ESPN
Page 16
Imagine a Ceiling. “When skiing moguls, always keep your head at the same level,” Docken says. “Make believe there is a ceiling that you don’t want to put your head through.” Your head should just be touching this ceiling when you are standing tall at the lowest point between moguls. As you go up the bump, flex your knees to make your legs shorter; as you go down the bump, straighten your knees to extend your legs. (This move is often referred to as absorbing the bump.) “People tend to get real compact in moguls,” Docken warns. “Make sure your legs get long as you go down the backside.” Your skis should maintain contact with the snow at all times—there should be no hopping from turn to turn.
Use Your Turn Signals. You have ski poles for a reason. You don’t necessarily “plant” them, but you should touch them to the ground before turning. “Touch the right pole before making a right turn and the left pole before making a left turn,” Docken says. The pole plant should come at the point when you switch your weight from one ski to the other, and the pole should touch the uphill-facing side of the bump you are about to turn on. As always when skiing, but even more important in moguls, keep your weight over your feet, and keep your upper body quiet and facing downhill at all times; let your lower body do all the turning. Last, focus your eyes on your line three to four turns ahead.
One more thing. Since many mogul runs are under chairlifts, you’ll be performing in front of a live audience. If at first that seems like a negative, don’t worry. Soon enough, other skiers will be wishing they were you.
THE VOICE OF GOD
THE NFL’S GREATEST STORYTELLER, JOHN FACENDA
His full name was John Thomas Ralph Augustine James Facenda, but his nickname was even more impressive: the Voice of God. Citizens of Philadelphia knew him, and his mellifluent tones, well because he anchored television news in that city for two decades. Indeed, his signature sign-off—“Have a nice night tonight and a good day tomorrow. Good night, all”—is featured in the 1957 movie The Burglar, starring Jayne Mansfield and Dan Duryea.
But it was as the original narrator of NFL Films that Facenda became a household voice: deep and dramatic, staccato and sincere. Facenda got the NFL gig quite by accident. One night in 1965, he and another newscaster, Jack Whitaker, were in Philadelphia’s RDA Club, which happened to be showing slow-motion game sequences filmed by Ed Sabol, the founder of NFL Films. Recalled Facenda, “I started to rhapsodize about how beautiful it was. Ed Sabol … came up to me and asked, ‘If I give you a script, could you repeat what you just did?’ I said I would try.”
Thus began an association that would last until Facenda’s death, in 1984, at the age of 71. In life, Facenda was known for his generosity and grace. But he will also always be known for “The Autumn Wind,” a tribute to the 1974 Oakland Raiders written by Steve Sabol:
The autumn wind is a pirate
Blustering in from sea;
With a rollicking song he sweeps along,
Swaggering boisterously.
His face is weatherbeaten,
He wears a hooded sash,
With a silver hat about his head
And a bristling black mustache.
He growls as he storms the country,
A villain big and bold,
And the trees all shake and quiver and quake
As he robs them of their gold.
The autumn wind is a Raider,
Pillaging just for fun.
He’ll knock you ’round and upside down
And laugh when he’s conquered and won.
That stentorian music still reverberates. John Facenda Jr. recently sued NFL Films over the unauthorized use of his father’s voice.
THE LUCKIEST SPEECH
LOU GEHRIG ALMOST DIDN’T GIVE A FAREWELL ADDRESS
The most famous speech in sports was almost never given. Lou Gehrig, afflicted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, had his number 4 retired by the Yankees in between the games of the July 4, 1939, doubleheader, and he was so overcome with emotion that he started to walk off the field without saying a word. The stadium crew had even begun to remove the pile of gifts he had received. But many in the crowd of 55,000 chanted “Lou, Lou,” beseeching the ordinarily shy slugger to speak. So Gehrig turned around and went back to the microphones. The crowd fell silent, and this is what he said:
Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for 17 years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.
Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t have considered it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I’m lucky.
When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift, that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies, that’s something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles against her own daughter, that’s something. When you have a father and mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body, it’s a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed, that’s the finest I know.
So I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I have an awful lot to live for.
Lou Gehrig, July 4, 1939.
