Gridiron America USFL Radio: Recent Episodes
Gridiron America
A podcast devoted to the history of the original United States Football League. Here you will find documentaries and game replays in the public domain. In addition, this podcast will devote air time to the new league as it seeks to reclaim the mantle of its predecessor and succeed where other spring leagues have failed.
From the 55 Yardline is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Our Greg St. James is also the host of the Gridiron Japan podcast, and sits down with his cohost, John Gunning, of Inside Sport Japan, to chat with quarterback Aaron Ellis, of Japan's X-League's Dentsu Caterpillars, to talk about his experiences in playing in Japan, Europe, and Mexico. He compares the X-League with the European League of Football and Mexico's Liga-de Fútbol Americano, where has played, and in doing so holds the distinction of being the only professional football player to have played in all three major international leagues outside of Canada and the United States.
Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and soon over on Twitch!
FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yard Line is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Greg, now back from America and settled back in over in Japan, dusts off the controls in the studio, and gathers the crew to talk about what has been happening in the WNBA, NWSL, CFL and the other leagues, including the UFL, since last they got together in May.
We are in need of an additional 24 followers for our Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/Fromthe55 so that we can go live on our page. The new Facebook rules require 100 subscribers and followers for pages to be able to stream content live, and we are 24 clicks short.
FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yardline is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Greg and Dave are joined by Don and Heath of the Third Down Gamble podcast for the second year in a row to preview, here in the third week of the preseason, the upcoming CFL season. We start in the far east with defending Grey Cup champion Montreal and move our way west, team by team, and end with this year's Grey Cup host, the British Columbia Lions. The Third Down Gamble is going on five years and truly is "audio worth watching!"
FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yardline is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Fran, Dave and Greg are back to discuss the impending failure that is the new version of the Arena Football League, as it struggles with franchise losses in just its first week. They then discuss the United Football League, which is seemingly holding its own in the face of low expectations. For more online about the UFL, checkout Fran's column's on the league over at OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes a weekly column about the league, as well as other minor league sports. They guys also discuss both the recently completed NFL and CFL drafts, as well as the news from Roger Goodell that the Super Bowl will soon be more of a national holiday than what it already is in America.
FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yardline is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
With Fran on assignment and covering the UFL for OurSportsCentral.com, Dave fills in Greg on what he is missing with the league and puts to rest his doubts about the viability of the league, at least for the short-term. They also reminisce about the time when OJ was a killer on the field, and when he was a suspect off of it. Finally, they talk about the Shohei Otani gambling scandal in which Greg injects his "expert" opinion on the outcome of the federal case involving the star's interpreter.
FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yardline is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Fran is MIA, as Dave and Greg (whose new microphone is trash and being returned soon to Amazon) tackle baseball and the Shohei Otani gambling scandal, with zero apologies to Pete Rose, that is currently rocking America and Japan. Of course Greg is able to cram in a mention of the movie "Mr. Baseball." They also talk some minor league ball, and ponder what we might see for the upcoming United Football League season.
FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yardline is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
On the 3rd week of the LFA regular season, what was to be a Gridiron Mexico episode was immediately changed as a result of the breaking news of Justin Fields being traded from Greg's sweet home of Chicago to Pittsburgh. Dave and Greg talk about the trade, as well as the stadium issues faced by Chicago's south side teams. They also talk about the state of the CFL, particularly the Elks ownership issues, and their observations about the LFA as it enters in to its third week of the spring football season.
FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yard Line is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Since the end of the NFL season there has been a lot going on outside of the gridiron bubble, and our regular contributor Fran Stuchbury covers it all over at Our Sports Central with his weekly column. With Dave unavailable, Fran reviews the happenings in the other leagues as the two talk about what is happening in the world of minor league sports.
FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yardline is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. The video livestream for this episode and past can be found on both the show's YouTube and Facebook pages
EPISODE SUMMARY
With approximately three months to go before the kick off of the Canadian Football League season, Greg and Dave sit back down with Howie Mooney in the second "test" livestream and talk CFL free agency. In addition to free agency the also talk some CFL history and even squeeze in some Montreal Expos memories.
Howie Mooney, co-host of the Sports Lunatics Show, is the author of numerous books, including "Third & Long: the Proud History of Football in Ottawa", "Crazy Days & Wild Nights". and "More Crazy Days & Wild Nights".
FROM THE 55 YARDLINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yardline is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Howie Mooney from the Sports Lunatics Show returns to the 55 Yardline to chat with Dave and Greg about his latest book, "More Crazy Days and Wild Nights" in which he again regals readers with more outlandish and detailed detailed stories of wild events that took place over the last fifty years! The guys also get back to the roots of the show and talk Canadian football. With more Canadian football talk and perspective promised for the months ahead on the show, as he recovers from surgery.
FROM THE 55 YARDLINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yardline is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
On Super Bowl eve, Dave and Fran, along with OurSportsCentral.com contributor Fran Stuchbury, talk a little bit about the upcoming game, with Greg pondering the question, "why do old white guys hate Taylor?" Fran then provides his summary of around the minor leagues, and talks about his recent trip to Atlanta to sample the minor league sports scene in the Peach state. Lastly, they talk about the Pro Football Hall of Fame selectees, particularly those who played on the Chicago Bears. specifically Mongo, and also address the direct messages from followers on Twitter, who may or may not be bots.
FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yard Line is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Greg and Dave spend a morning (Japan)/evening (America) with Pro Football Researchers Association member and World Football League historian Mark Speck. Mark is the foremost expert on the defunct league and has written four books and counting on the league and two of the league's more unique franchises, the Detroit Wheels and Florida Blazers. The conversation runs the gambit from a story of stolen player identity, the legend of King Corcoran, the fabled Hawaiians, and much more! You can find all of Mark's books for purchase on Amazon, and also connect with he and other WFL experts over at the WFL Project on Facebook, and the Florida Blazers page, also on Facebook.
Mark also previously appeared on the sports history podcast "Good Seats Still Available," with friend of the show Tim Hanlon, at Good Seats Still Available, the episode of which is a must listen!
FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yardline is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode, which is part two of the previous episode, Greg sits down with Zach Keilman of Pro Football Newsroom, the UFL Podcast, and the Inside the Walls Podcast, to talk about the upcoming year in spring professional football, both outdoor with the UFL and indoor with the relaunched Arena Football League. Zach and Greg also reminisce about how they came to launch the Gridiron Japan podcast.
FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yardline is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode, Greg. Dave, and Fran sit down and go around the world to talk about the latest sports news that has gone under the radar screens with hockey, women and men's soccer, rugby, Canadian football and more as reported at OurSportsCentral.com. Afterward, Greg sits down with Zach Keilman of Pro Football Newsroom, the UFL Podcast, and the Inside the Walls Podcast, to talk about the upcoming year in spring professional football, both outdoor with the UFL and indoor with the relaunched Arena Football League. Zach and Greg also reminisce about how they came to launch the Gridiron Japan podcast.
FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
From the 55 Yardline is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode, Greg and Fran cover down for Dave as he digs out of the snow near Buffalo, and react to the news of the day of the demise of Sports Illustrated and what the magazine meant to them growing up. They then dive into a discussion of the lack of responsible journalism within the ranks of the United Football League media, and why not just any blogger can considered a sports journalist. Fran then takes Greg around the minor leagues with OurSportsCentral.com and talks women soccer, rugby, and hockey. They then talk a little football movie talk and then reminisce about the World League of American Football and what lessons still need to be learned about growing the gridiron game internationally, including in Japan, where Greg cohosts the Gridiron Japan podcast.
FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND
From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves.
In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports.
The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com.
