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The original documents are located in Box 90, folder 70 - Sports (1)" of the Charles H.
McCall Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Some items in this folder were not digitized because it contains copyrighted
materials. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to
these materials.
The Sports Boom Is Going Bust
and so are a lot of the owners who brought
you tax-supported stadiums, overpaid athletes,
saturated TV coverage and astronomical ticket prices.
&
FORD
TESCALD
LIBRARY
CONGRES
PLAYERS
SPONSORS
OWNER
LITTLE 5-foot 2-inch Fran Monaco
The sports boom is ending with a
World Baseball Association, a new
sat shaking his head in his cramped
bang and a lot of whimpers:
league that is supposed to challenge
office surrounded by football gear and
Veteran builder and sports mogul
the two entrenched leagues.
explained in a halting voice how his
Robert Schmertz lost around $1 mil-
There are even rumors that Jack
Jacksonville Sharks football team-his
lion operating the World Football
Kent Cooke, chairman of Tele-
first love-had eaten him alive. In
League's New York Stars' franchise
PrompTer and the biggest sports mo-
one season, the 48-year-old Florida
last year. Besides, he recently gave
gul of all, wants to sell out. That's
businessman seems to have lost every
away 50% of his Boston Celtics bas-
doubly significant, because Cooke's
cent he made in the last 22 years on
ketball team to settle a $3.7-million
timing is usually as impeccable as his
his medical laboratory business and
suit. That must really hurt, since the
wardrobe. He entered sports in the
running a supper club. "Before, I had
stock of his Leisure Technology re-
Fifties, later going to Los Angeles
a good reputation," said Monaco,
tirement home company has col-
from Canada, where he owned a
wincing. "I paid my debts."
lapsed, and he has just been indicted
string of radio stations. For around
But no more. Thanks to his be-
for bribery in connection with a
$20 million invested over the years,
loved Sharks, for which he paid the
realty deal. But he's hoping the
he got a slew of sports franchises, in-
new World Football League $650,000
public will help him out by buying
cluding basketball's Los Angeles Lak-
last year, Monaco now has total
the WFL team, now known as the
ers, and built the 18,000-seat Forum.
liabilities of around $1.8 million.
Charlotte, N.C. Hornets, for $100
His rumored asking price: $90 mil-
Monaco said sadly: "This is like a
a share.
lion. But as the boys on Seventh
nightmare."
Sambo's Restaurants' Sam Battistone
Avenue say, "Wait; he'll take less."
Little Fran Monaco has company.
Jr. and friends are likely to lose about
What happened to pro sports isn't
A growing number of owners and pro-
$1 million operating the National
very surprising. All boom businesses
moters are learning that the easy
Basketball Association's New Orleans
are started by the truly shrewd, then
days are over for the sports boom,
Jazz this season. Last year he and his
inevitably become saturated by the
which created scores of new teams,
friends paid $6.2 million for the privi-
misguided souls who can't resist get-
fostered more than a score of new
lege (and franchise). Battistone and
ting in on a good thing. And, of
arenas and stadiums costing over $1
other partners stand to lose another
course, sports is especially attractive
billion (see box, p. 26) and saturated
$1 million on the WFL Hawaiians.
to investors. It makes instant celebri-
television with "spectaculars" like the
Poor Sam! He jumped from his fry-
ties out of unknowns-like the son of
wrist wrestling championship.
ing pans into a fire.
a rich man or perhaps the anonymous
Teams are folding in football, bas-
Some even think that sports trou-
executive referred to as "what's-his-
ketball and tennis-to name a few-
bles may have been one factor that
name, the toilet-seat king."
and some sports insiders now insist
led investment counselor Charles
Sports isn't dying; it is merely
that the recession will eat up entire
W. Call Jr. to shoot and kill his wife,
shrinking to a more healthy size.
leagues. Two candidates: the World
a son and then himself last month in
America's love of sports assures ever
Football and World Hockey outfits.
