The year was 1981.
The Rams next opponent was Frisco in Frisco.
I went to my Father's Wednesday morning and opened the paper to see the NFL line (remember how you had to wait till wednesday before the line came out? What technology)
It said the Rams were getting 2 1/2 points, I was positive it was a misprint.
I went and got the Herald Examiner and it said the same thing THE RAMS WERE GETTING 2 1/2 POINTS!!
Now picture this, my Father and I started talking very low to each other.
You see, in our demented Ram eyes, it was like we found the key to Fort Knox.
Why?
Because the Rams haven't been underdogs to the Whiners since Christ was a Corporal.
Why were we virtually whispering? Cause we didn't want the neighbors to find out (my Dad has 3 acres) for a fear a rush to the betting windows would tip off the casinos of their castrophic error.
We were in the air flying to Reno by 1 in the afternoon.
After getting a room at Harrah's, my Dad was on the crap table.
He knew how to play craps and if the table was hot (throwing numbers) so would my Dad.
Every $5,000 he won,we would take a cab and go to western union to wire it back home (didn't want it on him).
We went 4 times (sending 21,000 back) and he put $4,000 on a 2-way parlay.
He laid 6 1/2 points taking USC against Norte Dame (Gerry Faust first year at ND) and taking the Rams and 2 pts (went down a half pt).
USC won 14-7 that Saturday (I sorry world for yelling Holly SHXXXT!!!).
So it all came down to the Sunday's Ram-Whiner game.
With less than 2 minutes in the game, Frisco led 20-17. But, the Ram had the ball on frisco's 24 yard line and it's first and ten.
On first down, Tyler gains 3 yards to the whiners 21 yard line.
On 2nd down, the Rams do a play action pass and Pat Haden has a wide open Preston Dennard open by at least 5 yards (frisco blew the coverage) and he overthrows him by less than an arm length. (again world I am sorry for yelling all those 4 letter words).
On third down they run Bryant (typical,huh) up the middle for 1 yard.
After taking some valiums from my Dad's medicine chest (kidding, I should of) I regain my composure and say "let's tie this sucker get the right side of the coin and win this baby.
Corral comes out for a chip shot (20 yard line).
The view was from behind the goal post. Perfect placement by Cromwell, Corral kicks it and to me it looked like it went thru but I notice the frisco fans jump up at once (the ball hit the left goal post and bounced directly back, it couldn't be an inch or two to the right and angle in,no,hit it straight on and bounced back.
All my Dad said was "that was a $14,000 muff".
Ram memories are priceless (so was Corral's kick)
Here's why Jack Youngblood is and always will be my favorite Ram.
Three years ago on Ground Hog Day was my Father's 85th birthday.
How do I say this, my Dad was a self made man. Whatever he wanted he could afford so presents to him ended up in the closet.
The family is going to have a big party for him and my sisters had all this stuff made for him.
My strategy is buy him the best socks money can buy and that's what I did. $250 worth of socks (I know I know but he'll use them).
The night before my Fathers birthday trying to get to sleep IT HIT ME!!!
Jack Youngblood is GM of the Orlando Predators of the Arena league.
I will set my alarm at 5 am and call their office and maybe the secretary has some photo's of Jack.
My alarm goes off I make the coffee strong and get the Predators phone number and call.
A woman answers and says Orlando Predators. I say "hi, today is my Father's 85th birthday and him being a big Ramfan and Jack- She cuts me off and says one moment please and puts me on hold.
I'm thinking another call must of came in.
About a minute later I hear a deep male voice say THIS IS JACK, HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
I have been in sales all my life but I couldn't put two words together. I say "Today is my Father's 85th birthday he big fan of the Ram and ,JACK CUTS ME OFF AND SAYS "Does your Dad have a fax machine?"
I can answer that one and I say "Yes! Yes he does!!! (it was the first four words I put together)
And Jack says this "give me the fax number and your Dad's name and I will take care of it for you, partner".
While giving him that information I say to myself "I will take the bullet for this man forever".
I go over to my Father's and their is presents on every side of him. But, what he has in his hand is a 8 by 11 glass picture frame (he went out and bought a classy teak frame) and in it was Jack's fax. I go and give him a hug and his socks and he is smiling handing me the frame.
Do you know what Jack did (every time I think of this my emotions come out) he wrote about 25 words like he knew my Father.
It started out "Art, 85 been pretty lucky for us". My Dad had this on his desk (it is still there) and isn't it funny that his most cherished gift he received in years was a fax. God bless him.
11 years ago the company I worked for (mobile home sales) opened a sales lot in the central valley of California.
A fellow salesman, Chris, is as devoted to the Rams as us.
It seemed that everyone wore that same gold niner jacket.
Chris and I are great at "playhouse 90" (just adding bull on top of his bull).
Well, we decided to get lunch at this beer bar we never been in.
Walking in we see two guys at the bar stools with those ugly gold jackets.
So we walked in sat down next to them and started the bull.
Chris says "what the hell was the rookie doing? Have you heard anything new?
I say "no, this is the worst freak accident ever in sports" "at least we have Steve Young."
Well, that got their attention and butted in asking "what happened"?
Chris (God he was great at this) explains that up at Rocklin (where the whiners have their training camp). It was break time for lunch. Montana had a moped since it was some 300 yards from their offices. Bill Walsh decided to jump on back for a ride like he has done so many times before.
One rookie (Chris looks at me and says was it our 2nd round pick? I say yes) threw a bomb to another rookie.
This linebacker was sprinting at full speed, did not know where he was going and exploded (he uses EXPLODED) into Montana and Walsh
They ask are they okay? I had the response "Montana right thumb had severe ligament damage and Walsh is in a coma.
The opened mouth stare of these two was priceless.
The whole time the owner of this bar listened and after hearing the niners QB thumb is destroyed and the "genius" is in a coma.
He says "HEY THAT IS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR MY RAMS"
I almost fell out of my stool. He could care less about Montana and Walsh. Its going to help out his Rams. Well that place we adopted as are own.
After the 4 of us cried in our beers, they got up to go.
As they were heading for the door, Chris says "GUYS" as they turn around Chris says "I THINK OUR 2ND ROUND PICK WILL BE OKAY" and gives a thumbs up and a smile.
They both go "oh that's good" and leave. Not a bad lunch.
I became a Dodger, Laker and USC fan virtually the same time I became a Ramfan.
But, the Rams are like family.
Immediate family.
Is it because we had season tickets to the Rams from 1966 until they moved back east?
That can't be it. Because we went to at least 20 Dodger games and 12 Laker games every year.
I have game worn Ram jerseys from Joe Namath in 1977, Rod Perry and Cullen Bryant from 1979.
Nothing from the Dodgers, Lakers and SC.
I have only one Dodger game on video (88 world series Gibson's HR).
Just one Laker game (85 finals) and one SC game (74 ND game).
Now for the Rams I have over 55 complete games from the 60's,70's and 80's.
When my Mom was losing her battle with cancer.
Our family sky was pitch black.
Except for that little blue patch that was talking about our Rams. (God, did we need that).
A big reason why the Rams are family is the Dodgers, Lakers and SC have been champions many times over.
The Dodgers sweeping the favored Yankees in the 63 World Series to Gibson's HR in the 88 Classic.
The Lakers beating the hated Celtics on their court in the 85 Finals to winning 3 straight with Shaq and Kobe.
USC 1972 team (maybe the greatest ever) to coming within seconds of winning 3 straight championships last year.
USC baseball winning 5 straight championships (that won't happen ever again).
And my LA Rams in my lifetime never won it once.
My LA Rams often approached greatness, but, never attained their goal of winning the Super Bowl.
Which is a big reason I hold them so close.
Because my LA Rams invented the "if" game.
Those championship games that were lost by a crucial play.
Like the 1974 NFC Championship game. Losing 7-3 late in the 3rd quarter, my Rams drive 99 yards to the six inch line of Minnesota.
Just six inches from a Super Bowl berth, only to be called for illegal procedure on the next play thus moving them back to the Minnesota 5.
The next play James Harris pass was tipped and intercepted in the endzone by Jay Hildenberg.
Watching Ron Jessie obviously break the plane of the goaline on a flanker reverse on second down early in a scoreless tie in the 1976 NFC championship game, only to see the ball spotted at the 6 inch line.
Knox decides to kick the FG, and Nate Allen blocks it, and Bobby Bryant runs it back 99 1/2 yards for a TD.