David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
In part one of the podcast (apologies in advance for the audio quality due to a bad undersea cable), Greg sits down with the legendary Upton Bell, former NFL executive with both the '60s era Baltimore Colts and '70s era New England Patriots, owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the WFL, Boston media personality, author, and scion of the famous Bell family, whose grandfather helped found the NCAA, and whose father, Bert Bell served as the commissioner of the NFL from 1946 through 1959. Commissioner Bell's influence on professional football is still felt today, from the NFL draft to the league's cultural dominance, and Upton is a living legacy who has crossed paths with nearly everyone in the world of professional football, including Vince Lombardi, Johnny Unitas, Don Shula and Howard Cosell (who Greg forgot to ask him about). Part two of the podcast begins around the 1:20 mark, in which Dave, Greg, and OurSports Central contributor, Fran Stuchbury, talk NFL playoffs, indoor football and women's hockey.
To learn more about Upton Bell's life and career, please read his book, check out his website, and explore his collections at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He can also be found on Twitter where he is very active and provides running commentaries on sports, politics and life.
On a Sunday night, John, BJ and Greg are joined by Rice Bowl and X-League champion, as well as the most famous American playing football in Japan, Al-Rilwan Adeyemi of the Fujitsu Frontiers. They discuss with him the key moments of the game that led to the Frontiers' big win and also talk about his recent NFL360 spotlight on the NFL Network. Lastly, they discuss with him the upcoming Dream Japan Bowl that is taking place in Tokyo on January 21, 2024.
To learn more about American football in Japan, please visit www.gridironjapan.jp
The real men of genius, Dave (who checks in toward the end of the show) and Greg sit down with sports journalist Fran Stuchbury, of OurSports Central, and discuss his wide ranging career covering alternative football and minor league sports. They discuss the UFL, XFL, in all its different versions, USFL, AAF and (after Dave's arrival), America's indoor football leagues. They also talk about the state of sports journalism in the 21st Century with the rise of countless fan "news" sites, social media and podcasting.
Real men of genius Dave and Greg talk football and earthquakes in this episode. Specifically, the talk about the upcoming matchup in the college football playoffs of Washington vs. Michigan and how much college bowl coverage has changed since they were kids. Greg talks about the Rice Bowl in Japan, in which the Fujitsu Frontiers defeated the Panasonic Impulse 16-10 at the Tokyo Dome. They also talk about beers and fandom, specifically the hypocrisy of those who boycott, but then imbibe. They also discuss the merger of the USFL and XFL and their hopes of the league's success, their current sports book reads, as well as the New Year's Day earthquake in Japan.
In the first part of the podcast John, BJ and Greg preview the upcoming matchup of Japan's championship game, which will be played on January 3rd, 2024 at the Tokyo Dome and feature a battle of two unbeaten teams, the Fujitsu Frontiers and Panasonic Impulse. During the second part the guys talk about the recent NFL360 episode, entitled "Ikigai", in which NFL Films puts a spotlight on the inspiring story of the Fujitsu Frontiers' Al-Rilwan Adeyemi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsO0SNgVe6w
Follow Gridiron Japan on all podcast platforms and at www.gridironjapan.jp
In their first episode together of the rebooted From the 55 Yard Line podcast, Greg and Dave pick up on their last on air conversation and follow-up on the previous episode about the future of spring football. They then discuss the Grey Cup and the subject of future expansion of the league. After which they talk about Dave's Bills and their chances in the upcoming NFL postseason, and also their favorite reads in football books. Additionally, on the anniversary of his death, they talk about John Madden and Greg tells Dave how Frank Caliendo once imitated the Coach surfing the web for porn.
With the "soft" reboot of the From the 55 Yard Line podcast, Greg introduces his new co-host, due to Scott's retirement, and explains how the show is shifting from one focused on Canadian football to one that encompasses the entire world of sports. He then sits down and discusses the topic of spring football with sports historian, Tim Hanlon of the Good Seats Still Available podcast, and XFL insider and Pro Football Newsroom contributor, Michael Lathrop of the Player 54 Podcast. The three talk about the past, present and future of the spring game, both outdoor and indoors, as the sports world awaits the announcement of what form the XFL and USFL merger will take.
In this episode, with BJ away at team practice, John and Greg sit down with Nojima Sagamihara Rise linebacker Colby Campbell to talk about his life and journey to Japan. From South Carolina to Finland to Germany and to Japan, Colby has had an interesting and varied journey during his young gridiron career! The three discuss not just his life on the field, but also his experiences off the field in Japan.Colby can be found online at his YouTube channel where he is presently publishing videos on his travels, as well as on X and Instagram.
From 2021, the Gridiron Japan podcast's inaugural episode with hosts Zach Keilman and Greg James on the lesser-known but still very competitive Japanese football scene! The two kick things off asking the question of what exactly the sport in Japan is like in terms of structure, culture, and more. They discuss all these points with Inside Sport Japan founder and content director John Gunning.
The Gridiron Japan podcast is now in its third season and features Greg, John, as well as retired Japanese professional football star BJ Beatty. You can find the Gridiron Japan podcast on podcast platforms everywhere, and follow them at www.gridironjapan.net, on X-Twitter @GridironJapan, Instagram @GridironJapan, as well as Facebook!
After a month away Greg and Dave return to give their honest assessments of how the league did as it heads toward the conclusion of what can be termed a mediocre debut for the first season. However, with the USFL in full swing, we hold out hope that Dany and Dwayne will learn from their unforced boardroom and off-field errors and improve what we both see as a great product on the field.
Dave and Greg are back after a week hiatus to compare and contrast how the league performed in the ratings between being broadcast on traditional over the air television and on cable/satellite. The guys also take the XFL media to task over their coverage of the league and continuing failure to ask the hard questions regarding the business of the XFL and how lip service seems to be paid to stories of the players as several print "news" outlets seem to want to instead continue to cater to the egos of the Rock and Dany. Lastly, Greg also acknowledges his error from the previous show regarding the number of people who are cutting the chord in America.
On a morning where the cherry blossoms were blooming and Scott was watching his UAB Blazers lose a heart breaker at the NIT, Greg sat down with Ken Crippen, founder and executive director of The Football Learning Academy, to discuss the mission of the FLA and his thoughts on how the game has changed over the decades. The online academy is the first educational institution devoted to the instruction on the history of the gridiron game, with proceeds benefiting retired players. Ken is also the former president of the Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA). He has been researching and writing about pro football history for over twenty years. In that time, he has published two books, including one about the original Buffalo Bills, and numerous articles. He has also won multiple writing awards, including the 2012 Professional Football Writers Association (PFWA) Dick Connor Writing Award for feature writing, and the 2011 Ralph Hay Award by the PFRA for lifetime achievement in pro football history.
On the day in which Japan won the world championship of baseball over America, Greg and Dave talk about the tanking ratings of the XFL and frustrations over the league's seemingly deaf tone towards their fans and continued making of unforced errors off the field, particularly as it relates to marketing and fan engagement. The guys sit down and dissect the numbers and debate whether streaming matters at all and if the move to antenna TV will stop the bleeding of viewers. After the recording stopped, Greg went back to the internet to educate himself on how antenna usage in America is soaring, thus their hope for a ratings increase is now buoyed by the possibility the old way in which the guys watched TV as kids might actually be what saves the XFL from ratings ruin in the short term. Old technology rules!!
In the annals of professional football, aside from the American Football League, only one other league has truly challenged the dominance of the NFL, and that was the United States Football League of the 1980s. Unlike other spring leagues, all of which are small potatoes comparatively, the USFL forever changed how we look at professional football and how we not only watch the game, but also view upstart leagues. Unlike the XFL, which is small bug on the windshield of the NFL's largess, the USFL crashed into it and cracked the shield in many places as numerous high-profile players and draft choices decided to play in the spring. As a result, NFL salaries rose as players quickly had leverage, which many used to their advantage. Numerous NFL/CFL hall of famers and players began their careers in the USFL, such as Steve Young, Jim Kelley and Doug Flutie, and it is for them and the countless others who played in the league that The USFL Project was created.
