Maroons will deliver the title to the AFC

Maybe or maybe not, remember wide right in the Giants victory over Buffalo?

Corky Blake writes about the Curse.

Happy 83rd Anniversary Maroons!!!!

Pottsville defeated the Chicago Cardinal on December 6th, 1925. The score was 21-7. Again, Happy Anniversary to Maroon fans everywhere.

Cardinal Curse!!!!

Eagles stop Cardinals from clinching Western Division on Pennsylvania turf.

'Maroons Night' at Wachovia Arena getting 'lukewarm response'

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers have received a “lukewarm response” to promotions encouraging people from the Pottsville area to attend Pottsville “Maroons Night” at Wachovia Stadium, Wilkes-Barre, on Saturday, Michael J. Slusser, director of media for the Pioneers, said Thursday.

read more digg story

Title Fight for the 1925 NFL Championship

TITLE FIGHT
BY STEPHEN J. PYTAK
STAFF WRITER
spytak@republicanherald.com



In anticipation for The Great Maroons Debate tonight, David Fleming said Thursday he felt like “Rocky” before his boxing match with Apollo Creed in the classic 1976 film.

Joe Horrigan said he felt as if he were entering the lion’s den.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s vice president of communications and exhibits, Canton, Ohio, will debate the legendary team’s “stolen 1925 championship” with Fleming, Davidson, N.C., author of “Breaker Boys: The NFL’s Greatest Team and the Stolen 1925 Championship,” on stage at the Sovereign Majestic Theater before a live audience of 224.

“But it’s exciting,” Horrigan said. “Look at the people that are involved. They’re enthusiastic to say the least, but they’re fun.”


The Great Maroons Debate, the most publicized head-to-head dispute about the 83-year-old controversy of whether the former Pottsville Maroons should have been awarded the 1925 NFL championship, will be held at 8 p.m. at the 209 N. Centre St. theater. All 224 free passes to the event have been given out.

Jim Coles, sports director for WNEP-TV 16, Moosic, will serve as moderator.

The 13 questions Coles will ask Fleming and Horrigan have been selected from submissions from the public given to WNEP-TV and The REPUBLICAN & Herald over the past month, said Ian Lipton, a member of Lasting Legacy of Pottsville, which organized the event.

As soon as Fleming and Horrigan arrived at Greystone Restaurant for an informal meet-and-greet with the public Thursday, Maroons supporters asked them for their views on hot button “Maroons” topics.

On Dec. 6, 1925, the Maroons defeated the Chicago Cardinals 21-7 at Chicago for the National League Championship. But the NFL stripped the Maroons of the title because on Dec. 12, 1925, the Maroons defeated a non-NFL team, the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame, 9-7, in an exhibition game at Philadelphia’s Shibe Park, and the Philadelphia-based Frankford Yellow Jackets claimed the Maroons invaded their territory, according to “Breaker Boys.”

“As a player, who would not want to play against the greatest team, Notre Dame? If I’m a player on the Maroons, I wouldn’t care about a trophy. When you’re a player, you want to play against the best. Did the players and owner care about the championship when they knew that they may lose that if they played down in Philly?” said Lee Felsburg, Pottsville.

Kim Uranko, Pottsville, said to Horrigan, “You claimed (the Maroons) never finished the season. Who were they supposed to play after they played the Four Horsemen?”

“We have to save this for the debate,” said Lipton said.

“We can’t have a debate before the debate,” said Lipton’s son, Eric, a Lasting Legacy volunteer.

Before the meet-and-greet at Greystone on Thursday, Horrigan, Fleming and members of Lasting Legacy gathered at Maroons Sports Bar & Grill, 556 N. Centre St.

“I told him how much I appreciate the fact that he showed up. He has a very good sense of humor about the whole thing, and I think what this means for the cause and for the NFL to continue to listen, no matter how it goes, is it kind of sets an example for the rest of the league. What does it hurt to at least listen to their side of it?” Fleming said.

The “Breaker Boys” author also said he continued his research into the Maroons in preparation for this event.

“And the more work I’ve done in preparation for this, the more confident I’ve become. I’m excited. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Fleming said.

Fleming said the panel of three judges Lasting Legacy recruited for the event was “great,” while Horrigan did not know who the judges were Thursday night.

“I’m not familiar with the format yet. They don’t get to carry guns, do they?” Horrigan asked.

Horrigan and Fleming walked from Maroons Sports Bar to Greystone. As soon as Horrigan stepped onto the sidewalk outside 315 N. Centre St. just after 8 p.m., Herb Curvey, Tamaqua, shook his hand.

“He’s a good guy. He’s doing a good job with the Hall of Fame,” said Curvey met Horrigan by making numerous visits to the hall of fame in Canton, Ohio.

Predicting the outcome of tonight’s debate, Curvey said he’d like to see Fleming win the argument, but “This is a touchy subject, really, and Joe’s not going to give. He’s going to stick to his guns. He’s done it on ESPN. He keeps saying they never were true champions.”

This is Fleming’s fourth visit to the area since his book was released in Oct. 9.

Lee Felsburg, Pottsville, immediately rushed over and asked the author to sign a copy.

Just as Horrigan was getting inside the door to the crowded bar, Charles Maurer of Pottsville asked Horrigan to sign a copy of “Breaker Boys.” And Horrigan did.

“Thank you for keeping the game alive,” Horrigan wrote in pen.

“I was waiting to see what he wrote,” Fleming said with a laugh.

This morning, Fleming and Horrigan will tour D.G. Yuengling & Son Brewery before meeting representatives of the press for a question-and-answer session at City Hall from 3 to 5 p.m., Ian Lipton said.

Great Maroons Debate Friday, April 18th!!!

Lasting Legacy discusses debate details, Maroons effort
BY STEPHEN J. PYTAKSTAFF WRITERspytak@republicanherald.com
04/14/2008

The Great Maroons Debate will feature questions submitted by the public, a moderator and a video message from Gov. Ed Rendell, said Eric Lipton of Lasting Legacy of Pottsville.

Lipton provided details about the event, and the hectic schedule the debaters, David Fleming of Davidson, N.C. and Joe Horrigan of Canton, Ohio, will experience, starting Thursday, when the two arrive in Pottsville.

Fleming and Horrigan will attend a meet-and-greet at Greystone Restaurant, 315 N. Centre St., from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday. Then on Friday afternoon, the two will attend a press conference. A time for this event has not yet been set, Lipton said.

The Great Maroons Debate will be held at 8 p.m. Friday at 209 N. Centre St. All 224 free passes to the event have been given out, Lipton said.Lasting Legacy asked Jim Coles, sports director for WNEP-TV 16, Moosic, to serve as moderator, and Lipton said Coles is donating his time.

The questions Coles will ask Fleming and Horrigan will be selected from suggestions submitted to WNEP-TV and The REPUBLICAN & Herald over the past month, Lipton said.

“Coles is selecting which ones he’s going to ask,” Lipton said.

The debaters will each be given time limits in which to answer each question.

“That’s going to be the moderator’s decision, based on the question. Some questions will require more elaborate answers and some will not,” Lipton said.

The debate is Lasting Legacy’s latest effort to bring the Maroons controversy to the public’s attention, while encouraging the NFL owners to give the legendary team its 1925 championship.

The last time the NFL owners put the Maroons on their agenda, Oct. 30, 2003, the owners struck down a motion to reopen the 1925 files to re-examine the NFL title with a vote of 30-2.

Interest in the team resurged locally in October, when ESPN Books released Fleming’s book, “Breaker Boys: The NFL’s Greatest Team and the Stolen 1925 Championship.”

In early December, Lasting Legacy of Pottsville mailed copies of David Fleming’s book about the legendary team to 19 of the 32 NFL owners, according to Pottsville Mayor John D.W. Reiley.

Lasting Legacy mailed 20 packages containing the book, letter signed by Reiley and Rendell, a copy of a six-page article about the Pottsville Maroons written by Fleming in 2003, “Lost In Time,” published in ESPN Magazine, a copy of “Breaker Boys” and a DVD copy of a ESPN video history of the Maroons. Two packages were sent to representatives of the San Francisco 49ers, based on Fleming’s recommendations.

On April 2, Fleming encouraged Lasting Legacy to “be patient.” He said he’s hoping the movie based on his book would be made and released in theaters first.

The book was optioned by Sentinel Entertainment, Los Angeles, in April 2006. And Sentinel and Fortress Features are co-producing with Solaris Entertainment, Venice, Calif. Gavin O’Connor, director of the 2004 Walt Disney film “Miracle,” is still attached to direct, according to Patrick Rizzotti, a partner of Fortress Features, Los Angeles.

