New York Giants Quiz (1925-2003): 1) Name the three coaches
between Alex Webster, 1969-73, and Bill Parcells, 1983-90. 2)
Field goals, career? 3) Rushing, career? 4) Rushing yards,
season? [Different from #3] 5) Interceptions, career. [Pre-1960]
6) Receiving yards, game? [269] 7) 1st-round pick, 1977. [DT /
USC] Answers below.
Fred “The Hammer” Williamson
Before there was Jack Tatum, there was “The Hammer.” Born in
Gary, Indiana, Fred Williamson was a pretty fair cornerback
from 1960-67, playing briefly with Pittsburgh before making his
name in the AFL with Oakland and Kansas City, picking off 36
passes along the way.
Williamson became an all-star in 1962 and quickly drew a
following because of his flamboyant manner, wearing white
shoes and playing D-back with an aggressiveness that included
the use of “the Hammer,” a “thunderous forearm usually
addressed to an opposing player’s head that also became his
nickname.” [“Going Long” by Jeff Miller]
Former quarterback Tom Flores: “He was a lot of braggadocio
and very confident in that day and age and played well. He was
probably ahead of his time. Nowadays, he’d probably be one of
the calm ones. He was one of the first big defensive corners. In
those days, you could beat a guy up on the line of scrimmage if
you could get a hold of him.”
Williamson: “The nickname came when I was with the 49ers (in
his first training camp before being cut). They put me at
cornerback after drafting me as a flanker. I couldn’t cover
because I didn’t have the experience of having to run backward.
After embarrassing me for two weeks, coach Red Hickey came
over and said, ‘Son, you’re not going to make this team.’ I’d
never been a loser at anything. No way I could go back home
and tell ‘em I didn’t make the team. I decided since I was bigger
than everybody I was covering – 6’3”, 200 – I started knocking
everybody down in practice. I would never let ‘em get more than
five or six yards downfield. After about five days of this, Hickey
said, ‘Listen, will you stop hammering my players so I can get
some pass offense in?’ And the name stuck.”
But it was in the lead up to the first Super Bowl between
Williamson’s Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers that
Williamson garnered quite a bit of attention.
“The press was following me around like I was the Pied Piper.
They were writing everything that I was saying. And my
teammates said, ‘Hey, man. You’re going to make the Packers
mad.’ I said, ‘Man, the Packers know we’re here. We ain’t
hiding from them, and they ain’t hiding from us.’ It was like I
fired up the Green Bay Packers, which was obviously total
bullshit. Over in the Packers camp, little Willie Wood had a
sock full of sand running around hitting people in the helmet
saying, ‘Hey, the Hammer gotcha! You’ve been hit by the
Hammer.’ They were making a joke out of it.”
The Chiefs were only down 14-10 at half before the Packers
pulled away. Then in the fourth quarter, Green Bay running back
Donny Anderson took out “the Hammer.”
Williamson: “They hadn’t thrown to my side, except two times.
I dislocated Boyd Dowler’s shoulder, and I knocked Carroll Dale
up in the bleachers. They decided to run a sweep at me. I said,
‘Oh, I’ve been waiting for this famous sweep.’ I went flying up.
I went under the pulling guard, which I think was Fuzzy
Thurston. I went to tackle Donny Anderson and tried to bury my
head in his nuts, and his knee caught me right in the head. I went
down.”
Anderson: “It was a pretty good collision, and he got knocked
out. If you look at some of the old film, Willie Wood on the
sideline said, ‘The Hammer is out! The Hammer is out!’ And
you can hear somebody in the background say, ‘Well, who did
it? Who did it?’ And Max McGee said, ‘Anderson. I think
Anderson hit him with his wallet.’”
Williamson: “I was a little woozy, but I wasn’t hurt. I was
embarrassed ‘cause I was down. I knew I was the Pied Piper and
I was supposed to be invincible. I set myself up for that
situation. They came over and asked me if I was all right. I said,
‘Yeah, but I’m a little woozy.’ And they said, ‘C’mon. Get up.’
I said, ‘No, I’m not getting up. Pick me up. Carry me out.’ So
we had like a 10-minute conversation. Finally, they got me up,
dragged me over to the sideline, and tossed me over. I got up
and waved to my fans, let ‘em know I was OK.” [Jeff Miller]
Williamson liked to say of that first Super Bowl that he had
knocked out Boyd Dowler and his replacement, Max McGee,
ended up catching two touchdown passes on the other side.
