Review Of All American: The Rise and Fall of Jim Thorpe

All American: The Rise and Fall of Jim Thorpe by Bill Crawford

Review by C. Douglas Baker

All American: The Rise and Fall of Jim Thorpe is an interesting biography of the greatest athlete of the 20th Century, albeit with some flaws. Thorpe, a Sac and Fox Indian, grew up on a reservation with a tough father and mother.

He was placed in a number of boarding schools and kept running away, but did finally wind up in his early teens at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The boarding school, dedicated to the education and acculturation of Indian youth into white society, is where Thorpe came under the tutelage of Glen Scobey “Pop” Warner, who helped coach and guide him in track and football.

Thorpe’s biggest claim to fame was the infamous gold medals he won in the pentathlon and decathlon of the 1912 Olympics, thereafter being proclaimed the greatest athlete in the world. He was also a football star for the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, helping the team beat such notable gridiron institutions as Harvard, Penn, and Army.

While at Carlisle, Jim Thorpe played “summer baseball” being paid to play on semi-professional baseball teams in North Carolina. Thorpe had a limited source of income from his holdings in Oklahoma so made a little spending money playing baseball in the summer. This was a very common practice for college athletes at the time.

Given the choice of making money doing hard labor on a farm or playing ball, it wasn’t a tough choice. Unfortunately, this created a huge scandal because of the odious Olympic definition of “amateur athlete” and Thorpe was stripped of his medals after being sold out (according to Crawford) by Pop Warner and James Sullivan, the head of the Amateur Athletic Union that controlled the Olympics in America. These medals were later reinstated long after Thorpe’s death.

In addition to being a biography of Thorpe and telling us a bit about his early life and his athletic career at Carlisle, the book has a theme, the exploitation of amateur athletes, like Thorpe.

Amateur athletics bring in large amounts of money for coaches, schools, and hangers on, money that is made on the athletic prowess of these “amateur athletes.” Meanwhile the athletes themselves get nothing (or maybe a little under the table) and in fact their lives are carefully controlled by those profiting from their efforts.

The last chapter is an indictment, somewhat, of the Olympics and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the exploitation of college and amateur athletes.

Overall this is a fine book providing a clear picture of Jim Thorpe, Pop Warner, and the real situation around Thorpe being unfairly stripped of his Olympic medals. The primary flaw of the book is it covers very little of Thorpe’s professional athletic career in football and baseball, which was disappointing. It is also a bit stilted in writing style. These are minor flaws as the entire work is definitely worth reading.

 

All American: The Rise and Fall of Jim Thorpe

Great Biography of Vince Lombardi

When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi by David Maraniss
Review by C. Douglas Baker

It is refreshing to see a serious sports biography about a legend. So many sports and entertainment biographies are puff pieces and not worth the paper they’re printed on. This biography is well researched, well written, insightful, serious and entertaining. Being an avid football fan I found the biography extremely informative about not just Vince Lombardi, but the Packer dynasty and football in general. I learned a great deal from this book.

Maraniss does an excellent job on many fronts. He puts Lombardi in his historical context, drawing on the local and national climate and culture of the times which brings a greater understanding of the man himself. He also shows the strain it takes to be a successful football coach at all levels, so we need not wonder why so many coaches today burnout (not to mention the toll it takes on the family). His descriptions of the Packers’ well known players like Max McGee and Paul Hornug, to name a few, are also insightful and let us know that players today aren’t all that much different from players in the past. The press is just more apt to report about their misbehavior.
Also his description of major games in football history and the story of the Packer’s glory years are superb.

This is a must read for football fans. But everyone, football fan or not, will like this biography of an American icon.

When Pride Still Mattered : A Life Of Vince Lombardi

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 and Four Deserving People Left Out

Since the NFL Hall of Fame Class of 2009 was announced I thought I’d make a few brief observations about the inductees.

Bruce Smith, Defensive End
Buffalo Bills 1985-1999 and Washington Redskins 2000-2003

Bruce Smith was a shoe in to make the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He was that rare defensive lineman who could literally dominate a game from the defensive side of the ball. You simply do not see many defensive linemen who have such a monumental impact on a game as Bruce Smith. He fits right in with the late, great Reggie White.

Bruce Smith was selected as NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice, in 1990 and 1996. He also holds the NFL sack record with 200 (although Deacon Jones may quibble with that since they didn’t count sacks during his career).

My greatest memories of Bruce Smith were watching him literally take games over from his defensive end spot. At times it was simply amazing to see what a force he was on the defensive side of the ball. He made the entire talented Buffalo defense better than what it otherwise would have been. It is a shame the Buffalo Bills, losers of four Super Bowls, didn’t snag at least one given the talent they put on the field. Bruce Smith definitely deserves the honor of being selected to the Hall of Fame.

