But this one will be a little different. And I might not get much past the 80's but let's see where it goes. First off no butterfly effect, each reworking is going to be contained in what could have happened in that season. Now if yall want to get into the ramifications of my changes in the future, go for it! Also I am going to try and keep the total points scored the same. You will see what I mean.
But first I am going to take a little creative license and give a changed point of departure. And yes it will involve a use of one of the most popular tropes in the field of AH.
The Kennedy Cup of Professional Football
February 9th, 1964
The Orange Bowl, Miami Florida
San Diego Chargers vs New York Giants
Kickoff 4pm
Attendance 75,000
Network: CBS
Master of ceremonies: Ed Sullivan
Special musical guest: The Beatles
On December 29th 1963 John and Bobby Kennedy sat in the residence of the white house with their families to watch a pair of professional football games. In the first game the Giants used a pair of YA Tittle touchdown passes as the early lead and a raw blustery day in Wrigley Field allowed the Ahab of pro football to finally get his white whale as the Giants outlasted the bears 17-7.
In the second game, in the title for that "other" league the brothers went in with a biased mindset since a team from their home was competing. Yet three hours later after the awe inspiring 51-10 display put on by the Chargers it left them in wholehearted agreement that the Chargers were the gold standard in the game.
Afterwards Mr. President decided to place a call to each coach to congratulate them on their respective championship. The first call went to Sid Gillman of the Chargers. The man who in many ways developed the prototype of the modern pro passing game was gregarious and still humble by the honor. The legend has it the president was gushing in his praise. At the end the president said he would really like to see how they would match up against the Giants. To which Coach Gillman replied that maybe someday we will.
He would have no idea just how quickly that day would come.
It was getting late are the white house as the clock on the wall read 10:13 as the president had the staff operator dial the home of Giants coach Allie Sherman. Sure it's a little late, but hey he is the president, and he didn't think coach would mind. On the other end the phone rang, five times,six,seven, and just before the operator was about to give up a groggy voice came on the other line.
Operator: Good evening, may I please be connected to Mr Sherman? The coach, sounding unamused, asked just who the hell at this hour wanted to know! When told he thought it had to be a gag, and by God he was going to let the sumbitch on the other side have it for waking him up! Probablythat bastard George Halas. So instead of a humble and honored man like he had in Gillman Mr President got a ear wax melting profanity laced tirade and a dead line. Afterwards he finished his last drink, had a last smoke and joined Jackie for a nice restful night chuckling to himself.
The next day Pierre Sallinger asked the president how his weekend went. The president gladly retold his tale from the night before, having a good laugh along the way. He was not upset, he even understood why coach Sherman acted like he did, he might have done the same. And J.D also found this antidote to be amusing and decided to call his friend NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle to relay the tale. However the commissioner was not pleased at all to hear this, first he apologized profusely and even after being told it was nothing was still agast the coach of the leagues champion would be so crude, so dismissive. He asked Mr Sallinger to have the president call him if he has the chance so he could personally apologize.
He had his secretary place a call to the patriarch of the Mara family to apprise him . After that he called the home personally of coach Sherman stating he wanted to see him first thing the next morning, when asked why he would only say he will discuss it when he arrives. Meanwhile coach Gillman was so giddy about getting the congratulatory call that he was telling everyone he knew. And commissioner Foss of the AFL was so happy to hear this, especially on hearing that Kennedy thought one of HIS teams was the best in the game that he authorized a press release.
This would quickly make the rounds in the sports page of every paper in America, and even into the fair share of front page and society news. When asked a few days later the president did confirm he had spoken to both coaches and that he did think that in his eyes the Chargers are a worthy match for anyone on the planet, though with a wink he did say the Texas Longhorns might have a little something to say about that. He also added he wonders what Allie Sherman would have to say, but that his attempts to reach him did not go too well "I've had more cordial contact with the Kremlin" the president remarked.
Two days after securing what in his mind was the real world championship Allie Sherman entered the Madison Avenue office of the NFL. When called into Rozelles office he was greated cordially yet cooly. After congratulating the coach the commishioner asked how the rest of his evening went. Coach Sherman talked about how drained he was from the stress of the day and that he actually went home and went to bed a little early. Years later in the great MLPF (Major league of professional football) documentary on the storied history of the cup. Sherman memorably would recall his realization of what Rozelle was trying to tell him.
In those opening days of 1964 two things were the talk of the American people. First was this battle of words which had erupted in the press between the NFL and AFL. The second was about a band from England with a funny sounding name and a infectious sound which had teenagers, especially the girls, in a real tizzy. From his New York office a joweled man who carried more cultural weight than perhaps anyone in the country took mental note of both phenomenon. Suddenly a light went off in his head. Nah, just too many moving pieces to make it happen.
John Kennedy was preparing to enter into his campaign to retain the presidency and it was time to brainstorm with his staff on how to make the biggest splash possible. Matters we're discussed involving policy and programs. Civil rights, the space race the economy etc. But Bobby made a little off hand comment during a meeting that the only thing people were talking about was The Beatles, oh and which football league is better. Suddenly John has a lightbulb go off...Nah just too many moving pieces.
That night while preparing for bed the president mentioned his brainstorm to Jackie, and she said something that would put it all in motion and which would influence our culture ever since, "why don't you call Ed Sullivan".
In the meantime the AFL had become more brazen in their attempts to get the NFL's goat. They offered to play the NFL champion anywhere, anytime and that they would use their ball. Many in the NFL started to get a little testy. Halas was demeaning in his assessment. Legend has it Lombardi called up Allie Sherman and said it was a good thing for Sherman that Hourning got suspended or the Packers would have beat the Giants ass again. Perhaps the most incendiary comment was made by the young coach of the Oakland Raiders Al Davis who said "the NFL is yellow, plain and simple. I look at the Giants and I see a old slow team with half the players my age who play in a antiquated style. Speed and skill are what will win in this day and age, the Chargers would run circles around them" . Howard Cosell said "football wants to be the modern game of the people, and this is what the people want, give it to them Mr. Rozelle."
But there was one man who could make it truly all come to pass. From the white house a call is made to Tiffany's of New York.