Slingin' Sammy Baugh

“Former Washington Redskins great, Sammy Baugh, dead at 94.

Sammy deserves his own thread.

Baugh was the best all-around player in an era when such versatility was essential. In 1943, he led the league in passing, punting and defensive interceptions. In one game, he threw four touchdown passes and intercepted four as well. He threw six touchdowns passes in a game twice. His 51.4-yard punting average in 1940 is still the NFL record.”

“Marko.. please use the appropriate thread for this kind of stuff, like I did...

thanks...

'32oz”

“When I was in grade school I had a book about some of the old football greats and his story was one of my favorites. If memory serves, Sammy is the guy who knocked an opponent out cold (intentionally) with a bullet pass to the face after being roughed up on a couple of plays. Does that ring a bell (ha-ha) with anyone?”

“I think you are confusing him with burt reynolds in the longest yard...

'32oz”

“When I worked for the gummint, we had a guy who had been a fan since Sammy's day and literally worshipped the guy. When football season rolled around, our buddy would break out with "Hail to the Redskins" at least once a day and then launch into an admiring discourse on Sammy's many accomplishments.”

“lol - MarkO = owned.”

“See the first post, 32OZ.

Sammy deserves his own thread.

In The Replacements, filmed at purple-seated Ravens Stadium in Baltimore, quarterback Shane Falco/Keanu Reeves put a defender in his place by hitting him in the face with a bullet pass.”

“Hickory dickory dock
Wee Willie ran up the clock
The clock struck one
He whipped out his gun
And he played with and fondled his Glock”

“The local news station (in Philly) mentioned him this morning, and speculated that his death might give the 'skins a little extra motivation in their game this weekend.

I thought that was pretty silly. Those players must've all been born at least 20 years after Sammy retired. Half of them probably didn't even know the name until today.”

“In a game back in '64, while stationed in Japan, I hit a ref in the back of the head with a ball. He'd been giving us bad calls all night. Knocked him down, but not out. He really screwed us after that:)”

“I know about The Longest Yard scene and The Replacements scene, but I'm telling you, Sammy did it for real during a game.”

“I once made a pass at a cheerleader...

'32oz”

“
I thought that was pretty silly. Those players must've all been born at least 20 years after Sammy retired. Half of them probably didn't even know the name until today.

Yeah, but I'm sure the coach would piss on a spark plug if he thought that would do any good*.

*General Beringer: "Goddammit, I'd piss on a spark plug if I thought it'd do any good!"
(from: War Games 1983)”

“1943? So you were like, what....20 then?”

“He wasn't a day over 19.”

“The Redskins can use all the mojo they can muster, mister.

Uh yeah, John Wayne and I were filming The Mud Of Iwo Jima then.”

“matched his finesse with toughness.

“One time there was a defensive lineman who was coming down on me with his fists closed,” he once told The San Antonio Express-News. “A couple of plays later, I found a play we could waste and I told our linemen to just let him come through.

“The guy got about five feet from me, and I hit him right in the forehead with the ball. He turned red and passed out. It scared the hell out of me.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/sports/football/18baugh.html

For all of Baugh’s exploits, a tale from his rookie season endures. It is evidently apocryphal, but its telling reflects the awe in which Baugh was held for his uncanny passing skills and self-confidence.

Baugh was taking the field for his first practice session with the Redskins when his coach, Ray Flaherty, handed him the football.

“They tell me you’re quite a passer,” Flaherty is said to have remarked.

“I reckon I can throw a little,” Baugh replied.

“Show me,” Flaherty said. “Hit that receiver in the eye.”

To which Baugh supposedly responded, “Which eye?”
last edited: 12/18/08 12:16:41 PM”

“Good story, but unless the guy was running straight backwards, there would be only one eye exposed.”