New Jersey. According to one organiz-
more sports revenues. But those big-
Beyond question, the in word in sports
er, Sean Downey, Call was commit-
ger dollars will continue to be
today is shrinkage.
ted to investing $600,000 in the
stretched to the breaking point by
24
FORBES, FEBRUARY 15, 1975
70
WHETHER YOU PLAY
OR PAY, SPORTS ARE
BIGGER THAN EVER
Just try to find an empty tennis court-or buy a ticket to a
major football game. Even soccer is growing. Americans are on
an athletic binge, both as participants and as spectators.
There's a double-barreled boom in
There's a boom in spectator sports as
USN&WR
sports in this country.
well. Even the "armchair athletes" who
Shorn of its country-club image, tennis is
The biggest is in personal participa-
prefer to watch rather than take part are
now the fastest-growing participant sport.
tion. Americans in record numbers are
being swept up in this mounting enthu-
turning to some form of physical activity
siasm. More people than ever are paying
cently been established in the West.
for recreation.
to watch organized sporting events—
Since 1965 the number of major-league
Fastest-growing sport of all is tennis,
despite constantly rising admission
teams in professional sports has jumped
which, like golf, can be played by people
prices in economically hard times.
from 57 to 173. Additionally, touring
of nearly all ages. Soccer is spreading
Professional sports leagues, once con-
golf, bowling and tennis professionals
fast among the young. But today's ama-
fined to baseball and football, now oper-
crisscross the country the year round for
teur athletes are gamely taking up ev-
ate nationwide in hockey, basketball,
weekly tournaments.
erything from jogging and hiking to
soccer and tennis. Professional lacrosse is
With so much more going on, it's only
mountain climbing and hang gliding.
played indoors along the Atlantic sea-
natural that attendance has risen. A
board and a professional
turnstile count of 12 varied sports, ama-
Spectators at Major Sports Events
volleyball league has re-
teur and professional, shows 273.2 mil-
Thoroughbred
1965
40,737,000
UP
racing
1974
48,824,000
20%
Auto
1965
39,000,000
UP
racing
1974
47,500,000
22%
College
1965
24,683,000
UP
For ectator Sports:
football
1974
31,235,000
27%
Major-league
1965
23,437,000
UP
SURGE
baseball
1974
30,630,000
31%
Harness
1965
26,899,000
UP
ATTENDANCE
racing
1974
29,976,000
11%
College
1965
16,384,000
UP
basketball
1974
24,630,000
50%
Greyhound
1965
10,865,000
UP
racing
1974
16,274,000
50%
Professional
1965
2,823,000
UP
hockey
1974
12,006,000
325%
Minor-league
1965
10,194,000
UP
baseball
1974
11,032,000
8%
Professional
1965
6,956,000
UP
football
1974
10,236,000
47%
Professional
1965
2,356,000
UP
basketball
1974
8,229,000
249%
Professional
1965
1,743,000
UP
boxing
1974
2,675,000
53%
*National Football League
TOTAL FOR
THESE EVENTS
IN 1965:
206,077,000
UP
TOTAL FOR
THESE EVENTS
IN 1974:
273,247,000
33%
Source: Triangle Publications
46
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, Sept. 8, 1975
70
t was his 27th birthday and Ernie Holmes, defensive tackle
ference, the toughest division in the N.F.L. Their biggest con-
for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was picking up the meat for his
ference obstacle on the way to the Super Bowl is a likely playoff
party. Not at the supermarket or butcher's, though. Holmes
showdown with the rugged Oakland Raiders. If the Steelers sur-
was personally slaughtering a calf at his father's farm outside
vive that, they will probably face either the Vikings or the Los An-
Houston. "I gave him a forearm lift," says Holmes, describing
geles Rams in the Super Bowl next month in Miami.
