Some announcers capture the moment perfectly

As the clock ticked down in the 1980 winter Olympic semi final hockey game between the United States and the Soviet Union,broadcaster Al Michaels perfectly combined the ticking down of the clock with the amazement of the moment. Michaels enthusiastically proclaimed "4,3,2,1...Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" Michaels portrayed the excitement well by implying that the United States' victory was miraculous.

Few events capture the imagination quite like miracles. In sports, unexpected occurrences are ofen seen as miracles or events which defy expectations or cause us to suspend belief. Sometimes announcers capture amazing moments very well. In this case, Michaels captured the moment very well by announcing naturally what came to his mind. The call did not seem rehearsed, but rather seemed natural.

A good sports announcer realizes that the event is about the teams or athletes in the event. A sporting event is not about the announcer. A good announcer helps the television or radio audience to focus on the moment and to appreciate it more. The best calls are natural and unrehearsed. The best calls capture the excitement of the moment.




In game 1 of the 1988 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics, Dodger Kirk Gibson hit a dramatic game winning homerun. Gibson had been injured for much of the season, and he was not expected to play in this game. However, now he was entering the game as a pinch hitter with a chance to win the game against Dennis Eckersley, the game's best closer. Don Drysdale, Vin Scully and Jack Buck all called the game for different outlets. All three made memorable calls which captured the majesty of the moment.

As Gibson's home run sailed over the wall, Drysdale said "And a drive into right field. Way back! The ball is gone!" After pausing for several seconds as the crowd cheered, Drysdale said "This crowd will not stop...They can't believe the ending. And this time, mighty Casey did not strike out!" Drysdale's call showed apppreciation for the crowd's response and alluded to a famous poem about baseball. Most home run calls do not include a literary allusion. However, in this case, Drysdale's allusion and his call fit the moment.

Scully, the long time Dodger radio announcer, also gave a memorable call. As Gibson hit his homerun, Scully said "High fly ball into right field.She is gone." A simple description of the homerun, which did not overshadow the moment. Then after being quiet for a moment to allow the crowd noise to be appreciated, Scully said "In a year that had been so improbable, the impossible has happened." Scully put Gibson's home run within the context of an improbable season for the Dodgers- a team that was not a World Series favorite when the season began.

Buck's call is also memorable. As Gibson's home run cleared the right field wall, Buck said "Unbelievable! A home run for Gibson, and the Dodgers have won the game 5-4. I don't believe what I just saw!" Buck expresses incredulity about the memorable moment. By doing so, he joins the disbelief of the crowd and television and radio audience. In this instance, the broadcaster and the audience achieved a unique and memorable kinship.




When Joe Carter hit a home run to win the 1993 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Philadelphia Phillies , Scully did the game for NBC sports.

As the pitch was hit by Carter, Scully said "Fast ball is hit to left field, down the line and in the corner. Home run!" Then Scully remained silent for about a minute as Carter circled the bases and got mobbed by teammates. During this time, the camera showed the jubilation of the Blue Jays and the dejection felt by the Phillies in their dugout. No words were necessary at this moment. The scenes of both sides told the whole story. If a person tuned in at that moment, he or she would realize that the Blue Jays had won the World Series.

After the minute had passed, Scully re entered the scene. Scully said "Joe Carter, who took a 2 and 0 pitch right down the middle, hits the 2 and 1 pitch over the left field wall and the Toronto Blue Jays come back with 3 in the bottom of the 9th inning to become the World Champions yet again." After a minute of silence, Scully recapped what had happened against the backdrop of a jubilant Toronto crowd.



Scully also called Hank Aaron's record setting 715th home run in a game between the Atlanta Braves and the Dodgers. Once again, Scully did the game on radio so he had to be very descriptive. As Scully called the pitch and the home run, Scully said "A fast ball is a high drive into deep left center field. Buckner goes back to the fence.. and it is gone." Aaron circled the bases and was mobbed by teammates.

After Aaron finished his home run trot, Scully resumed talking. Scully put the moment in context by saying "What a marvelous moment for baseball. What a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia. What a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking the record of an all time baseball idol. And it is a great moment for all of us and particularly Henry Aaron who was met at home plate not only by every member of the Braves, but by his father and mother." Scully did a very good job of describing the scene for the radio listeners and referring to how it seemed to symbolize racial progress in the United States. He also made the radio listeners believe that it was a good moment for them as well.




In the 6th game of the 1975 World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox, Carlton Fisk hit a game winning home run in the 12th inning to give the Red Sox the win. The home run became famous for Fisk's attempt to motion the ball fair. After Fisk hit the ball down the line in right field, the only question was whether it would be fair. It had the distance to be a home run, but no one knew if it would stay fair.

Fisk extended his hands over his head and waved his arms back and forth as if to motion the baseball to stay in fair territory. He watched the flight of the baseball as he glided up the first base line. When the ball hit the foul pole, which made it a home run, Fisk extended his hands one last time in jubilation. The Red Sox had won game 6 with a walk off home run.

Announcer Don Stockton called the game for CBS television. As Fisk hit the ball, Stockton said "There it goes, a long drive. If it stays fair...home run!" Fisk circled the bases as the Reds walked off the field. Fans ran on the field. Fisk jumped on home plate with both feet as his teammates met him at home base. As he jumped on home plate, the crowd got even louder.

After Fisk jumped on home plate, Stockton resumed his call by saying "We will have a 7th game in this 1975 World Series. Carlton Fisk becomes the first player in this series to hit one over the wall, into the net...Red Sox win it, 7-6 in extra innings." Stockton framed the game within the context of the series. He pointed out that the home run extended the series and made a 7th game necessary. Unfortunately, for the Red Sox and their fans the Reds would win game 7 and the series. Nevertheless, Fisk's home run was a memorable moment for the Red Sox and their fans.

The footage of Fisk skipping down the first base line became the opening for the television show "This Week in Baseball", a weekly program narrated by Mel Allen. May baseball fans in the 1970s and 1980s saw this footage every week. The replaying of this moment made the moment even more memorable.




In game 5 of the 1985 NLCS, Ozzie Smith, of the St.Louis Cardinals, hit a game winning home run against the Dodgers. Smith, a switch hitter, was batting left handed against Dodger pitcher Tom Niedenfuer. Smith, who had 3,009 previous at bats as a left handed hitter, had never hit a home run from the left side of the plate. Right before Smith hit this home run, the television screen gave the viewer this information.

Scully called the game for NBC sports television. As Smith hit the home run, Scully said "And that's driven to deep right field, back goes Marshall...game!" As Smith circled the bases, neither Scully nor commentator Joe Garagiola said anything. As Smith approached home, he leapt towards home plate where his teammates were waiting for him.

Then Scully said "The lite beer from Miller MVP needless to say is Ozzie Smith. For Joe Gariagiola, Vin Scully, we'll see you at Dodger stadium, Los Angeles." A simple way to end the telecast, but it set the scene for the next game effectively.

Scully, despite being the Dodger radio announcer, gave a very objective call. Jack Buck, doing the game on radio for KMOX, a St. Louis based radio station, was more partisan. Doing the game for a local radio station allowed Buck to be more emotional and fan friendly. As Smith hit the home run, Buck said "Smith corks one into right, down the line! It may go! Go crazy folks! Go crazy! It's a home run! And the Dodgers have won the game...by the score of 3-2...on a home run by the Wizard! Go crazy!" Smith, known as "the wizard" because of his defensive wizardry at short stop, had won the game with his bat and sent the Cardinals' crowd into a frenzy. Buck captured the moment perfectly.

There have been many memorable games through the years. The players, teams and fans make the games memorable. However,when an announcer captures the moment well, the game seems even more memorable.

Tanking poses a problem for the NBA

The NBA has a problem with tanking. Some organizations who are out of the playoff picture purposely send out an inferior lineup so that they can lose. Each loss improves a team's chances of securing the top pick in the NBA draft.

The players do not try to lose, but the organizations employ subtle tanking techniques. Coaches may decide to rest a starter who has a minor injury or teams may acquire players from the D- League that they can develop and give playing time to. Organizations may trade good players in exchange for players with expiring contracts so that they can have more cap room for the following season. In an odd twist of fate, organizations actually purposely try and get worse.

Tanking cheats the fans who want to see a good and competitive game. However, on the plus side tanking may help a team get better in the future if they can acquire a higher draft pick. Fans can tell themselves that losing is worth it in the end.

NBA teams want to be really good or really bad. The worst place to be is in the middle. If a team is really good, it can contend for a championship. If a team is really bad, it can contend for a high draft pick. If a team is in the middle, it is stuck in mediocrity. A high draft pick gives a team hope that it can one day contend for a title. So, the temptation to tank is understandable. It's an attempt to build for the future, which sports teams all have to do.

