One Great Football Game

[0:46]" It has you know this -- the game that was played in 1958 that was kind of emblematic. An -- professional football and is regarded by most serious football fans of the game that really launched. The NFL into the incidents stratosphere of media and professional sports."

[1:06]" What's interesting of course is affected there were just a few and teams the bedrock teams. And television was in its. Not its infancy but when it came to football is very crude compared -- what can do today it won't will talk about that -- a little bit about your connection to all this because. Averaging about the work you've done as a sportswriter -- a columnist and so forth why did this attract your attention."

[1:30]" Well it was actually I'm originally projected to be by my publisher and editor. Morgan -- after I'd finished my last. Oh before that which was -- guests of the Ayatollah which is that. Ability. Have the account of the Iran hostage crisis and they had taken me. Five years and a lot of international travel to put together and Morgan suggestion was that I try to alternate these sort of exhaustively reported. Longer book about foreign policies in. And war or what have you with shorter work that sort of made. That that Drew Ron -- My other interest you know one of my other entrances football because I'd been a football writer for the -- years and actually have written a book about football. Morgan suggested that game which because it is such a the watershed for pro football and because the fiftieth anniversary which -- the way. And I love the idea immediately because I admit they have a football fan I've written about football and I brought the latter part of my childhood anyway in Baltimore so I remember. This great 1958. Baltimore colts. Team which ones you know it's very exciting championship game against the giants so -- electric project."

[2:50]" with Mark Bowden on the line and it's called the best game ever and as I mentioned mark. I'm not a football historian I love the patriots I love to follow the games but I don't I'm not a fanatic but I'll tell you this is more about people and some of the great characters that will mention in a in a bit. But prior to -- to the 1958 season -- the colts were a dynamic team and they were sort of up and coming into winning championships and winning big games. But they also playing against a giant team that had the likes of pogo -- got Rosey Grier frank Gifford cinema some of the greatest names ever who ever played again."

[4:09]" We will keep anyone in suspense because I mean its part of the history books but Baltimore wins this game in. In sudden death overtime and what's interesting as you point out prior to this. They didn't really have a way to. Today evening they had to decide let's come up with a winner champion it because what during the season if you had sudden death and nobody scored it was a time."

[5:36]" It's true -- you know broke all the guy who really had nurtured the -- from. From the very it's very weak. Early days and -- we had been gaining strength commit the guy used to draw the NFL. Schedule for you feed him and a dining room table and suburbs of Philadelphia. And he had signed a deal. To televise the championship game some years earlier and his senate seat. Was that one of these gains would be so. Exciting and so quote that would spill over into. Prime time on Sunday night. Court television was just exploding in America and by the end of the 1950s just about every living room in the country. Had a television set and back now know only to retreat channels. For most people that built into. Got on television on a Sunday night at prime time you have the potential. To garner the largest audience that had ever seen football and that's precisely what happened in the."

[6:37]" When I was a kid I remember ever everyone on the block want to to throw the football like Johnny unitas. And of course I grew up in in Boston where the patriots weren't exactly blowing anybody away. So we didn't have the kind of quarterbacks that that the -- fielded but Johnny unitas was everyone's hero and in the book you have some great great. The description of Johnny unitas is playing style. His ability his just a humble guy and then of course the other guy that I knew nothing about until 1986. Or -- is what they -- the page uses. Raymond berry let's start with the Johnny unitas as a as a player as a phenomenon. He really had had all the gifts and didn't look like a quarterback though didian meaning he could do things the differently."

[7:20]" That's right he had he was a great athlete in the younger man you know he had played both offense and be sent them. And but -- cannot both ways but he he got older his shoulders. What kind of duped he was kind of power shifted in bow legged. He didn't move all that well. He ran. It's such a funny -- some of the guys who played against the that he was kind of scary to watch. Coming down the field. But John the United could throw a football with tremendous power and accuracy and had a wonderful. Gut feeling for. The sort of on field but strategy and tactics. Football which he would do demonstrate repeatedly. For the Baltimore colts but I think it was really in this game in 1958. When he led these two not one bit too dramatic. Length of the field drives at the end of the game. That really established him as an icon in American culture."

[8:15]" You describe his hands as being so big he could just gonna take the football costs -- like they'll do now but. She could deep I was the football disappeared in his Mets and."

