AFL

As suggested by these glorious photographs, the humble franchise seeds that were first planted in 1960 have blossomed into beautiful flowers that proudly recall the character filled colors of their infancy.

In the early 1960s this struggling new league was content to just survive living in the shadow of the established NFL. Re-treaded players, bounced paychecks, sparse crowds, second hand uniforms (complete with vertical striped socks) and antiquated facilities. Is it any wonder that the original owners were referred to as "The Foolish Club?"

But talented young players were being signed. Games were played in a wide open high scoring style that was enjoyable to watch. Most importantly a relatively lucrative national television contract was secured and after that there was no looking back for this little renegade league.

In the early 1960s President Kennedy predicted that we would put a man on the moon prior to the end of the decade. If he would have added that an AFL team would also beat an NFL team for the championship of professional football within that same time frame; one might have a hard time deciding which prediction seemed more ludicrous. Well, one small step for Neil Armstrong also included one giant (collective) leap for "Broadway Joe" and the Jets.

It seems somewhat sad that for many younger fans yesterday's Super Bowl victory by one of the original eight AFL franchises no longer means what it used to. The entire league has been homogenized into a generic adventure that often is better suited to a surrealistic computerized game than an actual playing field. In fact, all but one team from that storied group has since changed the color of their original 1960 helmets that are so proudly shown here. Sometimes change is welcome. But for those privileged ones who can remember the AFL game ball, the red striped referees, spectators close to the sidelines, the early Charger uniforms, Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis, signing wars, a second game to watch on Sunday (after the NFL game), Conrad rather than Paris Hilton, and of course those wonderful football helmets -- the special glow of the original AFL league burns eternally. Like lifelong best friends they grew of age together.

Five years from now the original eight AFL franchises will celebrate their 50th anniversary. Wouldn't it be great if those teams wore their original 1960 style uniforms during that entire season? We hope that the NFL will not also consider this idea "Foolish."