Hostile
The Duke
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This morning when I got up I had two thoughts on my mind. Get my Touch of Hostility thread written and get to work. While I was at work I was listening to the radio when the news of his death was announced. It hit me like a ton of bricks.
Forgive me if I indulge my love of our History for a moment. Don Meredith was born in Mt. Vernon Texas, on April 10, 1938. A master of homespun humor he liked to refer to himself as "Jeff and Hazel's little boy." He will always be remembered for being the most famous person to hawk Lipton Iced Tea and for his time on Monday Night Football where he loved to sing Willie Nelson's song "The Party's Over."
What few people know is that Don Meredith always sang. He sang in the huddles to players to calm them down. He sang to fire them up. He sang to his wife every day that he could. Don loved to sing. In fact he recorded two songs of his own. "Them That Ain't Got it Can't Lose" and "Travellin' Man." Click the link, that is Don singing. In fact, that second song is one he would sing to his wife Susan all the time. Without a doubt though his most famous song was his MNF prophecy. He is more known for that song that Willie Nelson himself is.
He went to college at SMU and he was a 2 time All American at QB in 1958 and 1959. He was drafted in the 3rd round by the Chicago Bears and they traded him to Dallas for future Draft picks. Eddie LeBaron was the Cowboys first starting QB. Not many know that Meredith did start a game as a rookie in 1960. Like every other game that year except the Giants game, it was a loss. But many already felt like Meredith was showing his All American potential.
In 1961 he started 4 games. In 1962 it was 9 and by 1963 he was the starter. He was already the star. His teammates called him Joe Don, or Dandy Don. His Christian first named is actually Joseph. The nickname Dandy was because he was always cracking jokes and singing. A common comment was "Don is a dandy." It stuck.
In the 1960's the Cowboys players were all given nicknames. This was done by none other than Don Meredith. His most famous bestowal of a nickname belongs to Walt Garrison whom he nicknamed "Little Puddin'." The night before a game against the Saints Don took Walt out drinking on Bourbon Street, and Walt could not keep up. On the bench being sick the Cowboys put the game out of reach and Landry, unaware of the drinking binge Walt had been on, sent him in.
Dandy Don went right to work. He called a play for Garrison to get the ball. The play is called "twenty four dive switch." Garrison didn't do so well. Back in the huddle Meredith sneered at the RB who had been so great at Oklahoma State. He informed him that was not good enough and called the same play. He keeps calling it until the game ends, enjoying the beating the hung over rookie RB is taking. Unimpressed with the pain Garrison is in Don gave Garrison his nickname in the huddle.
He said, "man, you ain't nothing but a little _______ (think female genitalia). But we can't say that around Landry, so from now on, you're Little Puddin', but we all will know it what it really means."
Those who don't understand locker rooms might think Don hated Walt, but that was not it at all. He basically was saying, "welcome aboard rookie."
Don cared. In fact, at times he cared too much. The Dallas fans and media were very harsh on him and he often took it hard. His second marriage was falling apart and years of taking beatings were wearing him down. Don's nose was broken 14 times during his playing days. That was nothing however. he also suffered broken ribs, a broken ankle and a collapsed lung.
One day Don went to Tom Landry and told him he thought he should retire. he later said he expected Tom to try and talk him out of it. Landry didn't. He figured Don's mind was made up and he supported his decision to retire. Don didn't take it as support.
Two seasons later he signed on as one of the original 3 man booth on MNF. He joined Keith Jackson and Howard Cosell. Later Frank Gifford would replace Keith Jackson as he returned to college football. Gifford and Meredith became almost like brothers. Cosell and Meredith clashed often. Meredith wasn't serious enough for Cosell's taste. He loved to make wise cracks. One of his most famous was calling President Nixon, "Tricky Dick." He also said one time, "welcome to the Mile High City, and I really am."
That was Meredith. He loved to smoke and drink. The story has already been shared of the Cowboys flight having issues with ice. Pete Gent lost his mind panicking as he called out to their leader. "Joe Don, Joe Don. We're going to crash." Meredith took a swig of beer and a long drag on his cigarette and said, "well, it's been a good un, ain't it?" He smoked before games, he drank a lot and his personality was so engaging that TV and the movies came calling. He had a regular stint on Police Story as Detective Bert Jameson.
Everywhere he went Meredith was the life of the party. Back at SMU fans had started calling the college, Southern Meredith University.
For Don the real party happened in 1973 when he saw a raven haired beauty named Susan Dullea. She was the ex wife of actor Keir Dullea.
His first marriage was to an SMU cheerleader named Lynne Shamburger right at the time Dallas was awarded a team called the Cowboys. The marriage fell apart in 1963.
I never knew the name of his second wife. The only thing I know of her is that at the time he decided to retire part of the reason why was to try and save the marriage.
Susan brought Don the peace of mind his life had lacked and that he so wanted. They met in his 2nd year on MNF, 1971 in New York City. Last year in a story by DMN Meredith said since their marriage he and Susan have only spent 24 nights apart from each other. Last night was 25 for Susan. Don is still with her though. He always will be.
They left MNF behind and split time between Palm Springs, CA and Santa Fe, NM. Dandy Don has faded into privacy, but his shadow will forever be cast on Dallas Cowboys fans. He was the original.
Turn out the lights, the party's over.
