hermhater
01-15-2008, 09:33 PM
January 11, 1970
For Len Dawson, the 1969 AFL season had consisted of misery and misfortune.
In the second game, against the Boston Patriots, he had suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for six games.
Later, his father had died and when the Kansas City Chiefs lost their final regular season game to Oakland, 10-6, a cloud of controversy swirled about the
veteran quarterback because of a questionable game plan.
Harassment grew so formidable that the Dawson children were reluctant to go to school and Mrs. Dawson hesitated to mingle socially.
With it all, however, Dawson and the Chiefs had survived. After finishing second to the Raiders in the Western Division race, the Chiefs eliminated the New
York Jets in the inter-divisional playoffs, 13-7, and defeated Oakland, 17-7, in the AFL championship game to qualify for their second Super Bowl appearance
in four seasons.
Nothing, it seemed, could heap further grief on the Chiefs. They already had had more than their fair share.
But in the early afternoon of Tuesday, January 6, after the team had finished its noon meal at the Fontainebleau Hotel in New Orleans and as Dawson prepared
to attend a quarterbacks' meeting, he was beckoned aside by Hank Stram. The news from the coach was ominous. A few hours later, the National Broadcasting
Company, on its Huntley-Brinkley newscast, would report a federal investigation into sports gambling and say that Dawson and other players would be summoned
to testify in Detroit.
The disclosure struck Dawson like a blind-side tackle.
Dawson's involvement, he was told, stemmed from the arrest of Donald (Dice) Dawson, who was carrying more than $400,000 as well as Lenny's telephone number.
The quarterback admitted that he had known Donald Dawson (no relation) casually for about 10 years and had received phone calls from him on several
occasions, the most recent after his knee injury and the death of his father.
That evening a statement was issued by Commissioner Pete Rozelle, saying:
"It is unfortunate that any sports figures' names be mentioned loosely with an investigation of other persons, especially Len Dawson's, just prior to his
playing in the world championship game. We feel the act of some individual or individuals in involving certain professional football players with this
investigation by unattributable comment to news media representatives is totally irresponsible.
"More than a year ago, during the 1968 season, rumors were circulated regarding Dawson. At that time Dawson and his attorney cooperated fully with our office
and Dawson volunteered to take a polygraph examination to establish his innocence in regard to the rumors. The test and our own independent examination
proved to our satisfaction that the rumors were unsubstantiated. We cooperated with a federal investigative agency throughout the course of the investigation
in accordance with our long-standing policy.
"While the entire matter has been under investigation by our security department for several days, we have no evidence to even consider disciplinary action
against any of those publicly named."
In addition to Len Dawson those named were quarterbacks Joe Namath of the New York Jets, Karl Sweetan of the Los Angeles Rams and Bill Munson of the Detroit
Lions, and tight end Pete Lammons of the Jets.
Meanwhile, in Stram's suite, the coach was in conference with Lamar Hunt, the Chiefs' owner who had founded the AFL and christened the Super Bowl; Dawson and
Jim Schaaf, the team's publicity director. The purpose of the meeting was to draft a statement explaining Dawson's position in the controversy.
Eventually, a satisfactory statement was completed. The group agreed that Dawson should read the statement to the media persons assembled on another floor.
"If he doesn't read it himself it will look like an admission of guilt," Schaaf contended, and the others assented.
"Okay," added Stram, "but there will be no questions. He goes in, reads the statement and leaves."
At 11 p.m., five hours after the NBC newscast, Stram and Dawson confronted the newsmen.
"Gentlemen," began Stram, "I'm sorry we've kept you waiting, Lenny has a statement to read. He will not answer questions."
In his statement, copies of which were distributed to the media, Dawson said:
"My name has been mentioned in regard to an investigation conducted by the Justice Department. I have not been contacted by any law enforcement agency or
apprised of any reason why my name has been brought up. The only reason I can think of is that I have a casual acquaintance with Mr. Donald Dawson of
Detroit, who I understand has been charged in the investigation. Mr. Dawson is not a relative of mine. I have known Mr. Dawson for about 10 years and have
talked with him on several occasions. My only conversation with him in recent years concerned my knee injury and the death of my father. On these occasions
he called me to offer his sympathy. These calls were among the many I received. Gentlemen, this is all I have to say. I have told you everything I know."
With that, Dawson retired to a room other than the one to which he was assigned, so as to avoid disturbances.
Reaction to the story among Kansas City players was hot and instant.
"We're angry as hell the story came out the way it did," snapped defensive end Jerry Mays.
"Lenny is too smart to get mixed up in something like this," said running back Mike Garrett. "To me there's nothing to it and it doesn't bother me at all."
"The club was investigated before because it was playing erratically," recalled center E.J. Holub. "We were put through the wringer pretty good. There was
nothing to it then and I don't think there's anything to it now."