Years later, Anderson and Williamson bumped into each other
on an elevator at a celebrity golf tournament.
Anderson: “The elevator closed, just he and I. And I said, ‘You
don’t know me, but I know you.’ He said, ‘Oh, I’m Freddie
Williamson.’ I said, ‘I’m Donny Anderson.’ And he said, ‘Oh,
man! That really didn’t knock me out!’
Williamson used to attend the Raiders / Chiefs games, having
played for both. “They’d invite the players to get up and talk at
these banquets. I said, ‘The only reason I come is to see how
ugly everybody was compared to the way I look, how out of
shape all you guys are compared to how I look. You’re all the
same age as me, and you look like old men.’ So they didn’t
invite me back.”
Williamson took his good looks to Hollywood and received a
role in the movie M*A*S*H and then starred in a series of
pictures as part of the Blaxploitation era, films such as “The
Legend of N—– Charlie,” “Hell Up in Harlem” and
“Bucktown.” Williamson also appeared in the booth for one
season of Monday Night Football following Don Meredith’s
departure.
And so we salute Fred “The Hammer” Williamson, an original.
Actually, we don’t salute him at all…he was a total jerk…but he
was definitely one of a kind.
Stuff
–College Football Review
New polls…
AP
1. USC
2. (tie) Auburn / Oklahoma…2nd time in history of AP poll
4. California
5. Utah
6. Texas
7. Michigan
ESPN / USA Today
1. USC
2. Oklahoma
3. Auburn
4. California
5. Texas
6. Utah
7. Michigan
OK, so how did we get here and where is Wisconsin and
Georgia?
Just as I said last chat, these things have a way of working
themselves out. Wisconsin got its clock cleaned by the best 5-5
team in the history of college football, Michigan State…49-14.
Ironically, Wisconsin had a glowing piece in the current Sports
Illustrated, praising its run defense and front four. So all these
stalwarts did was give up 430 yards rushing to the Spartans!
Meanwhile, #5 Georgia, the most overrated team in the history of
the sport (I’m going for the ‘over the top’ effect this week in an
attempt to juice traffic during web site sweeps month), got rolled
by #3 Auburn 24-6 as Georgia’s Heisman wannabe, QB David
Greene, was abysmal.
In order to move up in the rankings, Utah thus needed to do its
job and it beat Wyoming (6-4) away, 45-28, a solid victory,
while Texas came from behind yet again, scoring a touchdown
with 11 seconds to go in besting a 3-7 Kansas squad 27-23.
Bottom line is both Utah and Texas will undoubtedly be in the
top six for the next BCS poll (which comes out after this column
is posted). Remember, casual sports fans, the top six are assured
spots in the four major bowl games at season end.
USC, Oklahoma, Auburn and Utah remain undefeated (as does
Boise State, but they don’t count at this point) and we could
easily see these four in the same position come January. Good.
We all need something to talk about.
Also, don’t forget Michigan and its high-powered offense should
one of the top six in the BCS rankings stumble. Plus, Boston
College, by virtue of its upset of West Virginia, now only has to
beat Temple and Syracuse to advance to the BCS series due to
the fact the Big East receives an automatic berth. Talk about a
crock. Boston College, a very fine institution heading to the
ACC next year, has two losses, including one to my alma mater,
Wake Forest, for crying out loud.
Speaking of Syracuse, they lost to Temple. You have to be
happy for Bill Cosby’s school.
Finally, Pitt (where my parents both went…so I’m a closet fan)
beat Notre Dame, now 6-4, while Oklahoma beat Nebraska,
30-3. There was a time, for you younger fans out there, when
OU / Nebraska was the game of the year (along with Michigan /
Ohio State). This time the result was never in doubt as the
Cornhuskers fell to 5-5. It must be truly awful living in
Nebraska these days.
Oops…one other item. Wake Forest lost to North Carolina 31-
24 and is now 4-5. Following is the margin of defeat in the five
losses …7 (OT), 6 (OT), 7, 3, 7. The coaching staff has to be
pulling its hair out.
–Dirk Nowitzki will be NBA Player of the Year. [Just threw this
in for the archives.]
