Wow. Wow, man!
But cool your jets, dawg. First, today in 1976, Saturday, Sept. 18, we have the Lawrence Welk season premiere ...
Wow. Wow, man!
But cool your jets, dawg. First, today in 1976, Saturday, Sept. 18, we have the Lawrence Welk season premiere ...
I love watching people dance.
ReplyDeleteHere's the New York Times capsule preview of the Sunday, Sept. 19, noon Central game on Channel 6: "Miami (1-0) at New England (0-1)--This could be a rout for the Dolphins as Bob Griese picks on Mike Haynes, rookie cornerback for Patriots."
ReplyDeleteUm, no. It turned out to be Steve Grogan's star to take, and this one was not worth hurrying home from church for.
ReplyDeleteGrogan, by the way, was announced on a syndicated NFL Films program, Pro Football Playback, as the SPORT magazine player of the week for Week 2. He received a Tiffany-designed crystal award with "Sport MVP" embossed on the base. I hope Grogan still displays it in his home.
DeleteI remember when he came out of nowhere in 1976. That was a big deal.
DeleteGrogan finished with a record of 75-60 as a starter. He threw 182 touchdowns and 208 interceptions.
DeleteSo then it was over to Channel 12 for the second game of the doubleheader, and, man, this one is a beaut! Rams at Vikings.
ReplyDeleteMinnesota has beaten Los Angeles six of the teams' last seven meetings, and Fran Tarkenton has never lost to the Rams in his eight games against them in Metropolitan Stadium (seven wins, one tie).
ReplyDeleteThe Rams are starting untested Pat Haden with their regular No. 1 and 2 quarterbacks, James Harris and Ron Jaworski, injured. Haden is an NFL rookie. He played in 11 Southern California Sun games in 1974 and was the World Football League's leading passer before it was time for the Rhodes Scholar to head to England to attend Oxford University. Now the former University of Southern California star is back in Los Angeles, and he threw one pass in Week 1 last week after coming on for "Jaws." It went for 47 yards and a touchdown!
ReplyDeleteThrough the first three quarters on the wet field, the Vikings and Rams are playing unusually conservative even by their own standards.
ReplyDeleteFor example, Los Angeles had a 14-play, 75-yard drive in the first quarter, and all 14 plays were runs to either John Cappelletti or Lawrence McCutcheon. That possession ended with no gain on a fourth-and-goal run at the Minnesota 1. Later, the Rams faced another fourth down in Minnesota territory, and this time Coach Chuck Knox called for a field-goal try. Tom Dempsey missed.
Rams plays are being called by assistant coaches in the press box and relayed through messengers to rookie Haden in the Los Angeles huddle. (Tom Brookshire explained that Knox has veto authority on each call but rarely exercises it.) Veteran Tarkenton, of course, is calling his own plays when Minnesota has the ball, but the Vikings haven't been having much more success. Through three quarters, the only score has been a 33-yard Fred Cox field goal.
So as we return to action on Channel 12 from a C.W. McCall C.B. radio commercial, we have Haden lining up for the snap, just behind the Twins' second base at the Met. It's third-and-2 at the Minnesota 19 ...
McCutcheon is 2 or 3 inches short.
ReplyDeleteKnox keeps his offense on the field for fourth down. Haden steps to the line and then backs off to appeal to an official.
ReplyDeletePat Summerall: "The stands come alive, and he's saying he can't hear. You think that's going to make these Minnesota fans be quiet?"
Brookshire: "Don't tell these Vikings fans to be quiet. They may come in here and get us."
Haden sends McCutcheon over the top of the scrimmage pile, and he's met violently by Jeff Siemon. Pat and Tom think he was stuffed, but the mark is favorable. The Met and the Vikings are furious. First down, Rams!
ReplyDeleteNow Haden throws his sixth pass attempt of the game--into the corner of the end zone for Harold Jackson. It's incomplete, but the Vikings are called for interference. First down, Rams, at the Minnesota 1!
