August 18, 1923 — At the annual National Football League Board of Directors meeting in Akron, Ohio, Cotton Whittaker of the Columbus Panhandles was named League President. His first order of business? A queer & revolutionary concept that involved transforming the very long & very continuous 60-minute NFL game into TWO SEPARATE 30-minute games. Except the first game wouldn’t really count in the standings — only the final cumulative score at the end of GAME NUMBER TWO would determine that day’s victor. The other owners were mighty confused.
“Well bust my buffers, boys!” Whittaker famously bellowed. “TWO GAMES INSTEAD OF ONE!! We’re gonna be rich, I tells ya! Rich as Persians!!!”
The lone player representative in attendance — George “Peggy” Parratt of the Massillon Tigers — then unknowingly coined the phrase that would echo throughout sports history.
“Gee, sir — isn’t that nothin’ but ONE game split into two halves?” he asked. “With a period of time in between for a restful bath & a smoke. A time at half, if you will. Is that about right?”
“Whatever,” Whittaker said dismissively. “We’re doing it.”
And from that bit of marketing trickery, the concept of “halftime” was born.
By Jason McVeigh, August 18, 2010 @ 9:35 am
That announcement yesterday was a let down just from the stand point that there was no predator on an old timey bike. Of all places that you’d think would GET a predator on an old timey bike, it would be Texas Motor Speedway.
By Savage Henry, August 18, 2010 @ 9:47 am
Jason,
Just wait until you see who is going to be driving the pace car (bike) at that race. This is THE Eddie Gossage now…
By Tom G., August 18, 2010 @ 10:03 am
Pffft… NASCAR has been doing this for years. I believe they call it a “competition yellow.” Why, I believe back in 2008 they even held 10 races in one day at IMS.
Now, if they really want to get creative, Messr.’s Gossage and Bernard should have them run the second race backward. Why do you think they put reverse gears in the cars now?
By Mikhail Danilov, August 18, 2010 @ 11:55 am
At first glance I was outraged, but after thinking for a few seconds, I think this might appeal to my ADD. Guess I’ll reserve further judgement for after I’ve seen it.
Maybe they could reverse the finishing order of the first race to start the second. Fans could bet on how many turns it takes the whole field to pass Milka!
By Jason McVeigh, August 18, 2010 @ 12:27 pm
Savage Henry.. A pace bike ridden by predator?.. I like your style.
By Riss, August 18, 2010 @ 1:00 pm
I do like the concept Mr Danilov’s idea. However, the practice that idea might lead to one of our heroes getting killed. So, Mr Danilov, your idea is just like communism. This is an interesting concept. I can only hope for an inversion of maybe the top 10. Could lead to some interesting strategery in Texas.
By BP, August 18, 2010 @ 1:17 pm
So, I guess my question is, when will beer sales stop? Because if it’s at the 50-lap point of the second race, I’m out.
I hope you’re listening, Indianapolis Colts.
By Ron Ford, August 18, 2010 @ 3:46 pm
From start to finish this ranks up there with your finest work Roy as well as the ensuing comments by your fellow Pagodadinians. Way up there on the chorkle guffaw meter! (As opposed to the recent Graham Rahal hoo ha which must have been a really, really, really slow news day) I particularly enjoyed Tom G’s “I believe they call it a competition yellow”. I read that while chugging a PBR and now there is beer all over my keybooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo……..Damn!
By Ron Ford, August 18, 2010 @ 6:03 pm
On that same day of August 18, 1923, Bret Favre announced that he would come back for one more year with the Acme Packers.
By izod9, August 18, 2010 @ 8:06 pm
Let’s just call halftime “topoff the cooler, and hit the whizzer time.”
By Tom G., August 18, 2010 @ 8:21 pm
Ron,
(rimshot)
Thank you! Thank you very much. I’ll be appearing all week at the Tom-Tom room here at the Thunderbird hotel. Please, remember to tip the waitstaff! Goodnight!
By Bob, August 18, 2010 @ 9:40 pm
I like the idea of twin races, but Texas is already exciting.
By redd, August 19, 2010 @ 12:03 pm
Start it earlier. Give full points for each race. Invert as least some of the field for the second race. Why not a day/night doubleheader? If you’re going for a unique race(s) then go all the way.
On the marketing side–pick a name. Is it the “Texas Two-Step,” or is it the “Twin 175′s?”
By Christopher Leone, August 20, 2010 @ 2:55 am
I can imagine, thirty or forty years down the road, Grandpa Hobbson telling these stories to his grandchildren, with his corn-cob pipe, tweed jacket, and handlebar mustache.
I think I’n going to go to a Halloween party as Grandpa Hobbson.
Next up: To celebrate the race’s 100th anniversary, IMS and Randy Bernard announce that the Dallara will be replaced, for the 500 only, by Marmon Wasp replicas outfitted with Menard V6s…
By irlfan, August 20, 2010 @ 1:10 pm
why has the Silent Pagoda link been removed from indycar.com???? As well as links to Pressdog, Planet IRL, Indy Racing Revolution????
By Roy Hobbson, August 20, 2010 @ 1:25 pm
Nevermind that, irlfan. You don’t need us. The torch has been passed, just as it always has been. The circle of life & so forth & all that.
By irlfan, August 20, 2010 @ 1:35 pm
You are right Roy, I don’t need the pagoda. None of us need the pagoda. But when I (as well as the rest of the pagodians) want to escape the somewhat boring nature of IndyCar mainstream media, the pagoda is my / our escape.
By The Speedgeek, August 20, 2010 @ 3:42 pm
Kicked off of IndyCar.com?!? Oh, this is not good. We’re talking about unchecked aggression here. I’m talking about drawing a line in the sand, Roy. Across this line YOU! DO! NOT…! Also, Roy? “Persians” is not the preferred nomenclature. Indo-Iranians, please.
By Tom G., August 21, 2010 @ 12:13 pm
The Pagoda, P-Dog and all the other great independent indycar blogs, (and Jack Arute on Sports) are still linked to the morthship. They just removed the front page links from the homepage. If you go to the link to the official Indycar blog page, under the “new” banner, and look along the left sidebar you’ll find them.
Hmmm… why do I feel that giving directions for finding the Pagoda link on Indycar.com is like giving directions to finding an opium den in a back alley in Bangkok?
Coincidence, or Metaphor? You decide.
By irlfan360, August 30, 2010 @ 8:57 pm
ok ok tom, my bad, i’ll put up the opium….for now….