AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > December > 14
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Hunt an everyman tycoon, AFL pioneer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Editor’s note: Lamar Hunt, 74, died Wednesday night in a Dallas hospital after a long bout with prostate cancer.
Let me say this for openers: If there had been no Lamar Hunt, there would have been no American Football League; if there had been no American Football League, there would be no National Football League as we know it today; and if there had been no AFL and NFL, there would have been no Super Bowl, which might be America’s most stupendous sports event.
So we’ll start with that. That’s pretty strong stuff to say about a 26-year-old Texan who belied all the Texas stereotypes, broad-shouldered John Waynes with a strut and a swagger. Lamar Hunt wore glasses and looked like the class valedictorian. He had played football — about 20 minutes as a reserve end at SMU. He was the son of a billionaire, H.L. Hunt of oil; and the brother of a swaggerer who once cornered the silver market. The brothers were as different as a Brooks Bros. suit and a pair of overalls.
He neither smoked nor drank, and I’ve read that if he had one addiction, it was ice cream, and more ice cream. It surely wasn’t self-embellishment. He was probably the only owner of an NFL team who got his shoes half-soled. Hank Stram, who was his first choice in coaches, once swore that Lamar owned only one pair of shoes.
“Well, you can only wear one pair at a time,” it was said that he said. He once went to an owners meeting with one shoe half-soled, a hole in the other. The cobbler told him he didn’t have time to do two.
With a group of guys in Dallas for something, I was invited to his home one evening. We had finished our nourishment, and being well-mannered, began looking for the washing machine in which to deposit our plates. There was none.
“We don’t have a dish-washer,” his wife said. She was Norma, his second and his last, a patient soul. He drove cars that looked as if they had survived a demolition derby. Once, when Stram was dispatched to a parking lot to pick up the Hunt car for a trip to the airport, he was expecting something like a Mercedes or Cadillac.
“The attendant drove up in a four-year-old Oldsmobile that looked as if it had been run through a minefield,” Stram says in his book. “It was dirty, rusted and had a big hole in the front seat. ‘No, no,’ I told the guy, ‘I want Mr. Hunt’s car.’
“This is Mr. Hunt’s car,” the attendant said. “I’ve been trying to buy it for a month, offered his $600. He wants $800.”
Well, enough of that. Yes, Lamar Hunt lived frugally. It was simply his way of life, but it detracted none from his kind of person. I don’t care if you were some secretary of state or sports writer from Dubuque, he greeted you with the same kind of cordiality. It was a testimonial to him that he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton without any crossfire in 1972. And there was overwhelming sporting evidence.
He wanted to have a professional football team in Dallas, but first, he had to have a league. He had tried to break in as part owner of two NFL franchises, but the parts he could have had didn’t include a vote. Finally, after doing a tour and drumming up seven potential owners, it came down to Atlanta or Oakland to complete a full hand. Oakland had no place to play, and all Atlanta could offer was an improvised Ponce de Leon Park, with under-funded ownership.
So with Oakland in hand, the AFL set out, like a leaking ship. It is amazing that it not only survived, but thrived. Hunt himself had to move his franchise to Kansas City. Dueling with the Cowboys in Dallas was too much. For a man who viewed spending money as offensive, to have stayed with it is puzzling. And later he did say, as Joe McGuff, the Kansas City sports editor, records in his book, “Winning It All,” “had he been aware of the costs involved in starting a new league, he would never have undertaken it.”
Most historians lavish Super Bowl III with drooling ingratiation, but it was the fourth that vindicated Lamar Hunt and his crusade. The Chiefs had been crushed by Green Bay in the first championship game, but in chilling New Orleans weather, they did a job on the Vikings. Not only was the upstart AFL firmly established, but Lamar Hunt’s search for happiness in pro football was achieved. By this time, the game’s name was established, and once again the trigger man was Hunt. One of his children played with a funny bouncing toy called “Super Ball.” Ah, “Super Bowl.” The name came to Hunt in a flash, and thus the name of an American classic. Or, so the story goes.
Thus, we say farewell to “the man who brought about the greatest upheaval professional sports had ever known in this country,” Joe McGuff wrote many years in advance of his passing.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Furman Bisher
Weekend predictions: Lousy strategy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Before getting to potentially the dumbest strategic maneuver in the history of professional sports, and also the Falcons, here’s something you might have missed:
In a brilliant move by aquarium officials in China, a 7-foot-9 man with 41.7-inch arms saved two dolphins by pulling pieces of plastic out of their stomachs. Bao Xishun, officially the world’s tallest man, was contacted after veterinarians were unable to remove the plastic with, I guess, short arms and forceps.