[8:25]" I mean a lot men even even some are playing pro football today and the if you want to take up have to wonder action. It's hard to do because the football and just big enough that it'll look like the average person. Hand but John had these gigantic hand so he could. Make executed really authentic. Faith in one direction and hang on a football -- the one hand. Send all the defenders flying in the wrong direction and then pivot and throw the other way. You know that this is one of the things that -- and so mark."

[8:55]" With bristling author Mark -- the book is called the best game ever this is Jordan talking about the giants. Versus the colts 1958 the birth of the modern NFL which is subtitled and we don't know that coaches can get -- rather compulsive but is there anybody. That you've ever read about and more OCD and more. Progressively. In vault in the game strategy as a player than Raymond berry I couldn't believe. This court is about Raymond berry and what he went through two two win."

[9:23]" It's true you know when I started working on this book -- had heard of Raymond -- and I knew we had been a great wide receiver but that they began interviewing. Some of -- teammate they are referred to him as a nut case. I -- that studied the film of the game it became obvious that the -- critical moment of this game. The key player was Raymond buried so I undertook. That's separate to try to understand. Why that was so and who this guy was then and I discovered this just amazingly eccentric young man. Who had none of the physical -- Are very few of them that is that fellow athletes had but who. Overcame is that. -- his detriment by an attempts. The -- effort to for the study of the game of football. To study the position of wide receiver using film and breaking down his own movements of impending exercise routine for himself. He would cystic. A completely. Obsessive character. Who are ultimately transformed. You know the position of wide receiver and instituted a lot. Training methods and in preparation. That it become routine. In the NFL but at the time would consider to be nothing short of just the oldest currency."

[10:42]" As you point out -- he and you notice did a lot of work together and it paid off because in that game. Up against the likes of -- Landry the amazing offense coach he was able to. He considerable two defeat Landry is great strategy."

[10:57]" He was -- you know and I think it's because both Raymond and John. Have found themselves. In time rookie year it was actually Raymond. Second year but they were on the cut -- on the bubble. Of the roster in the with a very good chance that their pro football orders were going to end. There were desperate and so -- head to invented all of these that is practiced and studied method. Sort of corralled John. Into doing them along with him and I don't think that you know John had been -- and that different point of his life for had gone to a different team that he would have development direction but because the two of them needed each other. And they were both really desperate to succeed and become pro football player. They worked together. Obsessively. And so as you point out Jordan in the key moment of the championship game went on it's great the great difference coach Tom Landry and you know a rating is is different and very unorthodox way. Precisely to take Ramon -- out of this. Our big game. Arraignment of John had actually seen someone do this before and Feldman knew exactly. What to do to counter it without even talking --"

[12:09]" The giants have so many great characters including we mentioned frank Gifford a little while ago -- to tuck little bit about him he was. I guess looking to become the next great acting sensation Chris he wound -- TV but there's also. A very well known name still on television still around in the voice of football pat summerall so these these guys were destined to play a big role in the game for decades ago."

[13:27]" Again with Mark Bowden BO WD and very well known author black hawk down and so many of the great books and now the best game ever. That wonderful football game in 1958 the year of my birth thank you that Fiske get -- said you know as a broadcaster. I eat particularly loved the story will have you tell. Of what happened when there was a technical glitch. And they didn't want the fans in the TV audience to miss anything this is this goes down -- I think the funniest story I've ever heard in terms of how they got things done in the old days before before digital technology want to tell -- story."

[14:03]" Thank you to admit that it's -- very -- revealing story you today football and television and so wedded. That if there were technical difficulties. They would just stop the game until the he was up and ready. A back in 1958. Television with a newcomer. To the pro game they were basically just -- spectator and they were covering this championship game with just five camera. One of which was focused on the -- That had -- cards that would read first quarter second quarter timeout or whatever and at the end of the game in the critical moment in overtime. Back then the fans would also thought of the stands and crowd around the field and then. Run out on the field turned on the goal posts after the game he had this question people. In in in an unusual place and somebody. Kick the plug. Connecting the the electrical supply that they NBC camera so 45 million viewers at home at this critical moment lost. The signal from the football game well MVP had a move up their sleeve. They couldn't ask. And a focus stopped playing but they sent a junior executive. Running out on the field -- he was drunk. And he led the police on a merry chase for about three minutes all over the field much for the amusement fan. They finally tackle them all remarked that he is delaying tactic of course there were just assumed it was a drunk. But he was six feet successfully delayed the game long enough for -- to -- the electrical. Log in and get America can back --"

[15:39]" What a contribution to -- broadcasting but to the NFL Owen and Kirk Bell's future and his success as that's the commissioner and all that I just thought that story it was a remarkable -- you do what you have to do right mark."