Acknowledgments
We hope this book reflects the joy of being part of a team because it was just that: a glorious experience shared by a lot of talented individuals. I’d first like to thank the mighty contributors who suggested and submitted the items for this book: Adena Andrews, Gary Belsky, Elena Bergeron, Lindsay Berra, Jeff Bradley, Dale Brauner, David Carlyon, Anna K. Clemmons, Larue Cook, Garland Cooper, Charles Curtis, Michelle Daum, Lindsey Dolich, Bethany Donaphin, David Duberstein, Tom Farrey, Neil Fine, Matt Giles, the late great Joey Goldstein, Steve Hirdt, Michael Hudson, Jerushah Ismail, Roger Jackson, Aaron Kennedi, Tom Lakin, Henry Lee, Jonathan Lesser, Jamie Lowe, Jeffrey Lyons, Ndidi Massay, John Mastroberardino, Ryan McGee, Ed McGregor, Doug McIntyre, Dave McKee, Doug Mittler, Daniel Okrent, Will Petersen, Dave Raymond, Harold Richman, Howie Schwab, Greg Segal, Ed Shanahan, Mickey Steiner, Wendy Taylor, Craig Thompson, Rob Tringali, Bill Vourvoulias, Glen Waggoner, Craig Winston, Gene Wojciechowski, Michael Woods, and Bo Wulf. Deep appreciation to the folks who lent moral, logistical, and creative support to The Mighty Book: Sandy DeShong, Gary Hoenig, Chris Raymond, Richard Rosen, Ellie Seifert, and Perry van der Meer at ESPN Books; Christine Cabello, Ben Dreyer, Lisa Feuer, Kim Hovey, Carole Lowenstein, Mark Maguire, Libby McGuire, Steve Messina, Cindy Murray, Daniel Pelavin, Alex Rudd, Scott Shannon, David Stevenson, Paul Taunton, Mark Tavani, and Lisa Turner at Ballantine. Thanks, too, to Gregory Proch and Christian Rogers, our go-to illustrators, and Joe Rodriguez, our go-to photographer. A special shoutout to John Glenn, who juggled text, illustration, and production with grace and dexterity. Last but certainly not least, we all owe a debt of gratitude to Beth Tondreau, who made the whole enterprise come alive with a design that speaks to the eternity, variety, and beauty of sports.
Photography and Illustration Credits
On pages with more than one image, credits are given clockwise from top left.
Page i: Cornell rowers, illustration by John E. Sheridan, c. 1902 (Library of Congress) • page ii: sports cards produced by various American tobacco companies, c. 1872-1918 (Advertising Ephemera Collection, Emergence of Advertising On-Line Project, John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History, Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, an
d Special Collections Library) • page iv: football player, illustration by Edward Penfield, c. 1913 (Library of Congress) • page ix: Native American youths in Florida, engraving by Theodor de Bry, c. 1591 (Library of Congress) • pages x and xii: sports memorabilia (courtesy Steve Wulf/photographs by Joe Rodriguez) • pages xiv-1: Caledonian games, lithograph by J. L. Giles, c. 1868 (Library of Congress) • page 3: John Wooden, Lew Alcindor, and UCLA freshmen, 1965 (UCLA Charles E. Young Research Library Department of Special Collections, Los Angeles Times Photographic Archives, copyright © Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library) • pages 4-5: pass pattern illustrations by Christian Rogers • page 5: football player, illustration by Hibberd V. B. Kline, c. 1910 (Library of Congress) • page 7: Jeff Gordon’s pit crew, 2008 (Getty Images for NASCAR) • page 8: Lou Gehrig, 1925 (Library of Congress) • page 10: illustrations by Gregory Proch • page 11: baseball card, c. 1911 (Library of Congress) • page 12: Henry Chadwick, c. 1890 (MLB Photos via Getty Images) • page 13: Beadles Dime Baseball Player, 1873 (courtesy Dennis C. Purdy) • pages 14-15: Phil Mickelson, 2007 (PGA/Getty Images) • page 16: reporters at Polo Grounds, 1913 (Library of Congress) • page 18: Sharpie pen (photograph by Joe Rodriguez) • page 19: David Wright, 2007 (Getty Images) • page 20: illustrations by Gregory Proch page 21: Field of Dreams movie poster (The Kobal Collection) • page 22: Wade Boggs and Marty Barrett, 1981 (photograph by Ralph Smith/courtesy Pawtucket Red Sox) • page 23: baseball line score illustration (courtesy Pawtucket Red Sox); illustration from tobacco package label showing baseball players, c. 1869 (Library of Congress) • page 25: Amos Alonzo Stagg, 1928 (Getty Images) • page 26: Wayne Gretzky, 1998 (Getty Images) • page 27: Georgeann Wells (West