The Afternoon's Football

[nachtjaeger]

I remember watching the "Fog Bowl" a Bears game back when (whatsisname) was QB and Walter Payton was still playing. Even in fog so thick you couldn't see one side of the field from the other, the running back ran a simple L pattern, the QB threw blind, and they connected for a 1st down. That made the opposing team alter their defense, which helped the Bears on the ground. Awesome!

There is a huge element in football called "tradition" that calls for playing in whatever miserable conditions nature deals to us. Unless of course your owner can arrange financing for a billion dollar dome or a two billion dollar exercise in technological masturbation like Jerry Jones did in Dallas. Doing battle with the elements gives the fans something to share with the guys who are actually doing the work down on the field. My Titans play open to the sky not only because the weather here is relatively benign but God likes to be able to see his home team. Regardless of the weather I have been there for ever single moment of every single game played since opening day 1999. I loathe the cold but no matter how crappy it gets I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Boggy Man]

http://ca.eonline.com/news/488774/nothi ... n-the-snow

[Lomax]

I remember watching the "Fog Bowl" a Bears game back when (whatsisname) was QB and Walter Payton was still playing. Even in fog so thick you couldn't see one side of the field from the other, the running back ran a simple L pattern, the QB threw blind, and they connected for a 1st down. That made the opposing team alter their defense, which helped the Bears on the ground. Awesome!

Ah yes, I remember the Fog Bowl. Randall Cunningham managed to pass for over 400 yards for the Eagles despite the visibility, but never found the end zone; and the Bears came out ahead. At least, that's the official story - no-one actually saw a thing.

But I'm afraid your memory is playing false in one respect - Walter Payton had retired by then, hadn't he? Hang on - let me check...

[Five minutes later] WTF? Walter Payton died in 1999? No way...

[dlodoski]

...But I'm afraid your memory is playing false in one respect - Walter Payton had retired by then, hadn't he? Hang on - let me check...

[Five minutes later] WTF? Walter Payton died in 1999? No way...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fog_Bowl_% ... ootball%29

[Lomax]

PS: I also remember the snow-plough game - John Smith kicking the Patriots to a 3 - 0 victory. 1982, I think.

Which sort of brings me back to Duncan's point about tradition. I'm all for tradition. To take one example, there's a cricket ground down in Canterbury, Kent, which is unique in having a tree actually growing on the field of play. When it died, rather than be relieved that an anomaly was out of the way, they planted a new tree in the same spot. Or, in (association) football, I have much sympathy with those who declare that it was a mistake to install seating in all parts of the terraces and want to go back to standing room only.

However, when adherence to tradition leads to a game degenerating into near-farce, it might just be time to revise one's thinking just a tad.

[nachtjaeger]

So much for relying on memory- in my mind I had Walter Payton as RB in that game. I did correctly remember Jim McMahon playing in that game, although Mike Tomczak started and had the TD pass.

...But I'm afraid your memory is playing false in one respect - Walter Payton had retired by then, hadn't he? Hang on - let me check...

[Five minutes later] WTF? Walter Payton died in 1999? No way...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fog_Bowl_% ... ootball%29

[kham]

Probably for Epic Fails, you cannot top Leon Lett

Not only are you an imbecile of such a degree you blow THIS game.... but the epic fail punch in face at the end is delicious

That he also played for Dallas was just the sugar-coated sprinkles of FAIL

[Lomax]

Probably for Epic Fails, you cannot top Leon Lett

Wasn't there a defensive lineman who once recovered a fumble and ran it eighty yards into the wrong end-zone for a safety?

[kham]

A safety is 2 points; blowing the game leaves a mark forever. Plus, your entire team knows and is screaming "GET AWAY FROM THE FUCKING BALL!!!!"

And unlike Jimmy, I would have fired his ass out of a cannon, aimed in the general vicinity of Houston

[dlodoski]

A safety is 2 points; blowing the game leaves a mark forever. Plus, your entire team knows and is screaming "GET AWAY FROM THE FUCKING BALL!!!!"

And unlike Jimmy, I would have fired his ass out of a cannon, aimed in the general vicinity of Houston

What I don't get is that the punt was blocked - presumably by a defensive player. Does that not constitute at 'touch'? Seems to me that it would have been a live ball all along. The only way it makes sense, is if there is a rule regarding the proximity to the line of scrimmage and the 'touches'.