“There’s no rush. I know it’s hard to say after 83 years, but it’s more important to do it at the right time,” Fleming said.

National special highlights Maroons

The story of the Pottsville Maroons finally reached a national audience Wednesday night. Read the Republican review of the 7 1/2 minute special that aired on HBO's "Inside the NFL" on Wednesday night.

Dave Fleming talks to the Coal Region Voice

Short Q and A with Dave Fleming author of "Breaker Boys: The NFL's Greatest Team and the Stolen 1925 Championship".

1.) Since the book's release in October, what has been the biggest surprise since that time? The letter received from President Bush?

ANSWER

I was shocked and thrilled by the letter from the president but the biggest surprise has been the level of emotion and commitment the coal region has for the Maroons. I knew people were interested in the story and were connected to the team but I had no idea just how strong a symbol the team has become for the region. Not just the success of the team but, I think, the lack of recognition and respect for the Maroons is a metaphor for the entire region. I was shocked at how many people just broke down trying to explain what the Maroons meant to them. To be even a small part of this team, this region and this fight is a great honor.

2.) Before beginning your research on the book, what are some of the things that surprised you about Pottsville and the Anthracite Region.

ANSWER
I alluded to this a bit in No. 1 but, I confess, I didn't have the proper respect for coal mining, the important roll it played in the development of the world and the men who fueled the world one fistful of coal at a time. The best advice I got before sitting down to write the book was to go down into a mine to get perspective on these men and this region and I think the first 75 pages of the book truly shows how much I was moved by that experience. After that the town and the times really became characters in the book.

3.) Do you think the Anthracite Region had a bigger part in shaping the NFL than just the Maroon's contribution?

ANSWER
The last stat I read said that something like 23 NFL Hall of Famers were from Pennsylvania and that five players who have played in the Super Bowl have connections to Pottsville. It's not a coincidence that this proud, rugged region has always been a go-to spot for college football recruiters. Pennsylvania is the birthplace of pro football and I know western PA has gotten a lot of attention and credit but the Maroons were first--and probably best. You only need to attend a PAHS football game to understand how special football is in this region. (I've been to two and the Tide is 2-0 in those games, by the way.)

4.) You will be attending the Super Bowl between the Giants and Patriots. What was the first Super Bowl that you attended?

ANSWER
Actually, it was 12 years ago at the last Super Bowl in Phoenix. I watched a fan bury himself in horse manure to try and win Super Bowl tickets and I haven't found a better metaphor, yet, for the unbelievable hype of the game.

5.) Has there been any big changes from when you first attended?

ANSWER
It's funny, when I first started people were desperate for even a close game. I remember sitting in the Georgia Dome watching the final minutes of the Titans-Rams unfold and just watching with my mouth wide open at the great finish. There is so much hype leading up to the game (to which I certainly contribute) and there's no worse feeling after all that to sit through a boring blowout. The other really big change is that when I switched from Sports Illustrated to ESPN I started getting invited to the Playboy Super Bowl Party. Talk about a life changing event!

6.) Why have the last few Super Bowl's been the most competitive?

ANSWER
The contrasting economic forces of free agency and the salary cap have created a level of parity in the NFL that is reflected in the Super Bowl. (Wow, that answer sounded like the debate scene from Old School when Will Ferrell blacks out for a second. Sorry.)

7.) If you could be NFL Commissioner for one day, what would change?

ANSWER
After I delivered the 1925 NFL championship trophy to City Hall in Pottsville, had lunch with Jim Brown and convinced the Arizona Cardinals to hire Matt Millen as their lifetime GM, I would look into shrinking the schedule and expanding team rosters. Following the league up close I'm disturbed by the amount of injuries in the league--not just the crippling, long-term effect it has on players but the way it's watering down the product--you don't want a league where injuries (and a lack of talent depth) becomes more important than skill and preparation.

8.) Thank you very much for taking the time for the Q and A.

