Sports History Network

Fritz Pollard is not a name most football fans are familiar with. Yet, his place in NFL History is about as iconic as any. Pollard is the first African-American to coach and NFL team. To be fair, he was a co-head coach. In 1920, with the Akron Pros of the American Professional Football Association, the APFA, later to re-brand itself as the NFL, Pollard led the Pros to an 8-0-3 season and the APFA Championship. Art Shell, who many consider to be the first, certainly deserves his share of such recognition as well, only his historic standing is that of the first African-American Head Coach in modern NFL history. Pollard coached in a totally different time in American history. In fact, he coached before minorities such as African-Americans were "banned" from the game. Pollard was also a player. A dual role as player-coach, which wasn't totally unusual during that period of time. A terrific tailback, Pollard rushed for 16 touchdowns during his playing days and also caught two touchdown passes. The game was played much differently than it is today and those numbers, 18 touchdowns, were quite impressive during that era. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, Dr. Charles Ross, Professor of History and African American Studies at Ole Miss joins the podcast for a terrific discussion about one of the most important figures in American Sports History - Fritz Pollard.

Today we share the story of the Pittsburgh Pipers who later became the Pittsburgh Condors. The team only lasted five seasons before going out of business, but they relocated twice, went through 8 head coaches, and 3 name changes. But they will always be the original ABA champions when they featured Connie Hawkins as their leading scorer.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Disco Funk" by Jam Morgan

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

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sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

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BUSINESS CONTACT

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Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes called him the hardest puncher they ever faced, harder than Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Mike Tyson. Randall Tex Cobb said: “He hit so hard you felt it in your ankles.” The man they were talking about was Earnie Shavers.

Once when George Foreman was asked who the hardest punchers he ever faced were, George responded, “Gerry Cooney, Ron Lyle, and Cleveland Williams.” When asked why Earnie Shavers wasn’t on that list, George responded, “I never fought Shavers, thank goodness!”

Actor Sylvester Stallone once got a taste of the punching power of Shavers when he invited Shavers to audition for the role of “Clubber” Lang. While Stallone was sparring with Shavers, Earnie, not wanting to hurt him, was hitting Stallone with soft jabs. After a few minutes, Stallone said, “Show me something real Earnie.” So, Shavers let him have it, punching him once near the liver. Stallone later said: “Earnie nearly killed me. I went straight to the men’s room and threw up”.....

You can read the full blog post here.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND

Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see a little Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's books below.

Reliving 1970s Old School Football

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

We discuss the history of football quite a bit in this program, and many times, it has some items pertaining to the ball itself. Tonight, we deep dive into the history of football with the author of a new book, our friend Timothy Brown wrote.

It's The History of the Football with writer Tim Brown.

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website and the Sports Jersey Dispatch to see even more Positive football news! Sign up to get daily football history headlines in your email inbox @ Email-subscriber

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

Dive into the dark underbelly of professional football with this exposé on one of the most infamous scandals in NFL history. In 1946, the New York Giants were set to face off against the Chicago Bears in the NFL Championship. But just days before the big game, a shocking revelation rocked the league: two Giants players were accused of taking bribes to throw the game.

This documentary explores the events leading up to the scandal, the investigation that followed, and the lasting impact it had on the NFL. Hear from experts, historians, and eyewitnesses as they recount the shocking details of the alleged plot and its consequences.

Keywords: NFL, scandal, 1946, championship, bribery, gambling, New York Giants, Chicago Bears

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website and the Sports Jersey Dispatch to see even more Positive football news! Sign up to get daily football history headlines in your email inbox @ Email-subscriber

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

Wrestling With Heels On is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

One of the things Bob Backlund learned early on from ring mentor Terry Funk was to not impose his wrestling style on his opponent, but rather adapt to his opponent’s style. It’s a technique aimed at getting his opponent over with the crowd. And that’s what Backlund did with all his opponents.

Bob Backlund held the WWF Heavyweight championship from February 20, 1978, to December 26, 1983, an incredible 2,138-day title reign. It is one of the longest reigns in pro wrestling history. Backlund had over 800 successful title defenses during his championship. This is an amazing feat when you consider the range of opponents Backlund defended against. There was Ken Patera, “Superstar” Billy Graham, Big John Studd, Hulk Hogan, Sergeant Slaughter, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, Ric Flair and Harley Race.....

ABOUT WRESTLING WITH HEELS ON

Wrestling With Heels On Web Page

Hi EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ARIEL GONZALEZ, ORIGINALLY FROM BROOKLYN, NOW LIVING IN THE GARDEN STATE AND I HAVE A NEW PODCAST SHOW CALLED WRESTLING WITH HEELS ON. BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK, OF COURSE.

