The American Football League; established in 1960; was innovative both in its commitment to finding talented; overlooked players—particularly those who played for historically black colleges and universities—and in the decision by team owners to share television revenues. In Mavericks; Money and Men; football historian Charles Ross chronicles the AFL’s key events; including Buck Buchanan becoming the first overall draft pick in 1963; and the 1965 boycott led by black players who refused to play in the AFL-All Star game after experiencing blatant racism. He also recounts how the success of the AFL forced a merger with the NFL in 1969; which arguably facilitated the evolution of modern professional football. Ross shows how the league; originally created as a challenge to the dominance of the NFL; pressured for and ultimately accelerated the racial integration of pro football and also allowed the sport to adapt to how African Americans were themselves changing the game.
#3734109 in Books 2011-07-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .96 x 6.00l; 1.15 #File Name: 1438431880382 pages
Review