The Philadelphia 76ers have just completed a 4-5 year process that many saw as tanking. Sam Hinkie was hired as the team's general manager in 2013. He told the team's ownership that the 76ers were a long way from winning. He believed that the 76ers should rebuild through the draft. Hinkie opted for a long range plan instead of a short range one. He was willing to sacrifice winning a moderate amount in the short term so that the team could be a championship contender in the long term.

Dan Kopf, writing for Quartz Media, says "Hinkie traded the team's best players and made no attempts to acquire players that would make it better." From 2013 to 2016, the 76ers were the worst team in the NBA. It was obvious or everyone that the team was trying to rebuild for the future. The other owners of the NBA were concerned about this approach and they put pressure on the team's ownership to change course. In response, the 76ers' ownership demoted Hinkie to an assistant and hired another general manager. Eventually, Hinkie resigned.

The 76ers' decision to tank produced four high draft picks. Joel Embid and Jahlil Okafor were taken third overall in two different drafts. Ben Simmons and Markell Fultz were chosen first overall in two separate drafts. Simmons and Embid have become two of the best players in the NBA. Okafor did not work out and is now with the Brooklyn Nets. Fultz was injured his entire rookie season, however some NBA observers believe he can be a good point guard.

Currently the 76ers are one of the best teams in the NBA's Eastern Conference. So, Hinkie's plan helped the 76ers become a better team.

Many have given a simple solution to the problem of tanking: Instead of rewarding the team with the worst record with the greatest chance of getting the top pick, give the top pick to the non playoff team with the best record. This format would create an incentive for teams to do their best. A team could try to make the playoffs, but if they did not make the playoffs, then at least they could earn the best pick or another high pick.

Or, all 32 teams could have an equal chance of getting the top pick. The current draft lottery rewards failure and penalizes success. However, if all 32 teams had an equal chance of receiving the top pick, then good teams would not be penalized with a lower pick. Also, this would reduce the temptation to tank.

A general manager needs a long range plan for rebuilding a team. It's understandable that some teams would sacrifice the present in order to be better in the future. However, it cannot be done at the expense of fair play. Teams have an obligation to send out their best lineups and to acquire the best players available for their team. Teams need a long range plan that does not include tanking.

Tom Ziller, of SBNation, makes a distinction between institutional tanking and situational tanking. Ziller says "What we have is a mix of situational tanking (what Memphis, Dallas, and Orlando are doing after falling flat on their faces early this season) and institutional tanking (what Sacramento, Phoneix, Atlanta, and Chicago came into this season doing). Add in the perennially leveled Nets and you have a nasty brew of losing." So, some teams ended up tanking because they did worse than they thought they would do. Whereas other teams knew they would struggle before they entered the season.

The large number of poor teams in the NBA this season is unprecedented. The league has never seen so many teams that have had poor seasons. Ziller says "We currently have eight teams on pace to win fewer than 30 games. That has never happened in an 82 game - NBA season." These teams are all trying to rebuild for the future, while trying to be somewhat respectable now. However, all of these teams know that the only way to truly rebuild is through the draft. Therefore, the more games that a team loses, the better chance that a team has of securing a top pick.

Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, was recently fined $600,000 for publically suggesting that the Mavericks were tanking. The league responded by fining him and issuing a memo explaining the reason for the fine.

In the memo, NBA commissioner Adam Silver made a distinction between rebuilding a team and trying to lose on purpose. Silver emphasized that the rebuilding process is "legitimate", but that tanking "has no place in our game." Furthermore, Silver warned the teams that the league would take action against organizations that tanked. Silver said that the league "will continue to monitor closely the play of all teams during the remainder of the season." It will be interesting to see what effect Silver's memo has on the league.

Silver's memo left no doubt about the league's opposition to tanking. Now, the responsibility is on the different organizations to field the best team possible and to implement a rebuilding plan that does not involve tanking.

The Cavaliers and Lebron James get ready to make a transition

Entering this season, Lebron James had already played more minutes and more games than Michael Jordan. James has played in the last 7 NBA finals- the last 3 with Cleveland and the previous 4 with Miami. He also lead Cleveland to the 2007 NBA finals where they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. Since 2005, James has played in 217 playoff games which is the equivalent of more than 2.5 regular seasons. He will not be able to carry a team to the NBA finals much longer. He will probably not be able to carry this Cavaliers team to the finals this year. Additionally, James is a free agent after this season.

For one of the first times in his career, James' team is not a top 10 team in the NBA power rankings. The Cavaliers, without Kevin Love, do not seem poised for a title run. James and the Cavaliers appear to be in the middle of a transition.

Recently the Cleveland Cavaliers have been criticized for playing poor defense. The criticism reached it's crescendo when the defending Eastern Conference champions surrendered a whopping 148 points to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Actually, within the last three weeks the defensively challenged Cavs have given up a lot of points.

The Cavs need to return to basic defensive skills. They need to play help defense, stay in between their man and the basketball and get back more quickly on defense. They need to play better half court defense and better transition defense.

Playing defense involves pride and effort. Players should give maximum effort on the defensive end. Playing offense may be more exciting, but making a good play in defense is just as important as doing well on offense. Cleveland's coaches should emphasize the importance of defense during practices and film sessions. Cleveland's coaches should highlight players who make good defenseive plays. Additionally, the coaches should encourage James to set a good example by giving a good effort on defense.

Due to this year's struggles, the Cavaalier organization needs to consider it's long term plans. Barring a dramatic improvement in play, which seems unlikely, the Cavaliers will not make their fourth straight finals. James will not make his 8th straight finals appearance unless he is traded to a contending team. So, both James and the Cavaliers must consider their long term future.

Since bringing back his talents to Cleveland after spending four years with Miami, James has always had one foot in and one foot out with the Cavaliers. He wanted to win a championship with Cleveland, but he also wanted to make sure the organization was headed in the right direction. He also wanted to influence the direction of the organization, which is part of the problem. While James is one of the NBA's best players, he is not necessarily good at evaluating personnel.

The Cavaliers made moves that they thought James would be happy with. Nate Scott of Foxsports says "When James expressed concern about the team's depth early on, the Cavaliers went out and got J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov. It was all done to make the team better, yes, but it also was done to make the team's superstar happy." Scott also emphasizes that the signing of James Jones was influenced by James. Additionally, the Cavaliers' decision to give Tristan Thompson a lucrative contract came about in part because Thompson and James have the same agent.

Furthermore,signing Derrick Rose and Dwayne Wade were questionable decisions. Both decisions were made in part because of James' influence. So, personnel moves were influenced or ratified by James. At times, the organization showed deference to James. This created an imbalance within the organization. While James is a very good basketball player, he does not necessarily have the perspective of a general manager. He may also not understand the way that free agent signings effect a team's salary cap.

Scott emphasizes that by building around James with a "win now" attitude, the team has put off any kind of youth movement. Scott points out that their current approach has cost the team young assets and draft picks. The current approach has also put the Cavaliers over the salary cap. Building around James is good if the Cavaliers are a contender, but it is not a good approach if the Cavaliers cannot contend.

Not only are the Cavaliers poised to make a transition, but James must make one as well. At age 33, in the middle of his 15th NBA season, James will soon be a complementary superstar, rather than a superstar. Instead of being a player that teams can build around, he will soon be a player who can complement a superstar. He will be a player that a team can acquire to supplement another top notch player. It's essential that James recognizes where he is in his career. He cannot influence a team's decision of who to acquire. Instead, he must defer to an organization's general manager.

Transitions are always difficult in sports. They are difficult For individuals and teams. It's tough for individuals to realize that they are gradually declining athletically or will be soon. It's difficult for a player who has been a focal point to transition into a complementary role. However, such transitions are necessary.

Sometimes a player may be given a reduced workload. The player may play fewer minutes. In some cases, a basketball player may not be able to play on consecutive nights. Or a player may lose the quickness that is necessary to drive to the basket or create his own shot. At the end of a player's career he may have to take more jump shots if he lacks the quickness to go by the defensive players or create on the offensive end. Also, a player may have to refine his passing skills and his ability to facilitate for his teammates. In any event, James may have to adjust his game and expectations after 15 years and 217 playoff games.

Likewise, teams have to also go through transitions. Teams must evaluate themselves. They must know whether they are contenders or not. If a team knows that it needs to rebuild, then it needs to undergo a youth movement. For instance, the Philadelphia 76ers have tried to rebuild around Ben Simmons, Joel Embid, Dario Sarik and Markelle Fultz. They have tried to build around lottery draft picks. The 76ers got real bad before they could get good. They had a plan that involved building almost exclusively through young players and draft picks. They followed that plan, and now they are experiencing some improvement.

The Cavaliers are still one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. However, they are probably not a contender anymore. Soon they will need to transition to a rebuilding phase. Lebron James helped bring the Cavaliers an NBA championship and four Eastern Conference championships. His tenure in Cleveland has been successful. Soon it will be time for a new beginning for both James and the Cavaliers.