It was such an impressive display of natural ability by the herdsman that sources say he was contacted by the Hawks about playing center. But Xishun rejected an offer, telling Billy Knight something in Chinese that translated roughly to, “With Speedy Claxton as my point guard? You are a funny man. Now go away.”
This week, the Falcons meet the Dallas Cowboys. They have let it leak that they are open to using Michael Vick as a running back and Matt Schaub as the quarterback. The fact they let it leak sort of makes you wonder about this plot’s veracity. But let’s go with it. It’s a playoff run.
As the philosopher, Otter, said to fratmates, “I think this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.” (Bluto’s retort: “And we’re just the guys to do it.”)
Question: What ever happened to just trying to knock guys on their rump roasts?
Another gimmick. Great. It would be smarter having Xishun run a fade route.
Schaub to Vick? I see three possibilities:
1) Somebody gets maimed.
2) Somebody scores a touchdown, which means more screams for Schaub by the redneck quotient (excuse me: Appalachian Americans).
3) Incomplete pass. I see this as the best-case scenario.
Sorry, but I’m just not feeling that bandwagon yet. Cowboys cover 3.
College-free NFL 12-pack
• Eagles at Giants: Thirty-six-year-old Jeff Garcia has eight touchdowns with no interceptions and two sacks in four starts since replacing Donovan McNabb — which shouldn’t suggest Eli Manning will make it out of the parking lot if New York loses this game. Giants win a close one. (Take the geezer and 5 1/2.)
• Bengals at Colts: Deltha O’Neal, the eighth Cincinnati player arrested this season, pleaded not guilty to drunk driving charges, despite having a .10 blood-alcohol level, exceeding the Ohio limit of .08. Turns out the Bengals aren’t just delinquents, they stink in math. On a related note, ESPN submitted the “Playmakers” boxset to the Pulitzer committee. Colts cover 3.
• Dolphins at Bills: Miami has won five of its past six. And for his next trick, Nick Saban is going to teach Mal Moore to bark like a dog. Take the Fins and the gift point.
• Jets at Vikings: I hate to interrupt this Falcons playoff-run euphoria. But if the Vikes win this game, they’re 7-7 with schlock remaining (Packers, Rams). Welcome to the NFC: Dawn of the Dead. Vikes cover 3.
• Steelers at Panthers: Chris Weinke. Sorry. Did you expect more analysis? Steelers win.
• Redskins at Saints: New Orleans will level off eventually. I just never thought eventually would be February. Another win, another cover (9 1/2).
• Jaguars at Titans: Tennessee has won six of eight with Vince Young at quarterback. Is it too early for a 2007 forecast? But a little reality check: Jax wins but won’t cover 3 1/2.
• Broncos at Cardinals: Jay Cutler has been sacked seven times in two games. Used to be, things got better for a quarterback when he left Vanderbilt. But Broncos cover 2 1/2.
• Chiefs at Chargers: LaDainian Tomlinson has scored more touchdowns (29) than 17 teams, and as many or more than 21 offenses. Also, he has overcome Marty Schottenheimer. The 8 1/2 is covered.
• Browns at Ravens: Since allowing 13 points to the Falcons, the Browns have given up 24, 30, 28 and 27. Not sure if Greg Knapp wants that on his Stanford résumé. Ravens cover 11.
• Rams at Raiders: St. Louis linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa has two broken hands. Might be a good pickup at receiver for the Falcons. Take the Rams and 2 1/2.
• Bucs at Bears: I realize Bruce Gradkowski’s self-esteem already is pretty low, but this is the only game all season in which the Bears will have the edge at QB. The 13 1/2 is covered.
Profitless margin
• Last week: 6-7 straight up (don’t ask); 7-6 against the line.
• Bottoms up: 86-55 straight up, 64-75-2 ATL.
• Coming soon: My friend, the end.
Permalink | Comments (42) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz
Braves execs turn into Ebenezer Scrooge
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Let’s get this out of the way: Those who run the Braves were absolutely right in the moves they didn’t make regarding a cherished left-hander and an energetic second baseman.
Yes, Tom Glavine was key to the early part of the Braves’ unprecedented run of 14 consecutive division titles. The future Hall of Famer also remains a prominent local citizen. It’s just that he is 40 with various aches and pains. Nostalgia doesn’t help you win championships right now.
