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Discussion: The Greatest Game ever played...Reported This is a featured thread

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RRoble
RRoble
The Greatest Game ever played...
Dec 17 2008, 12:52 PM EST | Post edited: Dec 17 2008, 12:52 PM EST
Saw that newly restored in color, HD quality documentary on ESPN about this game, how cool was that! It brings this historic game home and then some!! My fav part was the late 4th quarter controversial spot of the Frank Gifford run for a 1st down which would have sealed the Giants win in regulation time. Colts D-linemen Gino Marchetti busts his leg during the play but manages to stick out most of the rest of the game watching from the sideline. What was sweet was how the documentary used a math formula and calculated where the correct spot of the ball could have been and whether it really was enough for a 1st down and the game. Using the two camera angles, the 35 and 40 yard lines and some vector lines, it was pretty obvious the ball was short. Giff was certain he had that 1st down though!

Just to remind you, the 1958 NFL Championship Game was played on December 28, 1958 at the soon to be the old Yankee Stadium in New York City. The Baltimore Colts won 23-17 in sudden death overtime over the New York Giants, the 1st sudden death OT game in NFL history. The game was also televised nationwide.

Did any of you see the documentary or remember watching the game?
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ThrowbackDave
1. RE: The Greatest Game ever played...
Dec 19 2008, 9:50 AM EST | Post edited: Dec 19 2008, 9:50 AM EST
Yes, I watched it twice (gotta love the cable DVR). Man, it's incredible to think about what talent was on those teams-- especially the Giants. Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Frank Gifford, Mel Triplett, Emlen Tunnell, Andy Robustelli, Rosey Grier, Sam Huff. Also, it was a hoot to listen to Art Donovan and Michael Strahan talk about the differences in the game as well as life off of the playing field. Speaking of Gifford, has he aged or what? KathieLee must be wearing him down in life much like a No. 2 pencil, poor fella. Just all in all, it was an amazing 'last hurrah' for all the old greats from the 50s & 60s. We've got superstars of today for sure, but we'll never see the likes of these 'Old School Heroes' ever again, God bless 'em. One poignant moment, though, stands out on behalf of the Colts. That was when all the old-timers of the '58 band recalled them moving to Indianapolis in '84. As a descendant of Brooklyn Dodgers baseball fans, I can sincerely identify with them. Anyway, it won't go down in history as a perfectly-played game-- I've seen as many mistakes as in a college game! It was a watershed event, though, that got the NFL to be more prominent back then. 3  out of 3 found this valuable. Do you?    

stewiey
2. RE: The Greatest Game ever played...
Jan 16 2009, 11:15 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 16 2009, 11:15 PM EST
"Yes, I watched it twice (gotta love the cable DVR). Man, it's incredible to think about what talent was on those teams-- especially the Giants. Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Frank Gifford, Mel Triplett, Emlen Tunnell, Andy Robustelli, Rosey Grier, Sam Huff. Also, it was a hoot to listen to Art Donovan and Michael Strahan talk about the differences in the game as well as life off of the playing field. Speaking of Gifford, has he aged or what? KathieLee must be wearing him down in life much like a No. 2 pencil, poor fella. Just all in all, it was an amazing 'last hurrah' for all the old greats from the 50s & 60s. We've got superstars of today for sure, but we'll never see the likes of these 'Old School Heroes' ever again, God bless 'em. One poignant moment, though, stands out on behalf of the Colts. That was when all the old-timers of the '58 band recalled them moving to Indianapolis in '84. As a descendant of Brooklyn Dodgers baseball fans, I can sincerely identify with them. Anyway, it won't go down in history as a perfectly-played game-- I've seen as many mistakes as in a college game! It was a watershed event, though, that got the NFL to be more prominent back then."
I watched it LIVE. And my uncle who is still alive said the Giants will win.
I being a lot younger already knew that Johnny U would match down the field, and take the game away.
What I did not know until years later was why run it or pass it just go for the field goal.
I did not know about point spreads yet.
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RRoble
RRoble
3. RE: The Greatest Game ever played...
Sep 23 2009, 11:51 AM EDT | Post edited: Sep 23 2009, 11:51 AM EDT
Can't win them all Big Blue but what a game!:
http://history.giants.com/videos/album/133262/Past+Giants/video/7562869/NFL+Campeonato+de+1958
Funny when Colts Defense End Jim Mutscheller pulls the Donovan McNaab and says he did not know there was an overtime, ha! Watching Payton Manning overtake Johnny Unitas for most wins as a Colt on MNF was historic. A Manning Vs Manning, Giants Vs Colts, SuperBowl 44 would be the new Greatest Game Ever Played but until then, it's the 1958 NFL Champioship!!
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RRoble
RRoble
4. RE: The Greatest Game ever played...
Sep 30 2009, 1:48 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 30 2009, 1:48 PM EDT
This video is outstanding in that although it's made from a Colt's perspective, the end of the 1950's era is captured beautifully:

http://history.giants.com/video/7642437/50th+Anniversary+of+%22The+Greatest+Game%22