his barnyard battle with the beast. "That knocked him into the
A Super Bowl in Florida will be the natural conclusion for a
fence. Then I put a full nelson on him." Finally Holmes dropped
sunny N.F.L. season. Despite, or perhaps because of, the col-
the animal with a high-powered rifle. "Forty-five minutes lat-
lapse of the rival World Football League, the N.F.L. this fall is
er," he says, "we had the calf skinned and dried."
registering a jump in attendance (averaging 56,000 per game)
The National Football League is full of quarterbacks who
and an increase in TV ratings. And why not? Some 40% of the
have been shown no more mercy. Not to mention running backs
games are being won by 7 points or less, not to mention a rash
and offensive linemen. Playing with a raw violence that is rare
of sudden-death thrillers.
even when judged by the bare-knuckle standards of his sport,
It is ironic that four of the key protagonists of this season
Ernie Holmes knows how to slaughter an offense.
should be Charles Edward ("Joe") Greene, Dwight Lynn White,
On most teams his performance-and personality-would
Ernest Lee Holmes and L.C. Henderson Greenwood. Though
make Holmes famous. Not on the Steelers. With Pittsburgh, he
KLUETMEIER-SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
is not even the best-known defensive lineman. There are three
reasons: Fellow Tackle "Mean" Joe Greene and Ends L.C.
Greenwood and Dwight White, each a prototype of menace at
his position and a striking figure off the field. Greenwood, 29, is
a brutal tackler, although he says he hates contact and would
rather not be known as a football player. Greene, 29, after a sea-
son of tossing linemen and runners around like rag dolls, goes
home to cultivate his vegetable garden. As for White, 26, it is
hard to know exactly what he will do at any time. "There's no
question that I'm schizoid," he says. "I might be three or four peo-
ple. I know I can be evil."
These are the men who make up the meanest front four in
football, a half ton of trouble for any offense. Moving like a
COVER STORY
HALF TON
OF TROUBLE
band of marauding behemoths (average size 6 ft. 4 in., 260 lbs.),
they smother runners at the line of scrimmage, flatten passers,
and send offensive linemen into disarray. "There are some great
lines in the league," says Washington Redskins Head Coach
George Allen, architect of one himself, "but the edge has to go
to Pittsburgh. They put fear in the heart of a passer."
They do more than that. Dumping quarterbacks a league-
leading 40 times last season was only the beginning of the front
four's contribution to the Steelers. They set the tone for the entire
defense, and it was the defense that carried the 42-year-old Pitts-
burgh franchise to its first Super Bowl championship last year.
The creation of patient, low-key Head Coach Chuck Noll, who
STEELERS' DWIGHT WHITE HURDLES OVER A FALLEN O.J. SIMPSON
drafted all but two of the starting defensive players, and Steeler
Founder and Owner Art Rooney, who gave Noll the backing he
front fours have been well publicized in pro football-the Rams
needed to build slowly over the past six years, the defense is the
"Fearsome Foursome" and the Vikings "Purple People Eaters"
cornerstone of Pittsburgh's leadership in the N.F.L. When Pitts-
during the past decade-quarterbacks and running backs still re-
burgh defeated Minnesota 16-6 in the Super Bowl, the defense
main the celebrities of the sport. Certainly the action along the
limited the Vikings to 17 yds. rushing. Minnesota Running Back
line of scrimmage gets only passing attention from TV cameras
Chuck Foreman spoke for the league when he pleaded with the
and fans. But this trench warfare is as fierce as anything in
Steeler front four: "C'mon, you mothers, give us a yard."
sport. Grunting and cursing, players club, ram and pound each
Before this season ends, that call may well be heard again.
other in two- and three-second rumbles that begin anew with
Going into last weekend's game against the stumbling New York
every play.
