Tom Brady has a new end game in delaying Father Time
Smithsonian.com:
(It was chosen the best sports photograph in the National Headliner Award competition of 1964.) Now, it is one of only three pictures hanging in the lobby of the National Press Photographers Association headquarters in Durham, North Carolina, alongside Joe Rosenthal's photograph of the flag-raising at Iwo Jima and the image of the fiery death of the Hindenburg dirigible at Lakehurst, New Jersey. The photo was taken by Morris Berman of the Pittsburgh Gazette.
It was not in the morning edition because of its violent content. Berman was a combat photographer who entered the photo in a contest, and changed the way that photographers viewed sports.
Y.A. Tittle (Yelberton Abraham Tittle) - "That was the end of my dance. A whole lifetime was over."
Tom Brady will turn 37 on August 3rd. Y.A. Tittle was the MVP of the NFL at age 37, and in a few short months, he lay beaten on his knees on the grass, caused by “Father Time. Of course, it didn’t help that 270 lb. DT John Baker of the Pittsburgh Steelers had separated his ribcage, bruised his sternum, caused a concussion and bloodied his face. The interception was run back for a Steeler touchdown in a 27-24 loss for the Giants.
With the opening of training camp, we have heard comments from two Patriot players, DT Vince Wilfork and QB Tom Brady. “We have to work hard" & "nothing is guaranteed”. Tom has made reference that he would like to play until he is 45. Vince even mentioned that it gets “so hard sometimes that you just want to quit”. Unfortunately, somebody else usually makes that decision for them.
July 24th marked the 10th anniversary of the Jason Varitek – Alex Rodriguez brawl at Fenway Park between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. Jason takes umbrage that this one offense defines his stellar career. He has refused to autograph photos of this event, and in general, doesn’t want to talk about it. The same holds true for Y.A. Tittle, and his famous photograph.
To have one event define your career is unfair. Tittle was the first professional football player featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He threw seven touchdowns in a game. He led his team to three straight NFL title games. He was a two time MVP, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971. “He just didn’t like that photo”.
There is a happy ending to the photo. Pittsburgh Steelers DT, John Baker (who hit Tittle right before the picture was taken) ran for Sheriff in his native Wake County, North Carolina, in 1978 and used the photo as a campaign tool. Baker went on to serve for 25 years. I don’t think Tom Brady is looking to get into law enforcement.
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.
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