By James Owen
Although Americans increasingly become skeptical of politicians, our government, and our schools, the American football game is stronger than ever. Although critics in the press are becoming increasingly vocal, due to their fairytale concepts of the world, which do not include “rough” things like football, the average American football fan is more appreciative of football than ever before.
Perhaps the single most important aspect of football today is the fine, decent American men associated with the game. In everyday newscasts, the names of football heroes are sometimes the only men not being reported for corruption, bribery, or indictments.
This Sunday, 48-year-old George Blanda of the Oakland Raiders should become the first man to have ever scored 2000 points. Blanda’s defiant battle against the natural process of aging is an inspiration to all athletes who must fight the ravages of time.
Equally inspiring is 37-year-old Frank Tarkenton of the Minnesota Vikings. Statistics are now proving Tarkenton to be the greatest quarterback of all time, and he is still in top form and should be around for several more years to come. This year could mark his fourth, and hopefully triumphant, trip to the Super Bowl.
Other football greats of our time include O. J. Simpson, Ken Anderson, Len Dawson, Bob Griese, Earl Morrall, Ken Stabler, Terry Bradshaw, Ed Jones, Jim Hart, and Billy Kilmer.
Highly respected coaches include George Allen, Bear Bryant, Bum Phillips, and Don Shula. Occasionally an illegal recruiting practice is uncovered, but, by and large the men associated with football are among the most decent men in the world. They are the men who have the guts to go out on a field and risk injury for an ideal — the American ideal of winning, of accomplishment through back-breaking efforts and honest competition.