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John Carlos

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Athlete

The Resume

    (June 5, 1945- )
    Born in Harlem, New York
    Won the bronze medal in the 200 meters (1968)
    With gold medalist Tommie Smith, delivered a black power salute during the medal ceremony
    Played football with the Philadelphia Eagles (1970)
    Inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame (2003)

Why he might be annoying:

    Many considered his and Smith's gesture disrespectful.
    He and Smith were kicked off the relay team and escorted out of the Olympic village following their protest.
    He and Smith disagree about who came up with the idea for the protest.
    He said, 'We're sort of show horses out there for the white people. They give us peanuts, pat us on the back and say, 'Boy you did fine.'
    He claims that he let Smith win at the Olympics because the gold medal meant more to Smith than to him. (Presumably, he also 'let' Smith set the world record in the race.)
    Smith said, 'I don't think John Carlos likes me even now. I don't think Carlos likes many people.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He and Smith received death threats over their protest.
    The Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee hired him to serve as a liaison to the inner city.
    He responded to complaints that he and Smith had injected politics into the Olympics by asking, 'Why do you have to wear the uniform of your country? Why do they play national anthems? Why do we have to beat the Russians?'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 34 Votes: 91.18% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 12 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 20 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 21 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 24 Votes: 54.17% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 204 Votes: 53.43% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 68.75% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 48 Votes: 64.58% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 52 Votes: 76.92% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 105 Votes: 80.95% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 62 Votes: 66.13% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 31 Votes: 61.29% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 32 Votes: 71.88% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 71 Votes: 76.06% Annoying