And we talk about those "what if" losses more than we do the wins.
I was sick when Texas beat USC, Boston winning game 7 in the 84 finals against my lakers and Jack Clark of the Cardinals taking out my Dodgers in the 85 playoffs.
But I didn't eat or sleep for three days after the Monday Night game against the Niners in 1989. (when we had a 17 point lead).
All I wanted was to see my Rams hugging each other and laughing in their locker room after the NFC Championship game. Instead of the Cowboys and Vikings.
That Ram defense of the 70's deserved better.
Because the best defense in the decade of the 70's wasn't the steel curtain, doomsday or the purple people eaters.
It was the Rams.
The Rams Defense allowed fewest rushing yards, Allowed fewest rushing TDs, Allowed fewest total yards, Allowed the fewest points and sack the QB the most times.Basically #1 vs run, #1 in Sacks and #1 in total defense and #1 in scoring defense.
In other words, the best.
That's why one of my most cherished Ram memory is when the Ram defense is introduced to the world in Super Bowl 14.
With Jack Youngblood leading the way.
I wouldn't trade those Ram teams for no one.
The Rams are family.
Immediate family
Going thru some boxes that have been shelved for years, I rediscovered my 8x10 autograph photo of Dave Elmendorf.
The year was 1979 (man, I am getting old) and Elmendorf was going to be at Jack Youngblood and Larry Brooks clothing store in Orange, CA. on a Saturday afternoon signing autographs.
The Rams were in 2nd place, half injured and coming off their worst defeat of the season the Sunday before to the San Diego Chargers, 40-16.
While waiting for Elmendorf to show up I started a conversation with the guy in front of me. He came to the conclusion that the 79 season was over citing how injury riddled we were. I have to be honest----it seemed that way to me too.
Well, Dave finally showed up and sat in a folding chair with a cheap table in front of him.
Then finally it was the guy in front of me to have his turn with Elmendorf. While Dave was signing the photo the guy says "Well, it is wait till next year, huh, Dave?". Inside I screamed "that SOB took my line!" I was going to say that.
What happened next will stay with me until the day I die.
Elmendorf slowly raises his head and looks this guy right in the eyes and says coldly "HEY PAL, THIS SEASON AIN'T OVER." I swear to you his stare made Sonny Liston stare look tame.
Of course, my view on the 79 season kind of changed (like 180%).
When it was my turn I say "HEY, THIS SEASON IS STILL A PUPPY, IT IS STILL CYCLE ONE (remember the dog food?)" and Dave says "Damn Right!!" As I give the poor soul who was in front of me a "take care head nod". All the time thanking the Lord.
The "Hey Pal, this season ain't over" statement from Dave was so true cause as you know we got healthy, and took over first place in the western div. Then beat Dallas and TB in the playoffs to make it to SB14.
The year was 1977 (God,seems like a week ago).
My parents went to Tahoe for the weekend.
My Father who loved the crap table, rarely bet on sport games.
Came back and had a $500.00 bet on the Monday Night Game. It was the Rams vs Bears and my Dad had to lay 8 1/2 points
I was 16 working as a bus boy for Ramada Inn. I got off work the same time the game started.
Listening on the radio and driving as fast as I can to my Dad's, Joe Namath throws two quick TD's and the Rams take a 14-0 early first quarter lead.
As I walk in my Dad's house, he meets me and is so excited and says "JC,Namath is the greatest QB ever!!! Look at the arm. Why didn't we get him seasons ago? Look at the arm,JC,look at the arm (as he demostrates with his arm throwing).
All the while holding that betting slip from Harrah's.
Then he says with this smile on his face "JC,who should I bet on next week?" Like this game is over. That was the omen and anyway it's our Rams.
Namath throw his first interception. TD Bears. Joe Namath throws his 2nd interception, TD Bears. 14-14 game but to my Father it is 22 1/2 to 14 Bears.
On the next series, Namath loses yards and the Rams punt and the Bears take a 17-14 lead.
Thru all this my Father hasn't said a word. After the Bear's FG, he quietly gets up an goes to his bedroom.
On the very next series, Joe Namath throws his third interception and you hear my Dad scream "GET THAT SON OF A BITCH OUT OF THE GAME".