In this episode, Greg speaks with Kyle Smith, the Executive Director of The USFL Project, which is a long-term project documenting and preserving the history and story of the fabled United States Football League, so as to leave a foundation of knowledge for future generations. They talk about not just about the history of the league, but also many of the key personalities aside from the former president, who were instrumental in the founding, success, and ultimate demise of the league. An award-winning journalist,Kyle has spent many years in the entertainment industry as well as being both a host and guest on numerous radio shows and podcasts. In recent years, his attention has been focused on The USFL Project with him and his team growing the group to over 4,000 members of Facebook.The USFL Project can also be found on Twitter.
In a weekend where many expected the XFL to fall flat, and despite continuing to fall in the ratings, the league put on a great show in most of its venues, with the Battlehawks setting the all-time attendance record for spring football. Hold on. What a second... That's wrong, the first USFL set that record, back in the 1980s. However, despite The Rock's continued hyperbolic statements about the league, Battlehawks attendance, and lack of meaningful information coming out from the league, with the exception of spin, the XFL did not lose as many viewers on broadcast television than was expected with its continued issues with changing times and channels. However, dark clouds are on the horizon as the league enters week five and March madness begins.
On March 13, 1960, the city of Chicago lost its original NFL team, the now Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals were birthed on Chicago's southside and played most of their seasons at Comiskey Park; however, despite their being the city's original NFL team, they were not its flagship franchise, with that distinction going to their northside rivals, the Bears, who played their games at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. In this episode, Greg and noted Cardinal history researcher and author, Joe Ziemba, talk about the events and factors that led up to the team eventually moving to St. Louis. They also, for the first part, talk about Greg's life as a gridiron fan in the Land of the Rising Sun, after which they take a deep dive into the Cardinals Chicago history. Joe is the award-winning author of the books "When Football Was Football: The Chicago Cardinals and the Birth of the NFL," "Cadets, Cannons and Legends: The Football History of Morgan Park Military Academy," and "Bears vs. Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry."
Joe is a life-long resident of the south side of Chicago, Joe first became interested in the history of football after discovering that his father was a draft choice for the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League in the 1940s. He is now recognized nationally for his knowledge of the early days of the game and has been a resource for articles, photos, or reports in Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Arizona Republic, ESPN, the Daily Southtown, NBC Sunday Night Football, CBS Football, and many others. Joe has appeared on the WGN documentary “Football in Chicago,” a Comcast Sports special on the Chicago Bears, as well as on radio stations such as WBBM and WSCR in Chicago. He has spoken on the history of football throughout the country at schools, libraries, service clubs, and conferences, and shares the humor and challenges that football pioneers faced in the early days of the game. Joe is an instructor at the Football Learning Academy, and also the host of the podcast "When Football Was Football" on the Sports History Network which explores forgotten topics in the long history of football in the Chicago area. He can be reached at chicagocardinals1947@gmail.com or follow his Facebook page “Chicago Cardinals.”
At the dawn of the 21st Century, in the winter of 2001, a new gridiron football league appeared on the sports scene. The brainchild of wrestling promotor Vince McMahon and television executive Dick Ebersol, the XFL sought to become the premier weekly sporting event in America during the NFL off season. As most football fans, the original XFL fell short and, as the name of the title suggests, failed spectacularly on television and most importantly, in the ratings. During the season, Brett was there with the league every step of the way as a young freelance writer. His book, Long Bomb, is a compelling tale of hubris and the lessons the league soon learned as ratings fell and America tuned out of a television product few had been clamoring for outside of the cult of spring football.
Brett is currently a national security investigative reporter for TheWall Street Journal. He was formerly a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine, where he reported on sports and crime and was a member of the staff that won the National Magazine Award for general excellence. His last film was the ESPN/ABC true-crime documentary, Pin Kings, an Emmy finalist. He is the author of The Big Fix, an international crime bestseller in development as a feature film at Netflix, as well as Long Bomb. Brett’s international-affairs reporting has appeared in Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, National Geographic, The New York Times Magazine, Time, Foreign Policy, and Playboy. For a decade, he worked in Russia, Ukraine, and Brazil. He has reported from 50 countries, and his articles have been syndicated in more than 30 languages. His work has appeared in The Best American Science and Nature Writing.
You can find all of Brett's books on Amazon and at other major booksellers. Additionally, his writings are also available at this web site, www.brettforrest.com.
In addition to this podcast, Brett also appeared recently on the X Fan Show videocast.
For week three Dave and Greg look at the game both on and off the field as week three provided plenty of excitement as fan attendance increased, but ratings continued to nosedive. Also talked about is why San Antonio and not St. Louis was granted the XFL championship game and the unionization of the players, as well as the perceived move of desperation from FX to ABC.
The second episode of the season finds Greg James joined by former sports executive Dave Cieslinski for a candid look as to how the XFL performed in weeks one and two. Dave provides a perspective that you won't find on other XFL podcasts. He knows what it takes to put bottoms in the seats and to get fans interested so that they return. The two discuss ticket sales, attendance and ratings, and Dave explains why streaming numbers will likely remain a mystery to the public. They discuss not just the current incarnation of the XFL, but also the past attempts at spring gridiron, as well as the sloppy speculation by the XFL media hubs of the Toronto Argonauts moving to the XFL.
In the world of sports history podcasting, there is a curious little one that has carved out a niche covering the world of defunct leagues and teams from yesteryear. "Good Seats Still Available" has its roots in Tim Hanlon's youth, when he fell in love with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League, who unfortunately, like the league itself departed us to soon, and thus began for him an obsession for the stories of the teams and leagues of yesteryear. His pioneering podcast, which is soon approaching its 300th episode, has covered defunct leagues and teams from all sports, and Tim has interviewed many gridiron legends and icons, including Larry Csonka, Upton Bell, and Dave Meggyesy, all of whom helped shape the world of professional football in America. During this episode, Tim and Greg talk about his podcast and the challenges facing start up leagues in the 21st Century in the midst of a changing media and technological landscape.
For this third episode we move up to the Great White North as Greg sits down with Don and Heath of the Third Down Gamble podcast, where they go team by team through the Canadian Football League and review last year's performance and review all that has happened in the off season. The three also talk about the ownership struggles within the league and the challenges presently faced by the teams in an ever-changing media landscape.
Prior to the XFL kickoff in America, Greg James sat down with the elder half of The World of Football podcast dynamic duo, Randy Snow. Randy is the Adam West to his own son Adam's Burt Ward, both of whom who broadcast weekly from the Man Cave news and history lessons that encompass the gridiron game around the world, including where Greg is, in Japan. Greg and Randy review the news out of the CFL of the Alouettes being placed in receivership by the league, look ahead to the upcoming XFL and USFL seasons, and discuss the state of indoor arena football in America. In addition, Greg and Randy reminisce about their summer road trips to visit the resting places of American gridiron legends.
The World of Football on Spotify
The Adam Snow Movie Show
In the inaugural episode, Greg James adds his laid-back historical approach to the crowded XFL field. Unlike the other XFL shows, he does not mince words as to what he believes was an under performing week one. Specifically, he calls out the league for catering to the white male wrestling crowd and talks about how the marketing sucks. He also discusses what he believes were poor ratings when compared to the 2020 edition of the league and how the attendance numbers were nothing to brag about.
From Japan, it's Greg James of CFL America Radio and the Sports History Network with a new show filled with commentary and observations about the XFL, as well as analysis of league news, and those important items that affect the business of gridiron football.
Welcome to the first episode of "Gridiron America," where Japan based Greg James (co-host of the "From the 55 Yard Line" and "Gridiron Japan" podcasts) sits down with fellow podcasters and gridiron experts to talk about the game outside of the lines. In this inaugural episode ("the beta episode") Greg sits down with fellow Sports History Network member, Aron Harris of "The Football Odyssey" to review the Super Bowl, and talk about the business of football, including the upcoming XFL season and the challenges to grow the game beyond North American shores.
The Football Odyssey is an eclectic show that features Aron's dulcet NFL Filmsesque voice (with an excellent accompanying companion website) covering topics that touch on the cultural impact of the sport. On air Aron provides reviews of classic books and movies, and also has in-depth conversations with authors and contributors to the game, as well as the gridiron heroes of our youth, including Dan Fouts and Phil Villapiano. The Football Odyssey podcast is available via Spotify, Apple, and all other podcast platforms.
