Interesting things about the NFL that you never knew...

**cdcox** · 10-25-2005, 12:10 AM

I'm reading this very cool book, America's Game by Michael McCambridge. It basically chronicals the on-and-off-field history of the NFL from post WWII to the present.

I'm going to post a tidbit per day. If you end up deciding to read the book, stop reading this thread, cause it will take away a good bit of the fun. I'm not going to cover the real innovations and trends, just the trivia:

Factoid #1: During the early '40s officials wore color coded shirts:
referees: black and white
umpires: red and white
linesman: orange and white
field judge: green and white

**Rain Man** · 10-25-2005, 12:29 AM

Cool. This ought to be good.

Abba-Dabba · 10-25-2005, 12:30 AM

I never knew that.

Hammock Parties · 10-25-2005, 12:32 AM

A good read? 552 pages is certainly attractive.

**cdcox** · 10-25-2005, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gochiefs

A good read? 552 pages is certainly attractive.

If you like reading about the history of sports it's compelling.

Page count = 449
+ epilogue
+ afterword
+ acknowledgements
+source notes
+bibliographic essay
+ index
= 558 pages.

Hammock Parties · 10-25-2005, 12:53 AM

I'll give it a try. Found it on Ebay for 9 bucks.

Boise_Chief · 10-25-2005, 02:14 AM

Skip remembers when the refs wore fur and bronco fans threw bones.

Buster's Dad · 10-25-2005, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boise_Chief

Skip remembers when the refs wore fur and bronco fans threw bones.

No sirre bob, the dinosaurers had not started to dump thier turds in the mountains,hence no bronco fans.but the furs were color coded. I answered for Skip cause Iam older and wiser

stevieray · 10-25-2005, 07:45 AM

linesman wore ORANGE?

well there you go.

**cdcox** · 10-26-2005, 07:10 AM

Tidbit #2 in honor of the late Wellington Mara:

In the mid-50's Vince Lombardi was the OC (before the title existed) for the Giants (Tom Landry was the DC). Wellington Mara, son of owner Tim Mara, would sit in the press box taking Polaroids of the defensive alignments during a game. He would lower them to the field by a string tied to a rock-weighted sock with the Polaroids inside.

**Skip Towne** · 10-26-2005, 07:14 AM

I remember when penalty flags were red.

**Saulbadguy** · 10-26-2005, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieray

linesman wore ORANGE?

well there you go.

**Skip Towne** · 10-26-2005, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster's Dad

No sirre bob, the dinosaurers had not started to dump thier turds in the mountains,hence no bronco fans.but the furs were color coded. I answered for Skip cause Iam older and wiser

You're reeruneder.

Braincase · 10-26-2005, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdcox

Factoid #1: During the early '40s officials wore color coded shirts:
referees: black and white
umpires: red and white
linesman: orange and white
field judge: green and white

Pixie Stix!

journeyscarab · 10-26-2005, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdcox

Tidbit #2 in honor of the late Wellington Mara:

In the mid-50's Vince Lombardi was the OC (before the title existed) for the Giants (Tom Landry was the DC). Wellington Mara, son of owner Tim Mara, would sit in the press box taking Polaroids of the defensive alignments during a game. He would lower them to the field by a string tied to a rock-weighted sock with the Polaroids inside.

Interesting. Keep 'em coming.

10-25-2005, 12:10 AM
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $2181769	Interesting things about the NFL that you never knew... I'm reading this very cool book, America's Game by Michael McCambridge. It basically chronicals the on-and-off-field history of the NFL from post WWII to the present. I'm going to post a tidbit per day. If you end up deciding to read the book, stop reading this thread, cause it will take away a good bit of the fun. I'm not going to cover the real innovations and trends, just the trivia: Factoid #1: During the early '40s officials wore color coded shirts: referees: black and white umpires: red and white linesman: orange and white field judge: green and white
Posts: 45,543

10-25-2005, 12:29 AM	#2
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3018491 VARSITY	Cool. This ought to be good. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,672

10-25-2005, 12:30 AM	#3
Abba-Dabba MVP Join Date: May 2001 Casino cash: $4502970	I never knew that.
Posts: 18,146

10-25-2005, 12:32 AM	#4
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4410478	A good read? 552 pages is certainly attractive. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 278,739

10-25-2005, 12:53 AM	#6
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4410478	I'll give it a try. Found it on Ebay for 9 bucks. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 278,739

10-25-2005, 02:14 AM	#7
Boise_Chief The Lurkiest Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Boise,ID Casino cash: $2314188	Skip remembers when the refs wore fur and bronco fans threw bones.
Posts: 1,928

10-25-2005, 07:45 AM	#9
stevieray best in the biz Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Under Pressure Casino cash: $2285273	linesman wore ORANGE? well there you go.
Posts: 71,369

10-26-2005, 07:10 AM	#10
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $2181769	Tidbit #2 in honor of the late Wellington Mara: In the mid-50's Vince Lombardi was the OC (before the title existed) for the Giants (Tom Landry was the DC). Wellington Mara, son of owner Tim Mara, would sit in the press box taking Polaroids of the defensive alignments during a game. He would lower them to the field by a string tied to a rock-weighted sock with the Polaroids inside.
Posts: 45,543

10-26-2005, 07:14 AM	#11
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	I remember when penalty flags were red.
Posts: 69,689