Ask Sammy

Ask Sammy

We old, and new, sportswriters coin clichés, forecast future outcomes, and glorify gladiators.

So when All-American, All National Football League quarterback ‘Slinging’ Sammy Baugh retired (1950s) from quarter-backing the Washington Redskins, moved to his ranch in the county west of Abilene, agreed to coach the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboys football team, and was going to speak at the Kiwanis Club luncheon, we couldn’t tell you the news in a short paragraph.

But Sammy didn’t deliver a luncheon pronounciation.  Busy.  So he sent his former Redskin teammate.  An All-Pro End who played offense and defense at Notre Dame.  Sammy had persuaded his all-pro Redskin teammate Wayne Mildren to temporarily leave D.C. and coach the ends on his college team in Abilene.

Mildren’s speech was a bit profane. And short.

Sammy’s the coach. Reporters ask me how we’re going to do. I tell them ‘go ask Sammy.’

When they say, ‘but we’ve got to write something.  Give us a quote.’  I do.

“We’re going to knock their …. off.”  They can’t print that, so they wait and ask Sammy.

Photo credit:  Washington Football Wire

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