1983 Championship - Sunday, July 17, 1983. Attendance: 50,906. TV: ABC.
[NOTE: If you want to skip all the pregame analysis forward to about the 10:30 minute mark where kickoff begins]
Anthony Carter and Derek Holloway were big enough to be enough for Bobby Hebert and definitely big enough for the Michigan Panthers, who got big plays and big days from their little guys to win the first United States Football League championship with a 24-22 victory over the Philadelphia Stars. Bobby Hebert found them 12 times. Hebert, named the game's Most Valuable Player, completed touchdown passes of 12-and 14-yards to the 5-foot7- Holloway and topped his 314-yard passing night off with a 48-yard game-sealing strike to the 5-9 Carter to give the Detroit area its first pro football championship since the Detroit Lions copped the NFL title in 1957. A preponderance of the fans who came out to 75,000-seat Mile High Stadium were rooting for Michigan. Banners for the Panthers dominated the scene and the Stars were booed during the intros. That was fine during the game, but with six seconds to play — moments before Philadelphia's Chuck Fusina hit Rodney Parker with a two-yard touchdown that made the final score close — thousands of boisterous Michigan fans surged onto the field. Some 50 police officers were forced to use chemicals, clubs and dogs to control the crowd, which bent one goal post. A dozen persons were arrested, with police estimating half from Michigan.
1983 Divisional Playoffs - Sunday, July 10, 1983. Attendance: 60,237, TV: ABC.
[Note: If you want to skip all the pregame analysis forward to about the 9:00 minute mark where the kickoff begins]
Michigan quarterback Bobby Hebert passed for one touchdown and ran for another to lead the Panthers to a 37-21 victory over the Oakland Invaders and into the United States Football League's first championship game. The Panthers, who won the Central Division title with a 12-6 record and have now won 12 of the past 14 games, will play the Philadelphia Stars in Denver's Mile High Stadium for the title. With 25 seconds to play, after Oakland got its final touchdown, thousands of fans swarmed onto the field and tore down both goalposts. Players and coaches from both teams and the officiating crew headed for the safety of the tunnels to the locker rooms and minutes later USFL officials ruled the game was complete at 14:35.
1983 Divisional Playoffs - Saturday, July 9, 1983. Attendance: 15,686, TV: ABC.
The Philadelphia Stars had come from behind before, but never quite so dramatically. And the victory never felt quite so good. Quarterback Chuck Fusina, who overcame four first-half turnovers with three touchdown passes in the last nine minutes as the Stars tied the Chicago Blitz 38-38, then went on to win 44-38 in overtime to advance to the championship of the United States Football League. "It will go down as one of the best games in history." said Chicago Coach George Allen, who saw a 21-point lead evaporate in the fourth quarter. Kelvin Bryant rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner on a one-yard run seven minutes, two seconds into the overtime. The Stars took a 16-3 record into the first USFL championship game in Denver.
The Blitz took a 21-7 halftime lead after intercepting Fusina three times and recovering his fumble in the second quarter. They led 38-17 with 12:04 left in the game. The Stars started their comeback with Fusina's 17-yard scoring pass to Scott Fitzkee five minutes into the fourth quarter. Fusina passed two yards to Jeff Rodenberger for another touchdown with five minutes left in the game, and connected with Tom Donovan from 11 yards with 50 seconds left to tie it up. He finished with 22 of 33 passes for 254 yards, scrambled for 66 more yards and also caught a 12-yard pass from Allen Harvin for another touchdown.
A crowd of 15,684 - less than a fourth of the capacity of the 66,000-seat Veterans Stadium watched the game in sunny, 84-degree weather.
1983 Week 18 - Sunday, July 3, 1983. Attendance: 31,905, TV: ABC.
[NOTE: If you want to skip all the pregame analysis you can forward the audio to about the 7:00 minute mark where the game begins]
Defensive end John Banaszak, who has played football in Michigan as a collegiate at Eastern Michigan and as a professional with the Michigan Panthers, tried to put the moment into focus. "If we win the playoffs we'll be the toast of this town," he suggested during a champagne-soaked post celebration. The bubbly put an exclamation point on the Panthers' Central Division title clinching, which brought the Detroit area within two victories of its first major league sports championship since the Tigers' 1968 World Series victory. The 33-7 victory over the Arizona Wranglers, on the final day of the United States Football League's first regular season, sent Michigan, 12-6, into a semifinal round playoff matchup against Oakland. The Invaders were the Pacific Division champs with a .500 record. In the Panthers' victory, running back Ken Lacy threw for one touchdown and ran for another in the first quarter as Arizona, 4-14, matched the Washington Federals for the league's worst record.
1983 Week 17 - Saturday, June 25, 1983. Attendance: 30,396. TV: ESPN.
Fred Besana passed for 227 yards and a touchdown as the Oakland Invaders capitalized on blunders by the Boston Breakers to clinch the Pacific Division title. Boston, which got 122 yards rushing from halfback Richard Crump, crumbled from its own mistakes in the third period. The Invaders recovered a fumble on their own 48 and moved to the Breakers' 3-yard line with the help of three penalties. Ted Torosian scored from one-yard out on the first play of the fourth quarter, giving Oakland a 17-13 lead. Boston later had a touchdown nullified by a holding penalty and settled for a 24-yard field goal by Tim Mazzetti that closed the gap to 17-16 with 6:01 left to play.
1983 Week 17 - Sunday, June 26, 1983. Attendance: 25,041, TV: ABC.
Five of Bobby Hebert's passes fell neatly into the arms of receivers Anthony Carter, Derek Holloway and Ken Lacy as Hebert set a United States Football League record for touchdown passes in one game and increased his league lead in that department to 26. Hebert defied the heat in Soldier Field -- where the temperatures reached 99 degrees in the stands and zoomed to an estimated 134 degrees on the artificial turf -- and blistered the Chicago Blitz secondary with 12 completions in 21 attempts for 247 yards. His performance before 25,042 fans -- 7,100 above the Blitz's average home attendance -- led the Panthers to a 34-19 triumph over their Central Division rivals and pulled them into a tie with Chicago for the division lead. Each team was 11-6 with one week to go in the regular season, but Michigan would win the division in case of a tie because they won both head-to-head confrontations this season. Hebert, who opened the scoring with a 39-yard pass to Ken Lacy. His other TD passes were of 42 and 15 yards to Holloway and 35 and 32 yards to Carter, whose eight receptions for 143 yards gave him over 1,000 yards for the season.
Friday, June 17, 1983. Chicago Blitz (10-5) at Birmingham Stallions (8-7). Attendance: 23,459, TV: ABC.
[NOTE: This 1983 game between the Chicago Blitz vs Birmingham Stallions is missing the last six minutes of the contest, but that audio does not affect the outcome. The Blitz actually scored one last time despite being ahead. The rest of the game is intact.]
A change of uniforms didn't work at all for the Birmingham Stallions -- but a change of scene did for Bobby Scott. Thinking his players would be cooler by wearing white instead of the traditional home red in the rainy, 75-degree weather, Birmingham Coach Rollie Dotsch had them switch uniforms for their game with the Chicago Blitz. The plan backfired, though, when Scott -- acquired from the New Jersey Generals earlier in the season -- was hotter than the weather. Scott completed his first tosses for Chicago and led the Blitz to a 29-14 United States Football League rout of the Stallions.
1983 Week 15 - Monday, June 13, 1983. Attendance: 26,840. TV: ESPN.
[Note: The game is joined in progress late in the second quarter. The rest of the game is complete]
Kevin Shea booted a team-record three field goals and Jerry Aldridge sprinted down the sidelines 80 yards for a touchdown to lead the Oakland Invaders to a 16-10 victory over the Denver Gold in a key USFL Pacific Division game. Shea accounted for Oakland's only three points in the second half when he capped a nine-play, 29-yard drive with a 43-yard field goal. Running back Arthur Whittington carried five times on the drive, picking up 26 yards to set up the score. With a little over two minutes to go, Denver drove from its own 23 to the Oakland five, but halfback Harry Sydney fumbled the ball and it was recovered by nose guard Dupre Marshall. The Invaders then killed the clock to score their eighth victory against seven losses and take a one-game lead over Los Angeles with three games left to play. Denver fell to 6-9.
