This is a photo of the Falcons' camp in 1966. I'm just to the right of Number 83, hands folded behind my back.

 The Real 'Badasses' of the NFL

A friend was chatting on Facebook today about some of the "badass" old-days NFL players/coaches and I came up with this remembrance:

Oh, my! You want some salty dudes? I covered the Atlanta Falcons' pre-season camp during their first year of existence in the summer, 1966, at Black Mountain, outside Asheville. TheFalcons' roster was composed of old-timers, rookies, overweight linemen, slow running backs and receivers and a quarterback (Billy Wade) who had won an NFL title, but was closer to Social Security than college.

Alex Hawkins, the hell-raising running back from the University of South Carolina, was probably the most colorful of the group, partying all night (and dragging along the rookies) and playing all day. A fullback named Ernie Wheelright reported to camp at 350 pounds and was ordered to get down to 275 before he could play. I watched him cry at lunch as he looked at the lettuce and cottage cheese he was served.

According to a story in thefalcoholic.com,

“No, the facilities certainly aren’t ideal. The boys have been very good about adjusting to the situation, though,” Falcons head coach Norb Hecker told the Charlotte News according to the book Tales from the Atlanta Falcons sideline by Matt Winkeljohn. “There are no gripes, and the spirit has been very good.”

The practice field reportedly had uncut grass, awful food, and a lot of mosquitoes.

“There were no screens on the windows and the mosquitoes were as big as birds,” Al Thomy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution said. “We almost had the first NFL players’ strike over the food. The hamburgers bounced off the floor. The players threatened to go on strike if they didn’t improve the food.”

It wasn’t just the field itself having problems, there was an apparent issue of players consuming alcohol. Newly acquired running back Alex Hawkins was expected to play a leadership role on the Falcons. At 5 a.m. one morning, head coach Norb Hecker found Hawkins on the back of a watermelon truck.

“Do you want to say anything on your behalf?” Norb Hecker asked.

“Would you believe I was kidnapped?” Alex Hawkins responded.

One little odd remembrance: I met TV's Dennis the Menace (Jay North) at practice one day. Nice kid. 'T'was a fun time for me.

 

That's me signing a copy of NEWS!

An Eventful Launch for NEWS!

The launch of my new novel, NEWS!, went swimmingly (almost literally) last night at Hollins University. We had a nice crowd, some of which paddled through heavy rain to get there and I signed quite a few books. 

I was especially delighted to see old friends, some writers, some not, all supremely talented in one way or another. At times, it felt like a reunion of the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference, which I founded about 15 years ago.

Linda Kay Simmons and Susan (who doesn't like her whole name used publicly) did yeoman's work setting up the food table and organizing everything. Linda--for the second straight year--brought out a photo/cake with a likeness of the cover of NEWS! (last year, it was me shirtless) that brought quite a laugh.

Sherry Payne and her lovely husband Jim Canody provided the music, including Sherry's "He Just Called It NEWS!," which she wrote for the event. 

A good evening. One I'll remember. Here's some of what it looked like.

Publisher Susannah Smith and trubador Greg Trafidlo examine NEWS!

Rhinda North makes a point. 

Greg Trafidlo with Roanoke Regional Chamber President Joyce Waugh. 

Some of the ladies of this evening.

Some of the gentlemen of the evening.

My former business partner in FRONT magazine gets his book autographed.

I signed books on whatever surface I could find.

That's Roland Lazenby, author of more than 60 books, getting his copy of NEWS! signed.

Signing Nancy Harvey's book.

Readers lined up to get their books signed.

I liked the clusters of people all over the room, chatting eagerly. 

That's my son's mother-in-law, Judy Dickerson, reading her book.

Amanda Cockrell, whose recent book is about Vietnam, awaits her book. 

Successful--and relatively new--writer Leah Weiss and I chat.

Tom Field and me again.

Listening to Jim and Sherry.

Love this shot: looks like Susannah is scolding me for something I might have done to Emily Carter.

My favorite publisher and I.

Jim and Sherry singin' in the rain (it's pouring outside).

Roland Lazenby holds court. 

Introducing Jim and Sherry.

Signing for one of the sweetest people god ever put on earth: Getra Selph.

Linda Kay Simmons with her good friends Jim and Sherry.

Round-table discussion, one of many. 

These friends, Becky Hepler and Rick Teague, go back 40 years.

Leah Weiss with one of the region's real heroes, Mr. Habitat for Humanity, Tom Gerdy.

Linda Kay and Sherry, two talented women who appreciate each other.

Linda Kay set this table. Plenty of goodies for all.

Betsy Ashton and her husband examine NEWS!

Betsy and Linda Kay anchor Lake Writers.

Joe Dashiel, veteran WDBJ7 reporter, interviews the author.

John Ketwig, who wrote the definitive Vietnam memoir, and his lovely wife.

Authors extraordinaire: Leah Weiss and Linda Kay Simmons.

My best bud, Susan, and I (Susan took every photo here, except this one, which I took).

A woman I greatly admire, Trish White-Boyd, Roanoke's vice mayor.

Linda Kay organized so much of this event. And she did it with style and grace, as usual.

Meg Hibbert poses Emily Brady and me (as I put a book on Em's head).

Roland Lazenby and his extraordinary wife, Karen.

Bert Boyd with Trish and their grandson, Ryan.

The stylish Tom Gerdy and me.

Reporter and friend Meg Hibbert with Leah Weiss and me.

An animated publisher, Susannah Smith.

Signing Meg's book.

Roland wants his book signed ... now.

Signing for long-time pals, Becky Hepler and Greg Trafidlo.

The lyrics to Sherry's "We Just Call It News."

Linda Kay and that marvelous book/cake.

The cake of the day.

Blow them out, bub!

Presenting a photo I shot of Jim and Sherry.