My personal feeling about what’s going on in the National Football League? The owners have let the league get out of control with the salaries and trying to protect their investment. I only wish they had to go through what we black players did back in the 60’s and 70’s. I have to say that the owners of today are not like Art Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers
He cared about the players that played for him and took care of them. More importantly, I feel that the concussions of the past are just as important as those of today. And the fans are not seeing football the way it was started back in the day. Too many flags and too much protection for the quarterback and penalties for what the referees think they saw – to me they are fooling the fans that payed good money to see real football. Yes it nice to see a Quarterback throw along pass for touchdown. But what about the defense or linemen who try very hard to do their job. But when they do you can be assured there will be a flag. As I have said too many flags.
Now if I haven’t bored you enough let me tell you about Eugene (Gene) Mingo #21 who played in the NFL for ten and a half years as the first black field goal kicker in the AFL/NFL – with no recognition. You may remember there was a lot of resentment toward black people in those days and it was hard to get a job much less make it as a filed goal kicker. I did not only have to play more then one position, I played seven, and as of today you have not seen any player do what I did
Mr. Lamar Hunt. owner and founder of the AFL, told me that I helped save the AFL this was because when I messed up in Denver and was traded to the Oakland Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers tried to get me away from the AFL. It was a war between the two leagues. I decided to stay with the AFL since they gave me my start. As I said things I did back in the day no other player has done.
I have a book out called “21” Gene Mingo The Forgotten Legend. I didn’t put anything much in the book about myself here -my hope is you will buy it and then you will learn more about Gene Mingo. If you buy it you will see why I feel the way I do about the NFL. They still don’t want people to know about me.
Live and be safe LOVE one another.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
