While some markets are easier than others, every expansion team struggles to attract attention and grow a fervent fanbase. That was certainly the case with the 1946 Los Angeles Rams. Having just left the grimy confines of Cleveland, Ohio, the Rams front office knew that they needed local talent to fill the massive Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Luckily for them, Southern California is always filled with talented players from the two largest universities in the area: USC and U

Very few rookies quarterbacks have led their team to the NFL championship. But Bob was no mere rookie signal-caller. In addition to passing the Rams to victory, he was a standout defensive back and kicker. A jack of all trades perfect for the team that was soon to be known as the Los Angeles Rams. This is his story. The Early Years Bob Waterfield was born in Elmira, New York on July 26, 1920. After his family moved to Los Angeles, he starred at nearby Van Nuys High School

Chicago's historic Soldier Field celebrated a century of service to its community on October 9, 2024. Before the calendar turns to the year 2025, lets take a look back at the rich history of one of the Windy City's great venues, one unique fact at a time. Soldier Field officially opened to the public on October 9, 1924, the 53rd anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. First Football Game: Notre Dame beat Northwestern 13-7 on November 22, 1924. Largest Crowd for College Footbal

The 1924 Notre Dame football team was led by a stellar quintet of a backfield named by "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse". Together, Harry Stuhldreher, Don Miller, Jim Crowley and Elmer Layden torched college football, leading the Fighting Irish to an undefeated season and national title. None of that would have been possible without an equally stellar line. This is their story and their further impact in the sport. Chuck Collins, Left End Chuck Collins originally went to Not

It is a well-known fact that most expansion teams run on local flavors. Whether they come from the local high school or starred in the local collegiate program, all that the infant team cares about is getting rumps in the seats in hopes that they can attract an audience and reap the financial benefits for the afternoon. The 1946 Cleveland Browns came ready to entertain, featuring seven players from the Ohio State University as well as a handful of others that had called Cleve

Jim Tunney was born on March 3, 1929 in Los Angeles, California. He fell in love with sports early, standing out in football, basketball and baseball while at Alhambra High School. He was All-Conference in basketball as a senior at Occidental College and was named the 1951 Athlete of the Year. Upon graduation from USC with a doctorate in Education, he moved right into his life's work, coaching, teaching serving as a principal and a district superintendent throughout the Los

Before there was Three Rivers, Exposition Park was the center of entertainment in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While there were technically three versions of Exposition, the first and the last stood on the very spot where so many legendary moments would eventually be made in an entirely different venue. This is the origin of sports in the Steel City. A Humble Beginning It was called Kilbuck Island during the French and Indian War. At the time, the site that would host baseball'

Jack Youngblood was one of the toughest men in NFL history. Just the name alone evokes images of utter violence on the gridiron. Like a select few in history, Youngblood lived up to his name, terrorizing quarterbacks Sunday after Sunday for the Los Angeles Rams. His lasting legacy though, had less to do with violence on the field and more to do with an endless supply of will and desire. On Super Bowl Sunday 1980, Jack Youngblood played the whole game with a broken leg. This i

The University of Notre Dame was in a bind. After years of playing in a field where spectators could watch for free, the university realized that it needed a stadium to hold the growing crowds that were gathering to watch their football team. There was just one hitch: with free admission, they didn't have the funds to build a stadium. That's where Warren A. Cartier comes in. The 1887 University of Notre Dame civil engineering graduate who hailed from one of the nation's firs

Few stadiums have defined the old NFL quite like Buffalo's War Memorial Stadium. The simply built structure stood out with its abnormally tall poles that held the sections of roof in place all the while looking upon the battle-scarred field below. Construction began on the site of an old reservoir on the intersection of Dodge Street and Jefferson Avenue in 1935 and opened to the public just three years later, costing President Roosevelt's WPA a cool $3 million. With a single