"You've got to believe in something and I believe in Lenny," said guard Ed Budde.
As l'affaire Dawson cooled in the following days, attention switched to the participants in Super Bowl IV, the NFL champion Minnesota Vikings and the AFL
champion Chiefs.
The Vikings had lost only to the New York Giants, 24-23, in the opener, and to the Atlanta Falcons, 10-3, in the regular-season finale, while winning 12
games in between. They had allowed only 133 points while scoring 379.
The Chiefs outscored their opponents, 359 to 177 points, and had been beaten only three times, by Cincinnati, 24-19, and Oakland, 24-17 and 10-6.
The Minnesota quarterback was Joe Kapp, who had come out of the Canadian League in 1967 with the reputation of a two-fisted brawler.
The Vikings enjoyed telling the story of Kapp and linebacker Lonnie Warwick after the Vikings had lost a game to Green Bay in 1967.
Following an extended period drinking tequila at the bar, the two reached violent disagreement on the causes for the defeat, Kapp insisting his fumble was
responsible and Warwick maintaining that the defense was at fault.
When reason could not resolve the dispute, the two adjourned to the sidewalk where Warwick's right to the eye sent Kapp sprawling on the concrete.
Finesse was not a part of Kapp's game. His passes wobbled and found their mark as if by accident. Still, he tied the NFL record with seven touchdown passes
in a 52-14 rout of Baltimore, the Vikes' first victory in 1969.
Kapp welcomed contact. In the words of Coach Bud Grant: "Other quarterbacks run out of bounds. Kapp turns upfield and looks for a tackle to run into."
In the Vikings' 51-3 rout of Cleveland, Kapp barreled into Jim Houston, knocking the linebacker out.
It was Kapp who had coined the Vikes' slogan for the 1969 season: "40 for 60," meaning 40 players giving their all for the full 60 minutes. "Such
inspirations come along once in a lifetime, they're no great thing," said Kapp, minimizing his contribution.
The Chiefs had the highest regard for Kapp, the former California All-America who had chosen the Canadian Football League over the Washington Redskins, who
had picked him 18th in the 1959 NFL draft. He was signed as a free agent by Minnesota in 1967.
"I respect him as much as any guy I've ever played against," said Jerry Mays. "He is a sorry passer and really not a great quarterback, but he's a great
leader and a real fireball. I hated to play against him.
"You felt his presence no matter where he was, on the sidelines or on the field. He'd look at you and challenge you with his eyes. When I think of him, I think of his eyes."
For Len Dawson, the 1969 AFL season had consisted of misery and misfortune.
In the second game, against the Boston Patriots, he had suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for six games.
Later, his father had died and when the Kansas City Chiefs lost their final regular season game to Oakland, 10-6, a cloud of controversy swirled about the
veteran quarterback because of a questionable game plan.
Harassment grew so formidable that the Dawson children were reluctant to go to school and Mrs. Dawson hesitated to mingle socially.
With it all, however, Dawson and the Chiefs had survived. After finishing second to the Raiders in the Western Division race, the Chiefs eliminated the New
York Jets in the inter-divisional playoffs, 13-7, and defeated Oakland, 17-7, in the AFL championship game to qualify for their second Super Bowl appearance
in four seasons.
Nothing, it seemed, could heap further grief on the Chiefs. They already had had more than their fair share.
But in the early afternoon of Tuesday, January 6, after the team had finished its noon meal at the Fontainebleau Hotel in New Orleans and as Dawson prepared
to attend a quarterbacks' meeting, he was beckoned aside by Hank Stram. The news from the coach was ominous. A few hours later, the National Broadcasting
Company, on its Huntley-Brinkley newscast, would report a federal investigation into sports gambling and say that Dawson and other players would be summoned
to testify in Detroit.
The disclosure struck Dawson like a blind-side tackle.
Dawson's involvement, he was told, stemmed from the arrest of Donald (Dice) Dawson, who was carrying more than $400,000 as well as Lenny's telephone number.
The quarterback admitted that he had known Donald Dawson (no relation) casually for about 10 years and had received phone calls from him on several
occasions, the most recent after his knee injury and the death of his father.
That evening a statement was issued by Commissioner Pete Rozelle, saying:
"It is unfortunate that any sports figures' names be mentioned loosely with an investigation of other persons, especially Len Dawson's, just prior to his
playing in the world championship game. We feel the act of some individual or individuals in involving certain professional football players with this
investigation by unattributable comment to news media representatives is totally irresponsible.
"More than a year ago, during the 1968 season, rumors were circulated regarding Dawson. At that time Dawson and his attorney cooperated fully with our office
and Dawson volunteered to take a polygraph examination to establish his innocence in regard to the rumors. The test and our own independent examination
proved to our satisfaction that the rumors were unsubstantiated. We cooperated with a federal investigative agency throughout the course of the investigation
in accordance with our long-standing policy.
