PDF Summary:The League, by John Eisenberg

The League by John Eisenberg reveals the chaotic beginnings of professional football and the establishment of the National Football League. Key individuals like George Halas, Bert Bell, Art Rooney, and Tim Mara overcame immense challenges to elevate the sport from its humble roots as a disorganized endeavor to a thriving national institution.

The narrative explores how rule changes, player drafts, media partnerships, and strong leadership steered professional football from near-extinction to its present-day popularity. It highlights the visionaries who persisted through financial turmoil to champion their passion for the game and shape its future.

(continued)...

• Adjust the layout of your grocery list by grouping items according to the store layout or by the frequency of purchase to streamline your shopping experience.
• You can create a social media challenge that encourages friends to share their most entertaining football moments. By using hashtags and tagging friends, you create a ripple effect that showcases the fun and excitement of football to a wider audience. For example, start a "#FootballFunChallenge" where each participant posts a video of their most memorable game experience or their best touchdown dance, then tags five friends to do the same.
• Start a grassroots movement to introduce playful halftime activities at community sports events. Partner with local businesses to sponsor fun contests or performances during breaks, which can add an element of surprise and keep spectators entertained. This could range from dance-offs to obstacle courses, depending on the sport and audience.
• Improve your community group's effectiveness by adopting a playbook approach from sports teams. If you're part of a local club or organization, suggest developing a clear set of strategies or guidelines that members can refer to in various situations. This could involve creating a document that outlines best practices for organizing events, recruiting new members, or managing finances, ensuring everyone is on the same page and can act decisively.
• Improve your adaptability by simulating rule changes in board games or video games you play regularly. Modify one rule at a time and observe how it changes your strategy and the game's outcome. For example, in a game of chess, you might create a rule where pawns can move sideways. This exercise can help you become more flexible and innovative in thinking, as you'll learn to adjust quickly to new parameters.
• You can enhance your sports-watching experience by keeping a performance journal. As you watch different sports, take notes on the athletes' skills and how they adapt to changes in the game, such as rule modifications or different playing environments. This will help you appreciate the nuances of the sport and the athletes' abilities to adjust.
• Develop a personal brand by identifying and emphasizing what makes your approach to your profession or hobby unique. If you're a baker, for instance, you might focus on using only locally-sourced ingredients or creating recipes that are inspired by your cultural heritage. Share your creations on social media with a specific hashtag that relates to your unique selling point to build a community around your brand.
• Use the 'ten-yard inward' concept to improve your daily routines by identifying activities that take up excessive time or space and deliberately scaling them back. For instance, if you notice that social media consumes a large portion of your day, decide to reduce your usage by setting a specific, smaller time limit. This incremental adjustment can lead to more productive habits and a better balance between leisure and responsibilities.
• You can analyze the layout of your living or working space to encourage more central interactions. Just as the rule change in a game might be designed to shift activity towards the center, consider rearranging furniture or workstations to create a focal point that naturally draws people in. For example, place a coffee table with comfortable seating around it in your living room to encourage family members to gather and interact, or in an office, position a communal table with amenities like coffee or snacks to promote central gathering and collaboration among colleagues.
• Develop a personal transformation plan by setting clear, measurable goals that reflect a significant change in a chosen area of your life. If you aim to transform your fitness routine, establish a goal to compete in a specific event, like a triathlon, that requires dedicated training and marks a clear departure from your current activities.

Competing for a championship title.

Before Marshall's influence on the league and his contribution to the creation of new rules, the NFL champion was determined by a collective agreement among team owners, who assessed which team deserved the championship by considering their performance and win-loss records. However, as Eisenberg elucidates, the approach was unfair and flawed, with the early NFL experiencing a lack of uniformity in the number of games played by each team, and the league's nascent stages were further complicated by the frequent incidence of draws, which made determining an undisputed champion challenging.

To address the problem, Marshall proposed the establishment of a title match following the end of the regular season, a concept that emerged from his conversations with other team proprietors. The NFL orchestrated the inaugural championship game of professional football in 1933. The first championship game, featuring a contest between the Bears from Chicago and the New York Giants, resulted in minimal scoring by either team, yet it garnered significant national media coverage, which was crucial in introducing the concept of a professional football championship to a wide audience.

Context

• In the early years of the NFL, there was no standardized schedule, meaning teams independently arranged their games, leading to discrepancies in the number of games played.
• George Preston Marshall, owner of the Boston Braves (later the Washington Redskins), was instrumental in advocating for a championship game. His influence helped shape the modern NFL playoff structure.
• The Chicago Bears won the first championship game, defeating the New York Giants 23-21. This victory was significant for the Bears, solidifying their status as one of the dominant teams of the era.

Other Perspectives

• The effectiveness and fairness of the rules proposed by Marshall could be debated, as the long-term implications of such changes on the sport and its players were not immediately clear at the time.
• This approach may have prevented the commercialization and excessive competitiveness that can come with a playoff system, potentially preserving the integrity of the game in its early years.
• This method of determining a champion could be biased if team owners have vested interests or rivalries that influence their judgment, rather than an objective assessment of performance.
• The occurrence of draws could have been addressed by implementing tie-breaking rules rather than indicating a complication of the league.
• The decision to hold a title match after the regular season could extend the length of the season, which might lead to player fatigue and a higher risk of injuries, affecting the quality of play in the championship game.
• The idea for a title match might have been formalized through conversations among team proprietors, but it could have been under consideration or informally proposed by various stakeholders within the league before those discussions took place.
• The excitement of a championship game might come from the atmosphere, the stakes, and the rivalry, rather than the scoreboard.
• National media coverage does not necessarily equate to widespread public interest or engagement with the event.
• Other factors, such as the entertainment value of the game itself or the strategic marketing efforts by the league, might have been equally or more important in popularizing the championship concept.

