George Allen is one of the NFL's legendary coaches. So, to call him a "forgotten hero" is not exactly accurate. Certainly, most avid football fans know about his colorful career as the head coach of the Washington Redskins, and some might even remember him as the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams. But few know the "behind-the-scenes" story of George Allen and his journey to becoming the legend he was. The fact that he actually offered to pay University of Michigan coach Fritz Crisler for the opportunity to coach. Or, his falling out with Chicago Bears owner/head coach George Halas. Few know that George Allen actually traded the same draft pick to two different teams or that he was a good friend of three different U.S. Presidents. His paranoia when it came to the press or his disdain for seeing trash littered about the practice facility. Allen might actually be the "father" of film study. No one studied it like George Allen. And his attention to Special Teams was way ahead of his time. Allen knew more about the opponent than the opponent knew about themselves. He was an incredible strategist, and his knowledge of the game was the proverbial second to none. If there was a weakness in Allen's method of coaching, most would point to his reliance on veteran players and his reluctance to play rookies or younger players. When you examine the career of George Allen, and you see his incredible winning percentage during the regular season vs. his 2-7 record in the playoffs, you scratch your head and wonder why. Well, it might just have been that reliance on veteran players. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, I get into all of that with my guest, Mike Richman. Mike is somewhat of an expert when it comes to the Washington Redskins (now the Commanders), and his latest book, "George Allen: A Football Life," is absolutely fantastic, and we discuss a lot of it here on Sports' Forgotten Heroes.

The examination of George Allen's coaching career reveals a man driven by a profound love for football and an unwavering commitment to winning. The podcast captures the essence of Allen's coaching philosophy, which revolved around discipline, strategy, and a deep understanding of the game. His relationships with players were complex, characterized by both admiration and criticism, particularly regarding his intense coaching style and strict policies. The episode further delves into the intricacies of Allen's time with the Rams, detailing how his innovative defensive schemes and emphasis on special teams were revolutionary for the era, yet how these same traits sometimes alienated him from those he coached. Richmond articulates the paradox of Allen's career: a coach who never experienced a losing season yet struggled to translate regular-season success into playoff victories. The discussion invites listeners to consider the broader implications of Allen's story, exploring themes of ambition, legacy, and the quest for greatness against the backdrop of a fiercely competitive sport.

George Allen's legacy in professional football is a tapestry woven with threads of brilliance, controversy, and resilience. The podcast offers a detailed narrative of his rise from a young, ambitious coach to a figure synonymous with NFL coaching excellence. Listeners are taken through pivotal moments in Allen's life, including his unconventional methods of securing coaching positions—such as offering to pay for opportunities—demonstrating his relentless drive and creativity. The conversation also addresses the challenges Allen faced, including friction with players and management, which ultimately shaped his career trajectory. Special attention is given to his time with the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins, where he employed a fierce competitive spirit that led to impressive regular-season records but often resulted in playoff disappointments. The episode serves as a reminder of Allen's significant contributions to the game, while

In 1930 the NFL moved one of the original franchises from Dayton, Ohio to the borough of Brooklyn, New York and re-branded the "Triangles" to a very familiar name - Dodgers. Yes, that's right. From 1930 through the 1944 NFL season, the NFL placed a team in Brooklyn, Ebbets Field. Looking to capitalize on the same name as their baseball cousins, the Brooklyn FOOTBALL Dodgers had high hopes. In Dayton, the fact is, the community was too small to support an NFL team. The Triangles, as they were known in Dayton, played in a small stadium (5,000 seats) and couldn't sellout. Less than capacity crowds, financial struggles and the inability to attract the game's top talent, the NFL was left with no choice but to move the team in order to keep it alive. So, with baseball the No. 1 sport at that time and the NFL still trying to establish itself as a viable league, it was moving its franchises from small cities to larger metropolitan areas and tried to capitalize on names that would be instantly recognizable. But, it didn't always work out, and the football-Dodgers are an example of that. During the team's 15-year stay in Brooklyn, only five times did it finish at .500 or above. The Dodgers never won their division and never appeared in a post-season game. They also struggled at the gate. So, after the 1944 season (in which they had renamed themselves the Brooklyn Tigers), they packed up and moved to Boston and merged with the Yanks. Amazingly, the Dodgers actually still exist today. Yes, this franchise is still in the NFL and on this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes we explore it all with guest Roger Godin who several years ago wrote a fascinating book that looks back at the history of this long-forgotten team, "The Brooklyn Football Dodgers, The Other "Bums."

Before there was an NBA, before there was a BAA, professional basketball looked a lot different than it does today. Back in the early 1900s, professional basketball was largely made up of regional leagues spread out across the country. A particular hotbed for these regional leagues was the Northeast. One of the leagues, the NEBL (New England Basketball League), was also one of the more progressive leagues. In fact, it was the first to allow "colored" players and leading the way was Harry "Bucky" Lew. Now known as the first African-American professional basketball player, Lew was also one of the game's stars. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, author Chris Boucher joins as we discuss the career of Bucky Lew, how these leagues were set up and what the game of basketball looked like back then. Chris, who wrote the book, "The Original Bucky Lew", and I discuss how different the ball was and how difficult it was to dribble the ball. How basketball courts were boxed in by chicken wire, so there was no out-of-bounds, there were no backboards, and fouling a player and the free-throws were no where near the same as they are in the game we watch today. But, the main focus is Lew. The racism he faced, how he played the game, how he continued to break down barriers such as becoming the first African-American to officiate a game, the first to coach a team and the first to own a team. Bucky Lew was certainly a pioneer and we dive into it all on this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes.