Highlights
Johnny Unitas was the quarterback for the Baltimore Colts from 1956-1972 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. Nicknamed "The Golden Arm," Unitas is one of the most recognizable and beloved sports figures in Baltimore history, and he is also considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He died Sept. 11, 2002, at the age of 69 from a heart attack. Born May 7, 1933, John Constantine Unitas was raised in Pittsburgh, excelling at quarterback and halfback at St. Justin's High School. His father, Leon Unitas, died when he was 5 years old, leaving his mother, Helen Unitas, the responsibility of raising her children and working multiple jobs. Unitas played his coll...
Johnny Unitas was the quarterback for the Baltimore Colts from 1956-1972 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. Nicknamed "The Golden Arm," Unitas is one of the most recognizable and beloved sports figures in Baltimore history, and he is also considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He died Sept. 11, 2002, at the age of 69 from a heart attack. Born May 7, 1933, John Constantine Unitas was raised in Pittsburgh, excelling at quarterback and halfback at St. Justin's High School. His father, Leon Unitas, died when he was 5 years old, leaving his mother, Helen Unitas, the responsibility of raising her children and working multiple jobs. Unitas played his college football at the University of Louisville, a program that took a chance on the 6-foot, 138-pounder. He eventually grew to 6-foot-1, 194 pounds. The Pittsburgh Steelers spent a ninth-round draft choice on Unitas in 1955, but cut the quarterback before he ever took a snap. After getting cut, Unitas played semi-pro football and worked in construction. In 1956, the Colts offered him a contract. Two years later, Unitas led the Colts to an NFL championship by beating the New York Giants, 23-17. The Giants led 17-14 with two minutes remaining. Then Unitas took over, directing two scoring drives to give the Colts the overtime win. That title game is considered by many to be "the greatest game ever played." After 17 years in Baltimore, Unitas was traded to the San Diego Chargers in 1973. He retired from the NFL later that year. For his career, Unitas won one Super Bowl and three NFL championships, and completed 2,830 passes for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns. He set a record by throwing at least one touchdown in 47 consecutive games.
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Colts fan from Queens stumbles into childhood heroes
WatchdogI had the privilege Wednesday night of watching ESPN's upcoming documentary on the 1958 NFL Championship Game at a Chelsea theater with Frank Gifford, Pat Summerall, Raymond Berry, Gino Marchetti, Lenny Moore, Jim Mutscheller, radio announcer Bob Wolff,...Tags: Raymond Berry, Major League Baseball, Frank Gifford, Football, ESPN
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Phelps joins pool of SI Sportsmen of Year
Even though Michael Phelps is taking a break from the pool, he's still picking up honors. The Rodgers Forge native yesterday became the first swimmer named Sports Illustrated'sSportsman of the Year. He's just the third athlete from Maryland to be so...Tags: John Wooden, Sugar Ray Leonard, Sports Legends at Camden Yards, Olympic Games, Cal Ripken Jr.
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Years later, team suffers unimaginable loss
As the years had passed, they had all scattered to some degree. They owned restaurants, they ran companies and small businesses, they sold products, marketed products, produced products, and one in particular - whom Calvert Hall's class of 1992 will never...Tags: Armed Forces, Transportation Industry, Basketball, Maryland, Family
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Ex-Baltimore Colt has barbecue in the blood
Associated PressIf Southern culture is all about football and barbecue - with a dash of Elvis and catfish thrown in - then Alabama native Andy Nelson is probably the region's most distinguished ambassador to Maryland. Nelson, a former Memphis State University football...Tags: Dining and Drinking, Colleges and Universities, Weeb Ewbank, Football, Restaurant and Catering Industry
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Career over? Warner now an MVP candidate
bob.glauber@newsday.comIt was as stunningly bad a performance as a quarterback could have. The only thing more shocking was what came next. Kurt Warner wasn't just bad in the first half Sept. 28 against the Jets, he was ridiculously bad. As the Jets built a 34-0 lead at...Tags: New York Jets, Trent Green, Football, Super Bowl, Kurt Warner
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'Baltimore' hits the road
You did not have to be around for the glory days of the Orioles to understand why putting Baltimore back on the road jerseys is so uplifting to the city's soul.
"Every other team comes in here with their city's name on the front of their jerseys," said...Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Major League Baseball, Baseball, George Carlin, Fort McHenry
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Freewheeling art
Like most cities, Baltimore offers urban cyclists a fairly limited range of parking options - a lonely metal stanchion outside a coffee shop, perhaps, or an innocuous group rack outside an office building. If it offers anything at all.
But starting...Tags: Massachusetts, Louisville, Tupac Shakur, Sculpture, California
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Towson left out in cold in finale
Special to The Baltimore SunIt was cold and blustery at Johnny Unitas Stadium yesterday afternoon, but it didn't take long for James Madison to warm up its powerful offense. The Dukes - ranked No.1 in the Football Championship Subdivision - scored on six of their first seven...Tags: Football
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An All-Out Blitz Of Books On America's Great Game
Special to The CourantThese books will have strong appeal to any student of football history, but if you're old enough to remember Johnny Unitas and Frank Gifford, they're absolutely essential. In "The Year That Changed the Game:The Memorable Months That Shaped Pro...Tags: Books and Magazines, San Francisco 49ers, Clothing and Textiles Industry, Frank Gifford, University of Michigan
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Second-half swoon
Things couldn't have gone much better for Towson in the first half yesterday, a period highlighted by an emotional charge just before the break from a desperation pass that turned into a touchdown and a seven-point lead. But the inspiration didn't...Tags: College of William and Mary, Jimmye Laycock, Football
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Start of 'roids rage
Was the doctor a genius, delighted with the creations that sprung from his mind, or a hopeless egotist? Louis Riecke wasn't sure. But something made him want to believe in John Ziegler, the big scientist with an even bigger ego. Riecke had pumped iron...Tags: Athletes, John Wayne, Football, Folklore and Mythology, Pharmaceuticals
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Radio for the deaf gets a tryout
New technology that will allow for closed-captioning of radio broadcasts for the deaf and hard-of-hearing will get an election night tryout at Towson University tonight. About 50 invited guests will be able to read National Public Radio's election-...Tags: Towson University, Executive Branch, Radio Industry, Technology, Government
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