We mine the incredible work of longtime sports photographer Neil Leifer once again.
This one, shot on December 8, 1974, in New York’s Shea Stadium is of future Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Namath chatting it up with someone on his headset. Based upon how muddy the sidelines were, perhaps it was the equipment room wondering if the white pants and socks will be cleanable? Perhaps it was a calling upstairs to make a guarantee as he did before Super Bowl III? Or maybe he was in touch with his old college coach at the University of Alabama, Paul “Bear” Bryant?
The Jets defeated the O.J. Simpson-led Buffalo Bills, 20-10, on this sloppy Sunday afternoon. Namath threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
Joe Namath on the sidelines at Shea Stadium, December 8, 1974. (Photo by Neil Leifer)
Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
A 2-parter: There are three legs visible, who belongs to those and where was this photo taken?
Lewiston, ME, was in the news recently for all the wrong reasons. Lewiston was the site of last month’s deadly mass shooting (18 in all) and as the community has come together to support the victims, their families, and each other, we felt it appropriate to look back at a time when Lewiston was in the news for a better reason.
The date was May 25, 1965, and the occasion was Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston II; the fight the previous year was actually Cassius Clay vs. Liston. Anyhow, after Boston backed out as host of the rematch due to a variety of reasons (read the Wikipedia link above) promoters found a willing host up the coast. It’s still the only heavyweight championship fight in state history.
And the fight was not without controversy. Phantom punch? Allegations of mafia ties to Liston? A dive by Liston? All sorts of crazy stuff. You’re able to watch the entirety of the fight in under three minutes on the video below.
The fight also yielded one of the most famous photos in the history of sport. Sports Ilustrated‘s Neil Leifer captured the image this week’s Fan Teaser came from. Read about that photo – as well one taken by the Associated Press’s John Rooney – here. You’re able to find both images (which should be pretty recognizable to most sports fans) below.
Muhammed Ali stands over the fallen former champ, Sonny Liston, in Lewiston, ME, in 1965. (Photo Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated).This photo is that of the Associated Press photographer John Rooney. (Photo John Rooney/AP)
While digging around about this iconic event and photo we discovered a couple of fun facts.
The referee of this fight was Jersey Joe Walcott, himself a former heavyweight champion.
Sports Illustrated photographer Neil Leifer was the junior photographer that day for SI. The senior photographer, who relegated Leifer to the spot he was in, was Herb Scharfman who is the photographer visible between Ali’s legs in Leifer’s photo.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
