian signed on the spot to play for the Bears because he thought he had a chance to succeed as a member of a team that had the worst running game in the National Football League. Piccolos surgeries, attempting to remove more and more cancer cells, were aggressive and painful. Three hundred students participated the first year and raised $48,000. He seems to have passed away at his home surrounded by his family and loved ones but the information is yet to be confirmed by trustworthy sources. If testicular cancer has spread to nearby structures and lymph nodes it has a cure rate of 96 percent, while cancer that has spread to organs or lymph nodes away from the testicles has a 74 percent five-year survival rate. The early recipients were Bears rookies who "best exemplify the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor . Since Piccolos death in 1970, the Bears have awarded an annual Brian Piccolo Award to a rookie and veteran (starting in 1992) who best exemplifies the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication, and sense of humor of the late running back. Piccolo was laid to rest in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Evergreen Park after a funeral service at Christ the King Catholic Church in Chicago. ET): Brian Laundrie died from a gunshot wound to the head and his manner of death was . Nonetheless, the film is gripping and worth seeing due to the telling of one young mans life and death. Sayers autobiography, I Am Third, inspired the movie, Brians Song, which continues to introduce new generations of students to Piccolo. Joy Murrath is popular as the wife of Brian Piccolo. Please check your email for a confirmation. His mother, Irene, is 97 and lives today with Joe. Whos the richest Football Player in the world. Like many famous people and celebrities, Brian Piccolo kept his personal life private. In its fourth game, trailing 14 to 17 with 2 minutes to go, Brian scored the winning touchdown and kicked the extra point for a 21-17 victory. Along with her family and new husband, Rick, Joy raised . Who are the richest people in the world? He died at age 26 from embryonal cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of germ cell testicular cancer, first diagnosed after it had spread to his chest cavity. Brian Piccolo died on June 16, 1970, at the age of 26, from embryonal cell carcinoma, a rare form of germ cell testicular cancer. To everyones surprise, doctors found a grapefruit-sized tumor in his mediastinum, an area of the chest behind the sternum. Jeanne Morris, a writer and the wife of one of Piccolos teammates, was also chronicling Piccolos diagnosis and treatment, later published as a book, A Short Season. During that difficult time, both Sayers and I went through, including Sayers death from cancer. Before the Bears actually conducted their practice, Matt Eberflus spoke about Piccolos place in team history and why the organization wanted to honor him once more. Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of Brian Piccolo's death. Louis Brian Piccolo (October 31, 1943 June 16, 1970) was an American professional football player, a running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) for four years. The film had the reputation of being the one film at which men were allowed to cry., Yet while the film definitely depicts Piccolos terminal illness, it did so in a sanitized way. Sayers, who was Black, and Piccolo, who was white, were the first interracial roommates on the Bears. Although critics praised Brians Song for its frank description of cancer when the disease was rarely discussed publicly, the reality of Brian Piccolos illness and death was quite different than what was portrayed on the screen. Please check your email for a confirmation. Astrologers and astronomers could only work with planets visible to the eye. Sign up for our newsletter and have updates delivered to your inbox! Fortunately, palliative care services have emerged to work with dying people and their families to establish treatment goals and provide symptomatic relief. Brian Piccolo walked over to the University of Maryland team bench, put his arm around Hill and walked with him before the Wake Forest student section. His father died from prostate cancer, but his 32-year-old daughter survived two brain tumors as a child. 1 pick, 2023 NFL draft: Breaking down the top prospects for Bears, 5 wide receivers to watch for Bears at NFL Scouting Combine, Full 7-round Bears 2023 mock draft: Pre-NFL Scouting Combine, Bears 2023 free agency profile: DT Javon Hargrave, What potential Bears trade partners for No. 41, football, humorous, upbeat, young, brief, cancer, and 26. Caan looks the same at the beginning and the end of the movie, sporting a full head of curly hair. Many Chicago Bears, including coach George Halas, played themselves. The 26 yearold athlete's death was at tributed to cancer. Last spring, 1,360 students participated and raised nearly $311,000. But in 1980, there was nothing on campus that honored Piccolo. Whos the richest Football Player in the world? 