As for Marcus Giles, he was a popular and effective player throughout his stay with the Braves, but he nevertheless has digressed since his All-Star season.
That was three years ago.
Still, something doesn’t make sense here. I mean, you’ve got Bud Selig saying loudly and boldly that baseball’s overall revenue last season was $5.2 billion. That’s more than quadruple the take during his first year as commissioner in 1992. That’s why teams are spending like crazy. That’s also why inquiring minds need to ask the following of Braves executives: What are you guys talking about?
“We just don’t need to make those kinds of investments that may not pay off,” said Terry McGuirk, the Braves’ straight-shooting president, expressing faith in a returning nucleus that includes the incomparable Bobby Cox managing the likes of Chipper and Andruw Jones, Jeff Francoeur and a healthy Mike Hampton to complement what should be a potent starting rotation and an improved bullpen. Added McGuirk, “We’ve got investments that are very solid that will pay off.”
That’s fine. It’s just that the Braves’ hierarchy keeps citing budgetary constraints as to why Giles is gone, Glavine remains gone, and Andruw Jones is going, going and virtually gone as a free agent after next season. Budgetary constraints? While other baseball executives are becoming Santa Claus during this holiday season, those who run the Braves are doing a wonderful impression of Ebenezer Scrooge.
If you didn’t know better, you’d think somebody changed the combination on the Braves’ vault — you know, pending the sale from Time Warner to Liberty Media. So how much is that pending sale affecting the Braves’ personnel decisions? “None whatsoever,” said McGuirk, a holdover from the days of Ted Turner, when the term “budgetary constraints” wasn’t part of the franchise’s vocabulary.
Added McGuirk, “Basically the team is pretty much set for 2007, based upon our best judgment as to the balance between payroll and economic sanity. We’re probably spending a little more next year than we did last year. There’s no intention of spending less. None.”
Yeah, but look around. The supposedly gasping Kansas City Royals gave $55 million to Gil Meche, a right-handed pitcher with a record not worth mentioning. Lefty Ted Lilly has a record that is even less worth mentioning, and he got $40 million from the Chicago Cubs. Speaking of the Cubs, they’ve spent $264 million on five free agents. Oh, and after paying $51.1 million just to negotiate with Japanese pitching star Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Boston Red Sox shelled out another $52 million to seal the deal.
On and on we could go, but when it comes to the Braves during baseball’s latest era of free spending, they’ve said, “Bah, humbug” more often than not. They refused to go back to the future with Glavine because they said they couldn’t maneuver their budget of around $80 million to accommodate their former ace who returned to the New York Mets. They said goodbye to Giles by not offering him a contract in the likely neighborhood of $5 million.
As for the near future, Andruw Jones will command an un-Braves-like salary as a free agent after a likely 10th Gold Glove and the continuation as one of the most prolific sluggers ever at barely 30-something. The Braves did strengthen their raggedy bullpen with a trade for impressive reliever Rafael Soriano.
That’s about it.
All that inquiring minds are saying is that the Braves should loosen their purse strings a lot more (well, period) for an accomplished leadoff hitter, another reliever and maybe more bench help.
Just to make sure.
Permalink | Comments (93) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Terence Moore
Braves’ moves hard to swallow
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Welcome to the Hot Stove Corner. Grab a stool and have some cider.
The Braves identified Tom Glavine as an offseason priority. Then they let him re-sign with the Mets without making an offer. How much slower would they have been if he hadn’t been such a priority?
In the Johnny-(Schuerholz)-come-lately attempt to free up money to pursue Glavine, the Braves explored trade scenarios for Tim Hudson. Given that Hudson is nine years younger than Glavine and is under contract for the next three seasons, wasn’t this an admission that they feel Hudson, imported to be their No. 1 starter, has no role in their future?
The Braves traded Wilson Betemit last summer and tried to justify the trade by portraying Willy Aybar, who came here from L.A., as a potential leadoff man of long standing. Today the Braves have Aybar earmarked as a utility infielder who can’t play second base. (And Danys Baez, who arrived in the package, is already gone.) Isn’t this one of those trades that looked bad at the time and even worse with time?
Granted, the offseason is still young, and getting Rafael Soriano for Horacio Ramirez seems an adroit move. But none of the other target areas — starting pitching, a leadoff hitter, outfield cover in preparation for Andruw Jones’ exit, a new second baseman now that Marcus Giles is gone — has been adressed. And, what with the salary constraints that appear to apply only to the Braves among contending teams, how much can realistically be done?
More cider, you say?
Permalink | Comments (101) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Quick Hit
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