I Remember

I remember……

When it was rare to hear of a kicker attempting a field goal from 50 yards or more. Now these are common. Last year in the NFL there were 70 from 50-59 yards and 12 from over 60 yards.

When you could pick up a newspaper and review box scores from all the previous night’s baseball games.

When baseball players had to have a job in the off-season to support their family.

When we didn’t know anything about an athlete’s personal life. We just knew their stats and their team’s record. We didn’t hear what their salary was and what their political or religious beliefs were. And we certainly didn’t care about what their sexual preferences were! Still don’t!

When there were 6 players on a team in ladies basketball. Three forwards who only played defense on one end of the court, and three guards who played offense on the other end. And they couldn’t cross mid-court!

When people were quiet when a player was attempting a free throw. It was considered rude and disrespectful to try to distract them!

When dunking the basketball was banned in college basketball (from 1967-1976). Although it was presented as a player safety issue, it probably was an attempt to slow the dominance of UCLA center Lew Alcindor. (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) It didn’t really stop him. That unblockable skyhook was an effective substitute during those years.

When the St. Louis Cardinals were the only major league team west of the Mississippi River. The number doubled in 1955 when the Philadelphia A’s moved to Kansas City, then swelled to four when the Dodgers and Giants moved west. The old St. Louis Browns were the only AL western team, but they moved to Baltimore in 1954. In 1944, the Browns played the Cardinals in the first World Series played in the “west”. And no, I wasn’t able to attend that series. I’m old, but I wasn’t around in ‘44. But I definitely remember when the AL got the Minnesota Twins (relocated from Washington) and the California Angels in 1961.

History wasn’t as difficult when I was a kid as it is now. There wasn’t as much of it! Even though there is more to remember now, I seem to be able to recall less. So I hope you have enjoyed this little stroll down memory lane. As these thoughts pass through my mind I’ll share some more with you in the future.

That’s one man’s opinion - what’s yours?