Newk’s Bender on the Game
Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know…..
With the Super Bowl set and now fast approaching, I thought it may be time to look back at a time when the NFL title game wasn’t exactly the same as the monstrosity most of us are used to today.
Would you believe or remember that it wasn’t even called the Super Bowl. In fact, the first two AFL-NFL World Championship Games were entitled just that. With the Super Bowl coined for the third contest, it was retroactively applied to the first two contests.
The first AFL-NFL World Championship Game to be played was between the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs and was held in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Apparently sellouts are an assumption when dealing with the modern version, but this event was not sold out and even blacked out on TV in the Los Angeles area! Imagine the outcry if the Dallas area were only able to view the game this year through some pirated TV channel or internet hookup. News outlets of the day printed directions on how to pick up an out of town channel with hopes of seeing the game. The sellout was not even close as ticket prices reached an exorbitant $12!!
Not to worry, chances of picking up a signal from another city was excellent as the game was actually broadcast on two different networks, with two completely different sets of announcers. Picture Troy Aikman and Joe Buck on one channel while Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth announce the game a click or two away and you have a choice!!!
The ultimate sandlot solution came into play during the game as a result of the dual broadcast. NBC had not returned in time from commercial for the second half kickoff. So, as every kid has invoked at some time during a playground dispute, a “do over” was implemented for the second half kickoff. Incredible but true, as the referees made the teams line up and do it again. Based on the NFL still using part-time referees (another topic, another day), I suggest they invoke the “do over” to replace replay! I even think it may take less time.
Of course, the pomp and circumstance was slightly different with the halftime show featuring a trumpeter accompanied by two college bands and no one performing to sell albums. There was a trophy presentation handled by Pat Summerall and George Ratterman (former Browns quarterback) who shared one microphone.
Of course, there was a well fought game and a victor, but that is common knowledge and the above items are what you really need to know!
All this because I know more about nothing…..
Monday, January 24, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Greatest Quarterback of All Time!
Newk’s Bender on the Game
Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know…..
The greatest quarterback of all time may in fact be the most winning professional athlete ever as well. Most people can’t name him and even doubt such an athlete exists when presented with his career accomplishments.
But if I ask you whether a quarterback who compiled an 80.2 winning percentage in the NFL, reached the Championship Game or Super Bowl in every one of his seasons, won three of them while also winning four championships in a rival league and one more championship in a DIFFERENT sport is the greatest of all time, would you agree? Would you believe those statistics? Could you name him?
Otto Graham compiled a 57-13-1 record in the NFL during his six seasons. Including his first four years with the Cleveland Browns in the AAFC (All-American Football Conference, a rival league), he went 105-17-4 for his professional football career.
Playing six seasons in the NFL, reaching the title game all six seasons and winning three of them while having previously reached and won all four title games in the AAFC puts him at the top of my list.
Because of his athletic ability, Graham played one year in professional basketball, winning the championship with the Rochester Royals, today’s Sacramento Kings.
11 professional seasons in sports, going to the title game every season and winning the championship 8 times!!!
I understand the difference in comparing statistics and playing eras but when it comes right down to it, doesn’t winning count as the most important measure? We argue and debate on the greatest quarterback of all time but that conversation only involves winners and does not include QB’s who had “tools” and/or lack of support (Jeff George, Archie Manning). We look at Joe Montana staying cool in tight moments and leading his team to victory. We analyze Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas collecting titles. We turn our current debate to Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, watching them compete for rings. But to take the cumulative 16 titles these men won in 73 seasons and compare them to Graham winning 8 championships in 11 seasons puts the argument in perspective.
Any owner, coach or fan today would take a quarterback who could deliver seven Lombardi trophies in a ten year career, imagine!
To top it all off with class and style, Graham was convinced by Coach Paul Brown to play his final season after having announced he was done. Of course, Otto came back and led the Browns to another NFL title and retired for good as the greatest quarterback of all time.
All this because I know more about nothing…..
Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know…..
The greatest quarterback of all time may in fact be the most winning professional athlete ever as well. Most people can’t name him and even doubt such an athlete exists when presented with his career accomplishments.
But if I ask you whether a quarterback who compiled an 80.2 winning percentage in the NFL, reached the Championship Game or Super Bowl in every one of his seasons, won three of them while also winning four championships in a rival league and one more championship in a DIFFERENT sport is the greatest of all time, would you agree? Would you believe those statistics? Could you name him?
Otto Graham compiled a 57-13-1 record in the NFL during his six seasons. Including his first four years with the Cleveland Browns in the AAFC (All-American Football Conference, a rival league), he went 105-17-4 for his professional football career.
Playing six seasons in the NFL, reaching the title game all six seasons and winning three of them while having previously reached and won all four title games in the AAFC puts him at the top of my list.
Because of his athletic ability, Graham played one year in professional basketball, winning the championship with the Rochester Royals, today’s Sacramento Kings.
11 professional seasons in sports, going to the title game every season and winning the championship 8 times!!!
I understand the difference in comparing statistics and playing eras but when it comes right down to it, doesn’t winning count as the most important measure? We argue and debate on the greatest quarterback of all time but that conversation only involves winners and does not include QB’s who had “tools” and/or lack of support (Jeff George, Archie Manning). We look at Joe Montana staying cool in tight moments and leading his team to victory. We analyze Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas collecting titles. We turn our current debate to Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, watching them compete for rings. But to take the cumulative 16 titles these men won in 73 seasons and compare them to Graham winning 8 championships in 11 seasons puts the argument in perspective.
Any owner, coach or fan today would take a quarterback who could deliver seven Lombardi trophies in a ten year career, imagine!
To top it all off with class and style, Graham was convinced by Coach Paul Brown to play his final season after having announced he was done. Of course, Otto came back and led the Browns to another NFL title and retired for good as the greatest quarterback of all time.
All this because I know more about nothing…..
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