76 After he called Hornung and Karris: Interview with Rozelle.
77 the keys on the office TWX machine: Interview with Mara.
78 But I have another theory: Interview with Jerry Greene.
79 Karras remained as volatile as ever: Interview with Waldmeir.
80 “Mr. Karras,” the referee said: Interview with Waldmeir.
80 The week that his hiring was announced: Interview with Jim Hamilton.
6. hea ds they win, tails he loses
83 In Cleveland, Browns owner Art Modell: Interview with Art Modell.
84 Salinger seemed to speak: Interview with Rozelle.
84 The emotions and the events of the day: Interview with Modell.
85 Modell said that in Cleveland: Interview with Modell.
86 It was on that day and still is: Interview with Frank Gifford.
87 “It was odd that we never”: Interview with John Mara.
88 “In 1989 when he was leaving”: Interview with Joe Browne.
7. the 10 0 - yar d arm ageddon
90 As an aside Tim Mara: Interview with Mara.
91 The teenage Wellington replied: Interview with Mara.
92 “There probably wouldn’t have been”: Sam Corovano, first league meeting, June 1944.
92 Dan Topping, owner of the NFL Yankees: Scrapbook History of Pro Football (Indianapolis: Bobbs- Merrill, 1976).
93 Before it was over: New York Times, December 9, 1949.
94 Davey O’Brien, who had been: Ed Gruver, The American Football League: A Year by Year History, 1960 - 69 (Jefferson nc: McFarland, 1997).
94 Hunt believed that demographics: Interview with Lamar Hunt.
94 Hunt went home and began calling: Interview with Hunt.
95 “There is no longer cause to worry”: Gruver, American Football League.
95 Ralph Wilson, a wealthy insurance man: Interview with Larry Felzer.
95 “Those meetings were nothing like”: Interview with Rozelle.
100 “I wasn’t sure how the case was going”: Interview with Jim Lee Howell.
104 “I think the Flowers signing”: Interview with Rozelle.
Notes
289
8. sex, lies, and bringing up baby
105 “the last three to leave”: Interview with Peter Finney.
107 He was also a point man: Conversation with Buddy Young.
107 “Buddy never spoke much about”: Interview with Geraldine Young.
107 “I didn’t know much about what Rose and Young”: Interview with Browne.
107 “We barely paid these guys”: Interview with Rozelle.
108 There were, indeed, unbelievable stories: Interview with Eddie Robinson.
108 On a flight to West Virginia: Interview with Gil Brandt.
109 It was ludicrous: Interview with Buddy Young.
109 Brandt delights in telling: Interview with Brandt.
109 Meanwhile, when calls to Taylor’s dorm room: Interview with Lloyd Wells.
110 That same weekend Al Davis: Recollection by Al Davis.
110 “I want you to see something”: Interview with Blackie Sherrod.
112 if the Titans wanted to shower: Interview with George Sauer Sr.
112 “Julie Stein was the president”: Interview with Sonny Werblin.
113 In the summer of 1963: Author’s chance meeting with Ralph Wilson and Lamar Hunt.
114 Al Davis would add a set: Interview with Finney.
115 The Jets had a rookie linebacker: Jerry Izenberg Jets- Denver opening-night coverage, Newark Star- Ledger.
116 “Perfect choice. Absolutely no skeletons”: Interview with Harold Rosenthal.
116 A week before that meeting: Interview with Modell.
117 “He was right, of course”: Interview with Rozelle.
117 “The league has come to the stage”: Joe Foss resignation statement.
118 One of his first official acts: Interview with Mickey Herskowitz.
119 “The way it happened with me”: Interview with Herskowitz.
120 “John, see that apartment house”: Interview with Ron Borges.
121 Just before Rozelle made his announcement: Interview with Modell.
122 “I tried to tell them”: Interview with Rozelle.
122 “That contract never should have been”: Interview with Mara.
122 “Yes,” Rozelle later told me: Interview with Rozelle.
123 “Look, guys,” he said: Interview with Modell.
123 “I was absolutely furious”: Interview with Modell.
