What if Louis had refused to serve in WWII?

Ted came into a department store during the 1970's where my mother was a clerk in sporting goods, and she quickly grabbed several baseballs which he happily signed as she told him about watching him play in St Louis as a girl against the Browns and in the 1946 WS. At this moment, someone took a Polaroid of the two of them, my mother smiling down at the baseballs she was holding, and an amused and friendly Williams smiling down at her (an EXTREMELY good looking woman back then), John Wayne's idol and the apex male of the 20th Century. He was on his way to pick up his son John Henry to take to the private and exclusive Northfield Mount Hermon School (where the future King of Jordan was also attending), and EXTEMELY relaxed, very much taking his time in a pleasant and welcoming mood.

Mom still has all those baseballs and boxes they came in inside a plastic display case. His signature is perfect, just as his batting was.

If Williams had never taken time out for war duties, Barry Bonds would not hold the career home run record today. Ted was the greatest batter who ever lived, but he was an even greater patriot. Contentious with the press, he was awesome in person with regular people, a great guy. He wore a jacket with an outline of Florida, his monogramed signature over his adopted state, so he certainly enjoyed being recognized. Made local television commercials for J J Nissen bread, and numerous other commercial endorsements. (My first barbell and dumbell set was a Ted Williams signature brand by Sears, something Mom told him.)

Also became the GOAT fly fisherman, although he liked to compete with buddy Jack Sharkey for the entertainment of fans in Boston and elsewhere in New England.

 

In Vietnam? Joe Namath got a medical deferment for his knees. My dad said he once matched seventy two miles. With Joe's knees he doesn't make five.

 

Teddy Ballgame is my favorite MLB player who ever lived …

 

Yet Broadway Joe was one heck of a runner before his knees got bad. Alabama coaching legend Paul "Bear" Bryant said Namath was the very best athlete he ever coached. Namath could dunk a basketball at a time that was virtually unknown.

He didn't run much as a professional, but here's a great one against the legendary Chiefs run defense where he knocks down Hall of Fame defensive end Bobby Bell at 5:05 then continues on his way:

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I saw Super Bowl III live on NBC on Jan 12 1969, Joe Namath predicted a victory over Earl Morrall, Johnny Unitas and the then NFL Champion Baltimore Colts who were favored by 14 points. The AFL Champ New York Jets won 16-7.

 

• Lew Jenkins won the Silver Star

 

What

I think Louis has a better war record than Marciano.

 

In a book I wrote, entitled "To Hell & Back: The Life & Times of Someone Important" I detailed what many sportsmen and some mildly coordinated women went through during the great wars. In this book, I discussed an incident in which, during the time period of the the Battle of Jutland, Jack Dempsey got into a heated argument with a member of the press and yelled "Ain't no Jutlandian ever called me a Jack Mormon!" and literally no one understood what he was saying or why. I proved that this happened but it would be another 60-120 years before anyone even understood the true context of this remark. Dempsey was that far ahead of his time. That's why I'll always be a fan.

 

It's yet to be published. In case anyone checks for it.

 

Al DeRogatis made an incredible prediction right before kickoff. "If the Jets rush for 100 yards, they'll win!" Then, by running Matt Snell behind blockers like legendary left offensive tackle Winston Hill into the spongy left side of Baltimore's defense, they did exactly that.

Aging DE Ordell Braase was on the brink of turning 37, and proved to be Baltimore's weak link up front. SB III was his final game. (By SB V against the Cowboys, they'd turn that side of their defense into a strength behind guys like Ted Hendricks.)

Colts MLB Mike Curtis wasn't befuddled like the rest of Baltimore's defense was, but Namath's quick release on passes neutralized him. But the Mad Dog/Animal (nicknames the psychopathic Curtis exulted in on camera) should still be in Canton, and should've been the MVB of SB V.

 

Welcome back!

 

I think what was legendary in that 1968 season were the wars between rival AFL opponents, the then Oakland Raiders and the New York Jets, especially their big defensive end Ben Davidson always delivering big hits on Broadway Joe Namath. Also to mention the Mad Bomber himself, QB Daryl Lamonica, who had some good wide receivers. The Jets defeated the Raiders 27-23 to win the AFL title, the Colts decimated the Cleveland Browns 34-0 to win the NFL title. The Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III played a zone defense, they also liked to blitz. Namath had a quick enough release to pierce the zone with quick passes to WR George Sauer and WR Don Maynard. Colts HC Don Shula was on the coaching staff of Jets HC Weeb Ewbank in New York Giants in the late 1950's. Also RB Matt Snell had a big game along with RB Emerson Boozer. I remember that CBS carried the NFL games, NBC carried the AFL games. And who can forget the infamous Heidi game in Nov 1968 between the Raiders and the Jets, the Raiders scored late to win the shootout.

 

Dempsey was deferred. Had Louis been vocal in not supporting the war, he would have become a major pariah.