Jets, the Steelers were riding an eight-game winning streak and
Until about 15 years ago, the defensive linemen's primary ob-
an overall won-lost record of 9-1. That was good enough to put
jective was to come out of the rumble stopping the run. No long-
them in first place in the Central Division of the American Con-
er. Faced with increasingly sophisticated passing attacks, the
62
TIME, DECEMBER 8, 1975
$1.00
APRIL 26, 1976
®
TIME
BASEBAL
SPRINGS
ETERNAL
70
Sti
COVER STORY
t's a goddam good game," says
ready as late as December 1975 to blow
domiciled in these weatherproof bubbles
Yankee President Gabe Paul, "to
the Windy City looked solid as a line-
never have to worry about slipping in
survive what's been done to it."
drive double-all because the greatest
the rain, losing fly balls in the smog, get-
What is being done to baseball
promoter baseball has ever known was
ting grass stains on their pants or suf-
and by whom is a matter of sub-
back in action.
fering other terrestrial indignities.
stantial contention, but the first
In Atlanta, the Braves' new own-
But even if undomed, the new Yan-
half of Gabe Paul's statement has been
er, a tough-minded, salty-tongued com-
kee Stadium has more character than
resoundingly endorsed in the past few
munications czar and yachtsman named
those sterile, round, modular units that
days.
Ted Turner, signed up the game's most
have sprung up across the sports land-
In New York, hallowed old Yan-
sought-after right arm in a reported
scape like mushrooms in a glen. It is ba-
kee Stadium, the house that Ruth built,
$1 million deal engineered by-of all
sically the same looming, irregularly
reopened in plushly refurbished form, its
people-a fan who took the negotiating
laid-out structure whose vast inner space
dedication presided over by Mayor
authority upon himself. With one stroke
Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey
Abraham Beame. It was 53 years from
of the pen, the moribund Braves had a
Mantle roamed heroically. Only it is
Babe to Abe, but the difference in what
bright new look. The signee was a hand-
clean, shiny and for the first time com-
some, 30-year-old, bubble-gum-chew-
fortable. The "Telescreen" on the score-
ing pitcher named Andy Messer-
board that was to flash messages like
"Charge!" to the crowd was not work-
ing, and some box-seat spectators com-
plained that their view of home plate
was blocked by the dugout roof. But the
ugly poles that screened the vision of
generations of fans have been removed,
and the seats are now wide enough-22
in. instead of 18-to accommodate
America's middle-age spread. This bow
to our hippy culture reduced the stadi-
um's capacity from 65,010 to 54,028.
The distinctive, swag façade that
once hung from the roof of the stands
has been reproduced atop the new $3
million-plus scoreboard-only in con-
crete, not painted copper. Because the
value of copper has risen almost as dras-
tically as ballplayers' salaries since
1923, the original façade was melted
down and sold. Perhaps it is now plumb-
ing in a renovated brownstone. The
ON APRIL 18, 1923, THE BABE WARMED HIS HOUSE WITH ITS FIRST HOME RUN EVER
playing surface is still alive: Merion blue
grass, in texture irregular enough to
a community will lavish on its sports
smith, a free spirit and free agent whose
promise a few historic bounces and in
team could be measured in light-years.
victorious legal battle against baseball's
color a nice uneven biological green.
Trembling at the thought that its Yan-
"reserve clause" was reshaping the en-
On April 18, 1923, close to 65,000
kees might leave town forever, the stone-
tire sport.
fans* flocked to New York's $2.5 mil-
broke metropolis ponied up an estimat-
Little wonder then that turnstiles
lion house of baseball. New York Gov-
ed $100 million to provide the likes of
clicked like castanets as combined ma-
ernor Al Smith threw out the first ball.