9. ain’t gonna study no war no more
127 “Glad to see you”: Interview with Vince Lombardi.
129 “Don’t you have any sense at all?”: Interview with Herskowitz.
129 “What did he write about me?”: Interview with Herskowitz.
130 It was known in the AFL office: Interview with Herskowitz.
131 “Davis calls me into his office”: Interview with Herskowitz.
290
Notes
131 Scotty Stirling, who had replaced Davis: Interview with Scotty Stirling.
132 I knew this last because: Interview with Stirling.
132 “I know Al was upset”: Interview with Rozelle.
132 “No,” Rozelle insisted, “because here”: Interview with Rozelle.
133 “Listen,” Schramm said: Interview with Tex Schramm.
135 “It was bad luck for Al”: Interview with Herskowitz.
135 At three on the morning of June 7: Interview with Rozelle.
136 Schramm and Rozelle met at what was then: Interview with Rozelle.
137 In midafternoon Herskowitz called me: Telephone conversation with Herskowitz.
139 “I was in the next office”: Interview with Herskowitz.
139 Above the raucous voices: Interview with Herskowitz.
139 “Mickey, I hope someday, someplace”: Interview with Herskowitz.
10. bringing in the sheaves
141 “When I was a junior”: Pro Football’s Shotgun Wedding (abc Television Network, 1969).
144 “This would allow us to implement”: Rozelle press conference.
145 “I didn’t know him, and I didn’t expect”: Interview with David Dixon.
145 Dixon had been active: Interview with Finney.
146 The deal was simple: Interview with Rozelle.
146 “I invited Rozelle to my apartment”: Senator Russell Long (d- la), interview with the New Orleans Times- Picayune.
146 “I spent quite a lot of time”: Interview with Rozelle.
146 “They are simply poor negotiators”: Representative Emanuel Celler, press conference after nfl hearings.
147 “I believe it word for word”: Interview with Dixon and David Klack’s report to Dixon.
147 not a single club owner knew about the deal: Interview with Rozelle.
147 It began when Celler demanded: Interview with Finney.
148 On November 1, 1966: Interview with Kensil.
149 The first telephone call: Interview with Kensil.
149 And Rozelle ignored both of them: Interview with Rozelle.
150 “As long as I am commissioner”: Interview with Rozelle.
151 But he was— constantly: Interview with Mara.
152 Told of Vince’s intention: Interview with Rozelle.
152 “This is how well organized Pete was”: Interview with Herskowitz.
153 “In no time we were out of everything”: Interview with Seymour Siwoff.
153 “I can still recall the way I felt”: Interview with Rozelle.
155 “It was hard to surprise him”: Interview with Accorsi.
155 “If there hadn’t been a merger”: Interview with Wayne Valley.
156 “There are certain areas of difficulty”: Interview with Modell.
157 “If you take three teams”: Interview with Herskowitz.
Notes
291
158 “I was thinking when we adjourned”: Interview with Rozelle.
159 “I told Rooney that morning”: Interview with Mara.
159 “I know Rosenbloom likes to tell”: Interview with Modell.
160 And then Pete Rozelle: Interview with Rozelle.
160 “Here’s the deal,” the commissioner said: Interview with Rozelle.
11. the failed coups
163 “I should like to thank Mr. Rozelle”: Statement issued by the Department of the Interior in announcing the agreement with George Preston Marshall.
164 “Edward Bennett Williams, who once owned”: John Kole, Milwaukee Journal.
165 “Frankly,” Accorsi said, “I don’t think you”: Interview with Accorsi.
165 A case in point was his vitriolic feud: Interview with Accorsi.
166 Returning to Baltimore: Interview with Accorsi.
167 One person with whom he socialized: Interview with Herb Siegel.
167 In the rear there was gambling: Atlantic City newsletter by Archie Black.
168 In truth, Wellington Mara once logically speculated: Interview with Mara.
169 Because of the growing sensitivity: Interview with Accorsi.
171 “There was this squawk box”: Interview with Accorsi.