1983 Week 14 - Saturday, June 4, 1983, Attendance: 32,908, TV: ESPN.
[Note: If you want to skip all the pregame analysis forward the audio to near 7:30 minute mark where the kickoff begins.]
Fred Besana, leading passer In the United States Football League, got the best of No. 1 rusher Herschel Walker by firing three touchdown passes and leading the Oakland Invaders to a 34-21 victory over the New Jersey Generals. Oakland, 7-7, took the Pacific Division lead, moving ahead of Los Angeles which is 6-7 going into a Sunday game. Walker took the league scoring lead, raising his season point total to 98 with two touchdown plunges and a 2-point conversion run. But the Generals' rookie fumbled the ball away on his first carry and was held to 72 yards on 21 carries. Walker, the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner from Georgia, helped attract the Invaders' third best home crowd where 32,908 tickets were sold. For the season Walker had 1,545 yards rushing, with his total combined yardage rushing and receiving was 2,007. Besana completed 10 of his first 11 passes including touchdown tosses of 8 yards to Arthur Whittington and 24 to Raymond Chester. In the second half, he hit Wyatt Henderson on an 8-yard TD pass.
1983 Week 13 - Sunday, May 29, 1983. Attendance: 15,668, TV: ABC.
[NOTE: If you want to skip all the pregame analysis forward the audio to the 7:51 minute mark where the game begins]
Boston's 21-17 victory over Philadelphia on a last-play tipped touchdown catch by Frank Lockett halted the Stars' eight-game winning streak and prevented them from winning the United States Football League's Atlantic Division title. Boston began its winning 65-yard drive with 1:50 to play. Johnnie Walton threw on all 12 plays, completing seven passes. On fourth-and-two at the Philadelphia 14 with four seconds to go, Walton threw to Charlie Smith in a crowd in the end zone. The ball bounced off Smith's hand and fluttered a few feet away to Lockett and his catch gave the Breakers, 8-5, their third consecutive victory and dropped the Stars to 11-2.
Monday, May 30, 1983. Tampa Bay Bandits (9-3) at Michigan Panthers (7-5). Attendance: 23,976. TV: ESPN.
[Note: If you want to skip all the pregame talk, you can forward to about the 4:00 minute mark where the kickoff is set to begin]
Terry Miller might have surprised some of the folks around the United States Football League with his two-touchdown performance for the Michigan Panthers. Don't include Panthers Coach Jim Stanley in that group. Miller, acquired from the Denver Gold last week, rushed for 55 yards on 12 carries with TD runs of 5 and 10 yards to lead Michigan to a 43-7 tout over the Tampa Bay Bandits before a crowd of 23,976 in the Silverdome at Pontiac.
"I've known what Terry can do for many years," said Stanley, who recruited Miller out of high school and had him at Oklahoma State from 1974 to 1978. "We already had some good backs here, but when he became available, I felt he could help us, too." The Panthers also got a boost from quarterback Bobby Hebert, who completed 13 of 23 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown, and a fired-up defense that forced four fumbles, blocked a punt and recorded six sacks for 48 yards. "All year long, we'd make mistakes, but our defense would bail us out," said Tampa Bay Coach Steve Spurrier of his club's play. "We couldn't do it today. Michigan got up early and never quit"
Michigan's 43 points was the highest of any team in the USFL as the Panthers raised their record to 8-5 in the Central Division. Tampa Bay and Chicago share the Central lead with 9-4 records. Tampa Bay's lone touchdown came on Jimmy Jordan's 37-yard pass to Eric Truvillion in the third quarter.
Week 13 - Friday, May 27, 1983. Attendance: 38,829. TV: ESPN.
[NOTE: Kickoff begins at the 5:31 minute mark if you don't want to hear the pregame analysis.]
Quarterback Fred Mortensen ran for two touchdowns and strong safety David Dumars returned an interception 78 yards for another score, leading the Denver Gold to a 21-19 United States Football League victory over the Birmingham Stallions. The victory marked the coaching debut of former National Football League quarterback Craig Morton and snapped a five-game losing streak for Denver, now 5-8. Birmingham had its five-game winning streak ended and dropped to 7-6. A crowd of 38,829 about 4,000 below Denver's season average witnessed the contest.
Week 12 - Monday, May 23, 1983. Attendance: 20,042, TV: ESPN.
Scott Norwood kicked a 46-yard field goal 4 minutes 32 seconds into overtime to give the Birmingham Stallions a 23-20 victory that snapped the Michigan Panthers' six-game winning streak. Birmingham, which blocked an extra point with 2:52 left in the fourth quarter to force the overtime, lost the toss but held Michigan. The Stallions took over at the Michigan 35 after the Panthers were penalized for having an ineligible receiver down field on a fake punt play. Birmingham ran three plays to reach the 28 and Norwood, who had missed from 49 yards earlier, easily made the 46-yarder. Both teams were 7-5 in the United States Football League's Central Division in week 12 of the 1983 season.
1983 Week 11 - Monday, May 16, 1983. Attendance: 32,862, TV: ESPN.
New Jersey's Herschel Walker and a five-game winning streak by the Michigan Panthers brought out the crowds at the Pontiac Silverdome. They got what they wanted — a good show by Walker and a better show by their own Ken Lacy. While Walker ran for 87 yards — and caught passes for 105 more — it was Lacy who generally won the hearts of the 32,862 Panther fans, chalking up 156 yards and a touchdown as Michigan came back from a 17-3 halftime deficit with an explosive third quarter. John Williams also made the crowd sit up and take notice with a fine second-half performance, scoring two of the three TDs in the Panthers' rally to help them extend their current winning streak to six. Walker, meanwhile, moved back into the USFL rushing lead with 1,138 yards, 17 ahead of Philadelphia's Kelvin Bryant. Walker also caught three passes for 105 yards.
1983 Week 10 - Saturday, May 7, 1983. Attendance: 16,307, TV: ESPN.
The game between Boston and LA took place on Saturday May. 7, 1983 at the LA Memorial Coliseum with attendance around 16,307 but you couldn't tell by watching video of the game. Week 10 of the inaugural season of the USFL saw the LA Express win that day by a close margin due to a game winning field goal by kicker Vince Abbott. The Los Angeles Express, 5-5, held onto a one game lead in the Pacific Division by tipping the Boston Breakers 23-20. Mike Rae, who replaced starter Tom Ramsey after he left the game with a bruise of the Achilles tendon, connected with Kris Haines for a 6-yard touchdown with 18 seconds remaining to seal the Los Angeles victory. Rae hit on nine of 12 passes for 104 yards and Haines caught six passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns.
1983 Week 9 - Sunday, May 1, 1983. Attendance: 10,971, TV: ABC.
John Williams scored on a 1-yard dive with 1:23 left and a late Boston rally ended three yards short of the Michigan goal line, as the Panthers held on for a 28-24 United States Football League victory over the Breakers. The touchdown, which extended Michigan's winning streak to four, overshadowed a brilliant passing performance by Boston's Johnnie Walton, who completed 37 of 49 for three touchdowns and 422 yards. Williams' touchdown capped a 43-yard drive that followed a 17-yard punt by Boston's Dario Casarino.
1983 Week 9 - Sunday, May 1, 1983. New Jersey Generals (2-6) at Denver Gold (4-4). Attendance: 47,940, TV: ABC.
The logical choice to become the USFL's first ever 1,000-yard rusher did just that Sunday. Herschel Walker gained 172 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown burst in the third quarter, to lead the New Jersey Generals to a 34-29 victory over the Denver Gold. He thus became the first USFL back to pass the 1,000 yard mark, amassing 1,023 yards in 221 carries at that point in the season. New Jersey moved to 3-6, five games behind Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division. Denver at 4-5, tied with Los Angeles one-half game behind Arizona in the Pacific Division.
1983 Week 8 - Saturday, April 23, 1983. Attendance: 13,184, TV: ESPN.
Quarterback Bobby Hebert connected with Anthony Carter on a 26-yard touchdown toss and then threw a yard to Mike Cobb to pace Michigan to a 34-24 victory over the Los Angeles Express. Novo Bojovic kicked four field goals as the Panthers, 4-4, rallied in the second half, while Los Angeles fell to 4-4.
1983 Week 8 - Monday, April 25, 1983. Attendance: 32,182, TV: ESPN.
Frank Corral kicked a 27-yard field goal with 2:47 remaining in overtime to give the Chicago Blitz a 17-14 win over the New Jersey Generals in United States Football League action. The victory before 32,182 fans raised Chicago's record to 5-3 and dropped New Jersey to 2-6. New Jersey's Herschel Walker gained 138 yards in 36 carries to take the league lead in rushing with 851 yards. He needed 111 yards to overtake Philadelphia's Kelvin Bryant, who had 110 yards against Boston the same week. Corral had missed a 35-yard field goal, attempt earlier in the overtime. New Jersey lost a chance at victory with 17 seconds to go in regulation time when Dave Jacobs' 45-yard field goal attempt veered wide right. The Generals took a 14-7 fourth quarter lead when linebacker John Joyce rambled 13 yards after free safety Keith Moody blocked a Corral punt. A pass from Dave Boisture to Victor Hicks gave the Generals a two-point conversion. Chicago tied it four minutes later on a one-yard plunge by Kevin Long. The eight-play, 74-yard drive featured a 32-yard pass from Greg Landry to Trumaine Johnson, the leading receiver in the USFL.
1983 Week 7 - Sunday, April 17, 1983. Washington Federals (1-5) at New Jersey Generals (1-5). Attendance: 35,381, TV: ABC.
Herschel Walker scored two touchdowns and became the United States Football League's leading rusher with a 143-yard effort as the New Jersey Generals held off Washington's comeback bid to drop the Federals into last place in the United States Football League with a 23-22 victory. Washington's Ken Olson missed a 38-yard field goal with eight seconds left to put an end to the Federals' fourth-quarter rally. Walker carried the ball 28 times and rushed for more than 100 yards for the third straight week to pass Philadelphia's Kelvin Bryant by one yard as the league's leading rusher with a seven-game total of 714 yards. The Generals boosted their record to 2-5, while the Federals fell to 1-6 before the Giants Stadium crowd of 35,381.
1983 Week 6 - Sunday, April 10, 1983 Attendance: 7,984 TV: ABC
[NOTE: If you want to skip all the pregame analysis forward the video to the 6:00 minute mark where kickoff starts. Also since this game was a blowout the network ABC with a few minutes left switched to the Birmingham vs Chicago game for bonus coverage. Unfortunately the video received didn't have all of the last minutes of the game].
Ted Torosion rambled for two touchdowns through the wind and rain after an interception and fumble recovery by Oakland as the Invaders snapped the Boston Breakers' four-game winning streak. Richard Crump put the Breakers, 4-2, ahead 7-0 early in the second quarter with a 1-yard plunge before Torosion got his first touchdown on a 2-yard run with 1:45 left in the period. Kevin Shea's extra point attempt was blocked, leaving Boston ahead 7-6. Torosion's touchdown climaxed an 80-yard march started by Derrick Martin's interception in the end zone of Johnnie Walton's pass. Crump's fumble on Boston's first play after the kickoff was recovered by Matt Elisara at the Boston 22-yard line. Five plays later Shea connected on a 28-yard field goal to give Oakland, 3-3, the lead for good, 9-7, as time ran out in the first half. QB Fred Besana throws his first interception in nearly a month, setting a USFL-record for most consecutive passes without a pick (135 attempts). The miscue proves to be of little consequence as the Invaders roll over the Boston Breakers, 26-7, at Nickerson Field.
1983 Week 6 - Saturday, April 9, 1983. Attendance: 46,848. TV: ESPN
[Note: If you want to skip all the pregame analysis forward the video to the 5:00 minute mark where the kickoff begins]
Rookie running back Greg Boone broke a tackle enroute to an 11-yard touchdown, capping a 73-yard, overtime drive as the Tampa Bay Bandits got a fine passing performance from quarterback John Reaves to down the Denver Gold, 22-16. With the victory, the Bandits bounced back from an embarrassing 42-3 loss to Chicago last week, and raised their division-leading record to 5-1. Denver saw its three-game winning streak snapped and fell to 3-3. Reaves, who played nine seasons in the National Football League mostly as a backup, completed 38 of 63 passes for 357 yards. He engineered two long second-half scoring drives that enabled Tampa Bay to erase a 13-3 halftime deficit and take a 16-13 lead late in the fourth quarter. He then directed the Bandits 73 yards for the winning score in the sudden-death overtime.
The United States Football League game at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium on March 27, 1983 featured a matchup of two teams that had started out strongly in the new league’s inaugural season. Both the Philadelphia Stars and Tampa Bay Bandits were unbeaten after three weeks of play.
The Bandits, coached by Steve Spurrier, had an outstanding passing game with veteran QB John Reaves, who had started his pro career as the first draft choice of the NFL Eagles in 1972 (Reaves and Spurrier pictured at right). He had good targets in another veteran pro, WR Danny Buggs, and newcomer Eric Truvillion, the other starting wide receiver. The overlooked defense was a good one and featured NT Fred Nordgren and CB Jeff George. Philadelphia, under Head Coach Jim Mora, was less flashy on offense, featuring star rookie RB Kelvin Bryant and ex-NFL backup QB Chuck Fusina. The defense was especially tough, with the linebacking corps led by unheralded Sam Mills at its heart.
1983 Week 3 - Saturday, March 19, 1983. Attendance: 28,952. TV: ESPN
Oakland quarterback Fred Besana ruined Michigan's home opener, completing 24 of 30 passes for 341 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Wyatt Henderson in route to the Invaders' 33-27 win. It also overshadowed a sparkling comeback engineered by Bobby Hebert, the Panthers' quarterback, who was benched early. Hebert returned late in the third period and threw three TD passes to Derek Holloway. Both teams came into the contest at 1-1. Coached by Jim Stanley, the Panthers had scored just one touchdown in the first two contests (they won their opening game over the Birmingham Stallions by a 9-7 score thanks to three Novo Bojovic field goals). Rookie QB Bobby Hebert, a largely unknown quantity from out of Northwest Louisiana State, had won the starting job but was off to a slow start, as was the far-more-heralded rookie WR Anthony Carter from the Univ. of Michigan, who had been the team's biggest preseason signing.
Oakland was coached by John Ralston, formerly of Stanford and the Denver Broncos, and had its own unheralded starting quarterback in Fred Besana, a 29-year-old who had last been behind center for the Twin Cities Cougars of the semi-pro California Football League. Backup to Steve Bartkowski and the ill-fated Joe Roth at California, he had failed to make the cut with the NFL Giants and Bills, but was making the most of his opportunity in the new USFL. He had already found a favorite target in WR Wyatt Henderson. The Invaders, who had skimped on talent coming out of college, also featured TE Raymond Chester and HB Arthur Whittington veteran ex-Raiders, on offense.
There were 28,952 in attendance at the Pontiac Silverdome for the Saturday night game. Hebert started poorly, completing only one of his first seven passes, and was relieved by backup Whit Taylor. Still, the Panthers led by 3-0 after one quarter of play thanks to a 44-yard field goal by Bojovic. Oakland took the lead in the second quarter as Besana connected with Henderson on a fly pattern for a 45-yard touchdown. Bojovic kicked another 44-yard field goal but Kevin Shea was successful from 32 yards and the Invaders were up by 10-6 at the half. Oakland scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter, with Besana tossing another TD pass to Henderson, this time of 22 yards, and Whittington running for a 14-yard score. The extra point was missed after the latter TD, but it hardly seemed to matter as the Invaders held a commanding 23-6 lead.