In less than 20 minutes, Joe Namath went from the Greatest QB of all time to a son of a unwed mother. Well, that was the last pass Namath ever threw and my Dad stayed on the crap table
That was back in the days when NBC did the AFL and CBS did the NFL.
I was about 9 years.
I used to go to the Ram games at the Coliseum with my Dad. Though we didn't have season tickets, my Dad would buy tickets to games that we wanted to see.
We saw the 1967 Colts with Johnny Unitas and the Redskins with Sonny Jurgenson!!
We also saw the Cowboys and Vikings in 1969.
I used to know all the Rams by name BEFORE the names were on the jerseys.
The most emotional memory for me is the time my late father ran into my room when I was, I guess, about 8 years old.
On his head was a Ram helmet, and in his arm was a NFL football autographed by the entire 1966 Ram team!!!
But the autographs were etched into the leather!!!
God I loved that football, and the white-horned helmet. I used to throw that football around with my Dad and the neighborhood kids.
Being a kid, I didn't take care of the football. I was so proud of that football and played so much with it that I rubbed off the signatures and lost the ball.
What I would give to have that back and the memories it brought of my father and me and the Rams!
My dad and I use to watch the TV and shout when Jack Snow or Billy Truax scored a touchdown.
I wish I could go back to those days again.
RAMFAN ON HIS FATHER (great story)
I won a bid at Ebay on some 1985 uncut Los Angeles Rams, Smokey Bear cards.
I remember the Cards well because My dad as you may know was appointed Director of the CA. Dept of Forestry by Gov Dukemejian and he was one of the people who RAM rodded the Rams - Smokey card shoot.
My dad as you know was a HUGE Rams fan and I had to have these Cards. The person's funeral I went to in Madera never made it to the top of forestry like my dad did although he was 3rd from the top in the state.
His position was Chief of region 2 which includes everything in CA South of the golden Gate Bridge.
He was a huge Dallas Cowboy Fan and at the funeral the Eulogizers all brought up Dick Ernest (My dad), Rex Griggs, The Rams and the Cowboys. they told stories of how my dad and Rex would scream on Mondays and go as far as throwing things at one another when they were both working in riverside county as assistant Rangers.
My dad has been dead for 10 years now and he is still the most respected Director the Dept. has ever known.
He has been dead for 10 years and I have been to other Forestry funerals, golf tournaments and other happenings where their are speakers for one reason or another and on every occasion they bring up My Dad and the Rams.
There is a guy who Post's over at the HERD who goes by FireCap and when he found out who owned Ramsworld he made a post at the HERD and told of my fathers achievements and how he pulled CDF together. Don't want to bore you with this jerry but I just have a sneaking suspicion that you know exactly what I am talking about and can appreciate it. (you bet I do)
STEPHEN'S MEMORIES
We had season tickets from 1978 through 1994 :-( We also had them in 1971, 1972 and 1975 and we went to several games in different seasons as well.
We went to a lot of 49er games when the 49ers were really bad. I made it to all of the home playoff games in the 70's. (Jack Youngblood, McCutcheon, Dave Elmendorf etc. were my heroes.)
My father didn't like Carroll Rosenbloom very much so we would have season tickets and then we wouldn't.
It's wasn't like we could get seats on the 40 yard line anyway. When I was pretty young (the 60's) my parents would buy rye bread, salami, etc at a delicatessen on Lincoln west of Euclid in Anaheim called Lindell's and they would take my brother and I to the Coliseum and we would sit in the section near the temporary grandstands in the peristyle end where kids were free and adults could sit for $2.00. Do you remember that section?
I have no doubt that this program was responsible for making the Rams very important to me. Do you remember those Carnation frozen malts served with the piece of wood that would make it impossible to eat before it melted? By the time I was in high school (Sunny Hills), I would get so excited before the game that I wouldn't eat breakfast. We were on the View level in section 264--the hot sunny eastern side of the stadium. For some reason, there was never the magic atmosphere going to Rams games at the Angels' place that there was at Expositon Park. I accomplished my dream of having season tickets with yardage and it was a lot shorter trip but it was just better in LA. One thing about my Rams experience that always bugged me was that most of their dramatic wins happened on the road while the home games with the huge crowds usually included a tragic ending. In LA it was Dallas. In Anaheim it was usually San Francisco.
