When I started this crazy project, you could have given me 500 guesses at the first African-American player elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and I doubt I would have come up with Emlen Tunnell.
I was a pre-teen living near Bloomington when the Vikings Paul Krause topped Tunnell's all-time interception record. My father was a die hard Giants fan who grew up going to games from the late 40s through the early 60s. He would tell me stories of the Gifford / Huff era players, certainly including Emlen Tunnell and how dominating he was. So I knew of him now for over 40 years.
But I never knew that he was Black, let alone that he was the first such person enshrined in Canton. Either I didn't see footage or it never made a mark on me when I did see it.
Awesome, Joe! I knew nothing of this man, but of course, he was before my time - I was born the year he graduated from Iowa. Sounds like an unbelievable player and human.
Emlen Tunell & Night Train Lane were the two DBs that were held above all the rest, as the greatest ever, when I was growing up. I never saw either of them play because they were slightly before my time. Honestly , it was more Night Train Lane since I grew up in LA & old newspaper guys like Jim Murray constantly brought him up (even though he was only a Ram for two years). I hope he's on your list too.
That is the number of pieces Joe will post between now and Thanksgiving (US version) if he continues on his current torrid pace of one every three hours.
[Odds courtesy of joeblogssportsbook.jb, a Maltese registered company, not yet available]
I’m guessing Joe was vaccinated with a quill pen when he was just a youngster and he can’t help but write and write. Poor us stuck with all this reading to do.
This is exactly why I love reading these lists of yours. People I've never heard of illuminated as players and humans (for good or bad). How you can remain so prolific is beyond me. The calluses on your fingertips must be epic.
This is the good stuff right here. I knew the name but not much about the player. Seriously, Emlin the Gremlin! War Hero as well, definitely under appreciated. Would have never guessed he was the first defensive player elected to Canton either, pretty crazy the first 28 players were on the other side of the ball.
Has anyone read The Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football? Sounds like its just up my alley, will probably check eBay for a copy.
Well I've seen the Thinking Man's Guide and the New Thinking Man's Guide. Will have to explore how much new content is involved and if I should try to grab both.
Just grabbed the original for 4 bucks on Ebay. Kinda have a thing for old books so I'll see if its worth getting the revised version after reading the original.
This happened recently
https://apnews.com/article/nfl-race-and-ethnicity-world-war-ii-new-york-giants-football-a1f13efa885687f2661125977c7c7fb3
I'm not sure what this says about me.
I was a pre-teen living near Bloomington when the Vikings Paul Krause topped Tunnell's all-time interception record. My father was a die hard Giants fan who grew up going to games from the late 40s through the early 60s. He would tell me stories of the Gifford / Huff era players, certainly including Emlen Tunnell and how dominating he was. So I knew of him now for over 40 years.
But I never knew that he was Black, let alone that he was the first such person enshrined in Canton. Either I didn't see footage or it never made a mark on me when I did see it.
Awesome, Joe! I knew nothing of this man, but of course, he was before my time - I was born the year he graduated from Iowa. Sounds like an unbelievable player and human.
Emlen Tunell & Night Train Lane were the two DBs that were held above all the rest, as the greatest ever, when I was growing up. I never saw either of them play because they were slightly before my time. Honestly , it was more Night Train Lane since I grew up in LA & old newspaper guys like Jim Murray constantly brought him up (even though he was only a Ram for two years). I hope he's on your list too.
I always confuse Emlen Tunnell and Night Train Lane.
Helps to have a cool nickname.
Joe you da best!
One hundred twenty-four.
That is the number of pieces Joe will post between now and Thanksgiving (US version) if he continues on his current torrid pace of one every three hours.
[Odds courtesy of joeblogssportsbook.jb, a Maltese registered company, not yet available]
I’m guessing Joe was vaccinated with a quill pen when he was just a youngster and he can’t help but write and write. Poor us stuck with all this reading to do.
This is exactly why I love reading these lists of yours. People I've never heard of illuminated as players and humans (for good or bad). How you can remain so prolific is beyond me. The calluses on your fingertips must be epic.
This is the good stuff right here. I knew the name but not much about the player. Seriously, Emlin the Gremlin! War Hero as well, definitely under appreciated. Would have never guessed he was the first defensive player elected to Canton either, pretty crazy the first 28 players were on the other side of the ball.
Has anyone read The Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football? Sounds like its just up my alley, will probably check eBay for a copy.
You mean the predecessor to The New Thinking Man's....?
Well I've seen the Thinking Man's Guide and the New Thinking Man's Guide. Will have to explore how much new content is involved and if I should try to grab both.
First one '71, then '84 - something like that? I've only perused the second one, I think it's the one you want, updated version of the first one....
Just grabbed the original for 4 bucks on Ebay. Kinda have a thing for old books so I'll see if its worth getting the revised version after reading the original.