Thursday, January 31, 2019

NFL78 Update: Week 1 (Dateline Atlanta)

Everybody's 0-0. Well, everybody but the Giants and Buccaneers, who opened the whole NFL78 season in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday night (but finished too late for me to read about in the morning papers of Sunday, Sept. 4, 1978).

The defending-champion Cowboys host the Colts (with rookie Mike Kirkland starting in place of injured Bert Jones) on the NFL Monday Night Football game. The AFC-champ Broncos host the (O-VER-RA-TED! clap! clap! clapclapclap!) Raiders in a late-afternoon Sunday showcase. Among the noon Central kickoffs is the Dolphins at the Jets (with Don Strock starting in place of Bob Griese, who was hurt in an exhibition game), and we can only hope Channel 6 chooses to air that one.

I, however, am at Atlanta:




7 comments:

  1. Well, I don't remember that. Knowing Dad, we probably packed egg sandwiches and arrived about the same time the security service showed up to undo the padlocks and chains at the parking entrances.

    What I do remember is that we stayed late enough for Kurt to escort me down to where the Oilers came out of their locker room and I joined a lot of other kids (and probably adults) getting autographs. Campbell signed over his picture in the program, "Earl C." I kept it for years, but I think I've lost the clipping now. Robert Brazile, who was such a stud linebacker for them (and starred in your NFL76 FPS league), signed his with his nickname, "Dr. Doom" and then his actual name and uniform number. I got several.

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    1. If you stayed late this could have been taken after the game. Just noticeable how empty the stands are.

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  2. This was actually the second year in a row that we went for the Falcons' opener. The previous year, it was the Rams in town, and Joe Namath was their quarterback. Anyway, I went for autographs after that one but came away with only two or three Rams, and I think Kurt accompanied me to the Oilers locker room the next year to help me be more confident to go up and talk to guys.

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  3. I had always remembered these being preseason openers, but they weren't--they were regular-season openers, so it was even more cool of Mom and Dad to take us than I remembered it being.

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    1. Funny but live sports have become something only for those that can afford it. This was not the case even 20 years ago when I could go see the Phillies play and get a good seat for a total of about $10.

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