ON THE PODCAST, I GET TO REMINISCENCE ABOUT MY FAVORITE WRESTLING BAD GUYS FROM YESTERYEAR. LIGHT ON STATS AND HEAVY ON NOSTALGIA, THIS LITTLE TRIP DOWN VILLAINY LANE GIVES ME A CHANCE TO VISIT THE DARK CORRIDORS OF MY WRESTLING SOUL. AND IT’S ALSO FUN TO HAVE A PODCAST. 

SO JOIN ME AS I WAX NOSTALGIC ABOUT MY FAVORITE WRESTLING WEIRDOS AND NE’ER DO WELLS, THE NO-GOODNIKS OF A NO-LONGER TIME THAT STILL HAUNT ME TODAY. JUST KEEP IN MIND, LIKE SOME PEOPLE MY AGE, MY RECALL OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS CAN GET A LITTLE WOBBLY SOMETIMES. SO DON’T WORRY IF I GET IT WRONG. OH! WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

I’M WRESTLING WITH HEELS ON.

Here on the podcast we are starting a new series.

Every week during the NFL season we will take a few games off the schedule that are rematches of famous games in NFL History. Some will be memorable post season games while others are memorable in other ways.

Here in week one we will talk about three games that are on the week one schedule of games that are rematches of great games of the past.

The first, Packers and Eagles which is a rematch of the 1960 NFL Championship game in Philadelphia's historic Franklin Field.

The second a little over 20 years after, the 1980 AFC Championship game between the Raiders and the Chargers and finally the 1999 AFC Divisional Playoff between the Dolphins and Jaguars.

To contact the show, hit us up on Twitter at Historically Sp2 or email at [email protected]

This episode is a celebration of the 100th season of the New York Giants. We will talk about their early history, early Hall of Famers, and will cap it off with an archival interview with Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells.

Football Learning Academy Website:

To learn more about the FLA, go to: https://www.football-learning-academy.com

Social Media:

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FootballLearn1

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/footballlearningacademy/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@footballlearningacademy

Music By:

Jeff Nixon, Safety for the Buffalo Bills from 1979-82.

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Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website and the Sports Jersey Dispatch to see even more Positive football news! Sign up to get daily football history headlines in your email inbox @ Email-subscriber

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

Gridiron Greats Magazine podcast is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

Bob and Joe look at the 1932 Walker Cleaners Packers set and the new 2024-25 Pro Football hall of Fame Throwback Calendars with Special Guest Miles Causey

GRIDIRON GREATS MAGAZINE BACKGROUND

Gridiron Greats covers 140+ years of North American football history and memorabilia. It was founded in 2002 and published by Franklin Rose who then turned over to Bob Swick and Swick Enterprises starting with Issue 23.

Editor and publisher, Bob Swick has been collecting football cards since 1965. He has written about football cards and memorabilia since 1990 for several major sports collecting publications including Sports Collectors Digest and had his own column, Turning The Pages.

He self-published Bob Swick’s Football Times in the 1990s; he has been interviewed in Tuff Stuff, the Giants Report, the Packers Report, and the Beckett Football Monthly magazine. He has also been a contributor to the Beckett Annual Football Price Guide. Bob also collects programs, yearbooks, media guides, ticket stubs, pocket schedules, and team photos of the Green Bay Packers, of which he is a shareholder.

He is also a member of The Professional Football Researchers Association. Bob brings his expertise to the magazine in the form of his love of all things football-related. His BA in journalism and MS in Economics brings a unique focus to the niche of football memorabilia and history.

We want to thank everyone who takes the time to subscribe to and support Gridiron Greats Magazine. Besides our knowledgeable, generous contributors and most talented illustrator, Jared Kraus, all administrative activities are performed by Bob Swick and his wife, Brenda. Thank you all for your support. We are ever so grateful.

See our Contributors page for a bio on some of our fantastic writers. Without them, this magazine would not exist. We are grateful for their continuing support.

If you would like to be a contributing writer, or subscriber or want to advertise in Gridiron Greats, please contact the Publisher via the information above. Portions of the material presented are the opinion of the contributing writers and not necessarily those of Swick Enterprises, LLC. 

CONTACT US If you are interested in any particular football topic that you would like to either see featured in Gridiron Greats or would like to write about, and if you have a Super Collection you want to be considered for an upcoming publication please feel free to contact Bob via email.