Nice article on Ralph Wilson

[ChasBB]

Have to admire Ralph Wilson's principles -- great article -- http://www.rbj.net/article.asp?aID=202695

[bbb]

Nice article............However, this is wrong, since the funeral wasn't until Monday:

 

CBS, then the NFL's sole television carrier, decided not to broadcast the games that Sunday, opting instead to provide non-stop coverage of the presidential funeral.

[Mr. WEO]

I don't think one can assail Rozelle's "principles" on this decision. He was a young leader of the NFL and he reached out to a guy who knew Kennedy better than anyone other than his family at that point. It's not like he said "F everyone, we're playing". Seems like he agonized ove the decision before and after he made it.

[ChasBB]

Nice article............However, this is wrong, since the funeral wasn't until Monday:

 

CBS, then the NFL's sole television carrier, decided not to broadcast the games that Sunday, opting instead to provide non-stop coverage of the presidential funeral.

 

There was a procession to the Capitol on Sunday that CBS covered, but you are right - actual funeral on Monday.

 

 

I don't think one can assail Rozelle's "principles" on this decision. He was a young leader of the NFL and he reached out to a guy who knew Kennedy better than anyone other than his family at that point. It's not like he said "F everyone, we're playing". Seems like he agonized ove the decision before and after he made it.

Irrespective of Rozelle's decision, I still admire Wilson's decision and the fact that he led the way and would have even forfeited the game against the Boston Patriots had he not been able to convince other AFL owners to postpone the games. But I kind of agree about no need to drag Rozelle down - sounds like he got some bad advice.

[Beerball]

Irrespective of Rozelle's decision, I still admire Wilson's decision and the fact that he led the way and would have even forfeited the game against the Boston Patriots had he not been able to convince other AFL owners to postpone the games. But I kind of agree about no need to drag Rozelle down - sounds like he got some bad advice.

Not so sure about that. The Army/Navy game was going to be canceled but the family told the Academies that JFK would want the game played. The fact that we look back on the NFL going forward with games as a mistake doesn't mean that it wasn't what the family wanted. What you need to consider is whether the words of the family outweigh the public sentiment.

[Ronin]

From the article:

 

He sought the advice of White House press secretary Pierre Salinger, who had been a classmate of Rozelle's at the University of San Francisco. Salinger said the president had been a huge football fan and would have wanted the games to be played because "it would contribute to the country returning to a sense of normalcy."

 

Rozelle was reminded of how Major League Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis contacted Franklin Roosevelt in the early stages of World War II to inquire whether it would be appropriate to keep playing the games. FDR told him to keep playing because the games would boost morale stateside and among U.S. combat troops around the globe.

 

It's interesting how often the wishes of the deceased are overlooked in favor of what everyone else wants.

 

That's a valid argument although as with most else in emotional matters, debatable.

 

Nevertheless, it would seem that the straight shock of it all to the population was cause enough to cancel or postpone the game.

 

It might be a nice article about Wilson, but I wish he'd have had a fraction of that integrity regarding treating us as fans and customers of his near billion dollar business in terms of being straight with us about keeping the team in Buffalo.

 

Ralph Wilson is dead to me. The sooner that the team is sold the better for us as Bills fans. I detest liars.

[Rockinon]

I think the whole reason for Mr. Wilson's decision was to show respect for the magnitude of what just happened. The President was murdered. I think, in his mind, that was bigger than say, trying to boost morale. I can't fault him for that.

 

It's true that there are different ways to look at it and everyone has a right to their own opinion. Wilson though, felt strongly enough to stand with his decision no matter what. That does show character and guts. I for one commend him for sticking with his beliefs.

[nucci]

From the article:

 

He sought the advice of White House press secretary Pierre Salinger, who had been a classmate of Rozelle's at the University of San Francisco. Salinger said the president had been a huge football fan and would have wanted the games to be played because "it would contribute to the country returning to a sense of normalcy."

 

Rozelle was reminded of how Major League Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis contacted Franklin Roosevelt in the early stages of World War II to inquire whether it would be appropriate to keep playing the games. FDR told him to keep playing because the games would boost morale stateside and among U.S. combat troops around the globe.

 

It's interesting how often the wishes of the deceased are overlooked in favor of what everyone else wants.

 

That's a valid argument although as with most else in emotional matters, debatable.

 

Nevertheless, it would seem that the straight shock of it all to the population was cause enough to cancel or postpone the game.

 

It might be a nice article about Wilson, but I wish he'd have had a fraction of that integrity regarding treating us as fans and customers of his near billion dollar business in terms of being straight with us about keeping the team in Buffalo.

 

Ralph Wilson is dead to me. The sooner that the team is sold the better for us as Bills fans. I detest liars.

The team has been in Buffalo since 1960. Wilson had offers to move and stayed. You're kind of an ass for that last statement

[Captain Hindsight]

From the article:

 

He sought the advice of White House press secretary Pierre Salinger, who had been a classmate of Rozelle's at the University of San Francisco. Salinger said the president had been a huge football fan and would have wanted the games to be played because "it would contribute to the country returning to a sense of normalcy."

 

Rozelle was reminded of how Major League Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis contacted Franklin Roosevelt in the early stages of World War II to inquire whether it would be appropriate to keep playing the games. FDR told him to keep playing because the games would boost morale stateside and among U.S. combat troops around the globe.

 

It's interesting how often the wishes of the deceased are overlooked in favor of what everyone else wants.

 

That's a valid argument although as with most else in emotional matters, debatable.

 

Nevertheless, it would seem that the straight shock of it all to the population was cause enough to cancel or postpone the game.

 

It might be a nice article about Wilson, but I wish he'd have had a fraction of that integrity regarding treating us as fans and customers of his near billion dollar business in terms of being straight with us about keeping the team in Buffalo.

 

Ralph Wilson is dead to me. The sooner that the team is sold the better for us as Bills fans. I detest liars.

Show some class big guy.

[bbb]

What did Ralph Wilson lie about?

 

Not so sure about that. The Army/Navy game was going to be canceled but the family told the Academies that JFK would want the game played. The fact that we look back on the NFL going forward with games as a mistake doesn't mean that it wasn't what the family wanted. What you need to consider is whether the words of the family outweigh the public sentiment.

 

The Army-Navy game was scheduled for 11/30. It got postponed until 12/7, but not cancelled due to the Kennedys request............That makes perfect sense. I don't see any problem even playing on 11/30 - 8 days after. But, playing two days after, as the NFL did - everybody is still in shock. It's just stupid.

 

I can't imagine what it would have been like to play NFL games two days after 9/11. I barely cared when they resumed around 9/22 or whenever that was.

[Just Jack]

I can't imagine what it would have been like to play NFL games two days after 9/11. I barely cared when they resumed around 9/22 or whenever that was.

 

I remember the first week back because that was Bills @ Indy, which I went too. And I didn't want to see the games cancelled/delayed. I wanted the games to be played the weekend after to have that distraction, even for a few hours, of the constant coverage.

[John in Jax]

Ralph Wilson is dead to me. The sooner that the team is sold the better for us as Bills fans. I detest liars.

 

Thank you Mr. Wonderful! LOL