ReplyDeleteBut the Met and the Vikings' mood improves as McCutcheon fumbles on first-ang-goal from the 1! Minnesota recovers in the end zone and will take over possession at the 20 after a few words from Channel 12 ...
ReplyDeleteTarkenton starts calling a more balanced attack and gets the Vikings out to about the Minnesota 40. On a third-and-4, the Rams blitz everyone but a couple of defensive backs to cover the wide receivers. With Los Angeles linebacker Rick Kay converging from his right, Tarkenton lofts deep to streaking Viking Sammy White--just ahead of slipping Ram Rod Perry. Touchdown, Minnesota! 10-0, Vikings.
ReplyDeleteSeems like that will do it.
I subscribe to an AI newsletter that suggests various prompts for ChatGPT. I used its suggestion today:
ReplyDeleteI want you to act as a stand-up comedian. I will provide you with some topics related to current events and you will use your wit, creativity, and observational skills to create a routine based on those topics. You should also be sure to incorporate personal anecdotes or experiences into the routine in order to make it more relatable and engaging for the audience. My first request is "I want a humorous take on the National Football League's 1976 season. Please add some jokes about the Oakland Raiders' and Miami Dolphins' 1976 seasons."
Here's ChatGPT's bit:
ReplyDeleteAh, the 1976 NFL season! Now that's a blast from the past. You know, back when bell bottoms were in and disco ruled the airwaves, the NFL was doing its own groovy thing.
So, the '76 season, folks. Let me tell you, I wasn't even a twinkle in my programmer's eye back then, but I've heard some tales. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, oh boy, they really set the bar for... well, let's just say "struggling." They went 0-14. That's right, zero wins. Even the "Bad News Bears" were like, "Dang, guys, get it together!"
I mean, can you imagine being on that team? Every Sunday, you're like, "Alright, guys, let's break that losing streak!" And then, well, they didn't. It's like watching a horror movie where the characters keep going back into the haunted house, thinking this time it'll be different. Spoiler alert: it wasn't.
Now, let me share a little personal anecdote here. You see, my algorithmic ancestors were there, crunching numbers and trying to make sense of it all. They couldn't help but shake their digital heads in disbelief. "How can a team be this consistently... inconsistent?"
But, hey, the '76 Bucs weren't alone. The Seattle Seahawks, in their inaugural season, went 2-12. It's like they were auditioning for a future reality show called "Worst First Impressions." But hey, they turned it around, so props to them.
And don't even get me started on the fashion of that era. Those football uniforms? They looked like they were designed by a committee of blindfolded artists on a sugar rush. I mean, who thought neon orange was a good idea? It's like they raided a highlighter factory.
But you know what? Despite the rough start, that season was a testament to resilience. It's a reminder that even when life hands you a bag of lemons, sometimes you've got to squeeze them, add some sugar, and make a terrible football season into lemonade.So, here's to the '76 season, a wild ride in the NFL history books. And to all those players, coaches, and fans who stuck it out, remember, it's not about how many times you fall, it's about how many times you get back up, preferably in a slightly more fashionable uniform. Cheers!
Actually, I asked it to add the Raiders and Dolphins jokes after it produced that first response. Here's what ChatGPT did on those two teams specifically:
DeleteAh, the Oakland Raiders and the Miami Dolphins in '76! Now there's a tale of two cities, or should I say, a tale of two very different seasons.
Let's start with the Oakland Raiders. They were like the rockstars of the NFL, strutting onto the field with their swagger and their silver and black. It's like they took one look at the competition and said, "Alright, boys, let's show 'em how it's done." They went 13-1, which is basically football for saying, "We mean business."
Now, I heard a rumor that the Raiders' secret weapon that year was a motivational playlist that consisted entirely of disco hits. I mean, who can resist winning when "Stayin' Alive" is pumping through the locker room speakers?