173.212.197.150 The Laundrie family attorney confirmed Tuesday that the cause of death for Brian Laundrie was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He could block, run, and catch the football. The film Brian's Song, loosely based on Gale Sayers' autobiography, tells the story of the friendship between Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers and their time together while playing football for the Chicago Bears, up until Piccolo's death.It first aired in 1971 on ABC on Tuesday, November 30, less than 18 months after his death, and starred James Caan as Piccolo and Billy Dee Williams as Sayers. WASHINGTON - Nearly two months after the riot at the U.S. Capitol and the death of police Officer Brian Sicknick, information remains scarce about how he died or the precise . Her friend, Morris reported, felt very frustrated and extremely mutilated. Toward the end of his illness, Piccolo, feeling simply drained of everything, rarely left his home. Piccolo, a Bears running back from 1966 to 1969, was. More than 100,000 copies of this classic sports biography have been sold in cloth and mass-market editions. But, believing that cancer patients both want and deserve hope, they still may avoid giving bad news. As of 2022, she is 79 years old. Former NFL running back who died at the age of 26 with embryonal cell carcinoma; became the subject of the 1971 TV movie Brian's Song. But mostly, Brians Song was the frank story of an athlete dying from cancer being told to a society insufficiently familiar with the disease. The early 1940s were dominated by World War II. In 1996, 26 years later, 25-year-old Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to his brain, lungs and liver. Dawkins credits Ford with keeping the Piccolo drive going as student leaders changed every year. Caan still had a full head of hair as he lay dying. Although the activities listed below are designed to be simple, they do not guarantee safety. But I think it is worth remembering these dual versions of Piccolos cancer. He was really a good teammate and he liked to have fun with his teammates. During his freshman year in 1961, he averaged 4.2 yards per carry and scored five touchdown runs as a member of a team that went 0-16. Tuesday marked 50 years since Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo died from cancer. This years drive kicks off Oct. 6 with Hit the Bricks on Hearn Plaza. He left a wife and three daughters. Unfortunately, Brian Piccolo passed away in June of 1971. . Brians Song, which is loosely based on Sayers autobiography, has been nominated for three Academy Awards. He is the one who knows about courage.. After moving up to the starting lineup, Gale Sayers took over as tailback in 1969, becoming the first fullback in the franchises history. Things change, campus changes, whats important for people to focus on changes, but this is something that despite all those changes has lived on.. This page is the FamousFix profile for Brian Piccolo. The diagnosis was grim: a grapefruit-sized, highly. Not far away investigators found a drybag with a journal, and a wooden . This still happens. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The Raiders home field is named in Piccolo's honor. It means a great deal to all of us. Plus, great Wake Forest students who live the Pro Humanitate ideals. Four months later, the cancer had recurred in Piccolos chest wall. Courtesy of John Humphrey (81). Because of his extended battle with the terminal disease (which. . Bill Camp (81) was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and president of IFC that year. Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum, Evergreen Park, Cook County, Illinois, USA, Players of American football from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Piccolo dedicated the following season to raising funds and assisting other cancer patients, in addition to raising funds for Kopays cancer research in 1972. As Piccolo gradually deteriorates, he is stiff upper lip, cracking jokes and following doctors orders rather than expressing any anger or frustration. The early recipients were Bears rookies who "best exemplify the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor . Palliative care may even extend life. The unruly, inconsiderate crowd immediately quieted down. On this date 52 years ago, former Bears running back Brian Piccolo died of embryonal cell carcinoma a rare testicular cancer. Brian attended Central Catholic High School (now renamed