ANSWER
My pleasure. The fact that Breaker Boys has been out for four months and people are still talking about the book, the team and the cause is really a tribute to the grass roots efforts of so many Maroons fans and bloggers like yourself who have tirelessly spread the word. Every day I hear from someone who knows someone who knows someone from Schuylkill County--I swear. It's something I call Maroons Magic. Ya know, I really think we've turned a very, very important corner in the fight. I have had to fight for coverage of the team and the book for a long time and this past week, without any prompting, papers in Chicago, Allentown and Lebanon called wanting to do stories, the book will be in two straight issues of ESPN The Magazine, I just did a segment on Comcast Network and HBO is also putting something together. All of your efforts are paying off and I am deeply indebted to all Maroons fans.


HBO was in Pottsville to interview Kevin Keating and Jack Dolbin for an upcoming NFL special to air on January 30th.

The interview is crossposted at the Coal Region Voice Blog.

ESPN Magazine and the Pottsville Maroons

It was reported in the Pottsville Republican Herald that ESPN the Magazine will be doing a story on the Maroons.

In doing some more digging in the Maroons, Cardinals and the Bidwell family. I found this bit of information. The Cardinals got their nickname from borrowed uniforms from the University of Chicago who incidentally were nicknamed the Maroons.

This is crossposted at the Coal Region Voice.

Bush Likes the Maroons!!!

Bush loves Breaker Boys

I know what your thinking, but author Dave Fleming has received a hand-written note from the White House. Read the Republican's account below.

‘Breaker Boys’ author surprised by hand-written note from White House

BY STEPHEN J. PYTAKSTAFF WRITERspytak@republicanherald.com

12/19/2007

President Bush called David Fleming’s book on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons “illuminating” in a surprise hand-written letter to the author dated Dec. 12 and delivered Tuesday.

“I just finished ‘Breaker Boys.’ You were correct. I did enjoy the book. You are a fine writer. And your history of the Maroons was illuminating,” Bush said in the letter sent to Fleming’s Davidson, N.C., home.

After opening it Tuesday morning, the author said he found the “rather thoughtful” letter in blue pen on White House letterhead.“The way this book has gone so far, nothing surprises me anymore,” said Fleming, a writer for ESPN: The Magazine who was greeted by long lines and signed thousands of copies of “Breaker Boys: The NFL’s Greatest Team and the Stolen 1925 Championship,” while promoting the book in Pottsville in October and earlier this month.

Fleming started an online petition Oct. 16 to encourage the NFL owners to return the 1925 championship to the legendary team. It’s received a total of 10,275 signatures as of 11 p.m. Tuesday.

He said the president’s comments will become “more ammunition for supporters. If people run across a skeptic, or somebody who just wants to say ‘it’s 82 years ago, let’s let it go,’ it’s pretty nice to say to the commissioner of the NFL ‘the president of the United States begs to differ.”

The president’s letter impressed Mayor John D.W. Reiley.

“How about that. It shows that the book’s getting around, from the streets of little ol’ Pottsville all the way up to the White House. And I think the president’s comments are pretty consistent with what other people are saying about the book. All the comments are favorable,” Reiley said.

Alex Conant, a White House spokesman, said Bush is a “voracious reader.”“He reads a lot of books. And typically the White House doesn’t do book and movie reviews, but I will check out to see if I can find out anything more about this letter,” Conant said.

No further comment was made by late Tuesday.

“Somebody from the White House had contacted ESPN looking for my address. So I felt something was going on, but I was expecting like a stamped photo, not expecting a hand-written note that he had actually read it and enjoyed it,” Fleming said.

Fleming said he isn’t sure how the president received a copy of the book, but believes it was sent by someone who attended a book signing in Pottsville.“I remember the first time I was in Pottsville, somebody in one of the long lines had me sign a copy for him. And they explained that either they worked in D.C. or knew somebody who worked in D.C., I don’t remember exactly who it was. But my guess is that’s how it got to him,” Fleming said.

Reiley said he does not know who sent the book to the president, though City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar thought it could be U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III, a Pottsville native.

But when contacted in Harrisburg Tuesday, Jones said it wasn’t him.

The president ended his letter to Fleming stating: “I appreciate having an inscribed copy of the book. With best wishes, George Bush.”

PA House Passes Resolution

The PA State House passed a unamous resolution supporting the Maroons in regaining their 1925 NFL title. Read the story here.

Like I have said in the past, the Govenor has to get the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh both on board. He needs to promote it on Eagles Post Game Live. Also, broker a deal between for both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to have a Maroon's Day Celbration in 2008 at a home game.

