Y.A. Tittle, Cassius Clay and Ben Hogan

Via Billy

 

Y.A. Tittle died last week.  A Hall of Fame quarterback for the New York Giants, he is best known for the taking a knee on a football field. Actually, it was two knees.

In September 1964, the Giants were facing the Pittsburgh Steelers at old Pitt Stadium.  Tittle was 38 years old and at the tail end of a 17-year professional career.  He had led his team to three straight NFL Championship Games, in ’61, ’62, and ’63, but did not win.

In the game against the Steelers, he dropped back into his own end zone to throw a pass.  He was viciously knocked to the ground and his helmet flew off.  The pass was intercepted for a touchdown.
He struggled to his knees and stared blankly into the open field, bleeding from his head.  The other players backed off and left him to himself. 

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