It seems like everything Leon Hart touched turned to gold. He never lost a game in high school or at Notre Dame and once he reached the NFL, his Detroit Lions became one of the premier dynasties of the era. To top it off, he was the last defensive lineman to win the Heisman Trophy. This is his story. The Fightin' Irish Leon Hart was born on November 2, 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended nearby Turtle Creek High School where he lettered in basketball and baseball

Long before the University of Wisconsin football team took center stage, Camp Randall served a vital role in the Civil War. When the Civil War first broke out in 1861, Abraham Lincoln sought for land that could serve as a training ground for his troops before they went off to war. At the time, the land was owned by the State Agricultural Society which used the acres for the state fair. The state of Wisconsin quickly transformed the land into a land of training, filled with b

Steve Grogan was not the best of his era, not as a passer or a runner. But what he lacked in talent, he made up for in heart and desire. He led the New England Patriots through some memorable moments and helped set an NFL record that would stand for the next four decades. He helped the Patriots remain relevant in the NFL. This is his story. The Early Years Steve Grogan was born on July 24, 1953 in San Antonio, Texas. After moving to Ottowa, Kansas, he starred on the local

For much of their first two decades, the New England Patriots were hardly memorable and until 1978 had only been to the playoffs once after the AFL-NFL merger. While they were not the most talented, they had heart and desire and displayed that week in and week out all through 1978 when they set the NFL team rushing record that stood for the next 41 years. This is the story of how the Patriots gained those historic 3,165 yards. The Season The 1978 New England Patriots were br

In more than 100 years, there have been just six men to gain 300 or more yards receiving in an NFL game. No matter the player, the opponent or the situation, the event always leave fans in awe, instantly elevating the player to near-mythical status. On November 22, 1945, the Cleveland Rams' Jim Benton became the founding member of the 300 Yards Receiving Club. The 7-1 Rams battled the 6-2 Lions in front of 40,000 fans at Detroit's Briggs Stadium for the Western Division Cham

In the hallway of Howard University's hospital lies a marker in the shape of a home plate with a large picture of a ballpark from yesteryear. It commemorates much more than Griffith Stadium, it remembers a simpler time when big paydays didn't rule the airwaves and when the sports teams of Washington D.C. sometimes dominated the competition while hunting for that ever elusive title. Griffith Stadium On March 17, 1911, a fire ripped through Washington D.C.'s Boundary Field. th

Since their earliest days in the league, the Sacramento Kings have displayed a fondness for ineptitude that is both laughable and galling. Until recently, it seemed like every year they found new ways to lose. But there is one record that may be more disgraceful than all the rest. On November 20, 1990, the Kings withstood Bernard King's 45 points and beat his Washington Bullets 87-82. It would be their last win on the road for more than a year. One day later, they lost in Ph

After years of following the state's Blue Laws, the NFL was finally allowed to hold games in the great state of Pennsylvania on November 12, 1933. Two games were played that day. The Eagles hosted the Bears in front of nearly 18,000 at the Baker Bowl and would have lost the game if it had not been for the late game heroics of kicker Guy Turnbow gave the Eagles a 3-3 tie. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates hosted the Brooklyn Dodgers at Forbes Field. Their excitement for host

Normally, the Cy Young Award is thought to be reserved for starting pitchers. But occasionally, a relief pitcher comes along that is so phenomenal that the establishment has no other choice but to choose him for the position's highest yearly honor. 50 years ago today, the Dodgers' Mike Marshall became the first relief pitcher to win the Cy Young Award. He led the majors in games played (106) and finished (83), but most importantly, he led the NL with 21 saves. Interestingly

After enjoying an era of dominance that is impossible to replicate, the Boston Celtics fell back to earth to begin the 1970's. But a talented group of young players was maturing behind closed doors and the decade would ultimately bring the storied franchise two more championships: a mini-dynasty, if you will. Of course, all great mini-dynasties need a dependable center that can vaccuum up rebounds at a furious pace while always being ready in the post for another routine layu