6,900 parking spaces and an electronic
jor league opening-day attendance fig-
The first one hit into the stands-fit-
scoreboard for the fans, expansive lav-
ures hit an alltime high. Baseball '76,
tingly-was a game-winning home run
ender-carpeted dressing rooms for the
which for weeks had seemed unlikely
by Babe Ruth that beat his old Red Sox
players and a plush lounge, featuring
to get launched at all, was off to a rock-
teammates 4-1. Ruth's astonishing
overstuffed chairs in the shape of field-
eting start. The long legal arguments
home-run hitting and his $50,000 sal-
ers' gloves, for the owner's guests.
over the rights of spring, at least for the
ary had made baseball a different game
In Chicago, Peg-Legged Bill
moment, proved no contest for the
and caused many to say the new sta-
Veeck (see box page 76), dressed as a
game's own rites of spring.
dium should have been called Ruth
Revolutionary soldier and playing a fife,
The grandest new blossom of base-
Field.
stumped triumphantly across the 100%
ball's most stimulating April ever was
natural turf he has restored to Comis-
Yankee Stadium, a glowing renovation
*The announced figure of 74,200, the Yankees
later shamelessly admitted, was impossible; the
key Park. Marching to Veeck's tune
of the most famous, nostalgia-imbued
park at the time had only 62,000 seats.
were White Sox fans in unheard-of num-
house of sweat in America. Only New
bers. There were 40,318 in the flesh at
Orleans' Superdome, completed last
opening day (compared with 20,202 last
year, cost more ($173 million); Seattle's
The Yanks doff their caps during opening
year), season-ticket sales were up more
"Kingdome," which opened this month,
ceremonies, then give 54,000 fans an
than 40%, and a franchise that had been
was a mere $60 million. Of course, teams
afternoon to remember.
70
SAHM DOHERTY AND JOHN ZIMMERMAN
SPORT
5
CRIME AND
TRIBUNE
1776
BETTMANN ARCHIVE
BROWN BROTHERS
STOCK & PILLORY IN BOSTON, CA. 1657; NEW YORK DRAFT RIOTS, 1863
Crime not only did not increase during the Revolutionary
The following Bicentennial Essay is the seventh in a series
War, but most of it, at least in New England, continued to in-
that has been appearing periodically, surveying how America has
volve religious and moral, not acquisitive or violent, offenses. Wil-
changed in its 200 years.
liam E. Nelson, analyzing the records of seven populous Mas-
sachusetts counties, finds an average of 23 prosecutions for theft
n the eve of the Revolutionary War, many colonists
each year before 1776 and 24 a year in the five years after 1776,
-and not only Tories-feared that if rebellion came,
hardly indicative of a crime wave. But there was an average of
"the bands of society would be dissolved, the harmony
72 prosecutions for sexual offenses each year before 1776 and 58
of the world confounded, and the order of nature subverted."
a year from 1779 to 1786, along with about 24 prosecutions a
Crime and lawlessness would surely accompany any challenge
year for religious offenses, like missing church on Sunday.
to authority, especially one involving a resort to arms.
We have always thought of our colonial forebears as rather
It did not happen-not, at least, during the war. In retro-
puritanical. That there were so many prosecutions on moral and
spect, that is remarkable. In 1776 there were no municipal po-
religious charges suggests that this was, indeed, their attitude;
82
TIME, APRIL 26, 1976
PUNISHMENT
POLICE
1976
BICENTENNIAL ESSAY
FREED-MAGNUM
ASBURY PARK, N.J., POLICE & RIOTERS, 1970; LOUISIANA PRISON, 1963
opinion not only dominated political decision making, but con-
trolled most public and much private conduct as well. This is
tuous in our history. Rioting became commonplace for reasons
why there was such frequent resort to humiliation as a penalty.
that were partly economic (depressions that put artisans out of
Stocks, pillory, and tar and feathers were effective because the
work or immigration that put them in competition with cheaper
opinion of one's townsmen was so important. The colonists paid
labor), partly religious (Catholics, Masons and Mormons were at-
a price for government by communal consensus: there was not
tacked and their buildings burned), partly political (the early anti-
much privacy, and what we now regard as liberties of conscience
slavery agitation), and partly sporting (the drunker members of
TIME, APRIL 26, 1976
83