Virginia University) • page 28: Michael Phelps Wheaties box (Getty Images) • page 29: Joe Hauser baseball card, 1961, and Babe Ruth Wheaties advertisement, 1956 (courtesy Dennis C. Purdy) • page 30: illustration by Gregory Proch • page 31: Everett Case, 1959 (Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images) • page 32: Jim Valvano, 1993 (ESPN) • page 33: illustration from Wilson basketball advertisement, 1920 • page 34: Ted Williams, 1957 (Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images) • page 35: Lance Alworth, 1970 (Getty Images) • pages 36-37: illustrations by Gregory Proch • page 38: Pete Sheehy plaque (Getty Images) • page 39: illustration by Gregory Proch • page 41: Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, 1971 (Getty Images) • page 42: illustration by Gregory Proch page 43: Stump the Schwab logo (ESPN) • page 44: Magic Johnson, 1987 (Getty Images) • page 45: Jim Brown, 1965, and Sandy Koufax, 1965 (Getty Images) • page 49: WPA Field Day poster, 1939 (Library of Congress) • page 50: Brian Roberts, 2008 (Getty Images) • page 51: George Sherrill, 2008 (Getty Images) • page 53: Gerald Ford, 1934 (NFL/Getty Images) • pages 54-55: Rucker Park, 2008 (Getty Images) • page 56: cover of Harpers, color lithograph by Edward Penfield, April 1898 (Library of Congress); tug-of-war event, 1920 Olympic Games (Getty Images) • page 57: Bobby Jones, 1927 (Getty Images) • pages 58-59: broadcast footage, 2005 (courtesy Brian Collins and the Department of Telecommunications, Ball State University) • pages 60-62: illustrations by Gregory Proch • page 63: Cincinnati Red Stockings, print published by Tuchfarber, Walkley & Moellmann, Cincinnati, Ohio, c. 1869 (Library of Congress) • pages 64-67: Donovan McNabb’s locker (photographs courtesy of Anna Clemmons) • page 68: Cy Young, c. 1910 (Getty Images) • page 69: Cy Young award (MLB Photos via Getty Images) • page 70: Water Cube (Christian Kober/Getty Images) • page 71: Melbourne Cricket Ground (Getty Images); Ski Dubai (Getty Images) • page 72: Estádio do Maracaña (National Geographic/ Getty Images); Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Getty Images) • page 73: Rift Valley Province, Kenya (AP Photo/Ben Curtis); Wembley Stadium (Getty Images) • page 75: Sugar Ray Robinson, 1951 (Getty Images) • page 76: football at Wrigley Field (Diamond Images/Getty Images) • page 78: hockey glove (photograph by Joe Rodriguez); olfactory system illustration (courtesy Patrick J. Lynch) • page 79: Powder Point School poster, illustration by Bristow Adams, c. 1903 (Library of Congress) • page 81: still from Over the Top, 1987 (The Kobal Collection) • page 83: illustration by Gregory Proch • page 84: Francis Ouimet’s clubs (United States Golf Association) • page 85: man swinging golf club, watercolor by Edward Penfield, 1915 (Library of Congress) • page 86: title page for Casey at the Bat, 1912 • page 87: King Kelly baseball card, 1888 (Library of Congress) • page 88: Dan Quisenberry, 1979 (MLB Photos via Getty Images) • pages 90-91: Union prisoners at Salisbury, N.C., lithograph by Sarony, Major & Knapp, 1863 (Library of Congress) • page 93: Bob Beamon, 1968 (Getty Images) • page 95: Elvis Presto, 1989, and James Brown, 1997 (Getty Images); U2, 2002 (WireImage/Getty Images) • page 96: Pete Sampras, 2002 (Getty Images) • page 98: NFL passing stats screen grab (ESPN.com) • page 99: football game, illustration by Edward Penfield, c. 1884-1925 (Library of Congress) • page 100: Aaron Rodgers, 2008 (Getty Images) • page 102: planting ivy at Wrigley Field, 1937 (© George Brace/Brace Photo) • page 103: Moises Alou, 2002 (AFP/Getty Images) • pages 104-105: Michigan Marching Band, 2006 (Getty Images) • pages 106-107: illustrations by Gregory Proch • page 111: USA defeats USSR at hockey, 1980 (Getty Images) • page 113: Victory Gallop and Real Quiet, 1998 (AFP/Getty Images) • page 115: Tiger Woods, 2004 (AFP/Getty Images) • page 117: Wilt Chamberlain, 1962 (AP Photo/Paul Vathis) • page 118: Wiffle bat and ball (iStockphoto) • page 119: Lance Armstrong, 2000 (Getty Images) • page 121: Bobby Knight, 1985 (AP Photo) • page 122: Gertrude Ederle, 1926 (Getty Images) • page 125: Jean-Philippe Darche, 2007 (Getty Images) • pages 126-127: Strat-O-Matic cards (courtesy Strat-O-Matic Game