VSN Countdown to Madden 10 Release

[Justo]

Michael Turner

 

[Derrville]

 

[Poundtherock]

33 to go!!!
Only 11 days till the exclusive extended-play Gamestop demo!

#33 HB Ollie Matson - Chicago Cardinals - (1952-1958 )​

When Ollie Matson first signed to play with the Chicago Cardinals in 1952, he was hailed as the fleet-footed ball carrier that would hopefully lead the Cardinals out of pro football’s basement.

Seven years later, when traded by the Cardinals to the Los Angeles Rams for an unprecedented nine players, he was tabbed as the star that could give the Rams a long awaited championship. Through no fault of his own, Ollie did neither. Yet little of the luster was lost from one of the most brilliant pro football careers ever.
Obviously, the greatness Matson achieved on National Football League gridirons must be considered an individual accomplishment. He never enjoyed the winning team momentum to carry him along and only two of the 14 teams on which he played finished over the .500 mark. Enemy defenses almost always concentrated on him alone. Yet his career record is exceptional.

Altogether, he gained 12,844 yards on rushing, receptions, and returns. He rushed for 5,173 yards and caught 222 passes for another 3,285 yards. He scored 40 touchdowns running, 23 on receptions, 9 on kick returns, and one on a fumble recovery.
Matson, an All-America college star at the University of San Francisco, was the Cardinals first-round draft choice in 1952. He delayed his pro signing so that he could compete as a member of the American track team in the 1952 Olympics. He won a bronze medal in the 400-meter race and a silver medal from the 1,600-meter relay. When he finally joined the Cardinals he experienced a sensational rookie season.

Then military service interrupted his career for a year but, once back in a football uniform, he was an All-NFL performer, year in and year out. During his 14 pro seasons Ollie earned first- or second-team All-NFL honors six times and was selected to play in six Pro Bowls.
-

 

[LopaKa]

33 days to go!

 

[OnlyOneBeerLeft]

Jack Ikegwuonu​

 

[Vinsane]

Daylon McCutcheon​

33 Days Remain!

 

[Tengo Juego]

William Henderson

 

[kyhadley]

Antowain Smith!

 

[SHOGUN]

 

[Derrville]

This man needs no introduction

 

[krulmichael]

Oh Dre' how I miss thee...

32 days remain folks!

 

[Rudi]

32 MJD Days left!

 

[Poundtherock]

32 Days to go!!!
Only 10 days till the exclusive extended-play Gamestop demo!

#32 OT Al “The Human Howitzer” Blozis - New York Giants - (1942–1944)
College: Georgetown University
1× All-Star selection (1942)
1× All-Pro selection (1943).
NFL 1940s All-Decade Team.
New York Giants #32 retired.
College Football Hall of Fame

Al Blozis – “Forgotten Super Star”
By Ray Spratt​

I recently asked my three sons, all involved in high school and college athletics, if they ever heard of Al Blozis. They replied, “who’s Al Blozis?”
Since over 50 years has gone by, it is not surprising that this generation has never heard his name nor have they any knowledge of his athletic accomplishments. However, “who’s Al Blozis” is simply not a befitting epitaph for a tremendous athlete who gave his life for his country.

At Georgetown University, he was the No. 1 in the world in the shot put and discus. During his collegiate career he accumulated 106 metals in track and field. He was also an All American in college and an All Pro with the New York Giants as a football lineman. The Olympic Games were canceled because of the war, that denied him sports immortality in track and field. His professional football career was also cut short to about two and a half years. However in those days these athletes played offense, defense, and on special teams in each game. This could be considered playing at least twice as long.
Al was 6ft. 6inches tall, and was a trimmed down 260 pounds. This was very large for a lineman in those days. He was also strong and coordinate and was the first fast big fast man in Professional Football.

When Al joined the army, he was originally assigned to Walter Reed Hospital in the physical rehabilitation unit, but he wanted to make a larger contribution to the war effort so he volunteered for combat infantry officers training school at Fort Benning Ga. I knew Al well during that period because he was assigned to my platoon and I was his tactical officer.