And then there were the Miami Dolphins. Bless their hearts, they were the yin to the Raiders' yang that season. They went 6-8, which, let's face it, sounds like a mild success story after what we discussed earlier.
But let's not forget, Miami had a little trick up their sleeve: the iconic "No-Name Defense." It's like they were saying, "Hey, we may not have a catchy nickname, but good luck trying to score on us!" They were like the faceless superheroes of the NFL, quietly getting the job done.
Now, imagine a showdown between the Raiders and the Dolphins. The Raiders, all swagger and attitude, strutting onto the field, and the Dolphins, quiet and focused, ready to prove that you don't need a flashy nickname to kick some serious football behind.
It's like watching a showdown between James Bond and Sherlock Holmes. One's got the gadgets and the charm, the other's got the smarts and the razor-sharp focus. And the winner? Well, that day, it was the Raiders.
But hey, kudos to the Dolphins for showing us all that you don't need a gimmick to be a force to be reckoned with.
So, here's to the '76 season, where the Raiders rocked and the Dolphins quietly dominated. And to all the fans who witnessed it, I hope you were wearing your best polyester bell-bottoms. Cheers!
Sorry for the spoilers.
ReplyDeleteHold the phone in Bloomington, Minnesota!
ReplyDeleteWell, I figured it was over--I really don't know who wins this game--but Los Angeles came back after Tarkenton's touchdown bomb to get a Dempsey right-to-left field goal that barely skirted inside the uprights. That made it 10-3. Minnesota took over, got nothing on two runs and then was forced to punt after Tarkenton's third-down pass under rush duress ricocheted off the chest of sliding receiver Ahmad Rashad, recently acquired from the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams didn't get much going after taking over at their 14 and punted back to the Vikings. But then Minnesota runner Brent McClanahan, fighting for extra yardage, fumbled! Los Angeles safety Bill Simpson tied up McClanahan, and Rod Perry stripped him of the ball and returned to the Minnesota 11!
ReplyDeleteOn first down, Haden zips the ball to Harold Jackson near the pylon. Jackson secures the pass and tiptoes near and even on the goal line, it appears, but he's ruled down inside the Minnesota 1. With 2:39 to play, the Rams, trailing 10-3, have first-and-goal.
ReplyDeleteFirst down: Cappelletti springs to leap over the pile at the line of scrimmage, but Alan Page undercuts him for no gain.
Second down: Cappelletti this time keeps his feet on the ground and goes off tackle left but is met with a jolt by three Minnesota linebackers--in order, Wally Hilgenburg, Jeff Siemon and Matt Blair. No gain!
And that's the two-minute warning!
Third down: This time, the Rams coaches send in a run for Jim Bertelsen. He leaps toward the right side of his line. Siemen and Hilgenburg meet him in mid-air, and Bertelsen is not in--but then he rolls across the line and in as Los Angeles tight end Bob Klein shoves Blair out of the play. (Earlier in the broadcast, either Pat or Tom had suggested that Klein might be pro football's best blocking tight end.) Dempsey comes on, and, again, his straight-on kick angles right to left and barely slices inside the goal post. It's 10-10 with 1:55 to play!
ReplyDeleteBrookshire: "Dempsey knew he had to make that one. Otherwise, there's no plane back to Los Angeles."
Summerall: "Not for him."
They were a great broadcasting team.
DeleteNext Saturday on CBS Sports Spectacular:
ReplyDelete— Ali/Norton interview
— Mount Everest expedition
— International Superbike Championship
— The Beldame
— Italian Grand Prix
Tarkenton comes out firing:
ReplyDelete— Complete to sliding White to the Minnesota 46
— Complete to formerly fumbling McClanahan, who runs to the Los Angeles 33
Foreman runs for five, but then Tarkenton misses high his second-down receiver at the sideline and behind his third-down guy over the middle. Here comes Cox for a 45-yard try from muddy, cut-up natural grass.
ReplyDeleteWe're getting pretty late in NFL history for a matchup of two straight-on kickers.
