On the TUNNEYSIDE of SPORTS August 22, 2016 #607 Up next…A Bit of History…
After further review…As Olympiad XXXI becomes history, let’s recall another bit of history! Forty years ago this was an historic time for both the National Football League and this writer. On August 16, 1976 at 6 p.m., we kicked off in Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo, Japan at the start of the Maninichi Star Bowl game. The St. Louis Cardinals vs. the San Diego Chargers. This was the first NFL game played outside of North America and the first game ever played in the far east. I was honored to be selected as the Referee with a six-man crew of Gordon Wells (umpire), George Murphy (head linesman), Royal Cathcart (line judge), Grover Klemmer (back judge), and Armen Terzian (field judge), all Californians (was the league trying to save a few bucks?) We met in San Diego at Lindberg Field on August 12th, to board a Northwest flight with the Chargers. We were allowed one checked luggage weighing no more than 66 lbs., and one carry-on bag.
We flew from Lindberg Field to Seattle to refuel. Then the 12- hour flight to Tokyo, arriving on August 13th at 4:45 p.m. and losing a day due to the International Date Line. We were graciously escorted to waiting automobiles for the long trip to the Grand Palace Hotel, which was to be our residence for the next five days. It was a grind, not so much from the distance, but because the traffic into downtown Tokyo was horrendous even 40 years ago!
The weather in Tokyo was hot and muggy. We had Saturday and Sunday to visit that great city, but took part of Saturday to inspect Korakuen field. The Japanese stadium crew was very efficient and most accommodating to us. The game was scheduled for Monday night and the kickoff occurred as planned. Tommy Prothro was the Chargers head coach with Dan Fouts at quarterback; the Cardinals head coach was Don Coryell with Jim Hart as their quarterback. Even though it was the first pre-season game, the coaches started and played their regular players most of the game.
The stadium was full with some 38,000 fans, since the NFL decided to allow US service personnel to attend at a “reduced admission cost,” or put more prosaically “free.” The Army and Navy bands played at half time and the Cardinals cheer leaders performed beautifully. A light drizzle fell most of the game. Cardinals 20, Chargers 10 was the final score. The Japanese crowd yelled “Blitzen” “Blitzen” though out the game encouraging the defenses to “blitz” the quarterbacks. They loved that play!
Will you take time to enjoy a bit history in today’s busy world?
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