January 30, 2005

Linger, Oh Linger, Heffelfinger: The highlight of attending NFL Experience, the Super Bowl event near Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium, was seeing Hall of Fame exhibits on loan from Canton. I didn't know the first pro football player had the Dickensian name of Pudge Heffelfinger. A standout at Yale, in 1892, Heffelfinger earned $500 ($10,200 in today's dollars) to play as a ringer for the Allegheny Athletic Association, a cheat that wasn't confirmed until 70 years later.

posted by rcade to football at 04:56 PM - 5 comments

Really cool link. Thanks, rcade.

posted by tieguy at 07:54 PM on January 30, 2005

Next Sunday we are all Heffelfingers!

posted by billsaysthis at 08:38 PM on January 30, 2005

"I am Pudge Heffelfinger." "I am Pudge Heffelfinger." "I am Pudge Heffelfinger." "Je m'appelle Pudge Heffelfinger." "I... ham .. Putch... HEFFelfinker." "Ich bin Pudge Heffelfinger." (etc.)

posted by chicobangs at 01:42 AM on January 31, 2005

There was also a lot of old equipment on display such as a full face helmet that must have been worn by the Hannibal [Mo.] Lecters. Looking at the gear, you could really appreciate how deranged those athletes must have been to play the game.

posted by rcade at 08:47 AM on January 31, 2005

Another local weblogger, David Knighton, attended the event on Saturday and saw something I wish I had seen: Pat Tillman's locker.

posted by rcade at 09:19 AM on January 31, 2005

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