Rod Woodson, Cornerback and Free Safety
Pittsburgh Steelers 1987-1996, San Francisco 49′ers 1997, Baltimore Ravens 1008-2001, Oakland Raiders 2002-2003

I love Rod Woodson and he is another fabulous defensive player who absolutely was going to make it in his first year of eligibility. Rod was a cornerback who could cover a receiver AND make big hits and tackles. He was also a damn fine kick returner earlier in his career. He was the 1993 Defensive Player of the Year.

When I think back to my life watching football, which goes back from 1978 to present, four names come to mind as cornerbacks and safeties as being all time greats. Mike Haynes, Ronnie Lott, Darrell Green, and Rod Woodson. These guys were tough, physical corners who could cover AND tackle, something that is rare in the NFL today. These were not just speedy “cover corners” like Deion Sanders who never saw a tackle he wanted to make. These were real, tough football players.

What makes Rod Woodson even more special is his intelligence. He suffered an ACL injury that would have forced most cornerbacks out of the game. Rod adapted and become a safety, much like Ronnie Lott did late in his career, and was a dominant force at that position as well.

Ralph Wilson, Owner, Buffalo Bills

Why it took so long for Ralph Wilson to be elected into Hall of Fame baffles me. He was an original owner and an integral part of the founding of the American Football League. He was also an important player in the eventual merger of the AFL and NFL. Ralph Wilson not only belongs in the Hall of Fame, he should have been selected for the honor long ago.

Derrick Thomas, Linebacker
Kansas City Chiefs, 1989-1999

Derrick Thomas recorded the most of sacks of any linebacker in the 1990’s with 116.5 (he had a career total of 126.5) and was named to the 1990’s All Decade Team. While no Lawrence Taylor (who is?) Thomas was a beast of a pass rusher and solid against the run during his entire career. I recall watching the game where he sacked Dave Krieg of the Seattle Seahawks seven times to set the single game sack record. In general, what I remember most about Thomas is his coming up with big sacks at critical moments and leading the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense from woeful to wonderful.

Unfortunately, Thomas died a few months after being paralyzed in a car accident after the 1999 season. He was heading to the Super Bowl, running late, and speeding over icy roads in Kansas City, and of course lost control of the car and crashed.

Randall McDaniel, Guard
Minnesota Vikings 1988-1998, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2000-2001

Randall McDaniel was one of the most dominant offensive linemen during his career and anchored a line of one the highest scoring offenses. I watch a lot offensive and defensive line play and he was one of those rare offensive lineman that once you locked in on him, you didn’t want to quit watching him play because he was such an excellent blocker. While the quarterback position is the most important single player on a team, especially in the pass oriented game of the 2000’s, the game is really won at the line of scrimmage. Having a player like McDaniel anchoring the line and being both an excellent run and pass blocker is critical to the success of the offense.

Bullet Bob Hayes, Wide Receiver
Dallas Cowboys 1965-1974, San Francisco 49′ers 1975

Bob Hayes played before my time so I have less to say about him. He was obviously a speedy, game breaking receiver that was integral in the Cowboys early success. It took him this long to get into the Hall of Fame because after his career he spent time in jail for dealing drugs.

DESERVING PEOPLE LEFT OUT

Chris Carter, Wide Receiver

Someone asked me one day if I thought Chris Carter belonged in the Hall of Fame. My gut, subjective feeling was simply he didn’t seem like a Hall of Fame caliber receiver to me, so my answer was an unequivocal no.

But, being a little curious I went back to look at Chris Carter’s career statistics and read a little bit about his accomplishments. I have unequivocally changed my mind.

Granted statistics are not the best way to evaluate the receiver position because a player like Randy Moss can catch no passes but have a profound impact o the game. That said, Chris Carter’s statistics and career accomplishments clearly places him as not only deserving of the Hall of Fame, but it would be a travesty of justice if he doesn’t make it.

First, he his third all time in career receptions behind Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison with 1,101 catches. He is second all time in touchdown receptions behind, who else, Jerry Rice, with 130 (although if Harrison doesn’t retire he’ll likely pass that mark easily). He recorded two consecutive 122 catch seasons. And he was the lynchpin in one of the highest scoring offensive teams, the Minnesota Vikings, during his tenure there.

I also went back to look at two other receivers who made the Hall of Fame by comparison – Art Monk and James Lofton. Interestingly all three careers are very similar in terms of longevity and statistics. I definitely think Monk and Lofton belong in the Hall of Fame, but if they belong, then Chris Carter undoubtedly does too.