The influence of rule changes on the number of spectators and attendance at games.

After the rule changes in 1933, professional football began to emphasize strategies that favored offensive tactics. The team based in New York demonstrated how tactical changes could boost spectator figures in specific metropolitan regions. As Eisenberg emphasizes, the arrival of Benny Friedman, a quarterback noted for his preference for passing the ball when others might choose to run or kick, ignited significant excitement among Giants fans who were keen to observe the team's dynamic aerial attack. In 1937, the team's relocation to Washington played a significant role in their subsequent success, largely due to the extraordinary passing skills of their new quarterback, Sammy Baugh. The writer elucidates the connection: while the AAFC drew some of the spectators and redirected resources, the most significant change within the NFL was the improvement of the teams' abilities to score. Fans remained captivated by the sport's intrinsic aggression, and those seeking greater athletic feats and exciting spectacles found an event deserving of their focus and financial commitment.

Other Perspectives

• The increase in spectator figures in New York might not solely be attributed to tactical changes; it could also be a reflection of a growing interest in professional football as a sport during that time period.
• It's possible that the excitement was localized to specific groups of fans or regions, and may not have represented the broader fan base's sentiments.
• While Sammy Baugh was a significant addition to the team, attributing the team's success to his arrival may overlook the contributions of other players who joined around the same time or improvements in the team's performance that were already underway.
• The claim does not consider the role of star players and personalities in attracting fans, which could be argued as a more significant factor in the NFL's popularity than the teams' scoring abilities.
• The term 'intrinsic aggression' might oversimplify the appeal of the sport, as the tactical and technical aspects of the game could be just as important in attracting spectators.
• Economic factors, such as ticket pricing and the general economic climate, can significantly influence spectator attendance, regardless of the level of excitement or athleticism in the game.

The audience for the sport grew as it was broadcast on television and radio.

This part of the story explores the significant role that radio and television played in elevating the stature of the National Football League, despite initial worries from certain team owners such as Halas that airing the games could lead to a decline in stadium attendance and, consequently, a drop in ticket revenue; conversely, the forward-thinking commissioner viewed these telecasts as vital to generating enthusiasm in areas that did not have a local professional team.

The widespread broadcasting of games on the radio was instrumental in enhancing baseball's appeal.

John Eisenberg portrays William Wrigley, the owner of the Chicago Cubs, as an innovative individual who recognized that radio broadcasts had the potential to broaden the team's fan base, which in turn could lead to higher ticket sales revenue. In the early 1920s, as radio sets became more common in American homes, most owners of baseball teams in the major leagues were inclined to ban or limit the broadcasting of games, fearing that fans would choose to enjoy the games for free at home rather than buy tickets to attend in person. Wrigley understood that broadcasting his games on the radio would expand his team's following beyond Chicago, connecting with supporters unable to be at the games, and these remote enthusiasts might buy tickets if they visited the city. Eisenberg presents data to support this rationale. As the 1920s progressed, particularly after surpassing the midpoint of the decade, games featuring the team from Chicago saw a marked rise in spectator numbers, a trend that paralleled the wider spread of baseball broadcasts on the radio.

Practical Tips

• Create a referral program that rewards current customers for bringing in new ones, effectively broadening your customer base through word-of-mouth. If you run a small service-based business like pet grooming, offer a discount or free service to clients who refer new customers to you, encouraging them to spread the word and bring in a wider clientele.
• Experiment with sharing knowledge in your field of expertise to gauge interest without compromising your consultancy business. If you're a consultant who fears that writing a blog will deter clients from seeking your paid services, start by writing about general industry trends or case studies without giving away specific, actionable advice. Track inquiries and client engagement to see if the blog serves as an effective marketing tool that leads to more client work.
• Use social media to organize watch parties for games, encouraging local fans to gather and enjoy the game together. By creating event pages on platforms like Facebook or Meetup, you can bring the remote fan experience into a communal setting, mirroring the communal aspect of radio listenership in a contemporary and accessible way.

George Halas established a framework for regional television broadcasting.

Having witnessed Wrigley embrace radio broadcasting and profit from it, Halas was eager to utilize the new medium, and, as Eisenberg documents, the Bears began broadcasting games locally in the 1920s. However, the Chicago football team's initial venture into radio broadcasting was short-lived, and for a substantial period afterward, their broadcast consistency in Chicago waned, with their radio audience numbers lagging considerably behind those of the city's baseball team.

As the late 1940s saw a surge in the number of American homes owning television sets, most NFL team owners, including Halas, recognized the benefits of televising games but also worried about the possible drop in live game attendance, a fear that grew with the noted dip in baseball viewership after it was televised. Halas, aiming to align multiple objectives, took cues from the radio triumphs of a renowned chewing gum magnate and devised a plan that was crucial for the league's expansion and financial stability in the years and decades that followed. Halas struck deals with television networks in seven nearby cities, all within a 500-mile radius, to broadcast his team's games at their home stadium live, thus avoiding the limitations that barred local fans from viewing these matches on television. The establishment of the network, despite its initial regional scope and modest earnings, indicated a path toward future success.

Practical Tips

• Create a simple blog or YouTube channel where you feature interviews with local figures, such as small business owners, artists, or community leaders. This not only gives them a platform to reach a wider audience but also helps you practice content curation and distribution on a small scale.
• Consider partnering with a local business or community group to co-host an event that combines your goals with theirs. If you're an artist looking to gain exposure and a local cafe wants to attract more customers, you could organize an art exhibit at the cafe, benefiting both parties.
• Explore local sports history by visiting your city's archives to see how sports teams have influenced your community over time. By doing this, you can gain a deeper appreciation for the local sports culture and its evolution, similar to how the broadcasting of Bears games impacted Chicago. You might find old game programs, photographs, or articles that give you a sense of the community's engagement with its teams.
• Start a podcast discussing the trials and tribulations of local sports teams, focusing on the less-known stories, like the short-lived ventures and what can be learned from them. This can provide a platform for sharing historical sports narratives and engaging with fellow sports enthusiasts who are interested in the behind-the-scenes aspects of sports teams.
• Start a small accountability group with friends or colleagues to keep each other on track. Each member could share their goals and progress during weekly virtual meet-ups. This mirrors the concept of a broadcast team that relies on each other to ensure a show goes on air without fail. Your group can provide motivation and support to maintain consistency in your endeavors.
• You can analyze the content preferences of your target audience by conducting a simple survey on social media. Create a poll asking followers to choose between two types of content, similar to choosing between baseball and football, to see which is more popular. This will give you a clearer picture of what your audience prefers to listen to or engage with.
• Consider starting a loyalty program for regular attendees to incentivize in-person attendance. This could include a points system where fans earn rewards for every game they attend, such as discounts on merchandise, priority seating, or free refreshments. This strategy encourages repeat attendance and makes fans feel valued for their continued support.
• You can expand your project's reach by partnering with local influencers to share your content. For instance, if you're creating a web series, find popular social media personalities in your area and offer them a cameo or a behind-the-scenes look to share with their followers. This taps into their audience and can significantly increase your visibility.
• Develop a habit of checking blackout policies for live events you want to attend or stream online. Before purchasing tickets or subscriptions, research the event's broadcasting rules to ensure you won't be restricted from viewing due to your location. This can save you from disappointment and wasted money, and over time, you'll become adept at finding the best ways to access live content.
• Develop a "future success" savings plan to ensure your financial stability. Assess your current financial situation and set clear, achievable goals for the next 1, 5, and 10 years. Create a budget that includes a dedicated savings portion for future investments or emergency funds. Consider automating your savings to ensure consistency and use apps or tools to track your progress.

The emergence and influence of nationwide television agreements.

While George Halas showed initial reluctance to air games, the Cleveland Rams' proprietor, Dan Reeves, fervently supported the pioneering medium of television. Eisenberg describes how Reeves foresaw the capacity of television to expand the team's fan base, leading him to organize the airing of their local games throughout 1949, culminating in his team clinching the division championship. He effectively negotiated an agreement that resulted in the 1950 Rams' games being televised across the country, a move that, regrettably, caused a reduction in the live audience numbers at the Los Angeles games. Reeves' experience discouraged other team owners from trying to merge their broadcasting privileges.

Upon assuming the role of commissioner in 1946, he recognized the significance of forming partnerships with leading television networks to broaden the NFL's viewership across the country. Bell placed greater emphasis on demonstrating the excitement and expertise of his sport to various audiences rather than focusing on protecting income derived from admissions. In 1950, following Dumont's decision to air a series of regular-season games, Bell established a contract with ABC the subsequent year for a set of fifteen matches; while these contracts brought in a small amount of income, their impact was substantial. Enthusiasts from different communities had the opportunity to witness their beloved sport, signifying a momentous occasion for the league.

In 1951, the commissioner played a pivotal role in broadcasting the NFL championship game to a nationwide audience on NBC. The timing of the burgeoning television contracts could hardly have been better, as Eisenberg makes clear. Due to changes in the regulations, professional football was evolving into a more captivating and quicker game, perfectly fitting for black-and-white television screens, and as viewership increased, several teams, such as Halas's Bears, started to establish regional networks that expanded their following and simultaneously protected income from ticket sales at the stadiums. Television's advent brought about a profound change within the professional football landscape.