My favorite game ever was the divisional playoff game played on New Year's Eve Day 1978 against Minnesota at the Coliseum. The Rams stole a move from the Oilers and passed out pom-pons and for some reason this really fired everyone up. People were chanting "Go Rams Go" while the players were warming up. It was really wacky and I remember reading afterwards that the players were shocked. Do you remember this? They broke the huddle in the first quarter and the place went nuts.
Of riding a emotional rollercoaster.
That took you to the highest highs and definitely the lowest lows.
And every Christmas season it got stronger.
The presents were the same but more expensive.
I am talking about being a Ramfan from 1973 thru 79.
In 1973, it was 2 days before Christmas when the Rams met the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs.
If we played by today's playoff rules the 12-2 Rams would of been host to the 10-4 Cowboys.
But we didn't.
The Rams first two offensive plays were turnovers and before 6 minutes is played it is 17-0 Dallas.
And that is just the half of it.
FG kicker David Ray missed three chip shot FG's (9 points).
The Ram defense played great and forced two turnovers as the Rams narrowed the lead 17-16.
On a 3rd and 10 Staubach hit Drew Pearson for a 75 yard TD to put the game out of reach.
It would be my first ram rollercoaster ride.
One night later on Christmas eve I opened my presents and got a Ram belt, Ram T-shirt and Ram cards.
1974 PLAYOFFS
As Christmas season rolled around, our Rams were in the playoffs for the second straight year.
On Dec.22 the Rams were hosts to the Washington Redskins in the first round of the playoffs.
Over 80,000 Ramfans were at the Coliseum to witness a hard hitting defensive struggle.
I can still hear that roar when Isiah Robertson picked off a Sonny Jurgenson pass and runs it some 60 yards for the game winning TD.
Two days later it is Christmas eve, my presents were a Ram jacket and Ram cap.
1974 NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
The Rams should of played the NFC Championship game against the Vikings in 70% Los Angeles instead of -12% wind chill factor Minnesota.
Both teams were 10-4, and the Rams had won their one regular-season meeting.
Until 1975, however, the NFL rotated playoff sites, and it was the NFC Central's turn to play host to the conference championship game.
Forget about it being the NFC Championship game, name me any game that a team goes over 99 yards and gets no points and loses by 4 points.
OVER 99 YARDS!!! That doesn't happen in Pop Warner.
This is what happened.
In the 3rd quarter, the Vikings hold a 7-3 lead. A punt pinned the Rams inside their 1-yard line, but we moved out of danger to their 25.
Then Harris hit Harold Jackson for a 73-yard gain. Jackson should have scored, but he was nudged out of bounds by Jeff Wright at the Vikings' 2.
One play later the Rams were less than six inches from a 10-7 lead.
But Harris, who could have fallen forward for the go-ahead TD, switched to a long count.The refs said Hall of Fame guard Tom Mack flinched, costing the Rams five yards.
Two plays later, linebacker Wally Hilgenberg intercepted Harris' tipped pass in the end zone.
The Rams had gone 99 yards and produced no points. We lose by 4 points.
It's been over 30 years and the pain is still fresh.
Now I circled the wagon with this team.
1975 CHRISTMAS SEASON
The Rams go 12-2 in 1975 and secure homefield advantage thruout the playoffs.
On Christmas eve one of my presents was a Ram authentic Jersey from 1955.
Two days later the Rams start their playoff run.
The 12-2 Rams and 11-3 St. Louis Cardinals met in the first round of the 1975 playoffs.
The Rams defense was number one in the NFL in 1975, allowing just 135 points for the season.
The Cardinals under Don Coryell, had the number two offense in the league. Also, their offensive line only allowed 8 sacks for the entire season.
Coach Chuck Knox didn't decide who would be QB until game day. To the surprise of many, he went with Ron Jaworski instead of James Harris.
On the first series of the game, the Rams went 79 yards (51 yards by Lawrence Mccutcheon) that was capped off by a bootleg by Jaworski that gave the Rams a 7-0 lead.
On the Cardinals second offensive play, Jim Hart's pass was intercepted by Jack Youngblood who ran it back for a 47 yard TD making it 14-0 Rams.
That roar is in my top 5 loudest at being at the game.
On the first play of the second quarter, Bill Simpson intercepted his first of two taking it all the way back for a TD making the score 21-0 Rams.
