‘It’s pretty cool’: Ryan Reaves talks about TV show based on his great-great-great-grandfather
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Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter
It was around two years ago when Toronto Maple Leafs winger Ryan Reaves said he received a phone call from someone about the idea of creating a TV show about his great-great-great-grandfather Bass Reeves, who was one of the first Black deputy U.S. Marshals.
Now it has become a reality. Paramount+ has aired the first three of the eight-episode series “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” starring David Oyelowo in the title role. The show, whose executive producer is “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan, also stars Dennis Quaid.
“It’s pretty cool. Obviously, this guy was one of a kind in his field at a time when Black people weren’t necessarily respected in that field or in the community at all,” Reaves said. “For him to be in that position and have the career that he did. He was famous for [pursuing] a lot of people. … He got into multiple shootouts by himself.”
(Reaves’ name is spelled differently because his grandfather replaced one of the E’s with an A.)
Reaves first learned about his connection to Reeves more than two years ago after his father, Willard, researched their family history. Bass Reeves was born into slavery and eventually escaped north into territory where Indigenous tribes such as the Cherokee, Creek and Seminole resided, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Reeves’ knowledge of the territory allowed him to serve as a guide for the Marshals whenever they had to enter that territory in an attempt to find fugitives. He was eventually named a deputy U.S. Marshal, a role he held for more than 30 years.
A story from the Chickasaw Enterprise in 1901 claimed Reeves arrested more than 3,000 people, while the Muskogee Times Democrat also reported that Reeves often single-handedly arrested criminals who had been charged with everything ranging from bootlegging to murder.
Author Art Burton wrote in his book “Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves” that Reeves never sustained a single gunshot wound throughout his career. Burton also presented the hypothesis that Reeves may have been the inspiration for the fictional character the Lone Ranger.
Reaves, who is known for being one of the NHL’s most physical players over his 800-plus-game career, said learning about his connection to his great-great-great-grandfather led to him going down what he described as “a rabbit hole” when it came to Reeves and Black history as a whole.
“It’s cool learning about stuff like that, people like that in history — people who have been through some pretty serious trials and tribulations,” Reaves said. “Especially people who’ve been through it when the odds were stacked against them — being a Black man in a white man’s world back then. It’s fascinating stuff and I’m sure once this show comes out, I know I am going to watch it and I am going to be a little more intrigued with it and do a little more research.”
While the show is a western that is expected to have some fictionalized elements, just the fact that it’s being released is a point of pride for Reaves because of what it means within the context of Black history.
“It’s just a pretty cool story to learn that this is a distant relative,” Reaves said. “Especially with the problems and the challenges that he had being a Black man.”
In 2022, Quinnipiac University revealed its findings from a national poll that showed only 27% of Americans believed what they learned in school “reflected a full and accurate account of the role African Americans played in the United States.”
An article from the National Council for the Social Studies in 2017 cited a survey of more than 500 U.S. elementary, middle and high school social studies teachers, which revealed less than 10% of total class time in those classrooms is devoted to Black history.
Education Weekly reported that since January 2021, 44 states have introduced bills or have taken other additional measures that would restrict teaching critical race theory or limit how teachers can discuss racism or sexism.
In addition, there are the personal challenges many Black people have faced trying to learn about their family history because many slaves were not allowed to read, write, attend school or legally marry, among other restrictions.
Even Oyelowo, who is an executive producer on the show, told Vanity Fair in August that he “had no idea who [Reeves] was” and that a cursory Google search was “the beginning of the obsession with trying to get [the show] made.”
Reaves said he feels a show like “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” could not only help educate people, but could also provide more insight into the importance of preserving Black history.
“Not everybody is opening up a book and thinking about Black history,” Reaves said. “A lot of people like to go and watch TV. They like to see it and they like to see it dramatized. Obviously, because it’s a show on TV, there are going to be some things that aren’t necessarily fiction but the facts have been extended a little bit. Some scenes are obviously dramatized. You don’t have the exact script of what people are saying back then. But it opens up your eyes to what was going on back then. I think that’s the way culture is. It’s no longer just looking at books and reading encyclopedias. It is getting everything visually now.”
Although nobody with the show has recently reached out to Reaves, he said that he’d be open to having a cameo role because of the personal connection and what it means to him and his family.
“I’ve done a little acting in my day, so why not?” Reaves said with a laugh, in reference to a series of commercials in which he was the spokesperson for the Southern Nevada Water Authority from his time with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Reaves is also excited because he’s a big fan of Sheridan and the work he did with making “Yellowstone” among the most popular shows on TV. Reaves said that he and his wife, Alanna, typically don’t like watching shows when they first come out and would rather wait until the season is over so they can binge watch them.
That’s what they did with “Yellowstone,” but Reaves said their viewing habits will be different now that there is a story that is a bit more personal for them.
“With a producer like that who has made some pretty big hits — because ‘Yellowstone’ I know is very popular and it was one of the most talked about shows when it came out,” Reaves said. “To have him doing a show about somebody in your family, you know it’s going to be a hit and you know people are going to tune in. It’s going to be a good show, but it’s also going to tell a story that’s about one of my relatives.”
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Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior Writer
Notre Dame‘s Marcus Freeman and Penn State‘s James Franklin are aware they are on the brink of making history in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on Thursday.
The winner will become the first Black head coach to take a team to the national championship game. Both were asked about that possibility during their respective news conferences Saturday previewing their matchup.