173 The owners called for a voice vote: Interview with Jay Moyer.
173 “I knew it was going to be a big thing”: Interview with Modell.
173 “Then he gave this long, rambling speech”: Interview with Mara.
175 The attorney read aloud: Interview with Moyer.
12. power to the tackles
177 In 1947 the Pittsburgh Steelers: Jerry Izenberg, Newark Star- Ledger column.
178 Eight years later players representing: Izenberg, Newark Star- Ledger column.
178 The very same year: Interview with Rosenthal.
178 And a fellow named Larry Fleisher: Interview with Larry Fleisher.
179 no discrimination against players because of: The Gordy letter.
179 Moreover, the owners were far ahead: Interview with Bernie Parrish.
180 This is what he told me: Interview with Doug Hart.
181 For the view from the other end: Interview with John Unitas.
184 “They [the owners] got the message”: Ed Garvey in the Associated Press.
187 Rosenbloom, for example, who would have blamed: Interview with Rosenbloom.
188 Meanwhile, Garvey was not idle: Washington Post.
188 “Who is Pete Rozelle?”: Sports Illustrated.
188 “Is he the neutral guardian”: Interview with Garvey.
292
Notes
188 But when I asked him about that: Interview with Rozelle.
189 It was obvious that there was: Garvey interview in the Washington Star.
189 Recalling that, Paul Tagliabue: Interview with Paul Tagliabue.
191 Then Anderson made a courageous move: Interview with Dan Rooney.
13. another day, another dr agon to slay
197 no less an authority than Vince: Interview with Lombardi.
198 Among them was John William DiGiovanni: Report given by Jack Danahy, nfl security, to Rozelle.
199 “They’re going to knock over”: Anonymous by request.
199 What Philbin had no way of knowing: Interview with Rozelle.
200 They were told that law enforcement people: Interview with Danahy.
202 “He came to my apartment”: Interview with Rozelle.
202 “This is interesting,” he told Sabol: Interview with Steve Sabol.
204 It was becoming the kind of nightmare: Interview with Rozelle.
204 Rozelle called Tim and told him: Interview with Rozelle.
205 Back at league headquarters: Interview with Rozelle.
206 But there was a time: Interview with Gifford.
206 The league’s limited licensing procedures: Interview with Rozelle.
208 When the owners agreed: Interview with Ed Sabol.
209 “He understood even better than we did”: Interview with Ed Sabol.
14. at war with the counterculture
212 “I was so much younger”: Interview with Blair Sabol.
214 “It’s tough when you’re supposed to be the guardian”: Interview with the National Academy of Achievement.
214 “Read the damned thing”: Interview with George Young.
215 a man named Houston Ridge: The 1969 lawsuit against the San Diego Chargers.
216 A man who was, however, was named Dr. John Ziegler: Interview with Dr. Bob Goldman.
217 First, there were doctors out there: Interview with Goldman.
217 “I wish to God now”: Interview with Goldman.
218 swept the playing field: espn, Outside the Lines.
218 “I still remember what the bottle said”: Ron Mix, Sports Illustrated interview.
219 “Upshaw was very good on steroids”: Interview with Moyer.
220 “We tried to educate the players”: New York Times interview.
221 “I think the league decided”: San Diego Union- Tribune interview with Mike Ariey.
221 “We did pretty well”: Interview with George Young.
Notes
293
15. davis again: feud without end
223 Incredibly, he would actually testify: Trial record, usfl v. nfl, 84 civ.
7484 (1986).
223 “each man lost a lot”: Interview with Gifford.
223 “Al Davis . . . don’t ask”: Interview with Modell.
223 “There was a reason”: Interview with John Mara.
223 “There was no mystery”: Interview with Tagliabue.
224 “an old- school, tough construction guy”: Interview with Dave Newhouse.
225 “Well, around that time Pete and I”: Interview with Moyer.
225 One of those stockholders: Interview with Newhouse.
226 “He was told it was imperative”: Interview with Newhouse.
226 The father was said to have had: Interview with Moyer.
227 It was Joe Thomas: “Lords of the Realm,” by John Helyar.
227 It is interesting to note here: Interview with Newhouse.
228 “There was a league meeting”: Interview with Newhouse.