The Cardinals finally got on the board as Jim Otis took it in from the 3 yard line,but, Jack Youngblood blocked the extra point making it 21-6 Rams. But the Rams didn't waste any time getting back that TD as Jaworski connected with Harold Jackson on a 50 yard TD strike. At the half, the Rams had a 28-6 lead.
The second half saw the Rams run the ball as Mccutcheon rushed for then a NFL playoff record of 202 yards on 37 carries.
The final score was 35-23 Rams.
Jack Youngblood was named player of the game as he recorded one sack, one forced fumble,one blocked extra-point attempt and returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown.
We matched up so well with the Vikings, but, because of Staubach's "Hail Mary", The Cowboys are coming to LA.
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME There was almost 90,000 of us at the Coliseum, and we were LOUD.
From 1966, I have gone to 85% of the regular season home games and never missed a playoff home game.
You know, when your at a game you see who is dictating to whom.
The only game where our Ram defense was beaten was this game with Dallas.
They were so hot they would of made God punt.
We gave our Rams a standing ovation as they came out of the tunnel for the second half.
Carroll Rosenbloom thanked his fans with a two page "thank you" from the LA Times.
Now it became a obsession for the Rams to get to the Super Bowl.
1976 CHRISTMAS SEASON
Six days before Christmas the Rams played the Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs.
One of the greatest emotional rollercoaster rides ever.
Here is just the last two minutes of the game.
The Rams have a 14-10 lead with just two minutes to play.
Charlie Waters has blocked one punt of Rusty Jackson.
It is 4th and 2 on our 41 yard line, hoping to pin Dallas back deep, disaster happens. Waters blocks his second punt. the ball rolls all the way to our 17 yard line.
The Dallas crowd is going crazy. and look who is their QB. Captain comeback Roger Staubach.
On first down, Roger hits Butch Johnson back in the endzone. it looks like a TD, but, Johnson has a half a foot out.
The next two passes are incomplete.
It's 4th and 10, Staubach hits Billie Joe Dupree exactly on the 7 yard line, he goes to turn around and is met by Elmendorf and Simpson and all three drop right there.
Both teams surround the chain. you can't even se the refs. but all of a sudden you see Ram helmets jumping up and down. Dallas missed a first down by inches. You think it's over, but, Dallas has their time outs.
It's fourth down and the Rams are punting from our endzone. Waters already has blocked two, the crowd is crazy.
Every Ramfan in the world was not sitting down, they were standing up. about a foot from the TV. Rusty Jackson takes the snap, fakes a punt then darts right sprinting.
Every Ramfan eyes slowly widen and so does their mouth, for about 2 seconds. then they realize that our punter took a safety making it 14-12. Time has expired and the Rams win. CBS shows Carroll Rosenbloom, his son Steve and Don Klosterman in their suite at the game. All three did the same thing, not sitting down, eyes got big then realized what a strategy. And that was just two minutes of the game.
A classic.
My Father and I did not sit down even at halftime. We were just about a foot from the tv.
For Christmas I got Blaupunkt am/fm cassette for my 1972 Ford Ranchero that I had painted Ram blue and pin-striped yellow.
1976 NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
1976, the Vikings and Rams met again in the NFC championship game. The coaching staff gave the Ram players their book on the Vikings.
On page one Coach Knox wrote "Be aggressive" Attack! To the Ram offensive line was the coaching staff concern of the Viking 5 man line,which gives the Vikings a man to man pass rush with Page stunting. The coaching staff said "lock them up and give our QB time and you won't see it anymore.
The Ram put a new wrinkle in their goal line offense with a flanker reverse with Jessie.
In the last practice before the game a fight broke out between Hacksaw Reynolds and Terry Nelson.
The Ram coaches let them go at it for some time and when they broke it up, all the Ram players cheered. Emotionally the Rams are ready.
Here is the first quarter stats.
Rams run 22 plays to the Vikings 5 plays. Rams 7 first downs to the Vikings 1 first down. Rams outgained the Vikings 89 yards to their 17.
But the Vikings are winning 7-0.
Here's how.
The Rams Ground Chuck offense was blowing holes in the Minnesota defense.