Being pro life

There is a place for everyone in the pro life movement. Whether we are parents or not, we have an important role in the pro life movement. Everyone can make a positive difference by respecting the unborn and honoring the role of parenthood - specifically honoring the sacrifice that mothers make. Basically, we need to respect the unborn, support pregnant women and offer forgiveness to women who have had abortions.

The first element is respecting the unborn child. Life begins at conception. This is a scientific fact which is reinforced by the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, Orthodox Judaism and the Muslim religion. All three monotheistic religions believe that life begins at conception. All three monotheistic religions respect life from the moment of conception. Through the technology of ultra sounds, we can observe the life within the womb. We can see the baby moving and growing in the womb.

Supporting pregnant women is also important. Some women may choose abortion because they do not sense that they are supported by their husbands or boyfriends . They also may not sense support from society or the Church. Women deserve support. Pregnant women deserve support during their pregnancies. Carrying a baby for nine months is a sacrifice. It is heroic. It requires courage and strength. Women deserve support during their pregnancies and afterwards. This basic point needs to be continually reinforced. Women should never feel alone during their pregnancies. God is with them. Their family needs to be with them. Also, as members of the Church and of society, we also need to be with them.

A third element is forgiveness. Women who have had abortions must not be condemned. They must be forgiven and respected. The Catholic Church believes in forgiveness. All Christian communities believe in forgiveness. We know that Christ forgives us when we turn to him. In Jesus Christ there is forgiveness and healing. This is true for all of us. We need to extend that forgiveness to others.

Lou Gramm's musical career

Music has been a part of Lou Gramm's life from day one. Gramm says "That I would choose a career in music is hardly a mystery because I come from a family of musicians. In fact, it was music that brought my mom and dad together in the first place." Gramm's birth name is Grammatico, and his father and mother met through their mutual interest in music. Gramm's father, Ben Grammatico, met his mother Nikki Masetta while playing a concert in a jazz band in the early 1940s. Later, Ben Grammatico started a band called "The Sonny James Orchestra". Nikki Grammatica sang in the band.

Gramm's grandparents were Italian immigrants who came to New York State. They picked cabbage under very difficult living and working conditions. Gramm says "He and the other immigrants were hardy souls and were thrilled just to be in a land where opportunities seemed boundless." Gramm is justifiably proud of what his grandparents and others from that generation had to overcome.

Although, Gramm's father was in a band, he worked a very demanding and difficult day job. Gramm worked at a company in Rochester called "Yarman and Erba." His father built file cabinets for the company in a very difficult environment. The building was hot and the work was exhausting. Gramm admired his father's work ethic.

Gramm grew up in a blue collar neighborhood. As a youth, Gramm developed an interest in baseball because of his father. Gramm says "My dad was the one who got me interested in baseball. One of the first things he would do when he got home from work was plop himself down in his easy chair and read the paper." Gramm's father would read the sports pages and the box scores.

Gramm, a fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers, was sad when the team moved to Los Angeles. However, he continued to root for them and Duke Snider, his favorite player. However, Gramm became a fan of the Mets when they began play in New York in 1962.

When he was growing up, Gramm loved baseball. Gramm says "Baseball was definitely my first love, and my summer routine revolved around playing ball." Gramm spent a lot of time in the summers playing baseball with friends and family. Gramm also rooted for the Buffalo Bills because he was living in upstate New York.

While Gramm played baseball, music would soon take center stage. Gramm's parents encouraged their three sons to play musical instruments. Gramm took up the drums because "it looked like a lot of fun banging away with those sticks." Gramm was a good drummer who earned a spot in the All-Country scholastic orchestra. At this time, Gramm liked playing the drums, but had little interest in singing.

While he was playing in the school band and orchestra, he developed an interest in rock and roll music. He remembers the first time he heard a rock and rol song. When his father was driving Gramm and his older brother around in a 1953 Pontiac, they heard Elvis Presley's song "Hound Dog." Gramm says "That was my introduction to rock and roll - Elvis' "Hound a Dog" blasting out of the dashboard speakers of my dad's '53 Pontiac. I didn't realize it at the time, but that would wind up being a life altering experience. A whole new world was about to open up for me." When rock and roll music entered Gramm's life, he entered a new phase of life. It represented a new beginning for him.



Many bands influenced Gramm, but The Rolling Stones and the Beatles stand out as the biggest influences in his musical career. Gramm still recalls seeing The Rolling Stones live on November 1st, 1965 in Rochester, NY. He remembers the excitement of the evening and the anticipation of the concert.

The Beatles had a profound effect on him as well. Gramm says "I was a huge Beatles' fan. No group before or since ever impacted me the way they did, and I know I have plenty of company when I say that because the Fab Four revolutionized music and the industry." Gramm still remembers meeting John Lennon for the first time in 1972 when they were recording at nearby studios in New York City. After they met in a nearby coffee shop, they played pool together and talked about music. Gramm said he was honored when he played at a memorial concert in Liverpool England after Lennon died. Gramm also remembers meeting Paul McCartney.

Gramm also recalled his first playing gig as a 15 year old. He filled in for a country western band named "Danny, Tony and the Knighthawks." Gramm was grateful for the opportunity to perform before a live audience. Gramm said "Although country wasn't my thing, it was a cool experience and I'll always be grateful to them for giving me the opportunity to feel what it was like to play a gig in front of a crowd." Gramm played about a dozen shows with the band. The experience taught him what it was like to perform in front of a live audience.

After these dozen shows, Gramm joined a band in high school that played cover tunes. Gramm says "I was the lead singer as well as the drummer, and I found it difficult to do both at first." Gramm played in a couple more cover bands in high school. One of his bands had a good following in Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse.

Eventually, Gramm formed a band with other musicians from upstate New York called "Black Sheep." The band featured Gramm, Gramm's brother, Ron Rocco, Bruce Turgon and Don Mancuso. The band was the first American act to sign with Chrysalis records- an English record company. They recorded two albums and toured for two years across the United States.



Gramm says that they wanted to write and perform their own songs. They wanted to find their own niche in the upstate New York music scene and eventually the national scene. Gramm says "We didn't want to be just a cover band; we wanted to be distinctive, carve out our own niche. And my dream was to eventually land us a record contract, cut our album and expand our audience beyond upstate New York." Gramm and the other members of Black a Sheep had goals, hopes and aspirations. They dedicated themselves to making those goals come true.

Black Sheep worked hard to write and perform their own music. The band accepted the challenge of writing and performing their own music, but it was not easy. Gramm says "It was a huge struggle at first; it always is when you're a new band. But it was more so for us because we were trying to create a sound that was all our own at a time when club owners and a lot of fans expected local groups to stick to covering the national acts." Black Sheep were going against the grain in their attempt to make their own mark in the music world. They wanted to contribute something that was unique and distinctive.

Black Sheep became popular in cities like Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse. While playing in a Buffalo club, the band met Jim Taylor who had worked for "A&M" records. The company represented acts like Humble Pie and Free, two bands that played music that was similar to Black Sheep. Taylor supported them and helped them to believe that they could succeed in the music industry.

One evening, Black Sheep played a show at a club called "Orange Monkey." The patrons stood the whole time as if they were at a concert. The patrons liked the music so much that they did not sit down and buy drinks. So, the bar owners did not ask Black a Sheep to return. It was clear from their local following, that Black Sheep had a successful future. They were making progress in the local music scene. Their popularity came from the quality of their music.

Eventually, Jim Taylor helped the band play gigs beyond western New York. So, the band's following expanded to include other areas. Soon, Black Sheep became the first American band to sign with Chrysalis Records- a European based record company. Up until this time, Chrysalis records had signed bands from England and other European countries. However, Black Sheep impressed the executives at Chrysalis enough to earn a contract. Gramm says "The game plan called for us to produce a song they could heavily promote and market here in the states, and that wouldn't be followed by a few more singles and an album." Black Sheep had the support that they needed. They had found their musical niche and were becoming more popular.

Black Sheep released their first single entitled "Stick Around." Gramm thought that it was a good single to release because it had a good opening guitar riff by Don Mancuso. It is a catchy song and it represented the band's music well. Gramm says "It was a pretty cool, simplistic song with catchy lyrics." However, Chrysalis would develope financial problems and were unable to promote the song. So, the single was not sent out to enough record stores. Gramm says "People went to record stores in hopes of purchasing it and the album it was from, but there was no album, and in many instances even the single wasn't available." The band had experienced an unexpected road block, but it remained undeterred. It did not give up.

When Chrysalis and Black Sheep parted ways due to Chrysalis' financial problems, the band was signed to a contract by Capitol Records. They recorded two albums with Capitol Records. One album was entitled "Song and Dance", while the other one was called "Encouraging Words." The first album was not promoted well and did not sell well. However, according to Gramm, their second album "was more polished. You could tell we were more focused, the songs held up better and there was an identity, stylistically, that the first album lacked." Their songs from the second album were played on the radio and they began a national tour.