–NFL Review
What a terrible stretch for us Jets fans; another awful loss, this
time at the hands of the Ravens. The New York Daily News’
Mike Lupica described the Jets clock management at the end of
the contest as being “as organized as Arafat’s homecoming.” So
now the playoffs are seriously in doubt for my team, even at 6-3.
Schedule is a bitch the rest of the way. In fact there are now 8
teams in the AFC with records of 6-3 or better.
Where have I been? Atlanta is 7-2?
Great races developing in the NFC.
NFC North
Minnesota 5-4 (3 losses in a row)
Green Bay 5-4 (4 wins in a row)
Detroit 4-5
Chicago 4-5 (and playing super defense)
NFC West
St. Louis 5-4
Seattle 5-4
Arizona 4-5
Giants fans are demanding a change at quarterback. They want
Eli Manning.
As for Peyton Manning, he threw five touchdown passes for the
third time this season and now has an incredible 31 in just 9
games, with Dan Marino’s mark of 48 easily in reach.
Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger is a record 7-0 as a rookie
starter.
Eddie George plays Monday night….the Eddie George watch
will resume in Thursday’s chat. Over / under is 3.5 yards per
carry.
The Arizona Cardinals’ home uniforms are rather ugly. But it
appears good seats are always available. Sun, beer, babes…what
more can you ask for? [Paid for by Phoenix Area Department of
Tourism]
–I was reading in my High Plains Journal about a recent case
involving a cattle scam. George Young and Kathleen
McConnell, cattle brokers, claimed to have 344,000 head under
management, but only 17,000 could be found. A total of 138
people in 13 states invested $177 million in the Young’s business
and under a bankruptcy settlement, the investors / creditors are
splitting only $6 million, or 3.4 cents on the dollar. Both Young
and McConnell are serving federal prison sentences.
–Rapper O.D.B. collapsed and died in his studio on Saturday.
Cause of death is unknown at this time. O.D.B. stood for “Old
Dirty Bastard,” in case like me you had no idea who this guy
was. Turns out he wasn’t exactly a role model for today’s youth.
O.D.B. (Russell T. Jones) would have turned 36 in a few days
but he had already fathered 13 children. Back in 1997 he was
charged with failure to pay child support for three of the kids and
the following year he pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife.
Throw in a bunch of crimes such as drug possession, shoplifting,
menacing security officers and the like and you can see why 95%
of the people in this nation couldn’t give a damn. Cherry Jones,
his mother, commented: “To the public he was Old Dirty
Bastard, but to me he was the kindest, most generous soul on
earth.” Oh brother.
–On Saturday I went to a book signing. The author? Art
Shamsky of the 1969 Mets. Now if you were a big sports fan in
the New York area during the 1969-70 period, you have to pick
up Shamsky’s book “The Magnificent Seasons: How the Jets,
Mets, and Knicks made sports history and uplifted a city and the
country.” It’s the perfect Christmas gift.
You know when you think about it, the Jets won the Super Bowl
in January 1969, the Mets won that fall, and the Knicks won in
the spring of 1970. But what made it even more special was it
was the first championship for each franchise.
But here’s something I didn’t know. Shamsky’s first minor
league team was a Class D Cincinnati affiliate in Geneva, New
York. Two of his teammates were Tony Perez and Pete Rose.
Shamsky said Reds management elevated him to Class B the
following spring, kept Perez at Geneva and moved Rose down to
another D squad in Florida. And when asked what kind of
ballplayer Rose was in those days, Shamsky said he couldn’t do
anything but run. Rose just busted his ass and turned himself
into a ballplayer.
Here’s another tidbit. Those of you who are Mets fans recall that
Shamsky is Jewish. So a reporter at this book signing asked him
if he ever had to deal with any anti-Semitism. Shamsky’s reply
was telling. “Never. You know I get asked that question from
time to time with people expecting, almost wanting, me to say
something different and I can honestly say it just wasn’t an
issue.” Good to hear.
–On Friday, this guy jumped into a reptile exhibit at the Bronx
Zoo, one that happened to contain a bunch of 4-foot caimans,
relatives of alligators. The guy was naked and at first the
caimans were rather startled by the intrusion into their exciting
life, sitting in a pond, staring at obnoxious people. Luckily for
the man, zoo workers were able to extract him before the
caimans chowed down. However, according to the New York
Daily News, the fellow did pay full admission. Medical staff
will be on hand for the caimans this coming week in case they
need psychological counseling.
