George Blanda

Most people won't even know who George Blanda is or was. Unless you were alive in the 50's, 60's or 70's you probably wouldn't have heard his name; but let me tell you he was possibly the fiercest competitor who ever played the game of professional football.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5622590

Let me take you back to 1970. My father and I used to always sit in front of the TV on Sunday and watch the "boys play ball". I usually played my high school games on Friday night or Saturday, so Sunday was a rest day for me and my dad who worked long hours 6 1/2 days a week. To add, the Seahawks weren't around so the only feed we got was either the Raiders or the 49ers with John Brodie under center. I had a 49ers jacket, so I thought Brodie walked on water.

The scene was Alameda County Stadium, middle of the season and Blanda was the place kicker and back up quarterback for the Al Davis' Raiders. Daryl Lamonica, the "Mad Bomber", was the starting quarterback for the Raiders. Lamonica gets hurt and Blanda steps in throwing three touchdown passes in a 31-14 win over Pittsburgh. The following week he kicked a 48-yard field goal in the final seconds to give the Raiders a 17-17 tie against Kansas City. Blanda was just getting started. He threw a tying touchdown pass with 1:34 remaining and then kicked the game-winning 52-yard field goal in the final seconds the following week in a 23-20 win over Cleveland. In all, as a 43-year-old, Blanda led the Raiders to four wins and one tie with late touchdown passes or field goals. That's right, he was 43 years old! He was named the AP Athlete of the Year.

The reason all of this resonates with me is because my dad was 42 years old. He was proud as a peach that the old man was showing the kids how it was done. Blanda would waddle out on the field, throw some soft passes to get his team close, then kick a field goal from the 40+ yard line (conventional style, not soccer style) to win the game in the last seconds. The most important thing George Blanda did was make my dad smile the whole day Sunday, and I truly thank him for that.