"While the entire matter has been under investigation by our security department for several days, we have no evidence to even consider disciplinary action
against any of those publicly named."
In addition to Len Dawson those named were quarterbacks Joe Namath of the New York Jets, Karl Sweetan of the Los Angeles Rams and Bill Munson of the Detroit
Lions, and tight end Pete Lammons of the Jets.
Meanwhile, in Stram's suite, the coach was in conference with Lamar Hunt, the Chiefs' owner who had founded the AFL and christened the Super Bowl; Dawson and
Jim Schaaf, the team's publicity director. The purpose of the meeting was to draft a statement explaining Dawson's position in the controversy.
Eventually, a satisfactory statement was completed. The group agreed that Dawson should read the statement to the media persons assembled on another floor.
"If he doesn't read it himself it will look like an admission of guilt," Schaaf contended, and the others assented.
"Okay," added Stram, "but there will be no questions. He goes in, reads the statement and leaves."
At 11 p.m., five hours after the NBC newscast, Stram and Dawson confronted the newsmen.
"Gentlemen," began Stram, "I'm sorry we've kept you waiting, Lenny has a statement to read. He will not answer questions."
In his statement, copies of which were distributed to the media, Dawson said:
"My name has been mentioned in regard to an investigation conducted by the Justice Department. I have not been contacted by any law enforcement agency or
apprised of any reason why my name has been brought up. The only reason I can think of is that I have a casual acquaintance with Mr. Donald Dawson of
Detroit, who I understand has been charged in the investigation. Mr. Dawson is not a relative of mine. I have known Mr. Dawson for about 10 years and have
talked with him on several occasions. My only conversation with him in recent years concerned my knee injury and the death of my father. On these occasions
he called me to offer his sympathy. These calls were among the many I received. Gentlemen, this is all I have to say. I have told you everything I know."
With that, Dawson retired to a room other than the one to which he was assigned, so as to avoid disturbances.
Reaction to the story among Kansas City players was hot and instant.
"We're angry as hell the story came out the way it did," snapped defensive end Jerry Mays.
"Lenny is too smart to get mixed up in something like this," said running back Mike Garrett. "To me there's nothing to it and it doesn't bother me at all."
"The club was investigated before because it was playing erratically," recalled center E.J. Holub. "We were put through the wringer pretty good. There was
nothing to it then and I don't think there's anything to it now."
"You've got to believe in something and I believe in Lenny," said guard Ed Budde.
As l'affaire Dawson cooled in the following days, attention switched to the participants in Super Bowl IV, the NFL champion Minnesota Vikings and the AFL
champion Chiefs.
The Vikings had lost only to the New York Giants, 24-23, in the opener, and to the Atlanta Falcons, 10-3, in the regular-season finale, while winning 12
games in between. They had allowed only 133 points while scoring 379.
The Chiefs outscored their opponents, 359 to 177 points, and had been beaten only three times, by Cincinnati, 24-19, and Oakland, 24-17 and 10-6.
The Minnesota quarterback was Joe Kapp, who had come out of the Canadian League in 1967 with the reputation of a two-fisted brawler.
The Vikings enjoyed telling the story of Kapp and linebacker Lonnie Warwick after the Vikings had lost a game to Green Bay in 1967.
Following an extended period drinking tequila at the bar, the two reached violent disagreement on the causes for the defeat, Kapp insisting his fumble was
responsible and Warwick maintaining that the defense was at fault.
When reason could not resolve the dispute, the two adjourned to the sidewalk where Warwick's right to the eye sent Kapp sprawling on the concrete.
Finesse was not a part of Kapp's game. His passes wobbled and found their mark as if by accident. Still, he tied the NFL record with seven touchdown passes
in a 52-14 rout of Baltimore, the Vikes' first victory in 1969.
Kapp welcomed contact. In the words of Coach Bud Grant: "Other quarterbacks run out of bounds. Kapp turns upfield and looks for a tackle to run into."
In the Vikings' 51-3 rout of Cleveland, Kapp barreled into Jim Houston, knocking the linebacker out.
It was Kapp who had coined the Vikes' slogan for the 1969 season: "40 for 60," meaning 40 players giving their all for the full 60 minutes. "Such
inspirations come along once in a lifetime, they're no great thing," said Kapp, minimizing his contribution.
The Chiefs had the highest regard for Kapp, the former California All-America who had chosen the Canadian Football League over the Washington Redskins, who
had picked him 18th in the 1959 NFL draft. He was signed as a free agent by Minnesota in 1967.
"I respect him as much as any guy I've ever played against," said Jerry Mays. "He is a sorry passer and really not a great quarterback, but he's a great
leader and a real fireball. I hated to play against him.
"You felt his presence no matter where he was, on the sidelines or on the field. He'd look at you and challenge you with his eyes. When I think of him, I think of his eyes."