I Am Third

Backward Mutters Poetry Podcast · Sep 23, 2026 · 4m · transcript

Today’s poem was written in response to a prompt given for a poem a day challenge back in 2024. The day’s prompt was “third place.” Almost reflexively, when I hear the expression “third place” or even the word, “third,” I cannot help but think of a book I read during my late elementary school years. The book, I Am Third, was written by Gayle Sayers, the Chicago Bears football running back, and it was the basis for the 1971 made for TV Movie, Brian’s Song which tells the story of Gayle Sayers’ friendship with his Bears teammate, Brian Piccolo. I believe I got my copy of the book in 1974, and…