The Panthers were down but not out, however, and Hebert returned to the game to spark a furious rally. It began with a touchdown pass to WR Derek Holloway that covered 48 yards and, with the successful extra point, made it 23-13 heading into the fourth quarter. Fred Besana completed 24 of 30 passes for 341 yards with three touchdowns and none intercepted. While Wyatt Henderson scored two of those TDs among his three catches for 93 yards, Raymond Chester was Oakland's top receiver as he pulled in 7 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Arthur Whittington also had a big day, rushing for 109 yards and a TD on 26 carries and adding 4 catches for 46 more yards. For the Panthers, following the shaky start Bobby Hebert ended up completing 13 of 23 throws for 289 yards with three TDs and no interceptions. Derek Holloway caught three passes -- all for touchdowns -- and gained 108 yards. RB Ken Lacy was the team's leading ground gainer with 23 yards on 8 attempts. Anthony Carter had a mixed performance, pulling in two passes for 85 yards that included the one long bomb that set up Holloway's second TD. However, he also fumbled two punts, one of which led to an Oakland score.
1983 Week 3 - Sunday, March 20, 1983 Attendance: 26,949, TV: ABC
[Note: If you want to skip all the pregame analysis forward to the 6:30 minute mark where the game begins]
Chicago gave George Allen the cold shoulder. The coach of the Windy City's entry in the United States Football League brought the Blitz into snowy Soldier Field and barely one-third of the 68,000 seats in the ancient edifice were filled. And the Denver Gold left the Blitz with a cold, empty feeling, too. Quarterback Ken Johnson swept into the end zone on a fourth-down, 1-yard keeper with 18 seconds remaining to defeat Chicago. The 16-13 defeat was the second last minute loss by the Blitz. "It's like a doctor doing a lot of things properly and then the patient dies," said Allen. Denver Coach Red Miller said he never considered playing it safe, going for the "sure" three points with a field goal and then hoping for a shot at victory in overtime. "We didn't think 'kick' at all," Miller said. "I didn't want to tie. We wanted to win -- and it was a big, big win for our young team."
Johnson drove Denver 70 yards to its winning touchdown, passing twice to tight end Bob Niziolek for gains of 14 and 13 yards, the second completion putting the ball at the Chicago 3-yard line. Three plays gained just two yards, setting up the fourth-and-1. "I took a good look at the goal line right before the play," Johnson said. "It looked like a yard and a half away." And with the snow and the wind, the footing was treacherous. But Johnson crossed up the defense, sweeping around left end and scooting over a goal line he couldn't see because of the snow. Greg Landry's 42-yard touchdown pass to Lenny Willis and field goals of 27 and 38 yards by John Roveto accounted for the Blitz scoring. Harry Sydney set up a field goal by Brian Speelman with a 36-yard run, then sprinted 30 yards for the first TD by the Gold.
1983 Week 2 - Sunday, March 13, 1983 Attendance: 38,205, TV: ABC
Herschel Walker had his second mediocre game as the Generals lost for the second time, falling 25-0 to the Philadelphia Stars. Walker, who rushed for 65 yards in his pro debut in Los Angeles, gained 60 yards against the Stars and fumbled twice, two of New Jersey's seven turnovers. Chuck Fusina, once the backup quarterback for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ran for one touchdown and passed 8 yards to Scott Fitzkee for another and Kelvin Bryant outshone Walker with 114 yards and a touchdown before 38,205 fans in Philadelphia.
1983 Week 2 - Saturday, March 12, 1983 Attendance: 28,434 TV: ESPN
George Allen and the Chicago Blitz were two-touchdown favorites when they invaded Arizona to start Week Two of the United States Football League season. Alan Risher and Jim Asmus threw that line out the window and hung the Blitz out to dry. Allen's team was the only road team favored when the new league debuted and was a heavy favorite against the Wranglers, not only because of the Blitz' 28-7 opening-day victory in Washington (and Arizona's 24-0 first-game loss to Oakland) but because of Allen, who never had a losing season as a National Football League coach. For three periods, Allen's team looked every bit as good as that line, building a 29-12 lead Saturday night on Greg Landry's three touchdown passes. Then Risher took command. Arizona's rookie quarterback, who had thrown a 6-yard touchdown pass to Mike Smith in the third period, completed scoring strikes of 10 yards to Jackie Flowers (and the 2-point conversion to Mark Keel) and 9 yards to Neil Balholm. That cut Chicago's lead to 29-27. And when Arizona's defense held(sacking Landry in the process), Risher guided the Wranglers into position for Jim Asmus' field goal, a 33-yarder with one second remaining that beat the Blitz 30-29. That Asmus was still around was a bit of a surprise. After he missed two field goals in the loss to Oakland, the Wranglers paraded place-kickers through tryouts during the week.
From 2015, Amin and the Vassals review George R. R. Martin’s "The Last Super Bowl" in a spoiler filled discussion that was recorded before the Super Bowl, which thus explain their pro-Seahawks hopes.
Sports are universally beloved. Geographically, athletic competitions take on various forms; the NFL, NBA, MLB are strong in America; NHL in Canada; Premier League in Europe; and Cricket in India.
But the now legendary George R. R. Martin wrote about the downfall of them all in “The Last Super Bowl,” a fantastically written short story in February 1975’s issue of Gallery Magazine, a men’s magazine.
The story is actually two tales, as he covers the last Super Bowl which takes place in January 2016 and interjects the depiction of that Super Bowl, between the Green Bay Packers and the Hoboken Jets, and the downfall of real sports. Real sports, in the 2016 of Martin’s fictional world, have been overtaken in popularity by simulated sports.
Simulated sports are controlled by a computer that can put any team, from any era, against any other for the enjoyment of the spectators. The technology he describes in the computers that control the simulated sports may have been a thing of science fiction in 1974, when I assume he wrote the piece, but here in 2022, our computers are powerful enough to create those simulations. Just look at video games like Electronic Arts’ Madden and FIFA series.
The implications that computer simulated games would overtake the real thing isn’t so far fetched now, but back in 1975, Martin was looking to a future where the complexities of computers and their power seemed infinitely abundant.
The last Super Bowl – just think about it. No more National Football League, no more National Basketball Association, no more Major League Baseball, the players all replaced by pixels and simulations. The piece is entitled “The Last Super Bowl” because the NFL was the last sport to fall to the computerized simulations. Martin explains that the NBA and NHL disbanded in 2010, while the MLB lasted just until 2014, with the NFL holding on just long enough to have one last Super Bowl in 2016.
Why have the real leagues folded to simulations? Money, of course, which is the underlying scariest thing about this piece. The power of the media, which still exists to a certain degree, functions in Martin’s simulation to make decisions not in the interest of art or tangible implications for the cultures we live in but for profit and a healthier bottom line. These are things that aren’t science fiction, as they are now an overt fact of our society.
You can read it here at Sportsmaster Simulations...
1983 Week 1 - Monday, March 7, 1983 Attendance: 38,352 TV: ESPN
Monday Night and the Legion Field crowd was hyped as their Birmingham Stallions took on the Michigan Panther's in the first USFL Monday night game. The Stallions were spurred on by their crowd and stayed close. On Monday, March 7, 1983; The Panthers opened the season with a 9-7 win over the Birmingham Stallions at Legion Field in Birmingham, AL. This was the first professional football game ever broadcast on ESPN. Serbian kicker (via Central Michigan) Novo Bojovic kicked the winning field goal from 48 yards out in the waning moments to preserve the win. Coach Jim Stanley had no trouble describing the United States Football League debut of his Michigan Panthers and the Birmingham Stallions, and neither did the 38,352 fans. "It was a good defensive game first and foremost," Stanley said after the Panthers defeated Birmingham 9-7 on three field goals by Novo Bojovic, two for 49 yards and one for 48. The hometown fans had only one chance to cheer, when Birmingham quarterback Reggie Collier skirted right end on a bootleg keeper for the game's only touchdown. Other than that, the most cheering occurred before the kickoff when a parachutist delivered the game ball at midfield. All the scoring occurred in the first half although Birmingham threatened twice after the intermission. Scott Norwood missed a 27-yard field goal attempt on the first play of the fourth period and later Birmingham drove from its 39 to the Michigan 32 but linebacker Ray Bentley intercepted at the 19. Bentley was a main reason it was a good defensive game. He had another interception and led his team in tackles with 10. Linebacker Larry McPherson of Birmingham had 12 tackles and the Stallions' Mike Raines sacked Michigan quarterback Bobby Hebert twice.
