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
