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 Indianapolis 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…..
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