Was scanning through the NFL games for today when it hit me.?ÿ The entire league has changed so much since the days when the NFL first became important to me.?ÿ You know, back when you secretly thought you might grow up to be a football star.?ÿ That was a time when:
The following didn't even exist:?ÿ Bengals, Titans, Buccaneers, Saints, Ravens, Jaguars, Falcons, Panthers, Texans and Seahawks.?ÿ But, there had been the Dallas Texans for a bit before they moved to Kansas City and became the Chiefs.
The Cardinals were in St. Louis.?ÿ The Patriots were specifically from Boston.?ÿ The Raiders viewed Oakland as their permanent home and had no thoughts of L.A. and Vegas. The Houston Oilers existed.?ÿ The Browns had not died and then been reincarnated.?ÿ The Colts were in Baltimore.?ÿ The Rams viewed L.A. as their permanent home and had never dreamed of going to St. Louis.?ÿ There were no football games played in New Jersey.
And guys named Dick Butkus were putting people in the hospital...
Oops!?ÿ Overlooked the Chargers silly move to L.A.?ÿ To me, the Raiders belong in Oakland and the Chargers belong in San Diego.?ÿ Just like the Colts should be in Baltimore and the Cardinals (like their brothers on the baseball field) should be in St. Louis.
..you forgot to mention the oldest pro-football organization..that BTW has never moved from the 'frozen tundra' in Green Bay.
I believe it is wonderful how Green Bay and Buffalo have each been able to support a NFL team over the years.?ÿ Most team owners think they need to move to the more affluent and highly-populated cities to maximize their return on investment.
I once had an insurance agent who had played in the NFL many years ago.?ÿ He told a story of a young man applying for a job somewhere and being told that he would probably be based out of Green Bay for at least the first two years with the company if hired.?ÿ The young man was appalled at the thought and popped off with, "Green Bay??ÿ Green Bay??ÿ The only good things in Green Bay are the whores and the football players!"?ÿ The future employer responded with, "I'll have you know my wife is from Green Bay."?ÿ The foolish young man, realizing the error of his ways said, "What position did she play?"
It wasn't that long ago the stadium at Lambeau held more folks than the population of Green Bay.?ÿ The city has grown now to a little over 110K and the stadium only seats about 81K.
BTW, I don't really remember the Cardinals when they were in Chicago.?ÿ Just in case some older geezer comes along.
That's a bit like the baseball Athletics.?ÿ Most only think of Oakland.?ÿ I remember them in KC.?ÿ Philadelphia was before my memory.
I wonder if Chicago has the best record for team retention.?ÿ Between the Cubs, White Sox and Bears, I don't think any of them have ever moved to or from the city.
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The Cardinals left Chicago in 1960, the year I was born in the Chicago area.?ÿ ?ÿI wasn't aware that happened until?ÿ I was an adult.
The Kansas City Athletics were owned by Charlie Finley, who lived in the town I was born and lived in until I was 9- LaPorte, Indiana. So the whole A's to Oakland thing was local news at the time. Now that I live in Portland 50 years later the A's are much talked about locally as a potential suitor. If their latest attempt to build a new stadium in Oakland falls through there is a group in PDX itching to build them one here.?ÿ?ÿ
Passed through LaPorte several times between 1975 and 1979.?ÿ Close to Berrien County, Michigan where I was working.
a group in PDX itching to build them one here.?ÿ
Mark - if you haven't seen it, the documentary "The Battered Bastards of Baseball" is an extremely entertaining story about the early 1970s semi pro Portland Mavericks.
It's on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/70299904
The Cardinals left Chicago in 1960, the year I was born in the Chicago area.?ÿ ?ÿI wasn't aware that happened until?ÿ I was an adult.
The Kansas City Athletics were owned by Charlie Finley, who lived in the town I was born and lived in until I was 9- LaPorte, Indiana. So the whole A's to Oakland thing was local news at the time. Now that I live in Portland 50 years later the A's are much talked about locally as a potential suitor. If their latest attempt to build a new stadium in Oakland falls through there is a group in PDX itching to build them one here.?ÿ?ÿ
You do know the Portland Diamond Project has a little store in downtown Portland, right? You can buy T-shirts, and other misc. promotional items there.
If we get a team, Wendell said he's defecting from my Cardinals!! ?????ÿ
We'll probably invest into season tickets. It will be fun to be able to go to games so close! ?????ÿ
Based on your typical weather, would they become the Portland Mud Hens??ÿ I realize Toledo already has such a team name, though.
They were once the Philadelphia Athletics. The Portland Athletics will work just fine, thank you very much. I'm sure that any stadium built will have a roof.?ÿ In any case Seattle has more rain than Portland and they play with their roof closed only a few times a year.?ÿ Football season would be different.