However, their national tour did not last long. After one of the shows, the band drove back to Rochester, New York, and the vehicle carrying the band's equipment went off the side of the road. Thankfully, no one was hurt. However, the band's equipment was ruined in the accident. The band members did not have the money to purchase new equipment. So, the group had to stop touring. Soon after that, Capitol Records decided not to renew the band's record contract. The band's musical hopes were dashed.

One summer in Rochester, Gramm saw a concert involving Mick Jones- the guitarist who would become the founder of the band Foreigner. Gramm gave Jones copies of two of Black Sheep's albums. Later, Jones called Gramm and told him he was founding a band, and wanted Gramm to audition for the role of lead vocalist. Originally, he said "no", but his parents and the other members of Black Sheep encouraged him to audition.

Gramm flew to New York City and sang vocals over a demo tape that the band had recorded. Gramm met Keyboardist Al Greenwood and guitarist Ian McDonald. On the second day, Gramm met Bud Prager - the band's manager. After two days of auditioning, the band informed Gramm that he had the job. Greenwood told Gramm "We knew you were the one after the first two lines you sang the first two days you were here." So, the band Foreigner was born.

Gramm says "The original Foreigner was a sextet with three Brits and three Americans. And that's how we came up with the group's name. Because we had a mix, we said that no matter where we played , in the States or Canada, or abroad, there would always be someone performing on foreign soil." This mix of nationalities became part of Foreigner's identity. However, the most important part of their identity was their good rock and roll music.

Gramm said that Foreigner played well together from the very beginning. They rehearsed 8 hours a day, and then they wrote songs until midnight. When Gramm joined the band, the group had already wrote four songs for their debut album. Gramm helped write more songs for the album.

Thanks to the help of Bud Prager, the band's manager, the group signed a deal with Atlantic records. Gramm says "I was thrilled with the news of our deal with Atlantic because they were one of the heavy hitters in the music business." Gramm's musical career had been rejuvenated by joining Foreigner. Gramm was the voice of a band that would soon become one of the most popular rock bands in the music business.

Their first album produced the hit song "Feels Like the First Time," which appropriately enough was also the first single that they released. The album also produced "Long Way from Home." The album was successful. After the first album was released, Foreigner toured with the Doobie Brothers. Gramm says "During that first tour, we'd play an average from 45 minutes to an hour each show." The band also would play 4 concerts in 5 nights. While the tour was rewarding and fun, it effected Gramm's singing voice. Consequently, as the band experienced more success, Gramm asked management to alter the concert schedule.

As Gramm grew as a vocalist, he learned how to preserve his voice. Gramm says that on day she when the band performed, "I wouldn't t talk during the day, I cut out carbonated drinks, and I stuck to room temperature water." This routine helped Gramm to sing to the best of his ability every night.

Gramm was also writing songs for Foreigner. He was always prepared to write a new song or apply a life lesson or experience to music. Gramm says "As a songwriter , you're always in search of that memorable phrase and theme that will resonate with listeners-words that prompt people to sing the songs out loud. You never know where you might find the inspiration you need, which is why I always carried a notebook with me." Gramm was dedicated to writing and performing music. He did the best he could to help Foreigners thrive and become successful.

In 1978, Foreigner released "Double Vision", their second album. The album featured the title track and the song "Hot Blooded." After this album was released, Foreigner toured as an opening act for Heart. Foreigner had become so popular during the tour, that the concert promoter made Foreigner the headline act. The band members of Heart were understandably upset. However, the tour continued. Foreigner had to adjust their set from 45 minutes to two hours. Foreigner was becoming more popular throughout the country. The band was experiencing a lot of success.

Foreigner's third album was entitled "Head Games." The album sold two million fewer copies than the first two albums. Gramm believes that the songs were good, but not as good as the songs on the first two albums. After touring to promote their third album, Gramm and Mick Jones decided that the band needed some changes.

Jones and Gramm decided to make changes that they believed were in the best interest in the band. Gramm says "We each realized that Foreigner was at a crossroads, and after several long and hard discussions, we decided that we needed to dramatically shake things up and remake the band." So, Gramm reduce the numbers of musicians in the band from 6 to 4. Jones and Gramm asked Ian Mc Donald and Al Greenwood to leave the band.



Foreigner called their next album "4" because it was their fourth album and because there were now four members in the band. Gramm liked the name of the album and the cover of the record. Gramm says "We had the No.4 frozen and placed on our cover. It was simple, but very sharp looking; my favorite cover of all the albums I've done." So, although the band was going through changes, the group was confident about the future.

Atlantic Records put out a press release acknowledging some of the changes that the band was going through. Perhaps the label wanted the fans of the band to be prepared for the different sound and look of the band. However, while the band was going through changes, the sound was still distinctive and good.

After the success of "4", the band members of Foreigner discussed the future of the band. After a long tour, the band wanted a break from recording. So, they would not record their fifth album, "Agent Provacateur" for another 3 years. Atlantic Records was hoping that the band would embark on another tour because they had four albums worth of material. Their shows had good attendance and they were a popular band. So, if they had the energy, another tour made sense.

After the tour promoting "4", the band reassessed it's direction. Gramm wanted Foreigner to remain true to it's rock and roll roots, whereas it appeared that Jones wanted to write and record more ballads. Gramm felt that they may lose their base of fans who wanted the band to perform rock music, whereas Jones may have felt that the band benefited from a variety of songs. It's also possible that the ballads were a priority because they made the band money.

Gramm expressed his concern to Jones. However, Jones maintained that that Foreigner was simply going through a common phase that all bands go through. Gramm disagreed and thought the band was going through permanent changes. Gramm did not agree with those changes.

It was clear to Gramm that Jones had decided that ballads would be a part of the band's future. In fact, "I Want to know what love is", the ballad on the "Agent Provacateur" album, would become one of the band's most successful songs. Gramm, who helped write the song says "although it was his (Jones) idea and he did a lot of work on the song, I devoted a lot of time to it and made some tweaks here and there that helped bring out the soulfulness." Gramm also points out that the choir that the group added to sing back up vocals on the song added a different dimension to the song.

"I Want to Know what Love is" is one of Foreigner's signature songs. It became a mainstay on FM radio and has been heard by millions of people.

Three years after "Agent Provacateur" was released, Foreigner put out an album entitled "Inside Information." The album went platinum, but for the first time in their career the album did not finish in the top five selling albums for the year. Gramm did not contribute to the song writing for this album like he did for the previous albums. He sensed that he was becoming less of a part of the band. Although he was respected as a singer, his writing was not being called upon by the band anymore. Gramm wondered if it was time to move onto other musical ventures.

At this point, Gramm decided to record a solo album entitled "Ready or Not." The album featured the hit song "Midnight Blue." The song made it to No.5 on the billboard chart in 1987, and it "was the most played song on the radio that year." Gramm toured with his own band as an opening act for The Steve Miller Band.

Gramm did not want the music to sound like Foreigner. He wanted the music to have it's own personality and character. Guitarist Neil Lofgren and bassist Bruce Turgon played on the album. Gramm says "I was able to pull together a solid studio band to record the album. In addition to Lofgren's magnificent guitar playing, I relied on Turgon to help in the writing of eight of the 10 songs." Additionally, Gramm's father played a trumpet solo on the song "She's Got to Know." Gramm was glad that his father played trumpet on the album.

In addition to recording albums and playing tours, Gramm also made music videos as a solo artist and as a member of Foreigner. Gramm says "MTV videos were pretty primitive when they started out in the early 1980's. The first ones just showed the musicians on stage performing at a concert. But as time went on, the videos became more and more sophisticated, almost like short films." MTV and VH1 figured prominently in Gramm's career, both as a member of Foreigner and as a solo artist.

The rock and roll lifestyle kept Gramm away from his family. That is the part of the lifestyle that he regrets. However, in the late 1980's Gramm moved back to his home city of Rochester, NY to be close to his friends and family. Additionally, at this time Gramm was dealing with substance abuse issues - a common problem in the rock and roll world.

Gramm had a benign tumor removed from his brain in the late 1990s. Though the tumor was benign, it still effected his memory and thought process. The surgery took a toll on his memory and his thought process. He still toured with Foreigner after the surgery. He showed great courage in touring while he was overcoming the illness. He also shows great courage in overcoming his substance abuse struggle.

After leaving Foreigner, Gramm wanted to record a Christian album. He felt gratitude towards God for helping him to overcome illness and substance abuse struggles. Regarding the album, Gramm says "My references to the Lord were subtle. My intent wasn't to do a bible thumping beat you over the head Christian album. But I did want to convey how God helped me through some pretty difficult times and how he became a driving force in my life." Gramm felt gratitude and thankfulness towards God.

Gramm also feels very proud of his family. Gramm says the following about his two grown sons: "One is a sous chef and has his own restaurant, and the other is a computer wiz who's experiencing with a number of different products." Gramm's family and his faith have helped him to put life into perspective.