–I’ve told lots of stories about elephants in India and how they
often don’t get along with their neighbors. But here are some
facts from Wasbir Hussain of the AP, reporting from Gauhati,
India. In Assam, elephants have killed at least 22 this year and
more than 600 in the past 15. Of course when you talk to the
elephants they give you this song and dance about how their
forest cover is being destroyed and what not, but Hussain’s piece
is further confirmation that the real cause, as reported here in Bar
Chat previously, is “rice beer.” Assam’s forest minister says
“There are many instances of wild elephants guzzling the brew
and returning for more.” Just this past Oct. 26, “elephants
guzzled rice beer kept in drums in Marongi and then went on a
rampage, trampling three people to death.” You’d think the
elephants would be big enough to handle a few mugs, wouldn’t
you?
–A few weeks ago I told the story of the growing crisis in
thoroughbred racing involving jockeys and insurance coverage.
Well the other day ten jockeys were ejected by police from
Hoosier Park in Anderson, Indiana after they refused to ride
because of the dispute. The track had to cancel its 12-race card.
–So the New York Knicks, who are too close to .500 for comfort
(I want both the Nets and Knicks to win a combined 40 this
season…more material for yours truly), finally unloaded one of
the league’s true underachievers, Shandon Anderson. But it’s
Anderson who is laughing all the way to the bank, as he deposits
one check after another for the next three seasons….as much as
$24 million………$24 million! We’re talking Shandon
Anderson, folks. A guy with an 8.2 ppg career average and
someone 99% of the nation hasn’t heard of. Then again, the
Knicks receive our coveted “Worthless Organization of the
Decade” award.
But this just in…Anderson was picked up by Miami. No word
on what the new money angle is and how much the Knicks
bought the contract out for.
–I highlighted Ron Artest in my “Week in Review” column (not
that I write that one) because I still just find his intended job
action one of the truly amazing things I’ve heard in years. So
here are a few other observations following his request for time
off to continue promoting his new rap album, this in spite of the
fact he has a $6 million contract to show up and play some
hoops.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Artest said before a Knicks game
this weekend. “I said I wanted to do something and people got
upset because of my decision. I stick by my decision. I think
everybody, whether it’s America or any other country, you have
your own choices, and you live or you die with your own
choices. As long as I didn’t hurt nobody, I feel good with my
decisions.”
New York Post columnist Mike Vaccaro weighed in regarding
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle who suspended Artest.
“It’s time to look to someone like (Carlisle) and say, ‘Thank you.
Thank you for taking a stand against nonsense. Thank you for
finally doing something in the fan’s best interest, even if that
might not have been your overriding intention. Thank you for an
injection of sanity.’
“These are troubling times to be a sports fan. If it isn’t Ron
Artest seeking a sabbatical, it’s Latrell Sprewell popping off
about trying to feed his family on $10 million a year. Or it’s
Sammy Sosa leaving a baseball game (and the baseball season) a
wee bit early, like the third inning of the season finale, lying
about it, then trying to use it as an example of what kind of job
actions the Cubs might expect if he doesn’t get his way in the
future.”
I still can’t believe the Mets might acquire Sammy. I’m having
nightmares.
–Can’t say I watch “CSI: NY” but no wonder viewers were
ticked off when the last five minutes was preempted last week
for a special report from CBS News on Yassir Arafat’s death.
CBS fired the producer responsible, the first decent move the
network has made in years.
–Dean Karnazes recently ran 262 miles…262…from Bodega
Bay, California to Santa Cruz to generate publicity for organ
donation. His time was 75 hours 58 minutes, or 10, 7:55
marathons.
–The Nextel Cup is up for grabs next weekend in Homestead,
Florida, and what a finish it promises to be. Kurt Busch remains
in the lead but Jimmie Johnson is just 18 points back, Jeff
Gordon, 21, Dale Earnhardt Jr., 72 and Mark Martin 82. Gordon
was ticked off today at Darlington (a race won by Johnson)
because his crew did a lousy job on the final pit, costing him
major points.
–Jersey boy Martin Truex Jr. won the Busch Series. Next stop,
the big time.
–Following the Carolina Panthers’ 7th loss, DT Brentson
Buckner said: “I’m not worried somebody is going to say this is
the worst team in football. I don’t care. Most of them are guys
that wish they could do what I’m doing. Most of them are guys
that in high school couldn’t play football; they were nerds.”
[Sports Illustrated]
For this Brentson receives the “Ron Artest Idiot of the Week”
award. With Artest’s own behavior he seems worthy of having
the honor named for him. “Idiot of the Week” is not to be
confused with “Dirtball of the Year.” Stay tuned for our year
end awards show to be hosted by Garry Shandling.
–The BBC had an online poll that chose the worst song ever and
the Beatles’ “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” was the winner. Personally,
this is ridiculous. I mean you all know “Yummy Yummy
Yummy” or “Sugar, Sugar” has to be the winner. But I did like
some of the comments from those who participated in the survey.
“William Shatner singing Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds is the
worst song ever released.”
“This is outrageous. Surely the worst song of all time is
anything by Meatloaf.” [“I’ll Do Anything For Love” was
ranked #3 behind “Fog On The Tyne” by Gazza and
Lindisfarne.]
“Ob-La-Di is emphatically not the worst song ever! It is one
charming song on one of the best albums ever. Without a doubt
the worst song ever is MacArthur Park by Richard Harris.”
[Can’t argue with that one.]
“What happened to the Macarena?”
“People, have you forgotten Jim Reeves’ But You Love Me
Daddy? Yuk.”
“Come on! The Bay City Rollers entire discography is way
ahead of this whimsy from the Fab Four.”
“Michael Bolton’s When A Man Loves A Woman is the worst
song ever, or anything by Kenny G.”
“Billy Ray Cyrus’s Achy Breaky Heart.”
“Chris de Burgh’s Lady In Red really makes me squirm – as well
as Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street.” [But Baker Street does have
one of the best openings of all time…the rest of it, I would agree,
blows.]
“The Girl Is Mine by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney.
Yuuck!” [Great choice, Peter Acton of the UK. Throw in Ebony
And Ivory….eegads.]
“What??? You’re trying to tell me that these are the worst songs
ever? Have you seen the current UK top ten? Every week a
song appears that is worse than Ob-La-Di.”
–The New York Times’ music critic called U2’s new offering
“How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” possibly the band’s best
ever. U2 is supposed to be on Saturday Night Live this coming
week.
Top 3 songs for the week 11/13/65: #1 “Get Off Of My Cloud”
(The Rolling Stones) #2 “A Lover’s Concerto” (The Toys) #3
“1-2-3” (Len Barry….underrated tune)
New York Giants Quiz Answers: 1) Coaches between Webster
and Parcells: Bill Arnsparger, 1974-76 (7-28-0); John McVay,
1976-78 (14-23-0); Ray Perkins, 1979-82 (24-35-0). 2) Field
goals, career: Pete Gogolak, 126 (1966-74). 3) Rushing, career:
Rodney Hampton…6,897 (1990-97). 4) Rushing yards, season:
Joe Morris…1,516 (1986). 5) Interceptions, career: Emlen
Tunnell, 74 (1948-58). 6) Receiving yards game with 269: Del
Shofner, 1962. 7) 1st-round pick, DT / USC, 1977: Gary Jeter.
Giants Notes:
Tiki Barber started the season with 5,409 yards and could surpass
Hampton this year.
Emlen Tunnell had 10 straight seasons with six or more
interceptions, and in just a 12-game schedule. Including 5 picks
with Green Bay at the end of his career, he is still #2 all-time on
the NFL’s INT list. Plus he also returned five punts for
touchdowns.
The great Homer Jones:
1965…26 receptions…27.3 avg.!
1966…48…………….21.8
1967…49…………….24.7…13 TD
1968…45…………….23.5
For his all too short career, 1964-70, Jones averaged 22.3 yards
on 224 catches. And where did he go to school? Texas Southern.
–According to The Detroit News, the U.S. team consumed a six-
pack of beer in the Oakland Hills locker room during the Ryder
Cup. Attendants lost count of the Euros’ intake. The room was
‘one big party, from beginning to end,’ the News said. Another
reason to love their side. [Sports Illustrated]
Next Bar Chat, Thursday.
**In my 10/21/04 story on Frankie Valli, I missed the name of a
member of the Four Lovers. It’s Hank, not Frank, Majewski.
And how did I learn this? I just received a note from his niece.
Kimberly, please accept my sincere apology. I corrected the
earlier piece.