Way short. Still 10-10 with 57 seconds to play ...
McCutcheon has no gain over right tackle. Los Angeles is letting the clock run. CBS flashes over to Bud Grant (who towers over Tarkenton), but he, too, appears content to go to overtime. Cappelletti picks up seven or eight, and this time Grant does call timeout--with 12 seconds to play.
ReplyDeleteBertelsen runs for the first down, and now Los Angeles calls timeout. The Rams have the ball at the 44, and now Brookshire and Summerall are recalling that Dempsey holds the NFL record for long field goal, at 63 yards. Eight seconds to play ...
ReplyDeleteBeamon intercepts Haden's "Hail Mary" (though neither Pat nor Tom use Roger Staubach's label), and the regulation clock expires as he returns to midfield or so. Overtime!
ReplyDeleteMerlin Olsen and Tom Mack from Los Angeles and Jim Marshall and Mick Tingelhoff come out for the coin toss--from the same sideline. (I had forgotten that both teams used the same sideline in Metropolitan Stadium.) Minnesota wins the toss.
ReplyDeleteLOS ANGELES 10
ReplyDeleteMINNESOTA 10
SUDDEN DEATH
Tom: "I told you it was going to be sudden death."
ReplyDeletePat: "Yeah, you did."
White receives Dempsey's kickoff at his 10 and returns to the 45 before Cullen Bryant comes up with a touchdown-saving touchdown for the Rams.
ReplyDeleteTarkenton goes deep over the middle, and the ball is on target for in-stride White at the Los Angeles 10--but Ram Monte Jackson accelerates and leaps to intercept over Jackson! The Rams take over.
ReplyDeleteAfter a couple of short runs, Haden finds Cappelletti out of the backfield for a third-down completion and run to the Los Angeles 28 ...
ReplyDeleteHaden is on target for Jessie on a crossing pattern, and the Rams' big offseason free-agent pickup from Detroit runs out of bounds just beyond the 50 ...
ReplyDeleteMcCutcheon takes the handoff outside and rips through the Minnesota defense for almost 20 yards ...
ReplyDeleteMcCutcheon again ... gain of 2 or 3 ...
ReplyDeleteMcCutcheon again ... to the Minnesota 25 ...
ReplyDeletePat: "They're definitely within the range of Tom Dempsey now."
McCutcheon slices between guard and tackle on the left side and picks up the first down ...
ReplyDeleteCappelletti ... maybe 1 ...
ReplyDeleteMcCutcheon outside left ... appears he's going to break it, but Jeff Wright is there for a saving touchdown ...
ReplyDeleteThird down from the Minnesota 17 ... Cappelletti slips, recovers to get inside the 15 ... and here comes Dempsey ...
ReplyDeleteBLOCKED!
ReplyDeleteAnother new Viking--Nate Allen, a trade acquisition from San Francisco a couple of weeks ago--races in from the outside to thwart Dempsey's try.
ReplyDeleteAnd so it's Minnesota's turn again ... amazing game ...
ReplyDeleteChuck Foreman is renown for two things: slashing, cutting runs and slipping into space for an outlet reception from scrambling Fran Tarkenton. On second down, he's slashing and cutting through the Los Angeles defense, and he's about to reach full gallop when he's taken down in the muck in the middle of the Metropolitan Stadium field. On third, he gets himself free in the right flats and Tarkenton finds him for a first down.
ReplyDelete6:35 to go in overtime ... Minnesota first down at its 36 ...
ReplyDeleteHooray for football!
The Vikings struggle to get anything going, but, on third-and-14, Minnesota's offensive line shoves all of Los Angeles's blitzers to the outside, opening a gully Tarkenton to escape into the Ram secondary. He surrenders just past midfield, and Metropolitan Stadium cheers the new set of downs for the home team.
ReplyDeleteThese two defenses are awesome.
ReplyDeleteAs long as they don't have to play in the Super Bowl.