Practical Tips

• Utilize live streaming on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook Live to regularly engage with an audience and build a community around your interests or business. For example, if you're an artist, you could live stream your process of creating art, offering insights and interacting with viewers in real time.
• You can analyze the impact of celebrity endorsements on local businesses by tracking sales or foot traffic data before and after a celebrity visits or promotes the business. For example, if a local restaurant is visited by a well-known figure, compare the number of customers or revenue generated in the weeks following the visit to the figures from prior weeks to measure any changes.
• Consider setting up a mock negotiation scenario with a friend or colleague to practice protecting your interests. Pretend you're discussing a merger or a sharing of assets, and role-play through the negotiation process. This exercise can sharpen your negotiation skills and help you identify what aspects of your business or project you're not willing to compromise on.
• Offer exclusive behind-the-scenes content or additional value to viewers who tune in through your partnered platform. This could be in the form of interviews, interactive Q&A sessions post-broadcast, or additional footage that can only be accessed through the partnership, incentivizing viewers to engage with the partnered network.
• You can enhance the appeal of your hobby or interest by sharing your enthusiasm and knowledge on social media. Create a dedicated Instagram account or YouTube channel where you post engaging content that highlights the fun and expertise involved in your activity. For instance, if you're passionate about baking, upload videos of the baking process, share tips and tricks, and showcase your finished products to attract an audience that appreciates the craft.
• You can explore historical media partnerships by creating a timeline of significant media collaborations in your area of interest. Start by researching various industries and their historical partnerships with media outlets. For example, if you're interested in the fashion industry, look into how major fashion brands have collaborated with television networks for advertising or special events. Document these partnerships on a timeline to understand the evolution of media collaborations over time.
• Use online marketplaces and forums to showcase and sell products or services to a broader audience. Create a seller profile on platforms like Etsy, eBay, or niche forums related to your product or service. Provide detailed descriptions, quality images, and customer reviews to build trust and attract buyers. If you make handmade jewelry, for example, list your pieces on Etsy with clear, attractive photos and detailed descriptions of the materials and inspiration behind each piece.
• Create a personal blog or vlog where you analyze and discuss the impact of rule changes in various sports or other entertainment industries. Use this platform to hone your analytical skills and engage with others who have similar interests, drawing parallels to how rule changes in football have affected viewer engagement.
• Volunteer for local initiatives or charities to strengthen community ties and create a network of contacts who share your values. This mirrors the way teams built regional networks, but on a personal level, fostering relationships that can lead to mutual support and opportunities. Whether it's helping out at a community garden, participating in a local clean-up, or working with a charity, these activities can introduce you to a diverse group of people and potentially open doors in both your personal and professional life.
• Engage with interactive second-screen apps during live football games to see how they complement the viewing experience. Take note of features like real-time statistics, player tracking, and social media integration. Afterward, reflect on whether these digital enhancements change your perception of the game compared to just watching it on television.

The establishment of a player selection mechanism aimed to enhance the competitive equilibrium.

This section of the story highlights the significance of an annual draft aimed at college players, emphasizing the crucial role played by the NFL's commissioner in creating this groundbreaking mechanism and assessing its effectiveness in addressing the competitive imbalances that had threatened the stability of the league from the start.

The competition between teams with abundant resources and those with fewer assets.

As Eisenberg points out, the disparity between teams that could and could not sign new talent had been a problem in pro football from the outset. In 1921, the Decatur Staleys, under the guidance of Halas, triumphed over the strong Buffalo All-Americans in a disputed game that unfairly influenced the league's ultimate standings because several key All-Americans players were suspended for using assumed names in a match against a non-league team. In 1935, the organization had to take assertive action because of a couple of significant occurrences, the first of which involved the controversial signing of Don Hutson, whose remarkable performance for the University of Alabama in the Rose Bowl had attracted notice.

Eisenberg details how Hutson's entry into free agency sparked intense competition among teams in the league for his skills, leading to a rise in his income, which was a primary objective for him. However, this heightened demand meant that teams with fewer resources could not afford to compete for him, including Bell's Eagles. As Eisenberg points out, the more successful teams, Halas's Bears and Tim Mara's Giants, ended up with a roster of stars and better records, which enabled them to continue to sign new stars. However, it led to the teams with fewer victories remaining at the bottom of the standings and, just as importantly, facing challenges in drawing talented individuals from universities as they transitioned to the professional league.

Other Perspectives

• Financial disparities can fluctuate over time as teams' performances change, new ownership comes in, or as league-wide revenue increases, suggesting that the issue may not be as static as it seems.
• The outcome of the 1921 game between the Decatur Staleys and the Buffalo All-Americans may not solely be attributed to the suspensions of key All-Americans players; other factors such as game strategy, player performance on the day, and coaching decisions could have also played significant roles in the result.
• The signing of Hutson may have been less about competition among teams and more about the attractiveness of the offers he received, which could have been influenced by factors other than just team resources, such as location, team prestige, or the potential for endorsements.
• Teams with fewer resources can sometimes find innovative ways to compete for top talent, such as offering unique incentives, focusing on team culture, or providing opportunities for greater playing time.
• It implies that financial resources are the primary determinant of a team's success, which might not always be the case, as underdog teams with fewer resources have been known to outperform wealthier teams through strategic planning and player development.
• The draft system in many professional leagues is designed to provide teams with lower standings the first chance to select new talent, potentially offsetting the disadvantage of a poor record.

Bert Bell was instrumental in both establishing and implementing the draft system.

Eisenberg depicts Bell as a forward-thinking individual with a distinctive outlook on the sport of American football, demonstrating the courage to question the status quo and push for significant changes. After dabbling in the stock market and pursuing different business ventures that eroded much of his wealth, he became deeply interested in elevating his status by means of professional football, which he saw as an ideal channel. In 1926, Bell assumed an informal advisory position with the Philadelphia Quakers' coaching team, a rival squad within the association, and was involved in one game.

His perspective on the sport was significantly shaped by his ownership position in the NFL, but his coaching tenures at Penn and Temple also played a part. In 1935, after his unsuccessful attempt to recruit Stan Kostka, a well-known college fullback, he suggested to his colleagues an idea that he believed would systematize the player selection process and improve the league's caliber. He proposed a method for choosing athletes that received support from other team proprietors, encompassing both those who would benefit immediately and those who might see their negotiating leverage diminish, particularly the proprietors of the teams based in Chicago and New York.

Practical Tips

• Apply the draft concept to volunteer assignments within a community organization to optimize engagement and skill use. Create a list of available roles and tasks, then allow volunteers to rank their preferences. Use a lottery system to determine the order in which volunteers get to choose their assignments, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in the roles they are most passionate about, while also filling all necessary positions.
• Create a distinctive outlook by challenging common assumptions in your area of interest. Begin by identifying a widely accepted belief or practice, then spend time researching alternative viewpoints or approaches. Write down these alternatives and compare them to the status quo, considering the pros and cons of each. For instance, if you're a fitness enthusiast, question the effectiveness of traditional workouts and explore unconventional methods like dance cardio or functional movement training.
• Create a 'Change Journal' where you document one small change you've made each week and reflect on the outcomes. This could be as simple as rearranging your workspace for better productivity or as significant as proposing a new process at work to improve efficiency.
• Create a fantasy football league with a focus on the financial aspects of managing a team. Instead of just playing for points based on player performance, add elements like salary caps, sponsorship deals, and financial penalties. This gamified approach can help you and your friends learn about the financial decision-making process in professional football, which can be a fun and engaging way to explore a potential new interest or career path.
• Create a personal advisory board for your career development, consisting of mentors from various fields. Just as a coach benefits from advisors, you can benefit from having a diverse group of people who provide guidance and feedback on your professional journey. Reach out to potential mentors, set up regular meetings, and discuss your goals and challenges to get multifaceted advice.
• Create a role-play scenario with friends where each person adopts a different position of power or responsibility, then discuss a common issue. After the discussion, share insights on how your 'role' influenced your stance. This could be as simple as one person acting as a homeowner discussing neighborhood rules with someone role-playing a renter.
• Mentor someone in your area of expertise to gain new insights. Teaching others can often highlight areas you may have overlooked or taken for granted. Offer to guide a newcomer in your workplace or community group, and use the experience to refine your own views and methods.
• Develop a decision-making flowchart for selecting personal goals or projects. Consider factors like your interest level, the resources required, potential benefits, and the likelihood of success. This flowchart will guide you through a systematic process when deciding which new hobby to pick up, which professional project to tackle, or even which fitness regimen to follow, ensuring you make balanced and informed decisions.
• You can foster collaboration by creating a support network with peers in your field. Reach out to colleagues or professionals in similar roles and propose regular meetings to discuss challenges and share solutions. This mirrors the concept of team owners supporting a draft system by providing a platform where you can gain insights from others' experiences and offer your own expertise, strengthening your collective ability to innovate and solve problems.
• You can analyze the balance of your own team or group projects by creating a 'fairness audit' checklist. Just like a draft system aims to balance the strength among teams, you can ensure that your group projects are fair and balanced by assessing each member's contributions, skills, and workload. For example, if you're working on a group project at work, make a list of all tasks and assign a point value based on difficulty and time required. Then, distribute the tasks among team members so that everyone has an equal number of points.

The rivalry with the AAFC resulted in elevated compensation for players, subsequently triggering a rise in total expenditures.

The NFL initiated its first-ever player draft in 1936. The creation of the league signified a crucial turning point, as it introduced a balance of competition that allowed teams that were once in the background to regularly challenge the historically dominant ones. However, as the author documents, the establishment of a player selection system primarily benefited the franchises and the league, not the athletes; teams were granted the authority to select athletes in an ordered manner based on their previous season's performance, and although this was advantageous for the teams, it led to a situation where athletes could not use competing offers from various teams to enhance their income potential. Numerous early draftees opted to pursue careers in business instead of agreeing to sign on.

As Eisenberg clarifies, the draft was originally designed to distribute new talent evenly among teams to maintain competitive balance, but the arrival of the AAFC in 1946 introduced unexpected challenges, including increased salaries and chaos in player recruitment, exacerbating the financial difficulties encountered by teams in both leagues. Some AAFC proprietors, like Cleveland's Mickey McBride, had the economic fortitude to withstand extended financial shortfalls, while a few, including the person who moved from managing the Brooklyn Dodgers in the NFL to assuming control of the AAFC's New York Yankees, had the resources to support their enthusiasm for football in spite of the economic hurdles faced.

John Eisenberg discussed the concerns of team owners about the substantial salaries paid to players in light of the often precarious financial state of their sports enterprises. The NFL owners' decision in December 1958 to recognize a players' union for collective bargaining was shaped by the financial difficulties experienced during the late 1940s and early 1950s, a time characterized by regular economic deficits in rival leagues due to rising player salary expenses.

Practical Tips

• Apply a balanced approach to decision-making in family or household responsibilities by setting up a 'responsibility draft'. Each family member can draft chores or responsibilities they will take on for the week, with the person who had the most demanding tasks the previous week getting first pick. This system ensures that no single person is always stuck with the least desirable chores, promoting fairness and teamwork in the household.
• Implement a personal policy of "conscious participation" where you actively choose which systems to engage with based on their fairness. Before signing up for a new service, joining an organization, or even supporting a sports team, do a quick research to understand how they operate and who benefits most. If it seems lopsided against the individual, consider looking for alternatives that align better with your values of equitable benefit.
• Create a personal "free agency" period where you actively seek out multiple job opportunities simultaneously. This can give you a clearer picture of your market value. For instance, if you're a graphic designer, apply to several firms and freelance gigs at once. If you receive multiple offers, you can use them as leverage to negotiate better terms with your preferred employer.
• Try a short-term internship or volunteer experience in both fields if possible. This hands-on approach allows you to get a feel for the work environment and demands of each career without a long-term commitment. Reflect on your experiences to determine which aligns more with your interests and long-term goals.
• Organize a board game night focusing on games that require drafting mechanics, like "7 Wonders" or "Sushi Go," to experience the strategy of even talent distribution firsthand. These games often involve players selecting cards (representing resources or abilities) from a common pool and passing the rest to the next player. By engaging in these games, you'll gain insights into the decision-making process and the importance of balancing short-term gains with long-term strategy.
• You can learn from historical shifts in industries by tracking current industry trends and salary changes. Start by selecting an industry you're interested in and use online resources to monitor how salaries and recruitment practices are evolving. For example, if you're interested in the tech industry, follow tech news outlets, join relevant LinkedIn groups, and set up Google Alerts for terms like "tech salaries" and "hiring trends."
• Create a personal SWOT analysis to evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the context of your career or business. This can help you understand where you stand in comparison to others in your field and identify areas for improvement or growth. For instance, if you're a freelance graphic designer, you might identify a trend in demand for animation skills as an opportunity and decide to take an online course to expand your service offerings.
• Create a "rainy day" fund by setting aside a small percentage of your income each month. Treat this fund as a non-negotiable expense, just as you would with rent or utilities. Over time, this fund will grow and provide you with a safety net. For instance, if you're a coffee enthusiast, you might skip buying a cup from the cafe once a week and put that money into your rainy day fund instead.
• Negotiate or re-evaluate contracts and subscriptions to lower your monthly expenses. Take a cue from how teams negotiate player contracts and apply it to your service providers. Contact your internet, cable, or gym service providers to discuss better rates or downgrade to more affordable plans. This proactive approach can lead to significant savings over time, just as teams aim to optimize player costs for financial sustainability.
• You can evaluate your personal budget like a sports team owner by identifying your "players" – the expenses that are essential but could be optimized. Just as team owners assess the value players bring to the team, look at your expenses and determine which are yielding the best value for your lifestyle. For example, if you have a gym membership that you rarely use, consider canceling it or switching to a pay-per-visit plan to reduce costs.
• You can learn from historical labor movements by starting a discussion group at your workplace to address common concerns. Gather a small group of colleagues during breaks or after work to talk about issues you all face and brainstorm solutions. This mirrors the collective action of the players' union and can lead to a more organized approach to workplace negotiations.

The importance of organizational leadership and key individuals.

This part of the text explores the early development of the National Football League, emphasizing the role that unique individuals, with their vision and collaborative work, played in guiding the evolution and formation of the league.

George Halas's influence and direction.

This passage underscores Halas's profound influence through his multifaceted contributions as an owner, coach, and innovative force within the National Football League, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to his team's success and his extraordinary willingness to support initiatives that enhanced the league's prosperity, even at the expense of his own team's competitive edge.

George Halas had a profound impact on the evolution of regulations and the governance of officiating in the game.

For over six decades as an NFL team owner, Halas utilized his deep knowledge of the sport along with his keen business acumen to become an influential figure in the league's decision-making processes. As Eisenberg recounts, Halas recognized the importance of the NFL's vitality being tied to the success of its weakest teams, and he was aware that the prosperity of his own Bears was contingent upon enhancing the competitiveness of the underperforming squads, particularly those under the stewardship of the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia team owners. Halas agreed with initiatives that, despite placing him and his squad at a competitive disadvantage, were designed to foster parity by initiating a system for player selection in 1936.

Eisenberg's investigation uncovers that, although some critics suggest Halas aimed for total control, his views and declarations were not solely for his own benefit, but rather did not pertain only to his personal advantage in the league's governance. At a 1938 meeting in Philadelphia, Halas noted that although there were changes to the rules aimed at increasing passing and scoring to draw in more spectators, the sport still encountered numerous obstacles.

Eisenberg describes Halas's observation of the prolonged length of many games, some lasting beyond two and a half hours, and his disapproval of the officiating, which led him to suggest to his colleagues the engagement of Hugh "Shorty" Ray, a specialist in football rules, to address these issues. The author highlights the remarkable character of the suggestion, particularly given that it originated from Halas, a figure infamous for leveraging his ties to the league to his advantage. The president crafted strategies to ensure the officials were biased in favor of his own squad.

Practical Tips

• Enhance the fairness of games you're involved in by volunteering as an impartial mediator during disputes. This could be in a casual setting like a community sports league or even board games with friends. When a disagreement arises, step in to facilitate a resolution using clear, established rules as a guide. Your role would be to ensure that the game is played fairly, much like an official in a professional sport, but adapted to the casual level.
• Encourage parity by purchasing merchandise from a variety of sports teams, not just the popular ones. This financial support can make a difference in balancing resources among teams. For instance, if you usually buy gear from the top football teams, consider also buying a jersey or cap from a team that's not as well-funded to show your support for parity in the sport.
• You can streamline your meetings by setting a strict agenda and time limit to mimic the efficiency sought in sports. Just as sports aim to reduce game lengths, apply this to your meetings by creating a clear agenda with allocated times for each topic. This keeps discussions focused and prevents the meeting from dragging on.
• Optimize your personal projects by seeking feedback from someone with a critical eye for detail. If you're working on a personal project, like writing a book or building a piece of furniture, find someone who is known for their meticulous attention to detail and ask them to critique your work. Their feedback can help you refine your project and avoid overlooked mistakes.
• Start a community skill-share group to promote mutual growth and support within your local area. This could be a monthly gathering where individuals teach each other skills they possess, ranging from cooking to basic home repairs. By sharing your skills, you not only help others but also create an environment where the collective knowledge benefits the community as a whole.

Halas encountered financial difficulties alongside his commercial endeavors.

Guided by Halas, the Bears were the only team to achieve financial success before 1930, establishing a unique economic trajectory unlike the later NFL owners who generally built their wealth through inheritance or prior business successes before acquiring a team. As Eisenberg narrates, Halas started with limited means and faced a mix of advancements and obstacles while trying to expand his commercial ventures further than merely distributing entry passes, which ultimately led to a notable reduction in the earnings gathered from the promotional tour headlined by Red Grange, orchestrated by his football squad.

The stock market crash of 1929 left Halas nearly bankrupt, and even after he regained control of the Bears in a dramatic last-minute scramble in 1932, he was forced on several occasions to borrow money from relatives or friends to keep the team afloat or pay the salaries owed to his players. Eisenberg recounts the severe financial difficulties he faced in 1930, which forced him to divert his children's education savings to sustain his business.

Practical Tips

• Volunteer with a local sports organization and propose new revenue-generating initiatives, such as organizing special events or merchandise sales. By directly contributing to the financial health of the organization, you'll gain hands-on experience in what it takes to achieve financial success in the sports industry, drawing parallels to the achievements of the Bears under Halas.
• Start a 'side hustle brainstorming' group with friends or acquaintances who are also looking to expand their ventures. Meet regularly to discuss each other's business challenges and brainstorm practical ways to overcome them with limited resources. This creates a support system that can lead to innovative, low-cost strategies tailored to each member's needs.
• Educate yourself on the historical patterns of stock market crashes and recoveries through free online courses or webinars. Understanding the cyclical nature of markets can help you make more informed decisions about when to buy, hold, or sell investments. Look for educational resources offered by universities or financial institutions that cover topics like market history, economic indicators, and investment strategies.
• Develop a skill-sharing network within your community or industry. Offer your expertise in exchange for services you might need in the future. For example, if you're good at marketing, you could help a friend with their campaign in exchange for legal advice or accounting help down the line. This barter system can save you money and build a supportive community.
• Explore peer-to-peer lending platforms as an alternative to using personal savings for business needs. These platforms allow you to borrow money for business purposes from a pool of individual investors. This approach can provide the necessary funds without compromising your children's education savings or other personal financial goals. Make sure to research and choose a reputable platform, and understand the terms and interest rates before committing.

Halas often placed the broader objectives of the league above the specific needs of his own team.

Eisenberg highlights Halas's understanding that the NFL's collective triumph was essential for his team's well-being, despite the potential to diminish his personal competitive advantage.

The author emphasizes various examples of Halas's generosity, especially his support for a rule change in 1933 that permitted quarterbacks to pass the ball from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage, even though he typically favored a strong ground game aimed at dominating opponents. The author also highlights Halas’s crucial role in establishing a regional television network for the Bears in the 1950s that allowed games to be broadcast across the Midwest, even as he feared national television contracts would hurt game attendance and thus his profits.

The author emphasizes that although Halas's squad featured stars such as Grange and Nagurski, he recognized the necessity of spreading talent across the league, an insight that greatly shaped his backing of the first college player draft in 1936. The distribution was necessary.

Other Perspectives

• Halas's actions could be interpreted as self-interested, as a stronger league would naturally enhance the value and success of his own team.
• The emphasis on league success over individual team needs could be seen as a conservative approach that might limit the ambition or aggressiveness a team might otherwise exhibit in pursuing championships.
• While the rule change is seen as progressive, it might have detracted from the traditional ground game, alienating fans who preferred the old style of play.
• By focusing on a regional network, Halas might have limited the exposure of the Bears to a wider national audience, which could have been beneficial in the long run for brand recognition and fan base expansion.
• The excitement and narrative of underdog teams upsetting more talented teams can be diminished if talent is too evenly spread, as the distinction between favorite and underdog becomes less pronounced.
• The implementation of the draft might have been influenced by multiple team owners and league officials, not solely Halas, suggesting that his role, while significant, was part of a larger collective decision-making process.

Bell worked in partnership with Rooney.

This part of the narrative delves into the intertwined histories and mutual respect shared by Bert Bell and Art Rooney, who were among the founding owners of NFL franchises, highlighting their shared experiences, deep respect for one another, and dedication to the league's goals.

The origins of their unlikely friendship.

Initially, the idea that a robust partnership or joint venture would form between Bell and Rooney appeared quite improbable, as Eisenberg notes. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, there was neither an obvious link nor a discernible reason for them to become acquainted. Rooney, raised above his father's bar in Pittsburgh and having received only a modest amount of formal schooling, built his fortune through bets placed on horse races and established strong connections with both the sporting community and political figures in the area. Bell hailed from an educational background marked by distinction and, despite inheriting significant wealth, saw a considerable part of his fortune diminish due to various business ventures and losses incurred from betting activities.

Their friendship strengthened in the 1930s, nurtured from a young age by their evident sports talents. Rooney's team frequently engaged in casual games against teams linked to Bell's circle, including those from Princeton University where Bell coached, and their bond grew significantly at horse racing events. John Eisenberg remarked on the allure of card games, which frequently led to their presence at significant American racetracks, often uniting participants at these locations. Upton Bell, the son of Bert, commented on the adeptness at poker displayed by Rooney and his father.

Context

• In the early 20th century, sports and politics were often intertwined. Influential sports figures frequently had ties to political leaders, which could be leveraged for mutual benefit, such as securing permits for events or influencing local policies.
• The 1930s were marked by the Great Depression, a time when many sought entertainment and distraction from economic hardships. Racetracks provided an escape and a sense of excitement, drawing diverse crowds despite the financial challenges of the era.

Other Perspectives

• The notion of "unlikely" friendship is subjective and may overlook the complexity of human relationships, where people often bond over unexpected commonalities rather than their apparent differences.
• The decrease in Bell's fortune due to business ventures could indicate a willingness to take risks, which is a common trait among entrepreneurs, rather than a lack of business savvy.
• The competitive nature of sports could just as easily create rivalry as friendship, depending on the individuals' personalities and the outcomes of the games.
• The growth of their friendship at horse racing events doesn't exclude the possibility that other venues or shared experiences contributed equally or more significantly to their bond.
• Card games might have been just one of many social activities that facilitated their bonding, and not necessarily the central or most significant part of their interactions.
• Poker involves a degree of luck, and occasional wins at the game do not necessarily indicate a high level of skill.

They each possessed experience in leading teams that frequently faced defeat.

Art Rooney, along with Bert Bell, possessed a passionate dedication to the sport of football and an unwavering resolve to succeed, which they maintained despite facing many challenging seasons filled with losses, akin to the persistent spirit of minor league baseball athletes and traveling performers crisscrossing the country.

Eisenberg's account reveals that throughout the period extending from 1933 to the end of the 1940s, neither Rooney nor Bell achieved steady triumphs in their business endeavors or in the performance of their teams. In the 1940s, Rooney's financial obligations surpassed $100,000 due to his dedication to maintaining a strong team and his resolve to ensure the Pirates remained in Pittsburgh, even though the local supporters showed more fervor for the college football teams that had superior performance. Bell encountered monetary challenges as well. In 1936, during a period of financial hardship, Bell was the only participant to place a bid for the Eagles at an auction in downtown Philadelphia, thereby preventing the team's possible dissolution. Though he had been cut off from his family wealth, he somehow managed to stay afloat, aided more than once by Rooney's quiet generosity. The author highlights how the challenges encountered by each within their own teams, especially those that were exacerbated by the Great Depression, served to solidify their bond and cultivate a profound reciprocal respect.

Practical Tips

• Reflect on past failures to identify learning opportunities by keeping a "Lesson Log." After each setback, write down what happened, why it might have happened, and at least one thing you learned from the experience. This practice turns defeats into educational moments and can help you approach future challenges with a more informed perspective.
• Develop a "Challenge-Response" habit by setting aside time each week to reflect on the difficulties you've encountered and how you've addressed them. Write down at least one challenge from the week and describe the steps you took to overcome it. This practice can help you build resilience by actively acknowledging and learning from the tough times, rather than just experiencing them passively.
• Create a personal "commitment contract" to solidify your dedication to a project or community initiative. Write down specific goals and the financial or time investment you're willing to commit. This could be as simple as pledging a certain amount of your monthly income to support a local sports team or volunteering a set number of hours each week. By putting your commitment in writing, you make it more tangible and are more likely to follow through.
• Consider joining or forming a cooperative to take collective action in preserving a local institution. This could be a community garden, a historical building, or a local market that's under threat. By pooling resources and working together, you can create a sustainable model for ownership and management that benefits the entire community.

Rooney provided financial support to Bell.

Years after Bell's Eagles faced monetary challenges, he shared with a reporter how Rooney's generosity was instrumental in his efforts to completely reconstruct his team. On a Monday, Bell was taken aback to receive a letter from Rooney, which unexpectedly included a sum of $5,000, even though he had consistently refused Rooney's financial assistance during the 1930s.

Eisenberg tells a tale that underscores Rooney's selfless nature and his view that the NFL operates as a cohesive whole, with the triumph of any single team, such as the Philadelphia franchise, contributing to the strength of the league as a whole, even if it means quietly assisting these teams without expecting personal recognition or rewards.

Context

• Bert Bell was a co-founder of the Philadelphia Eagles and later became the NFL Commissioner. His leadership and vision were crucial in shaping the modern NFL, including innovations like the draft system.
• Rooney and Bell had a longstanding friendship and professional relationship, which was characterized by mutual respect and a shared vision for the NFL's future.

Other Perspectives

• Bell's refusal could have been strategic, to avoid any perceived or actual indebtedness that might come with accepting money.
• It's possible that Bell's own leadership and decision-making were equally, if not more, crucial in the successful rebuilding of his team.
• Rooney's financial assistance to Bell's Eagles could be viewed as an exception rather than a reflection of a league-wide philosophy or practice.

George Preston Marshall was renowned for his flair and influential presence.

This section of the story highlights George Preston Marshall's penchant for theatrics, his support for the creation of new rules, and his tendency to meddle in his coaches' tactics, which he rationalized by claiming his position as an entertainer, as Eisenberg details.

Other Perspectives

• The term "flair" can be subjective, and what may seem like flair to some could be perceived as ostentation or unnecessary showmanship by others.
• His support for new rules could have been driven by personal or business interests rather than the pure advancement of the sport.
• Such interference might suggest a lack of trust in the coaches' abilities and judgment, which could harm team morale.
• Rationalizing meddling by claiming to be an entertainer could be seen as an abdication of responsible leadership, as it prioritizes personal visibility over the team's success and cohesion.