They say that all good things must end.
Including the life of one of the greatest football players in our History.
Rest in Peace, Joe Don.
Forgive me if I indulge my love of our History for a moment. Don Meredith was born in Mt. Vernon Texas, on April 10, 1938. A master of homespun humor he liked to refer to himself as "Jeff and Hazel's little boy." He will always be remembered for being the most famous person to hawk Lipton Iced Tea and for his time on Monday Night Football where he loved to sing Willie Nelson's song "The Party's Over."
What few people know is that Don Meredith always sang. He sang in the huddles to players to calm them down. He sang to fire them up. He sang to his wife every day that he could. Don loved to sing. In fact he recorded two songs of his own. "Them That Ain't Got it Can't Lose" and "Travellin' Man." Click the link, that is Don singing. In fact, that second song is one he would sing to his wife Susan all the time. Without a doubt though his most famous song was his MNF prophecy. He is more known for that song that Willie Nelson himself is.
He went to college at SMU and he was a 2 time All American at QB in 1958 and 1959. He was drafted in the 3rd round by the Chicago Bears and they traded him to Dallas for future Draft picks. Eddie LeBaron was the Cowboys first starting QB. Not many know that Meredith did start a game as a rookie in 1960. Like every other game that year except the Giants game, it was a loss. But many already felt like Meredith was showing his All American potential.
In 1961 he started 4 games. In 1962 it was 9 and by 1963 he was the starter. He was already the star. His teammates called him Joe Don, or Dandy Don. His Christian first named is actually Joseph. The nickname Dandy was because he was always cracking jokes and singing. A common comment was "Don is a dandy." It stuck.
In the 1960's the Cowboys players were all given nicknames. This was done by none other than Don Meredith. His most famous bestowal of a nickname belongs to Walt Garrison whom he nicknamed "Little Puddin'." The night before a game against the Saints Don took Walt out drinking on Bourbon Street, and Walt could not keep up. On the bench being sick the Cowboys put the game out of reach and Landry, unaware of the drinking binge Walt had been on, sent him in.
Dandy Don went right to work. He called a play for Garrison to get the ball. The play is called "twenty four dive switch." Garrison didn't do so well. Back in the huddle Meredith sneered at the RB who had been so great at Oklahoma State. He informed him that was not good enough and called the same play. He keeps calling it until the game ends, enjoying the beating the hung over rookie RB is taking. Unimpressed with the pain Garrison is in Don gave Garrison his nickname in the huddle.
He said, "man, you ain't nothing but a little _______ (think female genitalia). But we can't say that around Landry, so from now on, you're Little Puddin', but we all will know it what it really means."
Those who don't understand locker rooms might think Don hated Walt, but that was not it at all. He basically was saying, "welcome aboard rookie."
Don cared. In fact, at times he cared too much. The Dallas fans and media were very harsh on him and he often took it hard. His second marriage was falling apart and years of taking beatings were wearing him down. Don's nose was broken 14 times during his playing days. That was nothing however. he also suffered broken ribs, a broken ankle and a collapsed lung.
One day Don went to Tom Landry and told him he thought he should retire. he later said he expected Tom to try and talk him out of it. Landry didn't. He figured Don's mind was made up and he supported his decision to retire. Don didn't take it as support.
Two seasons later he signed on as one of the original 3 man booth on MNF. He joined Keith Jackson and Howard Cosell. Later Frank Gifford would replace Keith Jackson as he returned to college football. Gifford and Meredith became almost like brothers. Cosell and Meredith clashed often. Meredith wasn't serious enough for Cosell's taste. He loved to make wise cracks. One of his most famous was calling President Nixon, "Tricky Dick." He also said one time, "welcome to the Mile High City, and I really am."
That was Meredith. He loved to smoke and drink. The story has already been shared of the Cowboys flight having issues with ice. Pete Gent lost his mind panicking as he called out to their leader. "Joe Don, Joe Don. We're going to crash." Meredith took a swig of beer and a long drag on his cigarette and said, "well, it's been a good un, ain't it?" He smoked before games, he drank a lot and his personality was so engaging that TV and the movies came calling. He had a regular stint on Police Story as Detective Bert Jameson.
Everywhere he went Meredith was the life of the party. Back at SMU fans had started calling the college, Southern Meredith University.
For Don the real party happened in 1973 when he saw a raven haired beauty named Susan Dullea. She was the ex wife of actor Keir Dullea.
His first marriage was to an SMU cheerleader named Lynne Shamburger right at the time Dallas was awarded a team called the Cowboys. The marriage fell apart in 1963.
I never knew the name of his second wife. The only thing I know of her is that at the time he decided to retire part of the reason why was to try and save the marriage.
Susan brought Don the peace of mind his life had lacked and that he so wanted. They met in his 2nd year on MNF, 1971 in New York City. Last year in a story by DMN Meredith said since their marriage he and Susan have only spent 24 nights apart from each other. Last night was 25 for Susan. Don is still with her though. He always will be.
They left MNF behind and split time between Palm Springs, CA and Santa Fe, NM. Dandy Don has faded into privacy, but his shadow will forever be cast on Dallas Cowboys fans. He was the original.
Turn out the lights, the party's over.
They say that all good things must end.
Including the life of one of the greatest football players in our History.
Rest in Peace, Joe Don.