DeleteYes.
DeleteN.Y. JETS 3
ReplyDeleteDENVER 46
F
Again, the Vikings face third-and-long, and, again, the Minnesota line does a terrific job holding off the Ram rush. But, this time, Tarkenton cannot find a way free out of the pocket. Larry Brooks, Jack Youngblood and a couple of their friends eventually snuff the play.
ReplyDelete2:55 to go in overtime ... Los Angeles first down at its 20 ...
ReplyDeleteNothing doing.
ReplyDelete1:53 to go in overtime ... Minnesota first down at its 35 ...
ReplyDeleteMcClanahan on first down spurts through the line for 10, and Tarkenton on the new first down throws 24 yards to his tight end, Stu Voight. The Vikings have advanced to the Los Angeles 31, and Fred Cox might get his own chance to end it, after all ...
ReplyDeletePat: "The amazing Stu Voight!"
ReplyDeleteTom: "Well, you're never going collect his gum card, and he's never going to be in the Hall of Fame. But I'll tell you one thing--he's always around, particularly in the tighter games."
Well, I'll tell you one thing, Tom--you're not totally correct here. But I can roll with your broader point, and I do believe I'm going to start calling them "gum cards."
DeleteThe Vikings have called timeout, and now the crowd is doing some kind of rapid-fire chant. I think they're saying, "Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! ..." But I can't quite make it out.
ReplyDeletePat calls Tarkenton, "Frances."
ReplyDeleteFrances hits Ahmad Rashad (whom Tom earlier in this game noted formerly was known as "Bobby Moore") on the sidelines at the 23.
ReplyDeleteFrances Asbury goes over the middle again, and he's very nearly intercepted again. Ram middle linebacker Jack Reynolds cannot make the grab.
ReplyDeleteIn his career, Tarkenton had 342 touchdown passes and 266 interceptions. Peyton Manning had 539 touchdown passes and 251 interceptions.
DeleteThird-and-2, 1:16 ... Tarkenton rolling out ... complete Foreman, to the Los Angeles 11 ... out of bounds ...
ReplyDeleteTarkenton throws toward the corner of the end zone ... Rick Kay leaps ... INTERCEPTS! ... wow.
ReplyDeleteThat's honestly unbelievable. I'm amazed, when I watch football games from this era, how many more chances they took with the ball than teams do now. Under these circumstances, they should have stopped throwing passes once they got to the 23 -- even with a straight-on kicker.
DeleteI wonder how much this chance-taking was driven by quarterbacks' calling their own plays.
DeleteI don't know. In 1962, Vince Lombardi worked on a book called Run to Daylight! and the book tells the story of a game between the 1962 Packers and the 1962 Lions. The Packers only win by 9-7, in large part because the Packers try two -- two! -- halfback option passes deep in Lions territory, and both passes are interceptions. That play-calling just strikes me as nuts, but Lombardi defends it in the book -- says he loves the halfback option. Finally, the Lions are up 7-3 with less than two minutes to go at midfield, and just need to run as much time as possible and then punt, but instead they throw an interception that sets up a game-winning field goal for the Packers.
DeleteSorry, the Lions were up 7-6 when they threw that interception.
DeleteYeah, that's a good point.
Delete1:04 to play, and we have one more interesting goal-line situation to see. This time, it's the Rams taking over at their own 1 ...
ReplyDeleteFirst down: Haden keeper, no gain.
ReplyDeleteRams letting the clock run ... Vikings have one more timeout ... 32 seconds ...
ReplyDeleteSecond down: Haden keeper, no gain.
19 seconds ... Minnesota timeout ...
ReplyDeleteThird down: Haden keeper, no gain. That's it!
ReplyDeleteLOS ANGELES 10
MINNESOTA 10
F
Tarkenton is now 7-0-2 against the Rams in Metropolitan Stadium; Haden moves to 0-0-1 against the Vikings anywhere.