Ricky Byrdsong was the up and coming prospect head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats basketball team. In the 1993-1994 season, the Wildcats opened the campaign with a 9-0 record and many around the program were getting excited that their tournament drought would finally come to an end. (The drought ended in 2017, after 78 years.) However, the Wildcats dropped the next 9 games and tension was building in Evanston, Illinois. But one night in Minnesota, Byrdsong seemed to reach a breaking point.
On February 5, 1994, Byrdsong left his seat on the bench and headed up towards the stands, while high-fiving fans and even the Minnesota Golden Gophers mascot. Byrdsong sat in a seat in the stands as everyone looked stunned. Fortunately, an usher came to escort Byrdsong away. It is considered one of the most bizarre moments in college basketball history. Byrdsong's wife requested a leave of absence for her husband, which was granted. When asked about the incident, Byrdsong proclaimed that "any time I'm going to take a walk on the wild side, I should let my wife know". The moniker "Walk On The Wild Side" has been connected to Byrdsong ever since. His tenure at Northwestern ended in 1997, but he and his family stayed in the Chicago area after that.
Sadly, on July 2, 1999, while jogging in his neighborhood with his two kids, Byrdsong was shot and killed by two individuals. Both men were part of the White Supremacist Creativity Movement and caused a killing spree all around Chicago, targeting minorities. The community wanted to make notice that Byrdsong's death was a reminder of the wide spread racial tension in the United States. A documentary created by Northwestern students titled " Fly Like A Byrd" addresses the issue, while examining the life of Byrdsong. Byrdsong's widow, Sherialyn, established the Ricky Byrdsong Foundation. One event that the foundation holds is the Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate to honor the coach and bring attention to the epidemic of hate in this country. The event will enter its 20th year and is held on Father's Day.
Credits: Wikipedia, Northwestern University website, YWCA, SB Nation, Los Angeles Times
(For more content, check out our Facebook page and our website @www.realsportsaz.com)