At that time Yank Magazine contained an article that Al's world record throwing a hand grenade of 75 yards had been broken. Another soldier had tossed one 85 yards. I asked Al about that and he said that he was tossing a practice grenade [a piece of iron shaped like a hand grenade] at Walter Reed Hospital. A reporter asked him how far the grenade was thrown, Al replied “ Oh about 75 yards “ and it was written up as a worlds record. He further stated that he could actually throw that piece of iron 100 yards. With his permission I arranged with the hand grenade instructors for Al to go for a new worlds record.

This happened four weeks into their training. During that time Al practiced a few times. I would step off a good 100 yards and on several occasions He threw that thing over my head. Incredibly, that's longer than a football field. However on the day of his try, the instructor came out with a real hand grenade. The fuse had been dudded so it wouldn't explode. This was much smaller and lighter than the piece of iron. In addition Al had to pull the pin and the handle flies off in flight. Under these more restrictive condition, he made 4 throws, all exceeded 90 yards and he set the worlds record at 94 yards, 2 feet, 4 and ½ inches.

Lt. Ray Spratt (L); Capt. Lusiak (R); measuring World Record Hand Grenade Toss by Al Blozis (C) at Ft. Benning, Georgia (1944).​

Al was commissioned an infantry Lt. In the fall of 1944. He went home, visited his parents, and then on to New York where the greatest lineman of the era, played his last game with the New York Giants. Overseas, he was assigned to a unit fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. Arthur Daley, a sports columnist in New York described his last day.

One of his patrols had disappeared in the wooded fastness of the snow covered terrain. Most officers might have sent another scouting party after them, but this shy and retiring giant was made of sterner stuff. The drifts were already waist high and his command virtually surrounded. The Germans lurked behind every tree, every snow bank. With a casual wave of the hand, Blozis plunged into the snow, plowing his way with his super-human strength. The flying flakes blotted him out before he had taken a half dozen steps. He was never seen again.

Al Blozis never returned home. He lies buried in an American Cemetery in Europe. As an amateur self taught artist, I painted Al lying in the snow at the Battle of the Bulge. It was exhibited in the art section in Bakersfield at the Kern County Fair. Those kind people stated the effort contained a great deal of emotion and awarded it a first place blue ribbon in that category of amateur oils. The last sentence in the written part states “ If a great All Pro, who gave his life for his country, is not worthy to be selected to the Hall of Fame, Then who is?

A very talented NBC broadcaster Fred Roggin used to show goofs in athletic events and called it The Hall of Shame. Influenced by Mr. Roggin, I entitled the painting “Professional Footballs Hall of Shame’ It will remain that way until this oversight is corrected and Al is inducted. Then I’ll change the title to “Hall of Fame.”

Professional Football’s Hall of Shame​

The author sent a letter to the Professional Football Hall of Fame recommending that Blozis be inducted. He also sent all the pictures and material from World War II. They wrote back stating that they were sorry but Al could not be inducted because he had not played a minimum of 5 years. They thanked Ray for the letter and material and said that it would be filed as a permanent record in the Hall of Fame. A second Giants player, Jack Lummus also died in World War II.

In April 1946, True Comics featured a story about Al Blozis entitled, “The Human Howitzer.”

To read the strip, go here

"Sometimes, it's not about the game.......but who's playing the game!"


-​

 

[LopaKa]

32 days!

 

[krulmichael]

32 days!

Damn that's like a mini-Heisman pose their by Jerious. Nice pic.

 

[Tengo Juego]

32 to go...


EDIT: WOW...same pic as Packabacka lol

 

[JOHNNYTHECLOWN]

Antowain Smith was already posted so... let's give some love to - LaMont Jordan... sucks he went to denver with mcdaniels, always liked him, even when he was a raider

 

[PEYMAN18]

# 32 - Mike Hart - RB - Indianapolis Colts

 

[Vinsane]

This man needs no introduction

32 days remain.

:bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow:

 

[JOHNNYTHECLOWN]

31 DAYS AND COUNTING!!!! WOOOOOO!!!

i was on top of this ish tonight