Football Al Davis: Prick and Producer

vailpass · 07-01-2016, 06:35 PM

From a Bronco source but interesting for Chiefs fans as well...

2016-06-29 1:22 PM | Jim Saccomano

The Denver Broncos are about to go into training camp as winners of Super Bowl 50, with all the legitimate bells and whistles that accompany this fantastic accomplishment.

But 50 years ago this month, as camp was also approaching, Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders was very busy saving the Broncos' future in pro football, and one of his most trusted lieutenants in the fight was one of my dearest friends, Joanne Parker.

Joanne and I had lunch Tuesday, along with several other individuals who collectively represent about 350 years in football, and Al Davis and the summer of 1966 were among the topics of discussion. Joanne came to the Broncos in 1967 and was a vital front office cog until 1977 and we have remained close for five decades.

But she began her career as a secretary for the Boston Patriots in 1960, the first year of the American Football League, and both Miller (then more commonly known to the public as Bob Miller) and Collier were on that same Boston staff.

Joanne was in Boston through 1964 then decided to head to San Francisco to live. She had already known Davis, and after a year in business she became his private secretary with the Oakland Raiders.

In the 1960's the financial battle for players was putting a tremendous strain on teams in both the National and American Football Leagues, and the small market teams (of which Denver was certainly one) were especially vulnerable.

Al Davis was named the commissioner of the AFL and he dispatched Parker to New York to "get us some office space." Of course, the AFL already had offices, but not quite to Davis's liking.

Joanne headed east with a short checklist--it had to be the top floor of a big building, for privacy and security reasons, and his office had to be in a corner farthest away from the most common space, the reception area.

She got with a local realtor and found a property within one day, on Madison Avenue right down the street from the New York Jets' offices. There was no internet communication then, but Joanne called Al, described the offices, and he told her to sign the contract. So she set up the offices and Davis embarked on his plan against the NFL, setting out to sign their top players and assigning them to AFL teams.

He had made arrangements with quarterbacks John Brodie of the 49ers and Roman Gabriel of the Rams and with tight end Mike Ditka of the Bears, all in short order. But while the AFL owners had empowered the 36-year old Davis to fight a war on their behalf, calm ownership voices like Lamar Hunt of Kansas City, Tex Schramm of Dallas and George Halas of Chicago were quietly working behind the scenes to forge a peace.

The merger was announced in June 1966, and the Broncos and most other AFL teams had futures that for the first time were guaranteed. Denver was set to play the 1966 season in Bears Stadium, one of the most primitive venues in pro football, but the city had its chance to have a viable pro football future, in great part to Davis and his aggressive secretary.

Davis usually was agitated about something, and despite the merger, he felt that Hunt had betrayed him by working on a behind-the-scenes settlement of the war, and when it was announced that Pete Rozelle would be commissioner of the pro football league rather than Davis, Al returned to the Raiders and his future acrimony with the Chiefs and the NFL offices have been well documented.

Sometimes the peace is not all that peaceful, but it is still imperative to get that peace, and certainly the Broncos, among others, could not have survived without the merger.

InChiefsHeaven · 07-01-2016, 07:42 PM

You had me at prick...

vailpass · 07-01-2016, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

You had me at prick...

Buy you a drink?
Even a bronco hater has to love the story of Elway trying to head hunt Al with a sideline throw.

InChiefsHeaven · 07-01-2016, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Buy you a drink?
Even a bronco hater has to love the story of Elway trying to head hunt Al with a sideline throw.

Bourbon my friend. And yeah, that was epic.

Always hated Elway, but only because he was ****ing great. Horse faced bastard...

vailpass · 07-01-2016, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

Bourbon my friend. And yeah, that was epic.

Always hated Elway, but only because he was ****ing great. Horse faced bastard...

It's a Makers Mark night here. Nothing fancy but happy to share.
And **** Al Davis.

InChiefsHeaven · 07-01-2016, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

It's a Makers Mark night here. Nothing fancy but happy to share.
And **** Al Davis.

Just settled into a little Knob Creek myself. Cheers!

big nasty kcnut · 07-01-2016, 07:48 PM

Al Davis is was and always will be a prick. Lamar was the brains of the AFL.

**Rain Man** · 07-01-2016, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

From a Bronco source but interesting for Chiefs fans as well...

2016-06-29 1:22 PM | Jim Saccomano

But 50 years ago this month, as camp was also approaching, Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders was very busy saving the Broncos' future in pro football...

As if I needed another reason to despise Al Davis.

**HemiEd** · 07-02-2016, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

As if I needed another reason to despise Al Davis.

Beat me to it, once again

**Rain Man** · 07-01-2016, 08:58 PM

Actually, in reading that article, it seems like Lamar Hunt was saving the Broncos and the AFL, not Al Davis. Am I missing something? The article says that it was the merger that saved the Broncos, not Al Davis choosing to fight against a more established foe.

Rasputin · 07-01-2016, 09:32 PM

Al Davis: Dead and Buried

GloucesterChief · 07-02-2016, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Actually, in reading that article, it seems like Lamar Hunt was saving the Broncos and the AFL, not Al Davis. Am I missing something? The article says that it was the merger that saved the Broncos, not Al Davis choosing to fight against a more established foe.

Good Cop, Bad Cop I surmise. Lamar as the reasonable one and Davis as the attack dog.