Thomas Aquinas High School) in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. One suspects that Brian Piccolo knew he was dying, but his doctors lacked the courage to tell him so. 1 pick are saying at NFL combine, One free agent each NFL team should re-sign in 2023, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Following the end of the war, it was the start of the Baby Boomer years and technology advancements such as the jet engine, nuclear fusion, radar, rocket technology and others later became the starting points for Space Exploration and Improved Air Travel. Piccolos story is inspiring, but the film as a whole isnt flawless. He was initially treated with surgery, but the cancer had spread and he began to undergo chemotherapy. What cancer did Brian Piccolo have? Mike Ford (72), a student life administrator from 1981 to 2017, shepherded the Piccolo drive for 36 years. In the offseason, Mr. Piccolo was a stock and bond sales man for a Chicago brokerage firm. But I tell you here and now that I accept it for Brian Piccolo. Hit the Bricks gets underway on Hearn Plaza in 2013. Biden once pledged to cure cancer. His new approach is far more modest, Adoption is not a simple or easy alternative to abortion. He was named the Player of the Year as a member of the Wake Forest football team. Brian Piccolos Brief Life For university, he studied at Wake Forest. In 1967 he backed up superstar tailback Gale Sayers, gained 317 yards and averaged 4.1 yards per carry. Morris provided many details not in the film. He might have died of natural causes as there is no news of the actor falling ill or being in an accident recently. Brian Piccolo's Death - Cause and Date Oct 31, 1943 Death Date June 16, 1970 Age of Death 26 years Cause of Death Lung Cancer Profession Football Player The football player Brian Piccolo died at the age of 26. In 1969, Brian Piccolo was a 26-year-old fullback for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. His Piccolo is remarkably free of anger. Birthday: October 31, 1943 Date of Death: June 16, 1970 Age at Death: 26 Live Live Death Statistics Worldwide and The United States Brian Piccolo - Biography He was so young to die with a fu ture that held so much for him.. As highlighted in Brians Song, Sayers gave a heartfelt speech just three weeks before Piccolos death to accept the George S. Halas Award as the NFLs most courageous player. He was 6' (183 cm) tall and weighed 205 lbs (93 kg) with an athletic build. He liked to play practical jokes on them and stuff like that. His speech was emotional and left the 600 in attendance awed. Just a real man and a real person and a Chicago Bear. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. It is mine tonight. He was buried in Our Lady of Victory Cemetery in North Carolina. Brian Piccolo was born on October 31, 1943 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA. Piccolo underwent treatment at New Yorks Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center where, in November 1969, surgeons removed the tumor and part of his lung, where the cancer had also spread. Do something for others thats meaningful. Brian Piccolo was born on the 31st of October, 1943. Morris completed the project shortly after Piccolo passed away, and "Brian Piccolo: A Short Season" was published in 1971. These hippie kids protested against the Vietnam War and participated in the civil rights movement. Joy Piccolo O' Connell and her role as a wife while her husband was battling cancer and strong Mother of three daughters. He died at age 26 from embryonal cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of germ cell testicular cancer, first diagnosed after it had spread to his chest cavity. Despite being 50 years old, both the movie and book raise issues that are highly relevant for people diagnosed with cancer today and their families. April 20, 2021 / 7:11 AM / CBS News. Over the next 20 years, fraternities and societies/sororities outdid themselves with a slew of creative fundraisers. Piccolo was an . The next day Sayers gave the trophy to Piccolo in Memorial Hospital. Fifty years later, it has sunk into obscurity, along with Brian Piccolo: A Short Season, a book written by Jeannie Morris, a journalist and wife of Johnny Morris, one of Piccolos teammates. Louis Brian Piccolo is part of the Baby boomers generation. What better way to do that than honor the memory of Wake Forests most famous football player, Brian Piccolo (65, P 87, 89), who had died a decade earlier, and raise awareness and money for cancer research? The acting, featuring James Caan as the upbeat Piccolo and Billy Dee Williams playing the introverted Sayers, was terrific. Dawkins, who serves on Duke Universitys Brain Tumor Program Board of Advisors, has his own family cancer stories.