Author Dave Fleming Returns to Pottsville Area

“Breaker Boys” Author Fleming Returns to Pottsville Dec 5th through 10th!

• Wednesday Dec.5th• 3 pm – 6 pm - Sales and Signing at Republican and Herald.
• Thursday Dec. 6th• 9 am - Assembly at Blue Mtn Middle School Book sales and signing• Noon – 2pm - Book Sales and Signing at Weis Markets, Pottsville• 7 pm - Signing in Bethlehem, PA at Moravian University bookstore.
• Friday Dec 7th• 9 am – 11 am Book sales and signing at Providence Place• 2pm – 4 pm Book sales and signing at Goodwill Book Store• 5pm – 7pm Book Sales and signing at Walden Books, Schuylkill Mall• Author to be in attendance at PAHS Basketball Game at Martz Hall.
• Saturday Dec 8th• 9 am – 11 am Book Sales and Signing at Historical Society, Pottsville• 2 pm - book sales and signing at Borders Bookstore in Harrisburg, PA• 7:30 pm - Evening Pep Rally at the Armory, N. Centre St. Pottsville• 9 pm - “Meet the Author” informal social gathering at Maroons Sports Bar & Grill
• Sunday Dec 9th• 10 am – Noon - Book Sales and Signing at Tamaqua Train Station during brunch• 2 pm – 3 pm - Book signing at Tudor Bookstore, Kingston, PA• 7 pm – 9 pm - Sales and Signing at Reading, PA Borders bookstore
• Monday Dec. 10th• Morning and Afternoon in Harrisburg for State Proclamation by State Representatives Tim Seip and Neal Goodman.• 5 pm – 8 pm - Book sales and Signing at Walden Books, Fairlane Village Mall
  

Save the Maroons

CLEARING HOUSE

I have started this blog to be a clearing house of information on the reinstate the 1925 NFL Championship to the Pottsville Maroons who defeated the Chicago Cardinals 21-7 on the field at Comsikey Park. In 2003 there was a chance to make everything right when Steelers owner Dan Rooney, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell and Pottsville mayor John D. W. Reiley came up with a solution that had then commissioner Paul Tagliabue's blessing: let the Cards and the Maroons share the title. Tagliabue had even begun to make plans to come to Pottsville to give the town its title back. By a 30-2 vote at that meeting and some influence by Cardinal owner, Bill Bidwell the plan came to grinding halt.


That owners meeting in 2003 was attended by Dave Fleming of ESPN the Magazine who was so intrigued by the story, he has published a book titled, "Breaker Boys: The NFL's Greatest Team and the Stolen 1925 Championship." The book which was just released on October 7th is beginning to publish a second edition. Dave Fleming was in Pottsville to promote the book arriving on October 9th. Throught Friday October 12th, Fleming's appearances were crowded and not enough books were available to be signed. In my interview with Fleming, his publishers compared his signings with the likes of a Harry Potter book. Now the push for the reinstatement of the 1925 NFL Championship is gaining momentum once again. Book sales are selling at fever pitch and ESPN page 2 is hosting a an online petition to sign and present to NFL headquarters.

REINSTATEMENT

How will reinstatement happen? First of all, the Cardinals will never give up the full championship to Pottsville. The Pottsville Maroons once to be officially recognized and would share the championship. This will be the compromise from both sides. How will this happen?

The first thing to do is to educate any NFL fan out there. Send any fan a link to this website. Second sign the online petition of the left side of this page. Third, buy, borrow, and read the book. The direct link is on the left through Amazon. Author Dave Fleming will be in the Pottsville Area before the end of the year to host some more book signings. Books should be available from Lasting Legacy of Pottsville for the second event. Email me with any information regarding the Maroons by clicking the About Me page at the left.

WHY?

In the fall of 1984, I met a fellow student from coal region while attending Villanova University. He had an outgoing personality, he was good to everyone around him, and was the greatest promoter of Pottsville and the coal regions that I ever met. His name was Terrence Patrick Reiley and everyone else knew him as Terry. Terry would eventually obtain his master's degree in civil engineering, a law degree, serve on Pottsville's city council and become the city's mayor in the late 1990's. He married and started a family while being diagnosed with an illness that would eventually take him from us on February 21, 2000. This is my tribute to him.