Kman34 · 07-02-2016, 11:13 AM

I believe this photo was taken of Al in the late 90s....

Sweet Daddy Hate · 07-02-2016, 10:08 AM

Now wait a ****ing minute.

The league sends Davis out to "wage war", but works behind his back to strike a deal and merge?

Who's the ****ing bad guy again?

milkman · 07-02-2016, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagnabit

Now wait a ****ing minute.

The league sends Davis out to "wage war", but works behind his back to strike a deal and merge?

Who's the ****ing bad guy again?

The "bad guy" in this are the owners who put Davis into position, then agreed to the merger.

07-01-2016, 06:35 PM	Topic Starter
vailpass Psycho Bag Of Squanch Join Date: Sep 2001 Casino cash: $9594244	Al Davis: Prick and Producer From a Bronco source but interesting for Chiefs fans as well... 2016-06-29 1:22 PM \| Jim Saccomano The Denver Broncos are about to go into training camp as winners of Super Bowl 50, with all the legitimate bells and whistles that accompany this fantastic accomplishment. But 50 years ago this month, as camp was also approaching, Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders was very busy saving the Broncos' future in pro football, and one of his most trusted lieutenants in the fight was one of my dearest friends, Joanne Parker. Joanne and I had lunch Tuesday, along with several other individuals who collectively represent about 350 years in football, and Al Davis and the summer of 1966 were among the topics of discussion. Joanne came to the Broncos in 1967 and was a vital front office cog until 1977 and we have remained close for five decades. But she began her career as a secretary for the Boston Patriots in 1960, the first year of the American Football League, and both Miller (then more commonly known to the public as Bob Miller) and Collier were on that same Boston staff. Joanne was in Boston through 1964 then decided to head to San Francisco to live. She had already known Davis, and after a year in business she became his private secretary with the Oakland Raiders. In the 1960's the financial battle for players was putting a tremendous strain on teams in both the National and American Football Leagues, and the small market teams (of which Denver was certainly one) were especially vulnerable. Al Davis was named the commissioner of the AFL and he dispatched Parker to New York to "get us some office space." Of course, the AFL already had offices, but not quite to Davis's liking. Joanne headed east with a short checklist--it had to be the top floor of a big building, for privacy and security reasons, and his office had to be in a corner farthest away from the most common space, the reception area. She got with a local realtor and found a property within one day, on Madison Avenue right down the street from the New York Jets' offices. There was no internet communication then, but Joanne called Al, described the offices, and he told her to sign the contract. So she set up the offices and Davis embarked on his plan against the NFL, setting out to sign their top players and assigning them to AFL teams. He had made arrangements with quarterbacks John Brodie of the 49ers and Roman Gabriel of the Rams and with tight end Mike Ditka of the Bears, all in short order. But while the AFL owners had empowered the 36-year old Davis to fight a war on their behalf, calm ownership voices like Lamar Hunt of Kansas City, Tex Schramm of Dallas and George Halas of Chicago were quietly working behind the scenes to forge a peace. The merger was announced in June 1966, and the Broncos and most other AFL teams had futures that for the first time were guaranteed. Denver was set to play the 1966 season in Bears Stadium, one of the most primitive venues in pro football, but the city had its chance to have a viable pro football future, in great part to Davis and his aggressive secretary. Davis usually was agitated about something, and despite the merger, he felt that Hunt had betrayed him by working on a behind-the-scenes settlement of the war, and when it was announced that Pete Rozelle would be commissioner of the pro football league rather than Davis, Al returned to the Raiders and his future acrimony with the Chiefs and the NFL offices have been well documented. Sometimes the peace is not all that peaceful, but it is still imperative to get that peace, and certainly the Broncos, among others, could not have survived without the merger.
Posts: 69,591

07-01-2016, 07:42 PM	#2
InChiefsHeaven Rockin' yer FACE OFF! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Casino cash: $675437	You had me at prick... __________________ We have a million reasons for failure, but not one excuse... Die Donks, DIE!! Holy Crap fellas!!! We did it!!! THREE TIMES!!!
Posts: 27,236

07-01-2016, 07:48 PM	#7
big nasty kcnut The pizza king of kansas Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in the u.s.a. Casino cash: $-2129100	Al Davis is was and always will be a prick. Lamar was the brains of the AFL. __________________ When it's grim, be the grim reaper and go get it. Adopt a chiefs Travis Kelce. You woke up the wrong mother****er!
Posts: 19,384

07-01-2016, 08:58 PM	#10
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-582449 VARSITY	Actually, in reading that article, it seems like Lamar Hunt was saving the Broncos and the AFL, not Al Davis. Am I missing something? The article says that it was the merger that saved the Broncos, not Al Davis choosing to fight against a more established foe. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,378

07-01-2016, 09:32 PM	#11
Rasputin Tip of the hat LIV Champs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ks Casino cash: $135421	Al Davis: Dead and Buried __________________ "Those who don't believe in magic will never find it"
Posts: 56,917

07-02-2016, 11:13 AM	#13
Kman34 My Mamma Says Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Glass Cage Of Emotion Casino cash: $-1838214 VARSITY	I believe this photo was taken of Al in the late 90s....
Posts: 15,134

07-02-2016, 10:08 AM	#14
Sweet Daddy Hate Unsparing Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	Now wait a **ing minute. The league sends Davis out to "wage war", but works behind his back to strike a deal and merge? Who's the **ing bad guy again?
Posts: 77,135