On second and goal from the Viking 4 yard line, the Rams do a flanker reverse with Jessie, he scores, but the refs say no and move it to the six inch line (just look at the pics he scored the refs AGAIN blew it).
Knox decides to go for three.
Dempsey goes out for the chip shot FG. But Nate Allen blocked the kick, which bounced directly to defensive back Bobby Bryant, who dashed 99 yards for the game's first points.
That is a 14 point turnaround.
Rusty Jackson gets his punt blocked.
The Vikings take a 17-0 lead but our defense brings us back, the Rams score 2 TD's, but Dempsey misses the extra point making it 17-13 Vikings.
The Rams have the ball inside the Viking 40 with less than 3 minutes to play.
But we need a TD and the Vikings play prevent.
Knox decides to go for it on fourth down. It is 4th and 10 on the Viking 39 yard line. Knox tells Haden the Vikings will be playing for the short pass thinking the Rams just want a first down.
Knox said " You should find Jessie or Jackson clear on the play called "sixty-five".
Haden faded back to pass reading the Viking's free safety Paul Krause. Krause went to the weak side after Jackson. Jessie blew right by Nate Wright.
Haden didn't have time to look at Jackson before hitting Jessie. And their right corner back Bobby Bryant sprinted all the way across the field.
Jessie didn't even see him coming. As the ball was going to fall in Jessie's hands for the game winning TD. Bryant, at the last instance, took the ball from Jessie and the Rams.
1977 CHRISTMAS SEASON Christmas of 77 was great. I got a Sony Betamax video recorder and had my step Mom record the playoff game one day later.
The reason in just one day we are getting our revenge from the Vikings.
Instead of playing in Minnesota, the Vikings have to come to us.
Tarkenton was out with a broken leg, putting "General" Bob Lee in charge of their offense. Just weeks earlier, we destroyed the Vikings 35-3.(that same night they filmed the plays for the movie Heaven Can Wait at halftime)
And the playoff game was finally in the L.A. Coliseum.
It would have been better for us if we played the game in Minnesota.
It rained for three straight days and nights before the game, turning the Coliseum turf into goo.
The "Mud Bowl" was made for the plodding Vikings. Chuck Foreman ran for 101 yards and a touchdown. Lee completed only five passes, but he did not turn the ball over.
Haden, meanwhile, threw three interceptions (to this day, I am convinced Joe Namath would of gotten us a win), including one in the end zone.
Rafael Septien missed a short field goal, and the Rams once again were on the short end of the score, 14-7.
Three playoff games that we dominated in stats but not where it counts.
1978 CHRISTMAS SEASON
For the 1978 season my gifts were a game worn Ram jersey and mug.
1978 FIRST ROUND GAME On New Years eve of 1978 the Rams first round playoff opponent is again the Vikings.
Was I nervous at halftime when it was 10-10. Your damn right.
And I wasn't alone in that feeling. It seemed every Ramfan in the Coliseum felt that way too.
But, finally we bury that demon.
The Rams scored 24 unanswered points in the second half. Letting Tarkenton go out a loser.Rams 34-10 winners.
1978 NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Again the Rams and Cowboys played for the rights to play in the SB.
That day the Coliseum was rockin.
It was another defensive struggle.
At halftime, the game is still scoreless.
In the middle of the 3rd quarter, Haden was intercepted by Waters as he returned it to the Rams 8 yard line.
The defense holds,but, a defensive holding was called on Perry giving the Cowboys a first down on the Ram four line. 3 plays later, Dallas scores.
We go on our best drive to the Dallas 23 yard line. 4th and less than a yard, we go for it.
Bryant was stopped for no gain and that was the beginning of the end.
Dallas 28-0 win.
1979 CHRISTMAS SEASON
The Rams first playoff game isn't for a week.
My Xmas presents were a custom gold Ram ring.
Greatest 30 days being Ramfan.
It started on December 30, 1979.
The Rams played the Cowboys in the playoffs. My Father, my stepmom, my brother and his wife, my best friend and his wife, and my wife (then girl friend) were at my home watching the game.
CBS wanted a Dallas-Steeler rematch, the experts gave us no chance. Dallas beat us in a regular season game 30-6. And for the first time we were a nine point underdog (largest ever).
But our Rams had a 14-5 halftime lead, we were going nuts.
