Sports Then and Now

Professional football has a long and storied history as part of our American Thanksgiving tradition. Many of the greatest players and best teams in NFL history have made their mark on this holiday and thus become part of families across the country during this time of fellowship and giving thanks.

While many of the players who have shined on Thanksgiving Day were familiar faces and established stars of the game, there also have been a number of players whose one shining moment as a professional football player occurred on the big stage of Turkey Day.

One such player was former Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Jason Garrett. Before serving as head coach of the Cowboys between 2010 and 2019, he was likely best remembered by most football fans for his nearly flawless performance in place of starting quarterback Troy Aikman on Thanksgiving Day in 1994.

In only his second career start, Garrett passed for 311 yards and two touchdowns to help Dallas defeat the Green Bay Packers 42-31.

However, while Garrett’s performance was impressive, it was arguably not the best or most memorable performance by a Dallas backup quarterback on Thanksgiving Day.

That honor would belong to a rookie quarterback from Abilene Christian who two decades before Garrett’s Thanksgiving performance made a lasting impression on the football world with a memorable Thanksgiving Day show of his own.

In the mid-1970s, the rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins was emerging as one of the most interesting in all of professional sports.

Thanks to the contrast between Washington’s spirited head coach George Allen and the stoic leader of the Cowboys Tom Landry, the rivalry had gained steam and by 1974 was among the most anticipated battles on the NFL calendar.

When the two squads squared off on Thanksgiving Day in 1974 it provided a perfect venue for the renewal of this special rivalry. Playing on national television in an era before video games and cable television provided people with other entertainment options, the late afternoon battle between the Cowboys and Redskins was truly America’s afternoon dessert following the traditional Thanksgiving meal.

After a record eight straight playoff appearances, the Dallas Cowboys had struggled during the 1974 campaign. They opened the season with a 1-4 record and entered Thanksgiving Day with a 6-5 mark and clinging to very slim playoff hopes. With games remaining against Cleveland and Oakland, they were potentially looking at their first losing season since 1964.

Top-tier athletes are always in pursuit of novel ways to whet their skills, build endurance, and put in top performances. Pushing your body to and beyond its limits is practiced more and more by athletes. Take Dean Karnazes, for example, who claims to have never felt his muscles cramp or seize up – not even running 100 miles. Most people’s bodies build up the acidity in their muscles because they have reached their lactate threshold, causing their bodies to stop in their tracks. But Karnazes biggest obstacle is said to be his mind- proving the human body is capable of so much more than we have ever thought possible. The question is how to train your body to push harder and do better. There are a few lesser-known ways that help an athlete push beyond the limits to win that extra inch. From pushing the brain to perfecting unwinding, let’s take a deeper look at some unconventional means which can make all the difference. 

Brain Health: The Hidden Powerhouse

Athletic performance isn’t just about physical strength; it is about mental agility, focus, and decision-making. A sharp mind can make the difference between winning and losing, yet brain health is often overlooked.

Neuroplasticity and Skill Development

Neuroplasticity is really important in the course of learning new techniques in athletes or other game situations; the brain has the capability to change, develop new connections, and reorganize. Challenging the brain with activities such as puzzles or strategy games will enhance this process and improve hand-eye coordination and reaction times. Simple practices – like solving riddles – might spark neuroplasticity and maintain the adaptiveness and resilience of one’s brain.

If you’re planning to catch as much of your team’s games as you can, or you simply want to make sure you catch a big one when it comes along, then it’s likely going to mean traveling to an away game at some point. This takes a little more planning than the usual home game, so how do you make sure you avoid any obstacles and have the time and energy to really enjoy it?

Expect to Stay Overnight

When planning to attend an away game, booking accommodation in advance is often necessary, especially for high-profile matches. Sports events bring in fans from far and wide, which means hotels and vacation rentals near the stadium often sell out quickly. Even if the stadium is within a reasonable driving distance, consider staying overnight to avoid exhaustion from traveling after a high-energy game. Look for nearby accommodations that offer flexible check-in and check-out times to allow for ease before and after the game. Alternatively, you can look into local hostels or even fan communities where accommodations may be available.