Co.) • pages 128–129: About Three Bricks Shy of a Load (courtesy the University of Pittsburgh Press); Ball Four (courtesy Jim Bouton/Bulldog Publishing); The Sweet Science (courtesy Farrar, Straus and Giroux); The Summer Game (courtesy the University of Nebraska Press); Picking Winners (courtesy Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) • pages 130-131: The National Game, lithograph by Currier & Ives, c. 1860 (Library of Congress) • page 132: Oakland Raiders at Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2008 (Getty Images) • page 133: white football (Getty Images) • page 135: Chris Moneymaker, 2006 (Getty Images) • page 136: Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson, 1997 (AFP/Getty Images) • page 137: Scott Rolen, 2004 (Getty Images) • page 138: Joe Jurevicius, 2001 (© 2008 Robert Tringali/All Rights Reserved) • page 141: Doug Flutie, 1984 (AP Photo/File) • page 143: Jacques Plante, 1959 (Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images); Chico Resch, 1970 (NHLI via Getty Images); Evgeni Nabokov, 2008 (Getty Images) • page 144: Bjorn Borg, 1980 (Getty Images) • page 147: Wang Chen, 2008 (AFP/Getty Images) • page 149: Chris Paul, 2008 (NBAE/Getty Images) • page 151: Erin Buescher, 2005 (NBAE/Getty Images) • page 152: Fred Merkle, 1918 (Library of Congress) • page 154: baseball card show, 1989 (Getty Images) • page 155: Sherry Magee baseball card, 1909-1911 (Library of Congress) • page 157: illustration by Gregory Proch • page 159: cast photo from The Sandlot, 1993 (The Kobal Collection) • page 161: Edith Green and John F Kennedy, 1959 (Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images) • page 163: U.S. women’s eight, 2008 (Getty Images) • page 165: illustration by Gregory Proch • page 166: Don Larsen and Yogi Berra, 1956 (Diamond Images/Getty Images) • page 168: George Gipp, 1920 (Collegiate Images/Getty Images) • page 171: Shecky Greene the man, 2001 (Getty Images); Shecky Greene the horse, 1973 (photo by Jim Raftery/Turfotos) • page 172: football practice (iStockphoto) • page 175: basketball game (Boston Globe/Dominic Chavez/Landov) • page 177: Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Jackie Mitchell, 1931 (Getty Images) • page 179: Phillie Phanatic (Getty Images) • page 181: Izzy (Getty Images) • page 182: Stanford Tree (David Gonzales/Stanford Athletics) • page 185: George Toma, 1988 (Getty Images) • page 186: Johns Hopkins lacrosse player, illustration by Bristow Adams, c. 1905 (Library of Congress) • page 189: Wrestling magazine cover, 1972 (courtesy Barry Rose/www.cwfarchives.com) • page 191: illustration by Gregory Proch page 193: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1904 (courtesy Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library and Museum) • page 194: Tiger Woods, 2006 (WireImage/Getty Images) • page 19
6: Pickles, 1966 (Popperfoto/Getty Images) • page 197: Stanley Cup and baby, 2007 (Getty Images) • page 199: illustration by Gregory Proch • page 200: illustration by Gregory Proch • page 203: Lou Gehrig, 1939 (Getty Images) • pages 204-205: “Sure Catch” Sticky Fly Paper advertisement, c. 1853-1898 (Library of Congress) • page 206: “On, Wisconsin!” sheet music cover, 1910 (Library of Congress) • page 208: WPA Athletics poster, 1939 (Library of Congress) • page 210: The Game Is Over, photograph by S. Arakelyan, 1911 (Library of Congress).
About the Editor
STEVE WULF is the co-author (with Daniel Okrent) of the bestseller Baseball Anecdotes and (with Buck O’Neil and David Conrads) I Was Right On Time. Now a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine, Wulf has been on the staff of Time and Sports Illustrated. He has written for Entertainment Weekly, Life, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist. A father of four, he lives in Westchester County, New York.
The Game Is Over: Harvard vs. Yale, 1911.
Copyright © 2009 by ESPN Books, LLC
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by ESPN Books, an imprint of ESPN, Inc., New York, and Ballantine Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
BALLANTINE and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc. The ESPN Books name and logo are registered trademarks of ESPN, Inc.
eISBN: 978-0-345-51308-3
www.ballantinebooks.com
www.espnbooks.com
v3.0