Brian’s Song

An ABC Network Movie of the Week

Director: Buzz Kulick (1971)

Cast: James Caan
Billie Dee Willliams
Jack  Warden
Bernie Casey
Shelley Fabares

Based on Gale Sayers Autobiography, "I Am Third", tells the true story of how Sayers and and fellow rookie running back Brian Piccolo became the first intergrated roomates in the NFL. The two players became good friends and their family's became close as well.Even though they were competing for the same job on the field the two friends whatched each others back. When Sayers went down with a major leg injury,Piccolo was there to get his friend back even knowing he would have less playing time. Sayers recovered  and for 2 seasons played in the same backfield together. Sadly  Piccolo started losing weight and strength and couldn't play well. Doctors discovered that Piccolo had testicular cancer. Now it was Sayers time to help his friend any way could and get all help he needed. Sadly,at the time, there wasn't a cure for this form of cancer.50 years later Piccolo's cancer has a very good recovery rate. Sadly Piccolo died in his late 20's.

The production of this made-for -television movie changed television forever."Brian's Song" showed that a good story could be told in this new medium of television to ever growing audiences  watching in their homes.

Fun Facts: Actor Louis Gosset Junior was cast as Sayers for the film, but a foot injury took  him out of contention. David Wolper, the Executive producer of the film cast Gossett as "Fiddler" in the GroundBreaking Television Mini Series ``Roots" that made Gossett an Emmy and Oscar winning Actor.