In 2013, Gramm and Jones were both inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Gramm was honored by the induction, which recognized his contributions to the Foreigner. Gramm says " I was chosen along with Mick Jones for the music we created with Foreigner, and I was tickled pink when I found out because it was another indication that many of our songs have stood the test of time." Indeed, this is true. Foreigner's songs continue to be played on FM radio stations. Their songs and Gramm's soulfully singing voice continue to be a part of the American musical scene.

Gramm's musical career has featured hardship, challenge and difficulty. However, it has also involved success, achievement and recognition. Gramm's family gave him a foundation that helped him achieve much musical success. He was fortunate to be surrounded by other talented musicians and appreciated by many listeners. The American musical scene is better because of the contributions of Lou Gramm.






Note: All of Lou Gramm's quotes come from his autobiography "Juke Box Hero."

The 50th anniversary of the "Ice Bowl"

50 years ago today, the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers played in the NFL championship game in Lambeu Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won the game 21-17 when quarterback Bart Starr scored on a one yard run. The game was played in below zero weather in one of the coldest games in NFL history. The temperature reached the low point of -13 degrees. The game became known as the "Ice Bowl" because of how cold it was.

It was the second straight time that the Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL championship game. The Packers would go on to defeat the Oakland Raiders 33-14 in the second Super Bowl.

Dan Reeves was a running back for the Cowboys on that day. In 2015, he discussed the game with Jenny Vrentas of Sports Illustrated.When describing how cold it was, Reeves said "I don't know that you can describe it. Probably the best way that people can relate is that the day before, on Saturday, it was 15 degrees, or like going from 70 degrees to 102." The 32 degree difference made it a difficult adjustment for the players. It may have been a particular difficult adjustment for the Cowboys who came from Texas, a warm weather state.

Reeves said that the Cowboys had cotton gloves, but quarterbacks, running backs and receivers did not wear them. Reeves said that the Cowboys wore saran wrap on their feet right above their socks in order to keep their feet warm. However, Reeves said "We did that and that would kind of help, until you made a move or cut and all of a sudden, you'd have a hole in the saran wrap and you'd feel the cold air come in." The Cowboys did their best to manage the cold, but not everything worked.

The ground was frozen that day, which made it difficult for both teams to gain their footing on the field. Vrentas pointed out that the frozen turf inspired the "frozen tundra" label that is still associated with Lambeau Field. Reeves said "You could hardly stand up. It was just very difficult to keep your footing." Both teams fought through the frozen conditions as best they could. Both teams competed against each other and the elements.

The rivalry between the Packers and the Cowboys was cemented that day. The previous year the Packers defeated the Cowboys 34-27 in the NFL championship game. The Cowboys were stopped at the goal line near the end of the game. So, the rivalry had started before the "Ice Bowl."

Regarding the rivalry between the two teams, Reeves said "You did your own scheduling back then, and Coach Landry and Coach Lombardi had been on the same staff in New Yor; they were good friends, so we always played in presason. They were a good football team, and that's where rivalries come from, when you have two good teams that are very competitive. And Coach Landry and Coach Lombardi were both very competitive." The rivalry between the Packers and the Cowboys has been one of the best rivalries in the history of the NFL. The rivalry is symbolized by the "Ice Bowl."

It's difficult for a team to play in harsh and cold conditions. However, its more difficult when the team loses. The winning team at least has the consolation of the victory. Regarding the loss, Reeves said "It was very disappointing. We had the lead in the fourth quarter, and then to lose it at the end of the game, it was very disappointing. We had been disappointed the year before, felt like we should have scored to tie the game the year before. We lost two close ball games for the right to go to the first and second Super Bowls, so it was very disappointing." Sport is filled with exileration in victory and disappointment in loss. One team will be happy, while the other will be disappointed. The Cowboys were disappointed after both NFL championship games against Green Bay. However, their effort was solid. The Cowboys of 1966-1968 are still remembered as a good football team.

Packers offensive lineman Jerry Kramer made the block against Cowboy defensive lineman Jethro Pugh that enabled Starr to score the winning touchdown. When speaking to Bob Fox of bleacherreport.com, Kramer said that he felt responsible for the play because he had suggested to Coach Lombardi that the Packers call the play during the game. Kramer said "I mean I had suggested the play on Thursday. It seemed like the play was squarely on my shoulders...I knew that to be successful as a blocker that I had to keep my head up and my eyes open." Kramer knew his responsibility as an offensive lineman. He successfully fulfilled his responsibility, which helped Starr to score the winning touchdown.

Referee Norm Schachter blew the whistle to start the game. He did not blow the whistle again. A sound barely came out and Schachter said the "whistles froze on us." They did not use whistles the rest of the game. They simply yelled or raised their voices when they wanted to get the attentions of the players.

Green Bay's Don Chandler kicked the ball off to start the game. Simms Stokes ran the ball to the Cowboy 33 after briefly losing his footing. On the Cowboys' first play from scrimmage, quarterback Don Meredith passed the ball to a wide open Bob Hayes who caught it for a 10 yard gain. The Cowboys tried two running plays to Reeves, who struggled to gain traction on the frozen field. A pass to a wide receiver failed as the receiver slipped on a pass that was underthrown by Meredith. After four plays, the Cowboys punted.



On Green Bay's first play from scrimmage, Running back Donny Anderson fumbled, but the Packers recovered. Throughout the first drive Green Bay tried a mix of running plays and passing plays, which Bart Starr said was their game plan. Anderson ran well and caught a pass during the drive. The Cowboys also had a penalty for pass interference and one for defensive holding. The Packers seemed more ready for the game than the Cowboys. One Cowboy player said that the Packers were thinking about football, while the Cowboys were thinking about the cold. Green Bay had the football first and goal from the nine yard line. On second and goal from the 8, Starr threw a touch down pass to Boyd Dowder. After the extra point by Chandler, the Packers lead 7-0.

On Dallas' second possession, the Cowboys once again struggled to move the football. Running back Don Perkins ran the ball fairly well on a few plays, but was eventually stopped for no gain on a second down play. On third down, Meredith threw to Reeves who slipped and fell on an underthrown pass by Meredith. The Cowboys once again punted the football.

Green Bay's running back Ben Wilson gained 13 yards. Then, on a play action pass, Starr connected with Dowler for a 43 yard touch down pass over the middle. Just like that, Green Bay lead Dallas 14-0.

After the ensuing kickoff, the Cowboys took over at their 40 yard line. Meredith, who said that the cold made the football seem bigger, threw an interception to Packer cornerback Herb Adderly. The announcers noticed that Meredith's passes did not have the same "zip" as they usually did. Clearly, the Cowboys were struggling with the cold more than the Packers in the early going of the game.

Green Bay took over in Dallas territory. They made it into field goal range. However, eventually, Dallas' defensive lineman George Andre sacked Starr all the way back to the Cowboy 42 yard line on third down, which knocked Green Bay out of field goal range. This play gave the Cowboys a chance to come back.

Both offenses struggled for the rest of the first half. Dallas' struggled in part because the conditions neutralized the speed of Bob Hayes. He struggled to gain traction on the frozen field and the Cowboys could not pass deep to Hayes. They tried screen plays and short passes to Hayes. Also, the Packers noticed that Hayes kept his hands in his pockets when the Cowboys ran the football, but took his hands out of his pockets when Dallas passed. So, this tipped off the Green Bay defense what play Dallas was running. When Hayes had his hands out of his pockets, the Packers knew that the Cowboys were passing the football.

Green Bay had the ball in its own territory with under five minutes to play in the first half. The Cowboys' defense made a play that would keep Dallas in the game going into half time. As Starr went back to pass, Cowboy defensive end Willie Townes sacked Starr who fumbled the football. The Cowboys' George Andrie recovered the football and ran 7 yards for the Cowboys' first touchdown. The Cowboys were back in the game. Danny Villanueva kicked the extra point and Dallas had narrowed the score to 14-7.



After Green Bay and Dallas both struggled on their ensuing possessions, Dallas punted to Green Bay. The Packers' Willie Wood fumbled after calling for a fair catch. Dallas' Phil Clark recovered at the Green Bay 17. The Cowboys could not move the football, so they settled for a 21 yard field goal by Villanueva to close out the scoring for the first half. Despite not getting a first down in the second quarter, Dallas had scored 10 points in the final 5 minutes of the half. The deficit had been narrowed to four points.

At the beginning of the second half, the Cowboys shut down the Green Bay offense and forced the Packers to punt. The Cowboys played well offensively to begin the second half. Reeves took a swing pass and gained 7 yards on the first play. Perkins ran for 8 yards on the next play. This was the first Cowboy first down since the first quarter. Meredith threw a pass over the middle to Frank Clarke for another first down. The Cowboys utilized quick pitches and sweeps to gain yards to begin the second half. However, after gaining yards on a run, Meredith fumbled inside the Packer 15 yard line. The football was recovered by Green Bay.

In the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Packers continued to sputter offensively. The icy conditions continued to effect the offensive lineman and the running backs. The timing for the blocking and rushing patterns was off all day for both teams. Green Bay offensive lineman Forrest Gregg said "I remember how hard it was keeping your balance." Gregg said if an offensive lineman slipped, the defensive player could have an easier path to the quarterback. All it took was a momentary slip, and the defensive lineman was right next to the quarterback.

After Green Bay punted, Dallas took over at the Green Bay 46 yard line. Reeves ran for 11 yards. Then Meredith faked a pass to the left and threw to Reeves for an 3 yard gain. However, on the next play, Meredith was sacked for a 9 yard loss. Villanueva tried a 47 yard field goal, which fell short. Willie Wood fielded the missed field goal and ran to the Green Bay 27 yard line.

On the next possession, the Green Bay offense continued to struggle. The Dallas defense played well and stopped Green Bay from moving the football. Dallas recorded their 7th sack of the game and Green Bay had to punt. Now both defenses were playing well and both offenses were struggling.

On the last play of the third quarter, Don Perkins gained 5 yards. The third quarter was over. Despite outplaying Green Bay for the quarter, Dallas could not score. They still trailed the Packers by four points.

However, the Cowboys would finally score on the first play of the fourth quarter. Reeves threw a half back option pass to a Cowboy receiver for a 50 yard touchdown. Just like that, Dallas had their first lead of the game. Villanueva added the extra point. Dallas 17 Green Bay 14.

After taking the lead, the Cowboy defense continued to play well. However, Meredith struggled to communicate with his teammates in the huddle because it was so cold. Meredith's cheeks were so cold that he could not form audible words. At this time, the Cowboys continued to run the football and play a conservative offense. They hoped their defense could contain the Green Bay offense.

Dallas punted the football to Green Bay and a Cowboy player grabbed the face mask of Wood, who returned the punt. The infraction resulted in a 15 yard penalty, which gave the Packers the football at the Dallas 47 yard line.

Weather conditions were getting worse. The ground was so hard that the players were struggling to stand and run. It became easier to slip and fall. However, both teams continued to put forth maximum effort.

On first down from the Cowboy 47, Starr completed a pass to Dowler for a first down. On second down, Cowboy linebacker batted down a pass attempt by Starr. Starr tried a screen pass on third down to Chandler which fell incomplete. Chandler missed a 40 yard field goal.



With 9:44 left in regulation, Dallas took over at their own 20 yard line. The Cowboys tried running the football probably because the weather conditions were so bad. On first down, Perkins ran for 5 yards. Two more runs for Perkins did not get many yards. However, a Green Bay player was offsides and Dallas had a first down. On the next play, Reeves gained 5 yards. However, on the next play Reeves fell in the backfield and was tackled. Meredith completed a pass to Clarke for a first down. Eventually, the Cowboy offense stalled and they had to settle for a punt. Villanueva's punt was returned by Wood to the Green Bay 32 yard line.

The Packers were about to begin one of the most famous drives in NFL history. The fans and the television viewing audience were about to witness one of the most compelling and memorable drives in the history of the league. Two teams who had struggled and tussled on the "frozen tundra" of Lambeau field had one more challenge ahead of themselves.

With 4:52 remaining, Green Bay took over for it's final drive of the day. Defensive player Ray Nietske came off of the field and said "don't let me down" to the Packers' offense. Packers' offensive lineman Forrest Gregg said "I don't think there was any doubt in anybody's mind that we had to (score) or it was over for us...I don't know that the execution under those conditions will ever be surpassed." It is one of the most memorable drives in NFL history because it occurred under very difficult conditions in an NFL title game. The stakes were high and those conditions were difficult. The combinations of the stakes and the conditions made the moment unforgettable.

Green Bay began the drive with a double fake hand off and a pass to Anderson for 6 yards. Then Mercein ran for a first down. On the next play Starr passed to Dowler for a first down. After three plays, Green Bay was moving the football. They had developed a rythym in the cold weather,while the Dallas defense was playing on their heals. However, on the next play, Dallas showed some promise, as Willie Townes sacked Starr for a loss. Maybe the Cowboys' defense would be able to stall Green Bay's drive.

However, Green Bay regrouped as Starr completed a pass to Anderson for a 12 yard gain. Dallas was double teaming the wide receivers in the hope that Green Bay would run or pass to the running backs. Dallas wanted Green Bay to take time off of the clock. Then Mercein caught a 19 yard pass from Starr to get the football to the Dallas 11 yard line. Next, Mercein took a hand off from Starr and ran the football to the Dallas 2 yard line.



Green Bay had the football, first and goal, at the Dallas 2 yard line with 54 seconds remaining. They had potentially four downs to score a touchdown. On first down, Starr handed the ball to Anderson who dove to the Dallas one yard line. On second down, the Packers tried the same play. However, Anderson simply got back to the line of scrimmage. On both plays, Anderson lost his footing and could not score.

Green Bay called a time out with 16 seconds left in regulation. Starr went to the sidelines to talk to Coach Lombardi. They decided to run "31 wedge", a play that had been suggested by offensive lineman Jerry Kramer on Thursday at a film session. Mercein was supposed to get the football and run between the center and the guard. Everyone on the team, including Mercein expected him to get the football.

Instead, Starr decided to run a quarterback sneak without telling the other members of the team. Starr described why he chose to try the sneak: "It was our lead play on short yardage in a down and distance situation like this." Starr was concerned that the running backs could not gain traction on the frozen field. He expressed his concern to Coach Lombardi. Starr said "Coach, I'm up against the center, and I can shuffle and lunge my way into the end zone." So, Starr felt that he could get good footing on the play. He was confident enough to try the quarterback sneak. He needed to score because it would have been difficult to find the time to set up another play if this one did not succeed. This was the play of the game. The difference between winning and losing would be determined by this play.

Starr lunged behind the block of star offensive lineman Jerry Kramer. He found an opening which was created by the offensive line and scored the winning touchdown with 13 seconds left on the clock. The most memorable drive in NFL title history had ended with a successful quarterback sneak. Bart Starr had scored the go ahead touchdown in dramatic and memorable fashion.

Don Chandler kicked the extra point, and Green Bay lead Dallas 21-17 with 13 seconds left. Chandler kicked off and the Dallas returner stayed in the end zone for a touch back. Meredith threw two incomplete passes and the game was over. The Green Bay Packers had defeated the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 in the 1967 NFL Championship. They would beat the Oakland Raiders 33-14 in Super Bowl II two weeks later.

Both teams earned respect during this NFL championship game. The Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers competed against each other and the weather. As the game wore on, the conditions worsened and the challenge for both teams became greater. Both teams walked off the field knowing they had given their all. In the end, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 to win the 1967 NFL championship game - one of the most memorable games in NFL history.

The NFL has had several dynasties, but one stands out from the rest

A dynasty in sports happens when a team wins several championships over a relatively short period of time. That period of time is often 10 years or so. In the NFL it is convenient to say certain teams are teams of the decade. When a team is considered the best team of that decade, it can be assigned the status of a dynasty.

The NFL started in 1920's. The Akron Aros won the first NFL championship. The Canton Bulldogs won the NFL championships in 1922 and 1923. They moved to Cleveland and were renamed the Cleveland Bulldogs in 1924 and won another championship in their first year in Cleveland. The Canton/Cleveland Bulldogs were the team of the 1920's.

One overlooked dynasty is the Green Bay Packers from 1929 to 1939. During that time the Packers won 5 championships (1929,1930,1931,1936,1939). They are rightly seen as the team of the 1930's.

From 1932 to 1946, the Chicago Bears won 5 championships (1932,1933,1940,1941,1946). They were seen as the dominant team of that time period.

The Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions each won 3 championships in the 1950's. The Browns were lead by quarterback Otto Graham and running back Marion Motley. The Lions were lead by quarterback Bobby Layne and running back Doak Walker.The Browns and the Lions were the two best teams during the 1950's.

In the 1970's the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys competed for NFL supremacy. The Cowboys appeared in 5 Super Bowls and won 2 of them. The Steelers won 4 Super Bowls in 4 appearances. The Steelers became the team of the 1970's by virtue of their two victories over the Cowboys in Super Bowl X and Super Bowl XIII. The Steelers were known for their "steel curtain defense" and their excellent offense.

The San Francisco 49ers dominated the 1980's as they won 4 Super Bowls. The 49ers were lead by hall of fame quarterback Joe Montana and hall of fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Together they became one of the most prolific quarterback/wide receiver tandems in NFL history.

In the 1990's the Dallas Cowboys won 3 Super Bowls in 4 seasons. The Buffalo Bills also played in 4 straight Super Bowls, but were unable to win. The San Francisco 49ers were also a strong team. The Cowboys had one of the most complete teams in the history of the NFL. They were lead by Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. They also had an excellent offensive line and a very good defense. Additionally, their special teams were excellent. The Cowboys of the early to mid 1990's were one of the most complete teams in NFL history.