Love the Huff comment!
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Superstarzchef
Superstarzchef
5. RE: The Greatest Game ever played...
Nov 4 2009, 8:20 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 4 2009, 8:20 AM EST
"Saw that newly restored in color, HD quality documentary on ESPN about this game, how cool was that! It brings this historic game home and then some!! My fav part was the late 4th quarter controversial spot of the Frank Gifford run for a 1st down which would have sealed the Giants win in regulation time. Colts D-linemen Gino Marchetti busts his leg during the play but manages to stick out most of the rest of the game watching from the sideline. What was sweet was how the documentary used a math formula and calculated where the correct spot of the ball could have been and whether it really was enough for a 1st down and the game. Using the two camera angles, the 35 and 40 yard lines and some vector lines, it was pretty obvious the ball was short. Giff was certain he had that 1st down though!

Just to remind you, the 1958 NFL Championship Game was played on December 28, 1958 at the soon to be the old Yankee Stadium in New York City. The Baltimore Colts won 23-17 in sudden death overtime over the New York Giants, the 1st sudden death OT game in NFL history. The game was also televised nationwide.

Did any of you see the documentary or remember watching the game?"
If I must say, this game, although I was too, too young to have watched it (I wasn't born yet..) was recanted to me as a very young boy. I was like 5 or 6 when I was told about this game and the importence it had in Giants history. It was hearing this from my parents that inspired me even more to be an avid, rabid, fanatical Giants Fan. When ESPN classics dug this film up, naturally I watched it-as many times as they aired it. However, I must point out that this filem was available many, many years ago, and it was stored in the NFL Films Library. It was shown to all of us whenever the Giants, or Jets were blacked out, and sometimes on The tv show itself "NFL Films Presents...."
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Superstarzchef
Superstarzchef
6. RE: The Greatest Game ever played...
Nov 4 2009, 8:24 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 4 2009, 8:25 AM EST
"If I must say, this game, although I was too, too young to have watched it (I wasn't born yet..) was recanted to me as a very young boy. I was like 5 or 6 when I was told about this game and the importence it had in Giants history. It was hearing this from my parents that inspired me even more to be an avid, rabid, fanatical Giants Fan. When ESPN classics dug this film up, naturally I watched it-as many times as they aired it. However, I must point out that this filem was available many, many years ago, and it was stored in the NFL Films Library. It was shown to all of us whenever the Giants, or Jets were blacked out, and sometimes on The tv show itself "NFL Films Presents...." "
Steve Sabol hosted that show, and I personally, miss that aspect of the game. In todays broadcasting, the idiots focus on BS while ignoring the History and Tradition that is the NFL. The regular season is for individual honors, the post-season is about the Team, and the NFC/AFC and SB Championships should be about the Glorious Teams that made it to that level before. The FOXies never talk about that stuff, only about beer, and "The AFLAC trivia Challenge"..and other nonsensical garbage. We need more "NFL Films Presents..." and history for the kids watching today, so that our Grandchildren will be fans of the NFL too.
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Superstarzchef
Superstarzchef
7. RE: The Greatest Game ever played...
Nov 4 2009, 8:28 AM EST | Post edited: Nov 4 2009, 8:28 AM EST
"Can't win them all Big Blue but what a game!:
http://history.giants.com/videos/album/133262/Past+Giants/video/7562869/NFL+Campeonato+de+1958
Funny when Colts Defense End Jim Mutscheller pulls the Donovan McNaab and says he did not know there was an overtime, ha! Watching Payton Manning overtake Johnny Unitas for most wins as a Colt on MNF was historic. A Manning Vs Manning, Giants Vs Colts, SuperBowl 44 would be the new Greatest Game Ever Played but until then, it's the 1958 NFL Champioship!!"
Nah, my close second was Giants vs Pats for the 2007 SB. The hugely favorited UNBEATEN Patriots, vs. the huge underdog Giants, in a Nationally Televised game that just happened to be the SB. 1958 was a different era, but still ranks as Number one for many, many reasons. It WILL always be the "Greatest Game Ever Played"
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