Lori Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 http://lightningstream.surfernetwork.com/M...n%201230%20WECK In studio until 5. Talking about Ralph right now. "The AFL would have gone down the drain" without his contributions, both in signing the new TV deal and bailing out the Raiders and Pats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted August 11, 2009 Author Share Posted August 11, 2009 Ralph's share of the Raiders was actually close to 30 percent, something Felser discovered while researching his book about the merger, The Birth of the New NFL. More: He says that even veteran Hall voters like Peter King and Rick Gosselin didn't know a lot of the AFL history. Taking calls at 716-783-9325, or e-mail to BRADonWECK (at) gmail.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsGuyInMalta Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Lori, along these lines maybe there is something you can help me out with. I seem to remember a story floating around awhile back about Ralph helping the Patriots out in some way during the AFL's fledgling days, but I can't remember the specifics. Did I just make this story up (I am somewhat delusional) or is there merit to it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted August 11, 2009 Author Share Posted August 11, 2009 Larry just mentioned it. No number, but Wilson loaned the Pats a significant amount of money. I have a copy of the book; I'll see if it's in there when I get a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted August 11, 2009 Author Share Posted August 11, 2009 Good story about "Big Ses," Tom Sestak. He was a college TE (who got Bear Bryant's Texas A+M team put on probation for illegally recruiting him, btw); when the Bills switched him to DT, Lou Saban put him up against Billy Shaw every day in practice. According to Larry, former Packers prez/GM Ron Wolf -- who could himself end up enshrined in Canton someday -- says No. 70 absolutely belongs there. On a related note, at last year's Pro Football Researchers Association gathering, I was honored to meet T.J. Troup. A member of the committee that Steve Sabol consulted for the "America's Game" series, he was also the technical advisor for George Clooney's movie "Leatherheads." And when he saw that both KRC and I were sporting Bills gear, the first thing he said to us was, "Big Ses -- one of the greatest players I've ever seen. It's a disgrace that he's not in the Hall of Fame." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bladiebla Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Linky didnt work for me; went to http://www.weck1230.com/ and clicked listen live and in business... \o/ just fyi if others have the same issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted August 11, 2009 Author Share Posted August 11, 2009 Thanks for that. Think you can also get there through http://www.bradriter.com I also assume Brad will archive this on his site when he gets a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRC Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 More: He says that even veteran Hall voters like Peter King and Rick Gosselin didn't know a lot of the AFL history. That is sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted August 11, 2009 Author Share Posted August 11, 2009 He's not impressed with either Miami or the Jets. Says the Bills could make a little noise if "the five strangers on the offensive line" get acquainted with each other, and they find some semblance of a pass rush. Can't beat the receivers, and he also likes their RBs. Also says that much depends on Jauron not having an in-game braincramp. Skeptical about DJ. He'd rather have a guy with fire -- not necessarily Hank Bullough fire, but at least some passion -- and "you can never tell that with Jauron." Good listen. Thank you, gentlemen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 That is sad. Agreed, but it's easy to tell that. Had be been alive and reporting in the 60's, he'd have been nailed with full cans of beer at every AFL stadium for his 'coffeenerdness' crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRC Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Agreed, but it's easy to tell that. Had be been alive and reporting in the 60's, he'd have been nailed with full cans of beer at every AFL stadium for his 'coffeenerdness' crap. What gets me is that these people (selection committee) are responsible for knowing about these players/coaches/contributors/etc and are supposed to have the ability to gauge the person's historical significance to determine if they are worthy of induction. How the hell can they not know their history when given that responsibility? This is especially evident with the seniors committee. The things I hear through the grapevine is that the members of the committee pretty much do not have a clue on the people they are discussing. That is why you have candidates like Marshall Goldberg being put up for nomination. Then, you get to the rest of the committee and they have no clue. Couple that with the arrogance of some of the members of the committee, it is only going to get worse. I remember talking to one member of the committee (not on the seniors committee) to talk to them about Marshall Goldberg. The response I got was pretty much, "Run along little man. I am a selector and you are not. Therefore, I know what I am doing and you don't." Yeah. OK, Sparky. When I hear stuff like this, it just continues to prove to me that the system is broken. I am not the only one who feels that way. When I talked to Paul Zimmerman, he said the same thing (of course, he also felt that he should be the only selector, but that is Z). When I talked with Dan Rooney (who is on the Board of Directors of the Hall), he also said the system is broken, but does not know how to fix it. Things are going to continually get worse as the older media types retire and the newer media types get on the committee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBud Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Hearing / reading on how the selection process is taken it sounds very political. "I'll get your guy in this year if you get this guy in next year. Wink, wink." To me some of the recent selections are somewhat disputable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 What gets me is that these people (selection committee) are responsible for knowing about these players/coaches/contributors/etc and are supposed to have the ability to gauge the person's historical significance to determine if they are worthy of induction. How the hell can they not know their history when given that responsibility? This is especially evident with the seniors committee. The things I hear through the grapevine is that the members of the committee pretty much do not have a clue on the people they are discussing. That is why you have candidates like Marshall Goldberg being put up for nomination. Then, you get to the rest of the committee and they have no clue. Couple that with the arrogance of some of the members of the committee, it is only going to get worse. I remember talking to one member of the committee (not on the seniors committee) to talk to them about Marshall Goldberg. The response I got was pretty much, "Run along little man. I am a selector and you are not. Therefore, I know what I am doing and you don't." Yeah. OK, Sparky. When I hear stuff like this, it just continues to prove to me that the system is broken. I am not the only one who feels that way. When I talked to Paul Zimmerman, he said the same thing (of course, he also felt that he should be the only selector, but that is Z). When I talked with Dan Rooney (who is on the Board of Directors of the Hall), he also said the system is broken, but does not know how to fix it. Things are going to continually get worse as the older media types retire and the newer media types get on the committee. This IS sad! I know it's 'just a sport', so there's governing committees to assure validity, but Rooney's comment makes no sense to me. If there's any group of NFLer's who can institute wholesale changes for HOF consideration, it's the current group of 'lifers' and owners, IMO. I've never understood why sportswriters (no offense intended) were granted the prestige to make these decisions, given the high level of homerism inherent in their readership. Yes, fella's like Felser carry the Bills fight to the masses, but then he's met by other regional writers with their own agenda. Case in point from my perspective, Bob Hayes gets in with pedestrian stats but A. Reed gets snubbed while blowin' the doors off Hayes' career. Pretty grim I feel your dooming pain with "newer media types" about to inherit the earth.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRC Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 This IS sad! I know it's 'just a sport', so there's governing committees to assure validity, but Rooney's comment makes no sense to me. If there's any group of NFLer's who can institute wholesale changes for HOF consideration, it's the current group of 'lifers' and owners, IMO. I've never understood why sportswriters (no offense intended) were granted the prestige to make these decisions, given the high level of homerism inherent in their readership. Yes, fella's like Felser carry the Bills fight to the masses, but then he's met by other regional writers with their own agenda. Case in point from my perspective, Bob Hayes gets in with pedestrian stats but A. Reed gets snubbed while blowin' the doors off Hayes' career. Pretty grim I feel your dooming pain with "newer media types" about to inherit the earth.. It has always been that way. Newspapers were picking their all-pro lists and all-decade teams. When the HOF was founded, I am guessing that they just continued the tradition that had been place for decades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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