Franklin said it reminded him of Super Bowl XLI between Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith in 2007, the first Super Bowl featuring Black head coaches. Franklin was the offensive coordinator at Kansas State at the time, coaching for Ron Prince, another Black head coach.
“I remember thinking that, as a coach, how significant that was in the profession, and how significant that was for young coaches coming up in the profession, to see those guys in that role,” Franklin said. “I also remember, at that time, there were a lot of conversations about, ‘Will this impact the profession? Will this impact opportunities for guys?'”
At the time, there were six Black head coaches in college football, Franklin said. There are now 16 head coaches in 134 FBS programs, something Franklin described as progress.
“I know some people will say, ‘Well, that that’s not a huge increase,’ but it is an increase,” Franklin said. “At the end of the day, does this create opportunities for more guys to get in front of athletic directors? Does this create opportunities for search firms? I hope so. I think at the end of the day, you just want an opportunity, and you want to be able to earn it through your work and through your actions. I take a lot of pride in it.”
When Freeman was asked, he made sure to note that he is also half-Korean, a nod to his mother. But he also understands the significance of the moment.
“It’s a reminder that you are a representation for so many others that look like you, and I don’t take that for granted,” Freeman said. “I’m going to work tirelessly to be the best version of me, and it’s great, because even the guys in our program can understand, ‘Don’t put a ceiling on what you can be and what you can do.’
“Now, with that being said, it’s not about me. It’s about us. More than anything, I want to achieve team glory with this program.”
Freeman was also asked how he can inspire other young coaches who are watching him on this stage.
“If you want to impact the young people in this profession, you probably should do things to help them, and those are things that maybe after the season I could focus on trying to do,” Freeman said. “I want to be a representation. But that’s not enough. If you want to truly help some people, then you got to be one to make decisions and actions that truly help people.”
Franklin said he is honored to be in position to coach against Freeman in the semifinal.
“I’m honored to be able to compete against Notre Dame. Most importantly, I’m honored to represent Penn State and the young men in that locker room,” Franklin said. “For me to sit here and say that it’s not important, it’s not significant, that would not be accurate.”
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Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior Writer
Penn State All-American defensive end Abdul Carter is working back from an apparent left arm injury, and while coach James Franklin said it’s “too early” to determine Carter’s status for the College Football Playoff semifinal against Notre Dame, there’s optimism about his return.
“At this point, I don’t think there’s anything stopping him from playing, but it’s going to come down to, how is he able to play?” Franklin said Saturday. “We’ll see. But his mentality is great. He’s excited about this week, but it’s too early to say at this stage.”
Carter left the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against Boise State on Tuesday in the first quarter, not recording any statistics before exiting and not returning. No. 6 seed Penn State won 31-14 to advance to the Capital One Orange Bowl, where it will face No. 7 seed Notre Dame on Thursday night.
Carter, 6-foot-3 and 252 pounds, became Penn State’s first consensus All-America selection since Saquon Barkley in 2017. He also was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. lists Carter as the No. 2 prospect for the 2025 NFL draft, behind Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter of Colorado.
Carter posted a social media message Tuesday of Darth Vader in a bacta tank from the movie “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” indicating his recovery process from the injury.
“He’s doing great. His attitude is great. His mentality has been really good,” Franklin said. “We’ll see, but he’s taken the right approach and mentality, and it’s really going to come down to how he feels and how much practice he’s going to get during the week.”
Franklin does not usually provide injury updates about players who are not out for the season but understands the attention around Carter, who leads Penn State in sacks (11) and tackles for loss (21.5) and ranks second in quarterback hurries (8) and fourth in total tackles (63). A Philadelphia native, Carter moved from linebacker to defensive end this season under new defensive coordinator Tom Allen. He has 22 career sacks, 37.5 tackles for loss, 5 forced fumbles, 1 interception and 13 passes defended.
Penn State players are off Saturday before returning to practice Sunday.
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Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior Writer
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman says his team has to “expedite the preparation” with fewer days than Penn State to get ready for the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on Thursday.
During a news conference Saturday in South Bend, Indiana, Freeman was asked about the challenges presented after the team’s quarterfinal game against Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl was delayed one day following a deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans.
The Irish beat the Bulldogs 23-10 on Thursday, while Penn State beat Boise State 31-14 in its quarterfinal game Tuesday.
Freeman pointed out that his team came out of the Georgia game relatively healthy and is proceeding as if this is a normal game week. Notre Dame’s only significant injury was suffered by backup tight end Cooper Flanagan, who sustained a foot injury that will keep him out of the rest of the playoffs.
“How you handle the unpredictable things in life will determine the success, and so the greatest thing about this week is it’s just a normal game week,” Freeman said. “Now what we’ve got to do is utilize the time. We have to expedite the preparation because what you miss in terms of not having those couple days is the mental preparation of knowing exactly what to do. We’ve got to make sure we utilize every hour of the day to capitalize off of the preparation. For us, this is just game week.”
Freeman has led the Irish to the semifinals after a Week 2 loss at Northern Illinois that could have derailed the season. Instead, they treated every week like a playoff game and are now on the brink of playing for a national championship.
As a result, there is far more noise surrounding the program heading into the semifinal, something Freeman acknowledged. But he also knows it is important not to deviate from what got the Irish to this moment.
“I think it’s human nature to enjoy people saying good things about you,” Franklin said. “It’s human nature. But we’ve talked all year about being misfits. That’s what we have to continue to be. You have to make the choice to either waste time listening to people tell you how good you are or you’re going to put your time into preparing for this opportunity right in front of us. That’s been my message loud and clear, and we all have to make that choice.”
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