Csonka

If Larry Csonka's football career path could be graphed like a stock on Wall Street it might resemble the pattern of a former corporation named Enron. In 1975 "Zonk," lured by the promise of big money, left the two time NFL World Champion Miami Dolphins for the Memphis Southmen of the WFL. The infant league was just entering its second year of operation when Larry joined the team. As soon as Csonka's fist season ended the WFL ceased operations. Finding himself without a job, Larry once again chose money as the determining factor and signed a three year contract to play for the NY Giants. At that time the team was stuck in one of the darkest periods in the history of the franchise. In addition to their on field woes the Giants were also faced with a public relations nightmare by agreeing to move their home games to the state of New Jersey. Not withstanding his growing bank account, Larry's on field nightmares continued in New York or should we say New Jersey. During the three injury filled years he endured there the Giants managed to win only 14 games while losing 30. He sunk to his lowest point late in the 1978 season when he was officially credited with one of the most embarrassing fumbles in the history of football. The lowly Giants were surprisingly beating the playoff eager Eagles with only a few seconds left in the game. Then the unbelievable happened. Instead of kneeling with the ball to end the game the Giant's QB Joe Pisarcik was, for still unknown reasons, instructed by the coaches to hand off to Csonka. The exchange was botched and the Eagle's Herm Edwards scooped up the ball and dashed 26 yards for the winning touchdown. Tired of losing, Larry returned to the Dolphins for one fairly successful final season in 1979 debunking the old adage; "once you leave you can never go home again."

Among the most enduring symbols of the previously mentioned Enron corporation were the decadent five foot tall stainless steel "crooked E" corporate logos that graced the lobby of their headquarters. The logos once stood proud and tall while reflecting the image of corporate excellence. Unfortunately they ultimately became a national symbol for greed, excess, corruption and ineptitude (and as such, the collectable value of the actual Enron logos skyrocketed and they later commanded a handsome price at the public bankruptcy auction).

The story behind "Zonk's" 1976 Giants helmet (as reproduced above) is somewhat comparable to the fate of the aforementioned Enron corporate logos. The rich navy blue shell coupled with the simple but striking "fire engine" red center stripe tastefully reflected the style reminiscent of the team's 1950s and 1960s glory years. This was a period when the entire Giant organization was committed to excellence. The, now rare, aluminum forged Dungard facemask and bull ring nose protector are the same type Larry wore with the much heralded Dolphin teams of the early 1970s.

However, just like the symbolic degradation that occurred with the once proud standing Enron logos, a less than impressive Giant organizational image emerges as the helmet style is further evaluated. In 1976 the legendary 1960s era "ny" helmet logo was replaced by a generic looking "Giants" logo. Giant management felt that the new logo, compared to the traditional one with the New York reference, would be less offensive to the New Jersey taxpayers and government officials who helped fund the team's new stadium. Unfortunately, the new helmet logo also conveyed a message to their loyal fans from New York -- corporate greed. They felt jilted by Giant management when they moved their home games along with local tax and other related revenues across the Hudson River in exchange for reduced rent and higher income at the New Jersey stadium. Adding insult to injury, the team's management expected the continued loyalty of the very same lucrative New York television market that they so awkwardly deserted. The inclusion of the non traditional flanking white helmet stripes and a white (rather than standard gray) colored facemask on Larry's helmet could certainly be viewed as undesirable excess. Did the Giant's management feel they could camouflage the ineptitude of their 1970s era organization with an overabundance of uniform flair?

In recent years the Giants have made strong efforts to recapture the tradition associated with their glory years. In 1981 the flanking white stripes were eliminated. The facemasks were converted back to standard gray and the original "ny" logos reappeared in 2000. There is even talk of moving the team back to Manhattan. Let's get rid of that trendy metallic flake paint and bring back those classy 2" rounded helmet numerals and the restoration will be complete.