NFL: Remembering Hall of Famer Frank Gifford: A Giant Living Legend

A Giant Legend

Source:The New Democrat 

Frank Gifford, was truly one of a kind. I don’t believe we’ve had another Hall Fame football player and Hall of Fame sportscaster in one person. Frank Gifford, was the voice of Monday Night Football. Howard Cosell, was the comedian of that show, but Frank made that show with deep knowledge of the game. As a Hall of Fame player for the New York Giants, his intelligence and his great voice. He was both an announcer and an analyst and did both jobs at the same time. His main role was as the announcer, but the way he would call what he was seeing was from an analyst’s perspective. Because he knew exactly what he was seeing and why he was seeing it.

Growing up as a kid, I couldn’t wait for ABC’s Monday Night Football. Still the best football show on TV, at least prime time show. I couldn’t wait to hear Frank do the intro for that show. Because he brought such passion, intelligence and humor to that show and brought the audience into the show as if you were going to a football party at someone’s house. With the host welcoming you in as you were at home. That’s what it was like listening to Frank call games. It was like as if you were there with him. The only NFL announcer I would take over Frank Gifford would be Pat Summerall and maybe be Al Michaels. But Frank is in the same class as both of those men.

As far Frank Gifford the NFL player, when you talk about hybrid players today, guys who could play running back, or wide receiver and are so good at both you have to use them at both positions, Frank Gifford was the first great hybrid NFL player on offense. He would’ve been a great running back, or receiver. Because he had great hands, quickness, footwork and size. He could’ve played quarterback as well. Very similar to a Paul Hournung with the Green Bay Packers. Frank, was the leader of those great Giants teams of the 1950s that went to five straight NFL Championship’s. But he was also the leader of ABC’s Monday Night Football the best prime time NFL show of all-time.

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ABC News: World News Tonight- David Muir: A-Rod Suspended Through 2014

Source:ABC News– New York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez.

Source:ABC News

“Yankees still owe slugger Alex Rodriguez $61 million as he continues to fight to stay in the game.”

From ABC News

A lot of good those drugs did A-Rod in the last three seasons with declining skills and dealing with injuries. And what a year suspension will do to the legacy of someone who just ten years ago was thought of as the best all around baseball player in MLB at the time.

Whether its Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, and now Alex Rodriguez and unfortunately the list only gets longer, I’ve always had a hard time believing and let alone respecting, why athletes this big, strong, and talented, would feel the need to use steroids. When they’re already naturally very strong. A-Rod, Big Mac, and Jose, all came up as big, strong, athletes.

As far as A-Rod’s career, he’ll be 40 when he comes back in 2015. If he comes back that year, when he hasn’t had a good season since 2009. He’s been beat up the last few seasons and part of that is because he’s already aging and past him prime. The New York Yankees, are aging as far as their core group of players. Derek Jeter, would be another one and their great closer Mariano Rivera, is another one. All of their great players now are pushing 40. The Yankees haven’t done a great job of preparing for the future. Not saying A-Rod’s career is over, but he has been done as a great dominant hitter. And may never play 3rd base again.

I believe a lot of this has to do with great athletes thinking they’re untouchable that they won’t be suspended or sanctioned in any way, because they believe their team the league needs them more than they need their team and their league. And when you’re already worth 50-100 million or whatever A-Rod’s net worth is right now, maybe you believe it’s worth the risk, especially if the drugs pay off. But the problem is that A-Rod has been beat up and has seen is production fall. He doesn’t run and move the way he use to. He no longer has the great, dominant, bat speed. Teams can pitch to him instead of pitching around him. So the steroids he took didn’t do him a damn bit of good. And this will always be part of his legacy.

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NFL Films: NFL 1962- NFL Championship- Green Bay Packers vs New York Giants: Highlights

Source:NFL Films– Looks like Packers WR Max McGee catching a Bart Starr TD for a Green Packers TD against the New York Giants.

“Highlights of the 1962 NFL Championship Game between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants.

With thanks to NFL Films for the use of their film. We do not own the rights to any of this film. This film is being used for teaching and educational purposes only. No copyright infringement intended.”

From Classic Sports

This is basically the game where the Packers became the dominant team in the NFL in the 1960s and where the Giants took a bit of step back.

I wouldn’t say that the New York Giants dominated the NFL in the 1950s and early 1960s, but you could argue that they dominated the Eastern Conference of the NFL in the 50s. The Giants won 4 Eastern Conference Championships in the 1950s and won the NFL Championship in 1956. And won two more Eastern Conference Championships in 1962 and 63.

But when Vince Lombardi comes to Green Bay in 1959, he wasn’t building a contender or a winner, or even a champion, but a dynasty. And 1962 was the first of 5 NFL Championships, including the first two Super Bowls in 1966 and 67 seasons that the Packers won under Lombardi’s leadership.

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