Then late in the fourth quarter dallas took a 19-14 lead and it looked like another snakebitten playoff loss by our Rams.
Then when Vinnie hit Waddy for that 50 yard TD, this is exactly what happened in my living room.
I slide on my knees like I am on ice to one inch from the TV screen. My ears and eyes are focused on one thing, A FLAG!!
I see none, our Ram players don't act like there is one and they say their isn't one.
I turn around and this is what I see.
The 7 of them our hugging each other and jumping up and down like it is one person with 14 legs.
I run to join them, but my momentum as I hug knocks us off balance and all 8 of us, hugging as one, crash into my coffee table breaking it in pieces with crap going everywhere.
But we don't even give it a thought. ALL 8 keep hugging each other and screaming with joy.
What is etched forever in my mind is the faces of my Father and Brother virtually and inch from my face yelling and smiling.
On January 6th, 1980 our Rams finally win a NFC Championship game and our headed to the Super Bowl.
I was selling stereos (big business back then) in Fresno, Ca. I talked my General Manager of the 11 stores (it was kind of easy since he is a big Ramfan) into doubling our advertising budget.
We ran ads on radio and TV if you come in our store wearing anything Rams, you got Koss headphones at 5 bucks.
We advertised that we were burning Franco Harris in our parking lot at 12 mid. (the night before the game)
Over 200 ram fans showed up to see us burn this dummy wearing a franco jersey. (so did the fire dept and fined us 150 bucks). The whole store was RAMS!!!
I drove down at 1 am and met my Father and went to the game.
January 20th, 1980 You had to take buses to get to the Rose Bowl and for some reason me and my
Father were on a bus with Steeler Fans from the Pittsburgh area.
They were giving it to us in a classy way.
Never has there been a more picture perfect day.
When Summerall announced to the world "THE STARTING DEFENSE OF THE LOS ANGELES RAMS" I got a little emotional.
For the reason these great players who have came so close virtually every year in the 70's are getting their due.
It was a great game and when the bus took us back to where we all parked, most of the Steeler fans and me hugged each other.
I get back to Fresno and sleep until Tuesday.
Jan. 22, 1980
Just 2 days removed from SB 14. I am talking to some customers and I see this guy walking slowly past our window and we make eye contac and he gives me a "what's up" nod. I say to the other salesmen "I thnk Rod Perry just walk by".
I go out and say "Hey Rod, what do you think of our store?" (hoping he doesn't say "my name ain't Rod") he says "it looks great". Then I say "Get in here and meet your greatest fans".
He stayed in our store for almost 2 hours and answered every question 3 die-hard Ram fans could think. (most were goofy,but,some were not bad).
He told us what happened after Cromwell dropped a sure TD interception in the third quarter. (great story)
What the offensive line of the Rams were saying to the steel curtain. We ask about Ram players, other team players and coaches. It was awesome, then I said "Rod, only if you were an inch taller" on that Stallworth TD. He says do you have a sheet of paper and a pen. I grab some blank typing paper and he diagrams how the Ram D blew the defense on that TD. He uses two sheets (messed up on the first) after he is finished I ask would he sign them, he does.
He said Cullen Bryant was coming to stay with his family next week for a few days and the both of them would stop by.
Jan. 29th, 1980 Just like he said, they both came in (let me tell you Cullen Bryant biceps are bigger than your thigh.They both gave us jerseys and signed pics. These two are class not just in football but as men.
It was an era that Rod was flattered that we were running Ram ads on the radio, that's why he walked by our store and gave us game worn jerseys. if that game was last year, Rod Perry wouldn't have time to be walking in front of a stereo store just two days after the Super Bowl, Stallworth and Rod would be booked on every show for months. I have a 1977 game worn Ram jersey from Joe Namath (there is only 17 others in the world). Also,I have a unused Super Bowl 14 ticket (not many of those floating around).
But, I have something that is one of a kind, Rod Perry diagrams of the 73 yard TD by Stallworth and 2 hours talking to one of my favorite Rams ever, THAT'S PRICELESS.
Since my Father and Brother are no longer with us, that memory of their two faces just an inch from my face and going to the Super Bowl with my Father and giving my Dad the Cullen Bryant Jersey makes it the best 30 days as a Ramfan.
That's not true.
It is the best 30 days ever in my life
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all