1983 Week 1 - Sunday, March 6, 1983 Attendance: 45,102, TV: KBTV Denver
Chuck Fusina ran for a touchdown, David Trout kicked a pair of field goals - one from 50 yards - and the Stars held off a Gold rally in the fourth quarter before 45,102 at Denver. Denver's last chance to win the game failed with 22 seconds left when substitute Gold quarterback Ken Johnson's pass to fullback Larry Canada in the end zone fell incomplete on fourth down from the Philadelphia two. The Denver Gold debut in a 13-7 loss to the Philadelphia Stars, but the real story is the attendance - 45,102 cross the turnstiles at Mile High Stadium, with less than 1% requesting refunds under the team's innovative refund policy.
A wrap up of the USFL vs NFL saga that ends with a victory by the USFL in court and a financial settlement of one dollar. Mike Pesca, Slate, also joins to talk about the biggest risks facing the NFL, whether the Patriots are good or bad for the league, and what our culture would look like if football never took off as a professional sport in the first place. Plus, he talks about his latest book, Upon Further Review: The Greatest What Ifs in Sports History.
The battle between the NFL and the USFL finally comes to a head. Donald Trump has bullied his way to the top of the USFL and pressured his league into suing the NFL for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act.
But the NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle is not about to back down. If the NFL settles now, they’ll be opening the floodgates to a slew of new competitors, and costly trials the league can’t afford. The only course of action? Dismantle the USFL so completely that no one even thinks to challenge the NFL again.
The USFL in the 1980s was not created to sell merchandise or rack up followers on Twitter. No, the league was one that only could have worked in the decade of excess, and though many debate as to who killed the league, the fact remains that though it failed, in a way it did show that spring football can work.
A poignant documentary that chronicles the 1985 season of the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL and of team owner John Bassett's battle with cancer.
1983 Week 1 - Sunday, March 6, 1983 Attendance: 34,002, TV: ABC
The high-priced running back who left the University of Georgia a year early for a $5 million, three-year contract, did score the game's first touchdown. But he gained only 65 yards on 16 carries and by the second quarter, was largely forgotten by the crowd of 34,002 in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Instead, all eyes were on Tom Ramsey and Tony Boddie as the Los Angeles Express beat the Generals 20-15 in a season-opening United States Football League game, one of five played that Sunday. Ramsey, who played his college ball in the same stadium last year when he was the nation's college passing percentage leader, turned things around when he replaced former National Football player Mike Rae with the Express trailing 9-6. Boddie, a 12th-round draft choice out of Montana State, rushed for 77 yards on 13 carries and caught five passes for 49 yards. Meanwhile, Walker was generally ineffective. Usually a prime pass receiver as well as a runner, the Heisman Trophy winner caught only one pass for three yards.
For nearly two full years, the mighty NFL sat idly by as the upstart USFL tried to chip away at its status, talent, and reputation as the most powerful sports league on the planet. Now, the NFL is ready to settle the score, once and for all.
The league commissions a Harvard professor to prepare meticulous, 46-page step-by-step plan intended to squash the USFL in its tracks. Commissioner Pete Rozelle prepares himself for battle—but the battle comes sooner than expected. The USFL files an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, claiming that it has monopolized fall television. At stake? One point three two billion dollars, enough money to kill the NFL.
Description: It’s 1984, and at USFL franchise offices across the country, multi-million dollar contracts are flowing like Gatorade. As the United States Football League prepares for kickoff on its second season, owners race to recruit the best college players, and steal the stars from NFL rosters.
Initially, the NFL dismissed the new league as a sideshow stunt. But the USFL’s spending spree has caught the full attention of the veteran league--which is exactly what New Jersey Generals owner Donald Trump wants.
By most measures, the USFL’s debut season is a success. The games post solid numbers--in both ticket sales and television ratings--offering undeniable proof that there’s an audience for professional spring football. Still, the league is hemorrhaging money. At a post-season meeting, the twelve franchise owners vote on what to do with their fumbling investments. Eleven of the owners decide to stay the course, and even expand the league to bring in more capital, but the owner of the New Jersey Generals, J. Walter Duncan, has had enough.
Duncan puts the Generals on the market for eight million dollars, hoping the low price will launch a bidding war. But only one man makes an offer: a young, brash, egomaniacal Manhattan real estate developer named Donald Trump.
The NFL has faced rival leagues in the past, and routinely squashed them without breaking so much as a sweat. The NFL’s powerful commissioner, Pete Rozelle, assumes the USFL will be no different. He sees the rival league as a joke. A blip on the radar. But then the new league does something no one saw coming: it signs University of Georgia junior Herschel Walker, the biggest star in college football.
When Walker signs with the USFL’s New Jersey Generals, he leaves more than his college diploma on the table. The Heisman trophy-winner passes up a seat at the table of America’s Team, the legendary Dallas Cowboys. “This,” Rozelle tells his colleagues, “is war.”
For years, David Dixon has been trying to convince the National Football League to launch an expansion team in New Orleans, but he always comes up empty-handed. Finally, after one too many letdowns, Dixon realizes his only hope for a hometown team is to start his own football league. Unlike the NFL, his league — the United States Football League — will play its games in the spring, and boast rosters full of hometown heroes from regional colleges.
Fans and investors seem to love the idea. But just then, the NFL announces the location of its next franchise: New Orleans. As Dixon’s long-time dream comes true, he abandons plans to launch the USFL — for now.
The story of the rise and fall of the United States Football League, focusing on two owners: John Bassett, who wanted the league to compete in the spring; and Donald Trump, who wanted to take on the NFL and play in the fall.
1983 Week 1 - Sunday, March 6, 1983. Attendance: 38,010. TV: ABC
Rookie Trumaine Johnson caught one touchdown pass and set up a second to lead Chicago past Washington and give Coach George Allen a triumphant return to the nation's capital. Greg Landry, a veteran of 14 years with the NFL's Detroit Lions and Baltimore Colts, repeatedly found the seams in the Federal secondary, completing 19 of 26 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns. The Blitz's No. 1 draft choice out of Grambling, Johnson ran away from the Washington secondary to catch 11 passes for 158 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown reception. Allen, who was fired in 1977 after leading the Washington Redskins for seven years, was greeted warmly by the 38,010 fans who ignored a steady drizzle and a regional TV telecast to attend the new league's inaugural game in Washington.
Originally broadcast on CFL America Radio and The Sports History Network, "From the 55 Yard Line" podcast cohosts Scott and Greg put on their parachute pants and fire up the Commodore 64 as they sit down with prolific sports author Jeff Pearlman to talk about the United States Football League and stories from his book, "Football for a Buck," about the wild times of a league that left us way to soon and whose impact has gone beyond the field and with us still today, be it in the form of an attempted coup or the two point conversion. Also discussed, albeit briefly, the topic of the new Fox Sports league coming in 2022 that is planning on using the USFL's logos and names.
During the conversation Scott represented his Birmingham Stallions, and Greg his Chicago Blitz, as Jeff tells tales of a league that, had the owners not listened to one thinned skinned man and foolishly sued the NFL and put a drunk Howard Cosell on the witness stand, at least a few of the teams might still be around today, except for teams like definitely neither the New Jersey Generals or "the Gunslingers of San Antoin..." The book, as Jeff tells it, was inspired by a high school term paper project, which goes to show that no matter our age, football truly is a sport that keeps all of us fans forever young.