[15:51]" And for many years no one I mean who would question uncle who. Who spilled the beans about that some years later and and you know book that I picked up where. Where broadcasters talked about the favorite stories in the Booth."

[16:04]" The game because it was played in sloppy weather and because there were so many turnovers and very close plays you know that. Almost touchdown by different which would have changed everything because of all the the issues -- want to call that. That's what made -- had it been just do you fences and offensive. The dinner clinic it might not have had the same impact I think."

[16:26]" part of the fun of any pro game or any game is is that serendipity. Other than and I you know the ball bounces funny. So you had that you don't -- offensively. Against the best defenseman. Two masterful piece of seventeen future hall of famers playing. And they can do for most of the first half was fumbled the ball and turn it over -- interception. But it was wary -- very very sloppily played game. Through most of the led them both teams really settled down when it mattered. Toward the end of the game minute in the that -- we know it ended in the tie. And then into the you know very dramatic overtime."

[17:05]" So many colorful characters that we don't have time to get into but the owner of the colts Rosenblum and in all of these guys including the quarterback for the giants the old guy. Charlie. What a great there's a picture of him. He looks like he looks like one of these guys on Wall Street in Internet he was what 37 or so which was considered ancient back --"

[17:27]" the oldest player on the field and I think the oldest quarterback in the NFL. He had been a marine needs stormed the beaches Taiwan and I believe. I can't rather than in World War II. Come back and resumed his athletic career and had a long and straight -- with a giant but he is also famous became actually more payments probably at the Marlboro man. I'm a bottle. In Marlboro cigarette advertising for many it's it's a relatively. Handsome figure who was quite famous -- Tuesday."

[17:58]" And finally for those days these are the stars he's the guys that. Kids were emulating and people were were searching for their autographs and all that but can you tell us basically how much money they made in the season."

[18:12]" These these these I think are United with hey if I'm remembered correctly thumping around. 14000. Dollars a year to play -- he was -- big money or lose money I would big money the average player maybe less than 10000 dollars. Which you know what a lot further in 1958 but it would -- nothing like the astronomical. Salaries that professional."

[18:36]" Aren't they were working other jobs they were just playing football."

[18:39]" They were they -- to make ends meet especially guys who had children. Have up at full time job some of them work right through the football and in the gym much slower which is selling insurance he would go to work like a business executive in the morning. And he would take off in the afternoon good football practice but he -- back in and work until. The early evening again and in the opposite boat and there are a lot of these guys who were part time football."

[19:02]" My buddy Upton bell recommended this book to -- Chris and his family the lineage just runs right through it's in the DNA football. Mr. -- of course that name sounds familiar and boy he wasn't kidding this is a great book and it's a great story finally it just again on -- on Johnny -- to -- about his -- a a sports -- guests at the end of the season what did -- do with -- everything about the --"

[19:23]" won a Corvette that he had very little use -- with 45 children all and so he traded it in frustration away."

[19:29]" My hero. And a great mark this is just terrific I don't know where you're headed next if you're going overseas or. And doing more international stuff but meant as a sports book and is a book about life and these guys are great when you talk to -- later on it really is terrific thank you so much for for doing it -- don't miss mark -- the best game ever giants' first colts 1958 in the birth of the modern and NFL we will be back this is -- on WBZ news."

[19:57]" Yeah. The bottom of the cold it's. I'm gonna go and there will be okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Yeah we -- like. Okay. Okay. It's. That's going to the playing field its. Surrounding that I. Okay mark oh started -- rerun get him back into the -- and into the no march from the loan quality hardline. It's. Never about -- please -- there's another road that got to. Yeah. Great what's happening in the park we'll look at the great. Down about a yard and a half ago. Okay. -- Okay. I couldn't write you and good night United States against -- Q okay okay. Okay. Okay. Okay okay okay okay. It's. All of the money raven it's seventy."