229 I well remember a night: Conversation between Davis Rosenbloom, halftime at the Ram- Raiders game in 1979.
230 “He never would have thought”: Interview with Newhouse.
231 “I really think that if Al”: Interview with Borges.
16. never take a knife to a gunfight
235 “Dooley feigned innocence”: Gordon Forbes in USA Today in 1983.
235 “There are two types”: Joe Stein, espn.com.
239 “Donald was always about Donald”: Carl Peterson quoted in The USFL: The League the NFL Didn’t Respect but Feared.
240 “It was around July 4”: Interview with Shep Goldfein.
242 “We won’t do much”: Interview with Goldfein.
243 “During a brief recess”: Bob Ley, Outside the Lines, espn.
243 “I think,” Tagliabue recalls: Interview with Tagliabue.
245 “Wasn’t it your view”: Start and continuation of exchange between Myerson and Rozelle in trial transcript.
247 Trump claimed that at a private meeting: Direct examination of Donald Trump, in trial record, binder no. 6, 4051– 52.
247 Browne knew all about those notes: Interview with Browne.
248 Trump had testified that Rozelle: Direct testimony by Rozelle in trial record.
249 “I think after Pete’s testimony”: Interview with Moyer.
250 “With Trump,” Shep Goldfein said: Interview with Goldfein.
250 “Mr. Cosell, if I ask you a question”: Cross- examination of Cosell, in trial record, 4483– 537.
252 When he left the stand: Interview with Goldfein.
252 “We did what we always did”: Interview with Browne.
252 Meanwhile, out in Kirtland, Ohio: Interview with Accor
si.
294
Notes
17. the final bat tles
254 “I would be part of some special meetings”: Interview with Brandt.
254 “You could almost feel”: Interview with Tagliabue.
256 “Why didn’t you just go out and dig up Caligula?”: Dave Kindred in Sound and Fury (New York: Free Press, 2006), 148.
257 “She was an alcoholic”: Interview with Anne Marie Rozelle Bratton.
258 “In that PR lifestyle”: Interview with Bratton.
258 “It was terrifying”: Interview with Bratton.
259 “I met her when my boyfriend”: Interview with Blair Sabol.
260 “Philip Morris was a huge”: Interview with Bratton.
261 “He loved tennis”: Interview with Ed Sabol.
262 “He had such a quick wit”: Interview with Blair Sabol.
263 “She lit up the room”: Interview with Bratton.
263 “He almost never came to her house”: Interview with Bratton.
264 “In the beginning”: Interview with Bratton.
265 “I was there with my dad”: Interview with Bratton.
265 The next morning Hugh Culverhouse: Interview with Tagliabue.
266 “It was 1986 or ’87”: Interview with Tagliabue.
266 “I am going to announce”: Interview with Tagliabue.
268 “He did leave on the side”: Interview with Browne.
268 “Ever since we had won”: Interview with Tagliabue.
269 “I don’t think I like what I’m smelling”: Interview with Tagliabue.
269 “This is great,” Tex said: Interview with Tagliabue.
269 The next morning Tex: Interview with Tagliabue.
271 “He is held up as”: Interview with David Stern.
18. death be not proud
272 Shortly before the annual spring meeting: Interview with Moyer.
273 Tagliabue says he told: Interview with Tagliabue.
274 Rozelle loved to tell the story: Interview with Rozelle.
274 “They had built a kind of kitchen area”: Interview with D. Wayne Lukas.
275 “After his initial surgery”: Interview with Moyer.
275 Back when Tagliabue and Jim Finks: Don Weiss, The Making of the Super Bowl (New York: Contemporary Books, 2003), 329.
276 “I had this idea”: Interview with Tagliabue.
277 “I had spoken to him”: Interview with Moyer.
278 “I was in Los Angeles”: Interview with Browne.
278 “I had lunch with him”: Interview with Tagliabue.
279 “For her,” Anne Marie said: Interview with Bratton.
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