These articles are a labor of love, I enjoy doing all the research of data, photos, newspaper stories, game programs, it's like going through a time capsule.
As always, Eric deserves a big round of applause for his editing. What I send him is not what you see here. He cleans them up, smooths them out and makes it more enjoyable for you to read.
You can look at that indoor game the other way too - the constricted field area directly influenced and forever changed football as it had been known. The rules changes implemented for the 1933 season were a quantum leap forward.
Other than the permanent inclusion of free substitution in 1949, anything else that has taken place in pro football since has merely been a series of tweaks and adjustments.
My dad - a Brooklyn native like you - used to tell me about the rivalry between the Giants and Dodgers in football. That must have been amazing to watch.
So all that stands between the Giants (8) having more NFL Championships than the Chicago Bears (9) is a Red Grange wrap-up tackle. Amazing...
(althogh that Championship they won in 1921 as the Chicago Staleys was completely bogus and shouldn't have counted... Wait till you hear me bitching about it in 6 years when the Bogus Bears have their 100 year Championship anniversary.)
Larry - you're the best - thanks so much for sharing your labor of love.
I'll bet those Giants-Dodgers games at Ebetts Field were a lot like Islanders-Rangers games at the Nassau Coliseum with the split house. The Dodgers didn't have a huge fanbase, the the ones they had were loyal. They used to play on Thanksgiving there in the 1930's.
... and it must have made for some real intensity. Essentially you had the team's star (at least its 'marquee' player) for the prior three years jumping ship to coach/play for the cross-town rival. (Imagine Henrik Lunqvist jumping to the Islanders to become player/coach).
Must have made for some anxious moments in the Giants' front office (particularly in light of the Dodger's late season winning streak you discussed in the story). Imagine if the Dodgers' would have won an NFL Championship or two during those formidable days of the league? The whole balance of power in NY football may have changed (maybe we would be rooting for the NY Dodgers now?)
Also, kind of interesting that as great a player as Friedman was, he never was part of a NY Giants championship team....
As always, Eric deserves a big round of applause for his editing. What I send him is not what you see here. He cleans them up, smooths them out and makes it more enjoyable for you to read.
Other than the permanent inclusion of free substitution in 1949, anything else that has taken place in pro football since has merely been a series of tweaks and adjustments.
So all that stands between the Giants (8) having more NFL Championships than the Chicago Bears (9) is a Red Grange wrap-up tackle. Amazing...
(althogh that Championship they won in 1921 as the Chicago Staleys was completely bogus and shouldn't have counted... Wait till you hear me bitching about it in 6 years when the Bogus Bears have their 100 year Championship anniversary.)
Larry - you're the best - thanks so much for sharing your labor of love.
Must have made for some anxious moments in the Giants' front office (particularly in light of the Dodger's late season winning streak you discussed in the story). Imagine if the Dodgers' would have won an NFL Championship or two during those formidable days of the league? The whole balance of power in NY football may have changed (maybe we would be rooting for the NY Dodgers now?)
Also, kind of interesting that as great a player as Friedman was, he never was part of a NY Giants championship team....
Traitors!
Chicago Bears vs Portsmouth Spartans