NOVEMBER 17

On this date in 1968, a famous, and very important, professional football game took place.  It was a Sunday and the New York Jets were playing the Oakland Raiders in Oakland.  There was a huge rivalry between these two teams at the time.  I was sitting in front of our little black and white TV drinking beer while my wife tended to our new baby and her 20-month old sister.   Earlier that afternoon, the first year Cincinnati Bengals had defeated the Miami Dolphins 38-21 for their third win in a 3-11 season.

The game started at 4 pm eastern time.  The Jets led the Raiders 32-29.  Most games at this time were finished in three hours.

Well, when the clock struck 7 pm with the Jets holding their lead and only a minute remained on the clock, NBC, who was airing the game nationally, took it off the air in favor of a movie they had done called Heidi. Who would care?  The Jets were up and only a minute remained.  This great TV movie was scheduled to start at 7!

You guessed it.  While men swore and the Swiss chick danced around the Alps, the Raiders scored two touchdowns to defeat the Jets 43 - 32.  

There was an explosion heard round the world.  Never again would an NFL game be cut short or pre-empted for another TV show.  It was written into all future contracts.  Networks changed their schedules. Football took its rightful place in the universe.  Before there was Don't Mess with Texas there was Don't Mess with Sports on TV.

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