Andre Reed, Wide Receiver

Andre Reed is another receiver that I think deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Like Carter, if you stack his career statistics up against Lofton, Monk, and Carter, he may lag just slightly behind but not by much. When I think back to the careers of receivers during the general timeframe that Carter played, from roughly 1985-2000, there were only a handful of truly dominant receivers – Jerry Rice, Chris Carter, Andre Reed, Michael Irvin, and maybe Tim Brown if you consider his longevity. Andre Reed belongs in the Hall of Fame too.

Shannon Sharpe, Tight End

I personally never could stand Shannon Sharpe when he played or as announcer. His big mouth and stupid antics annoy me. On a purely personal gut feeling level, I would never vote for this loudmouth to be in the Hall of Fame. But he absolutely belongs there. He retired as the top pass catching tight end in history and was simply a phenomenal player. Other than Kellen Winslow, Sr. and Ozzie Newsome, Sharpe is the best tight end in my lifetime, including Tony Gonzalez (who I am a huge fan of) and Antonio Gates.

Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner

I heard Peter King say that there is sentiment against Tagliabue getting into the Hall of Fame, and that he may never get in because he failed to get a final labor deal and maybe some other reasons I missed. Maybe you don’t put Tagliabue in immediately with so many worthy players waiting to get in but Tagliabue shepherded the NFL to the most popular, highest revenue sport in America and absolutely, positively, belongs in the Hall Fame. It would be ridiculously embarrassing if he doesn’t get in. He undoubtedly deserves it.

 

 

 

Andre Tippett Makes Pro Football Hall of Fame

Despite the disheartening loss in Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants, at least there was some good news for Patriots fans this February, 2008. Andre Tippett, one of the best linebackers to ever don a New England Patriots uniform, was finally selected to the Professional Football Hall of Fame. Tippett has been eligible but not made it into the Hall the past few years and I was getting a little worried that he may never get in. I was thrilled that he was elected to the Hall this year. He deserves it.

Andre Tippett was the outside linebacker for the New England Patriots from 1982-1993. During most of his tenure with the Patriots he was considered the “second best” linebacker in the NFL. Of course, the best linebacker in the NFL was Lawrence Taylor, a once in a lifetime talent. So, being second best was a pretty darn good thing but Tippett was a bit overshadowed by Taylor during his career. Tippett, for the most part, also played on a pedestrian team in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.

I am a big fan of defensive players so Tippett was one of my favorites. I have two indelible memories of Tippett. The first memory is from the debacle in Super Bowl XX where the Patriots were crushed by the Chicago Bears. Late in the game with Chicago well ahead, William “The Refrigerator” Perry tried a half back option pass! Not wanting further embarrassment, Tippett came up to make the stop. The next year against the Chicago Bears, in a regular season game the Patriots lost, I think, 20-6, Willie Gault, the Bears wide receiver, tried to jump over Tippett. He caught Gault in the air, threw him to the ground, and wagged his finger at him. I don’t know why the second play stands out to me so much given that Tippett made so many great plays in his career, but it’s one that I remember vividly to this day.

Without going into Tippett’s entire biography which can be found at: http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=268, Tippett recorded 100 career sacks and was named to the NFL’s 1980’s All Decade Team.

Congratulations Andre Tippett, you deserve it.

Now a few notes on the other Hall of Fame entrants.

Two Washington Redskins made the Hall of Fame this year, Darrell Green and Art Monk. Green was shoe in the make the Hall his first year of eligibility. He as one of the best cornerbacks to every play the game and it was a foregone conclusion he would be elected on his first try. He played for the Redskins from 1983-2002. Art Monk, on the other hand, has missed out on being enshrined for several years and I really thought he would never get in. I definitely think Art Monk deserves to be in the Hall. He was one of the most reliable, steady receivers that ever played the game. While he didn’t have blazing speed and wasn’t considered a game breaker, he was a game breaker in that you could always rely on him to get the tough catches over the middle, the tough third down catches, and make the catches that made the difference between winning and losing. Monk’s 940 receptions still ranks 6^th on the all-time receptions list. I was really happy to see him get into the Hall of Fame. For the record Monk played for the Redskins from 1980-1993. He also played a non-descript season for the New York Jets and then another for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994 and 1995.

The other three Hall of Fame entrants are:

Fred Dead, defensive end for the San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49′ers from 1975-1985. He was one of the best pass rushing defensive ends of that era.

Gary Zimmerman, tackle, 1986-1997, played for the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos. His best years were probably his later ones with Denver from 1993-1997 on a team that consistently had one of the best rushing attacks in the league.

Emmitt Thomas, 1966-1978, cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs. Emmitt Thomas was really before my time in closely watching football but you catch him on the Super Bowl highlights, particularly the Kansas City Chiefs victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV in which he had a great game, including an interception.