The salary cap era has been dominated by the New England Patriots. With Bill Belicheck as coach and Tom Brady as quarterback, the Patriots have appeared in 7 Super Bowls since 2002. They have won 5 of them. Their only losses have been to the New York Giants. The Patriots have been the most consistent team in the NFL for the last 16 years. They have deftly managed the salary cap to remain competitive every year.

All of these teams are known for their success and consistency. However, no team stands out more than the 1960's Green Bay Packers. They are the most memorable dynasty in the history of the NFL. Between 1960 and 1967, the Packers appeared in 6 NFL championships, winning 5 of them. They also won the first two Super Bowls in 1966 and 1967. The Packers of the 1960's remain the model NFL franchise.

Vince Lombardi was hired in 1958 to turn around the Packers. Lombardi was a 45 year old offensive coach for the New York Giants. He had waited a long time to become a head coach. He wanted the opportunity to show people how successful he could be. He had a wealth of knowledge about the game and he wanted to prove that he could run his own team and make his own team successful.

The year before he was offered an opportunity to coach the Philadelphia Eagles. He considered the offer, but decided it was not the right job for him. He showed interest in the opening at Army, but Army usually hired graduates of West Point, which disqualaified Lombardi from serious consideration.

However, when the Packers job became available in 1958, it proved to be the right fit for Lombardi. The Packers offered Lombardi a 5 year offer to coach the team. Lombardi accepted the offer even though his wife had initial misgivings because she had always lived in or near New York City. Moving two children to Green Bay, Wisconsin would be a challenge for Mr. and Mrs. Lombardi. However, over time both Vince and his wife adjusted to the change.

After Lombardi accepted the offer, he met with the board of directors of the Green Bay Packers. The Packers are the only major sports team that does not have an actual owner. Instead, they are owned by the community and run by a board of directors. It makes the Packers unique in the history of American sports.

John Eisenberg in his book "That First Season" chronicles the first season of Lombardi in Green Bay. Eisenberg wrote about the first meeting between Lombardi and the board of directors of the Green Bay Packers. At the meeting with the board of directors, Lombard was forthright and direct. He said "I want it understood: I'm in complete command here. I expect full cooperation from you. You will get full cooperation from me in return. I've never been associated with a loser and I don't expect to be now. You have my confidence. I want yours. I'm not against anything that will help the Packers." His initial statement showed the self confidence teams need in a head coach. It also shows a willingness on his part to help the team in whatever way is possible. He showed self confidence and respect at the initial meeting. This self confidence and respect won over the board of directors. They realized that hiring Lombardi was the right decision.

Lombardi proved to be a very efficient coach. He did not waste time and he did not allow the players to waste time and energy. Every practice and every activity had a purpose. Eisenberg points out that Lombardi told the board of directors "I hope to hold workouts down to an hour and a half, an hour and fifteen minutes if possible. The players will know exactly what they're supposed to at every minute." Lombardi wanted to account for every practice and every minute. He had a purpose for everything they did at practice. Filling the practices with quality time was paramount to Lombardi. If the players did what was expected of them at practice, then they could do what was expected of them during the games. The Packers would play liked they practiced. If they had efficient practices, then they would have efficient games.

Lombardi was not only demanding of the players, he had high standards for the coaches as well. According to Eisenberg, he told the coaches "I'm a perfectionist. I'm going to demand your best. There's absolutely no excuse for anything other than that." Such comments strongly encouraged the coaches to put forth their best effort. The players and coaches were accountable to Lombardi, who in turn was accountable to the board of directors and the fans of the Green Bay Packers.

Before the first season started, Lombardi and his staff watched all of the games from the previous season on tape. He wanted to see what the players were like and what strategy was best for the future. Lombardi decided to build his team around a power running game. He called Paul Hornung, who up until that time had played multiple positions for the Packers. Lombardi wanted Hornung to be a full time running back. Hornung would be a big part of the Packers' running game. After the first phone conversation with Lombardi, Hornung experienced a renewed interest in football. He experienced a renewed commitment to the game. He would be ready to contribute to the Packers' success.

Next, Lombardi called his 24 year old quarterback, Barr Starr. They had a good conversation, and Starr told his wife that the new coach sounded very organized. Regarding Starr, Eisenberg said "No Packer worked harder than Starr....Blessed with a quick mind, he easily memorized playbooks, mastered the nuances of different offensive systems, and was always ready to play." Every team needs a smart quarterback who can direct the offense. A good quarterback is like a coach on the field. Ironically, Starr himself, would one day coach the Packers. He was the right quarterback for the Packers at this time. He and Lombardi would work well together in leading the Packers to success.

Lombardi opened up the first training camp with the words "Three laps around the goal posts." Lombardi's words set the tone for a team that had previously lacked discipline and focus. Starr, in particular, had been concerned about the team's previous lack of discipline and attention to detail.However, it was clear to the coaches and the players that Lombardi's Packers would be different.

Before the season started, the Packers traded for Emlen Tunnell of the New York Giants, who was the first African American man to play for the New York Giants. While the league was slow to accept racial diversity, the New York Giants were leaders in this area. Lombardi respected every person, liked Tunnell and felt that he could help the Packers. Regarding Lombardi's commitment to racial diversity, Tom Bartsch says "Lombardi began getting what he wanted by assessing the Packers' current roster and deciding who could and could not help the team win. This required a man of vision who knew what his team would look like, and how an individual player's skill would fit into the overall scheme. That Lombardi did so without predjudice set him apart. He wanted the best football players, not the best white football players, or black football players, or blue football players. He didn't care about the color of a player's skin. He cared about a player's character and ability." Lombardi benefitted from the good example of the New York Giants in the area of racial diversity. His personal faith also helped him to be against racism. In any event, Lombardi respected each player and wanted to include all players who could help make the Packers a better team.

Eisenberg emphasizes that Lombardi wanted the Packers to be in better shape in order to meet the demands of football. Lombardi believed that the Packers would have an advantage if they were in better shape. He incorporated exercises before practices to help the Packers to improve their conditioning.

Eisenberg says that Lombardi lead the team through a series of calisthenics. He guided them through "push-ups, sit ups, and jumping jacks, then had them run in place." Lombardi wanted the players to get the most out of practice and to be ready for the games. He wanted players who would not tire during the games.

After calisthenics, the players worked with their position coaches for half an hour. Eisenberg says that "Each group moved through drills focusing on fundamentals, running, throwing, catching, and blocking." Lombardi's emphasis on the fundamentals made the players less likely to make key mistakes during the games. As the saying goes, "more games are loss than they are won." In other words, mistakes sometime prevent teams from winning. The team that wins is the one that makes the fewest mistakes.

The night before the first full squad practice, Lombardi addressed the players. According to Eisenberg, Lombardi said "Gentlemen, we're going to have a football team here, and we're going to win some games. Do you know why? You are going to have confidence in me and my system. By being alert, you are going to make fewer mistakes than your opponents. By working harder, you are going to out-execute , out block, and out tackle every team that comes your way." Lombardi's self confidence became contagious. Through Lombardi's assertive, consistent and unapologic leadership, the Packers developed more confidence in themselves. Lombardi expected them to be more focused than their opponents and to play better on every play in every facet of the game.

Lombardi also gave the players a curfew and explained they would be fined if they broke the curfew. Lombardi believed that discipline off the field lead to more discipline on the field. He believed if the players kept their curfew, it would help the team to practice and play better.

As a head coach, Lombardi also saw himself as a teacher of the game of football. Eisenberg says "In the evenings, Lombardi stood at a blackboard and slowly introduced his offense, painstakingly explaining every player's role on every snap." Lombardi's attention to detail helped him to be a good coach and teacher. Since he was attentive to every detail, the players also became more attentive and focused.

The Packers lost the 1960 NFL championship game to the Philadelphia Eagles 17-13. The Packers lost despite outgaining the Eagles in yards from scrimmage 401-296. The Packers also had a 22-13 advantage in first downs. However, Hornung missed a field goal in the first quarter and Lombardi elected to go for it and missed on fourth down twice instead of kicking field goals. It was the only time the Packers would lose an NFL championship game under Lombardi.

In 1961, the Packers beat the Giants for the NFL championship game 37-0. The game was played in Wisconsin during the day on New Years Eve in 20 degree weather. Hornung lead the way for the Packers as he scored a touchdown, kicked three field goals and kicked three extra points.

In the 1962 NFL championship game, the Packers once again defeated the Giants. However, this time the score was much closer, 16-7. Hornung was injured for this game,but right guard Jerry Kramer filled in as a kicker and booted three field goals and one extra point. The Green Bay Packers had now been in three straight NFL championships, and they had won two in a row. Lombardi's transformation of the Packers was in full swing.

The Packers were unable to win their third straight NFL championship in 1963. They had to play for third place in the "playoff bowl" in 1963 and 1964. Lombardi hated having to coach in that game, because he believed first place was the only thing that mattered. He believed that first place alone was acceptable for the Packers. They won the "play off bowl" in 1963 and they lost the game in 1964.

In 1965, the Packers were back in the NFL championship game. They beat the Browns 23-12 behind three field goals by Don Chandler, a rushing touchdown by Paul Hornung and a touch down pass by Bart Starr. After a two year absence, the Packers were once again world champions. This was their third NFL championship with Lombardi as coach.

Before the 1966 season, the NFL and AFL merged into one entity. The winner of the AFL playoffs and NFL playoffs played each other in the first Super Bowl. The Packers defeated the Chiefs 35-10 to win the first Super Bowl. Max McGee, the star of the day, had 7 receptions for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns - including the first touchdown in Super Bowl history. The Packers had added to their legacy with a victory in Super Bowl I.

Jerry Kramer, the star offensive lineman kept a journal of the 1967 season- the last season that Lombardi coached the Packers. The journal depicts the confidence the Packers had in their coach and in themselves. In the preseason the Packers defeated the Browns 30-21. However, they trailed 14-0 early. Nevertheless, Kramer's journal reflected the confidence the Packers had in themselves even when they were down 14-0. Kramer said "Some people thought we were in trouble, but we knew we were going to win. We go into every game we play knowing we're going to win. And we always do. We never lose a game. Sometimes, of course, the clock runs out while the other team still has more points than us, but we know that the game isn't really over, that if we kept playing we'd end up ahead." The Packers viewed themselves as winners. Lombardi's confidence was contagious. Kramer's words show that the Packers could not accept defeat.

On September 10th, Kramer wrote "Obviously, I spend a lot of time thinking about defensive tackles. Football is a team game, but especially for the linemen and the receivers, there's a dramatic and important, individual game within the game. To help your team succeed, as a team, you have to succeed as an individual." Kramer expressed the high standard that he had as a player. Football is a series of individual challenges. When a team's individual players successfully meet their challenges, then they help the team to win. Kramer understood his challenges as an offensive lineman. Many, if not all of the Packers, understood their individual assignments. This helped them to become the best team of the 1960's.

In 1967, the Packers were trying to win their third straight NFL championship. According to Kramer, a week before their opening game Lombardi said the following to the Packers: "Gentlemen, no team in the history of the National Football League has ever won three straight world championships. If you succeed, you will never forget this year for the rest of their lives. Gentlemen, this is the beginning of the big push." Lombardi helped the Packers to understand what was at stake. He helped them understand what a major accomplishment three straight world championships would be.
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Although the Packers were well coached and they gave maximum effort, they still had struggles. On October 2nd, Kramer wrote "Bart's had such a frustrating season. He's had nine passes intercepted; most years he doesn't give up that many interceptions in a season. Until today, I didn't realize how frustrated Bart was, how intense he was." The Packer players aimed to be the best they could. They were driven and motivated to be the best. Like all teams, they had their struggles and players became frustrated.

On October 3rd, Kramer wrote about how concerned Lombardi was with their inconsistent play. Despite the Packers' undefeated start, Lombardi was concerned about their performance. Kramer said "Coach Lombardi seemed more disturbed than angry during our meeting this morning. He said there's a general lack of enthusiasm on the club, a lack of desire, something he can't quite out a finger on." Coach Lombardi had such high standards. Even though the Packers had not lost a game, he was still concerned about the team's play.

While the Packers were motivated to win every game, they also had a human side. The team had prayer meetings for the players and the players prayed for themselves and others. Kramer said "Personally, I enjoy the chance to pray before a game. I have two special prayers of my own: 'Don't let me make a fool of myself' and 'Don't let anybody get hurt.' I rarely pray for victory, but if we're in a big game, I sometimes say 'I don't like to ask you this, Lord, but...'. So, despite their toughness and strength, the Packers did not want players hurt. They wanted to win, but not inflict injury on their opponents.

While coach Lombardi could be tough on the players, he was also aware of the progress the team was making. On October 12, Kramer wrote "Coach said this morning that our timing is coming along, that our halfbacks are starting to hit the holes a little better. He said the whole program is beginning to escalate, that were moving toward our peak." Coach Lombardi noticed the team's flaws and their strengths. He was aware of the team's progress and their need to improve even more. This awareness helped him guide the Packers to their titles and accomplishments. Awareness is an important quality in a coach. A coach needs to se the team's strengths and weaknesses. A coach needs to know what is working and not working. A coach needs to help a team maintain what is working and improve what is not working.

Despite, their accomplishments, the Packers at times doubted themselves. On October 19th, Kramer wrote "I'm pretty certain that we don't have any real problems, but I'm not absolutely certain. A little doubt's creeping into my mind. I'm starting to question my own ability, my teammate's ability. I'm wondering, most of all, how good a team we've really got. I think a lot of the other guys are asking themselves the same questions. No one's saying anything out loud, but I can feel it, I can sense it." Despite their hard work and dedication, the Packers were still uncertain if they were good enough to win another championship. While the doubt was there, they continued to work and prepare for games. Their effort never waned.

On October 22nd, the Packers trailed the Giants 14-0. However, they came back and played well the rest of the game. Regarding the Packers' second half performance, Kramer said "Every play worked in the second half, everything we tried, particularly through the left side of the Giant line." They came back and defeated the Giants 48-21. After their victory, the Packers celebrated. Kramer said "We hadn't celebrated so hard in years. It was an indication that we were all a little more concerned about our football team than we wanted to let on, that, without saying anything, we were really beginning to wonder, beginning to doubt. The Giant game made us feel a lot better." Though the Packers had doubts, they overcame their doubts through a good performance against the Giants. Teams have challenges, but good teams overcome them. The 1967 Packers were a good team.

On November 5th, the Packers visited the Baltimore Colts. The Colts won the game 13-10. Kramer said "The locker room was awfully quiet afterward. Everyone felt disgusted with the way we'd lost the game." Despite the loss, the team really appreciated how they had been prepared by coach Lombardi for the game. Kramer recounted words spoken by Bart Starr: 'You know it, Jerry, and you know it, Max, but perhaps the young guys don't: This man is one great coach. He's got a brilliant mind. He prepares us better for a football game than any other team in the National Football League. Going into the game against St.Louis, we knew exactly what we could do, what we couldn't do,how to do it. The same thing today. I've never seen a more complete book on a team than Coach Lombardi had on Baltimore. It was really a beautiful thing to see." Even in defeat, the Packers realized that Lombardi adequately prepared them for the game. They realized that they were the most prepared team in the NFL.

On November 9th, Kramer quoted one of Lombardi's best sayings. Kramer said "Lombardi offered us another one of his sayings today. 'The greatest accomplishment' he said, 'is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.' This saying emphasized the importance of perseverance and effort. In sports, individuals and teams, need to continually rise to the occasion. Teams and individuals need to consistently work to overcome obstacles and difficulties. Under Lombardi's leadership, the Packers were able to do this often.

On November 12th, the Packers defeated the Browns 55-7. Kramer said "Everything, and everybody, worked for us." Sometimes a team is so prepared that the game plan seems perfect. Sometimes a team is so prepared that a team cannot be stopped or slowed down. In early November, the Packers were building momentum.

On November 15th, as the Packers prepared for the San Francisco 49ers, Kramer reflected upon the Packers victory over the Browns. Kramer said "Our performance in the Cleveland game meant a lot to me. It showed how well we could face a real challenge - the Browns had been leading their division- and it showed how well we could bounce back from defeat, even though our first string running backs were out with injuries." This victory showed the resilience of the Packers. They were able to come back from a difficult defeat. They were able to beat a tough opponent.

The Packers would go onto to defeat the 49ers, Bears and Vikings before finishing their seasons with losses to the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburg Steelers. The Packers finished 9-4-1. They were going to the playoffs and hoped to play in the second Super Bowl after winning the first one the year before.

The Packers would defeat the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL championship game for the second straight year. It was their third straight NFL championship overall. The game against Dallas was played in below zero weather, in what would later be called "The Ice Bowl." The game was won in the closing minute on a one yard quarterback sneak by Bart Starr.

After defeating the Cowboys in the NFL championship game, the Packers met the Oakland Raiders in the second Super Bowl. The game was played on January 14th, 1968 in the Orange Bowl in Miami Florida. The Packers defeated the Oakland Raiders 33-14 to win their second straight Super Bowl. The Packers had put an exclamation point on their decade of dominance.

After the game, Lombardi congratulated the players and conveyed to the team how proud he was of them and their accomplishments.Kramer basked in the moment. He wrote "I wanted to keep my uniform on as long as I possibly could." Another successful season had concluded for the Green Bay Packers and Kramer wanted to appreciate the moment.

In the almost 100 year history of the NFL many teams have striven for excellence. However, no team reached excellence more often and more consistently than the Green Bay Packers of the 1960's.