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Old "High Tops" is gone.

Jody CommanderJody Commander Member Posts: 855 ✭✭✭✭
edited September 2002 in General Discussion
This week a legend died. Johnny Unitas was a dinosaur, he wore high top shoes, and believed the quarterback ran the team,not the coach or the spotters or the computers. I watched him play many times and hated him because he defeated my beloved Redskins too many times with some theatrical pass play that no one else would have attempted, but Johnny Unitas attempted and completed these plays to the chagrin of every team he ever played against. He was never the pretty boy/camera hogging type of quarterback, his style was locker room jokes and dirty stories and winning football games. His team mates did not like him most of the time, but they loved him on Sunday,some said he was a racist, others said he was a jerk, but when he stepped behind center, he was the center of attention, and he was good. Being a winner when the quarterback called the plays meant he knew his opponents and he knew the game. When media people get around to memorializing Johnny Unitas, a lot will be said, but that is just crap some writer has put together for the NFL, if you want to see what a quarterback is suppsed to be, watch some the old films, there will never be another man to play that position with as much smart and heart, watch his drop and set, watch him release the ball,if I had my way, there would be no glowing remembrances from old team mates or stories about his private life at his funeral, just films of Johnny Unitas playing the game, that is how the greatest should be honored.
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Comments

  • 218Beekeep218Beekeep Member Posts: 3,033
    edited November -1
    When I was a kid,Johnny Unitas
    was the greatest name in football,
    and he was still playing.

    That name is still the greatest!

    .218
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  • DancesWithSheepDancesWithSheep Member Posts: 12,938 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ditto, Bee-Man.
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  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,695 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I spent many hours as a kid in the '50s and '60s watching Johnny Unitas on a black and white tv. He was like a god. When he got the ball with less than two minutes left you knew he was going the length of the field. Throwing to Lenny Moore, Raymond Berry, Jimmy Orr. What a champion, what a winner, Johnny Unitas.
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Johnny Unitas was to football what Babe Ruth was to baseball. No one has ever played the game as well. End of story. The Colts were "my" team just because of him. When he retired, it was the end of the Golden Era of the NFL.
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  • Jody CommanderJody Commander Member Posts: 855 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr, Y.A.Tittle, Eddie LeBaron, Sammy Baugh, names from a time when football was played by clubs, not teams. I have heard so many players from this era say they would have paid to play, no millions of dollars a year, no big money agents or contract signing bonus' just men that loved the game and seemed to know that they were part of history in the making. I am so glad to have been a witness to the epic period of American Sport. Joe Louis, Marciano,Gherig,Hull,Thompson,Mantle,Maris,Jim Brown,Gayle Sayres,so many names, so much heart, a thousand names that bring back a moment frozen in memory, Willie Mays over the shoulder catch, Dick Butkus standing on the sideline with blood streaming down his face and a look in his eyes that no amount of signing bonus could buy. I dread the days coming anymore, because each day claims another hero. We could sure use some heros like those now, when baseball players strike, and football players have more felony convictions than wins in a season.
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  • The LawThe Law Member Posts: 2,287 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There was a tribute to Johnny U. yesterday before the Tampa Bay/Ravens Game...He was FOOTBALL!!!


















    Tampa Bay Rules!

    "Don't mistake my honesty for weakness...
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  • interstatepawnllcinterstatepawnllc Member Posts: 9,390
    edited November -1
    Dan Marino was/is GOD!
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  • The LawThe Law Member Posts: 2,287 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ...Your right! he does do a good job on HBO's "Inside the NFL".

    "Don't mistake my honesty for weakness...
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  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,695 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Danny is a pretty boy. Beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Did some nice ads for Isotoner gloves. Now, how many football championships did he win?
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  • jdb123jdb123 Member Posts: 471 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    geez, if dan marino is a "god" what does that make 3 time superbowl and all around big game winner troy aikman?
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  • stanmanstanman Member Posts: 3,052
    edited November -1
    Marino and Aikman together couldn't amount to a pimple on Joe Montana's *!
    And even he was no Unitas.

    The road to hell is paved with good intentions!
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  • interstatepawnllcinterstatepawnllc Member Posts: 9,390
    edited November -1
    Mr Marino's passing records (all of them) speak for themselves. There will never be a finer passer to ever play the game, period. Sorry!
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  • bhayes420bhayes420 Member Posts: 1,314 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I got a chance to meet Mr. Unitas about 20 years ago when he was a hired spokesman for International Trucks. My great-Uncle was a dealer and he came to his dealership for a promo. Very nice man. Got him to autograph a football and some other items. He will be missed.
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Jody Commander, you finally found something we agree on. Nice post.

    A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand
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  • Patrick OdlePatrick Odle Member Posts: 951 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Johny U A true gentleman when football was a gentlemans game.
    Sad to say no more no more.
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  • bwabwa Member Posts: 224 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I still remember a game in which he launched a bomb for a TD from deep in his own territory -if I remember correctly it was 89 yds. IN THE AIR. I was a little kid and thought it was an awesome feat. His only fault, as I recall, was not quitting before his skills began to decline.
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