Louie Dampier’s name might not resonate as widely as other basketball legends, but the Sports Then & Now Vintage Athlete of the Month’s impact on the game, particularly during the American Basketball Association (ABA) era, is undeniable. Known for his pinpoint shooting, exceptional ball handling, and relentless work ethic, Dampier enjoyed a stellar basketball career that saw him thrive in both the ABA and NBA. As one of the most consistent and prolific guards of his time, Dampier left a lasting legacy, and his role in the ABA’s history solidified his place in the annals of basketball greatness.

A game between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers is usually mammoth with both teams battling for supremacy in the National Football Confence if not the entire NFL. This storied rivalry has stood the test of time and is etched in football lore. There have been iconic games with signature moments like, “The Catch” in the 1981 NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park. Joe Montana’s game-winning touchdown pass to Dwight Clark inside of the final minute gave the 49ers a 28-27 win and launched them as the team of the 1980’s. How about Troy Aikman’s clutch slant pass to Alvin Harper with a little more than four minutes left to play in the 1992 NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park. Harper turned it into a 71-yard catch-and-run which silenced the home crowd and took back the momentum after San Francisco had seized it with a touchdown to pull within 24-20. Dallas turned Harper’s big play into a touchdown to seal a 30-20 victory that sent them onto win their first of back-to-back Super Bowls in the 1990’s. Then there was a frantic end of game fury in the 2001 NFC Wild Card game where Dak Prescott and the offense had to hurry down the field to try and get one last play off only to have the clock expire in a 49ers 23-17 victory. The two franchises have played several big regular season games as well but these postseason theatrics over decades has made this rivalry what it has been and still is today.

The two franchises have met in six NFC Championship games with the Cowboys winning four of them. Each winner from those matchups went on to win that season’s Super Bowl except for the 1970 Dallas team which lost to Baltimore 16-13 in Super Bowl V. They have met nine times in the playoffs overall with the Cowboys holding a 5-4 edge. The all time series is nearly a draw with San Francisco holding a narrow 20-19-1 advantage.

Names like Dick Nolan, John Brodie, Gene Washington, Bruce Taylor, and Rosevelt Taylor were key to the 49ers in the 1970’s. The franchises met three straight years in the playoffs in the 1970’s including a pair of NFC Championship games, both won by Dallas. Names like Roger Staubach, Duane Thomas, Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Tony Hill, Bob Lilly, Jethro Pugh, Lee Roy Jordan, Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters, Randy White, Harvey Martin, and Ed “Too Tall” Jones were the core of the Cowboys in the 1970’s when they became known as “America’s Team”. As the 1980’s came along, Joe Montana, Roger Craig, Dwight Clark, Jerry Rice, John Taylor, Tom Rathman, Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, Dwaine Board, Jack Reynolds, Randy Cross, and Keith Fahnhorst were mainstays for San Francisco which won four Super Bowls in the 1980’s.

As the 1990’s started, a young cast of players emerged for Dallas led by Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmitt Smith who were collectively known as “The Triplets.” Complemeting them were speedy and talented players like Darren Woodson, Mark Stepnoski, Jay Novacek, Kelvin Martin, Eric Williams, Kevin Smith, Charles Haley, Thomas Everrett, Ken Norton Jr., Russell Maryland, Larry Brown, Dixon Edwards, Darrin Smith, Robert Jones, Tony Tolbert, and Daryl “Moose” Johnston. The 49ers carried much of their success of the 80’s into the 90’s as players like Montana, Rice, Lott, Wright, and Cross remained to go along with Steve Young, Ricky Watters, Lee Woodall, and Bryant Young.

While the two franchises went through a dry spell of no playoff encounters between the 1995 and 2020 seasons, they have met in two of the last three postseasons. San Francisco won in the NFC Wild Card game in 2021 and again in the NFC Divisional playoffs in 2022. The 49ers have won the last three meetings overall including a dominant 42-10 victory on Sunday Night Football a year ago on Oct. 8. The Cowboys last beat San Francisco 41-33 at home on Dec. 20, 2020.

Yet for all this history, the two current teams find themselves searching for who they really are as they get ready to play in primtime on NBC’s Sunday Night Football this Sunday, Oct. 27. They will enter Sunday night’s tilt with a 6-7 combined record with Dallas 3-3 and the 49ers 3-4, not exactly playoff worthy at this point in the season. Both teams are coming off losses at home and are trying to regain their footing. There is no Brodie, Montana, Young, Clark, Rice, or Lott to be seen in San Francisco. Likewise, there is no Staubach, Pearson, Dorsett, Lilly, White, Aikman, Irvin, Smith, or Haley suiting up for the Cowboys. There is no Dick Nolan, Bill Walsh, Tom Landry, or Jimmy Johnson strolling the sidelines as the head coach.

The world of baseball mourns the loss of Fernando Valenzuela, one of the sport’s most iconic figures, who passed away on October 22, 2024 at the age of 63. Valenzuela’s impact on baseball extended far beyond the pitcher’s mound, as he became a symbol of hope, pride, and cultural unity for millions. His unique pitching style, calm demeanor, and ability to deliver in big moments made him a fan favorite and a beloved figure in the Los Angeles community. Valenzuela’s career is one that epitomized greatness and resilience, as he rose from humble beginnings in Mexico to become one of Major League Baseball’s most unforgettable stars.

Early Life and Rise to Stardom

Fernando Valenzuela was born on November 1, 1960, in Etchohuaquila, a small village in the Mexican state of Sonora. Growing up in a family of farmers, Valenzuela’s love for baseball was evident from a young age. He played for local teams and developed a remarkable ability to throw a screwball, a pitch that would later become his signature weapon.

In 1979, at the age of 18, Valenzuela signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and quickly made a name for himself in the minors. His dominance in the Mexican League and his performances with the Dodgers’ minor league affiliates caught the attention of team executives, and he was called up to the Major Leagues in late 1980.

Valenzuela’s arrival in Major League Baseball came at a critical time for the Dodgers, who were in need of a spark to propel them toward postseason success. Although he made only a handful of appearances late in the 1980 season, he was on the brink of something special.

The Birth of “Fernandomania”

Valenzuela’s official rookie season in 1981 would go down in baseball history as one of the most captivating and unprecedented stretches of performance by any player. In what came to be known as “Fernandomania,” Valenzuela captured the hearts of fans across the nation with his dazzling performances on the mound, his charismatic personality, and his unique pitching delivery, which involved looking toward the sky just before releasing the ball.

The 1981 season began with Valenzuela thrust into the starting rotation after an injury to Dodgers ace Jerry Reuss. In his very first start on Opening Day, Valenzuela threw a complete-game shutout against the Houston Astros. This was just the beginning of an incredible run: Valenzuela started his rookie season by winning his first eight starts, all complete games, with an astonishing five shutouts. His dominant pitching combined with his humble demeanor created a media frenzy, and fans flocked to stadiums to watch him pitch. “Fernandomania” spread like wildfire, not just in Los Angeles but throughout the country and especially in Latin America, where Valenzuela became a source of immense pride.

Valenzuela’s impact on the field was undeniable. He finished the strike shortened 1981 season with a 13-7 record, a 2.48 ERA, and 180 strikeouts, earning both the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award—an unprecedented feat. He was also instrumental in leading the Dodgers to the World Series title in 1981, where they defeated the New York Yankees in six games. Valenzuela’s performance in the postseason, including a critical complete-game victory in Game 3 of the World Series, further cemented his status as a star.