Golf & Lifestyle In the NFL... Then & Now

Monday Night Football - Playoffs - Super Bowl – Pro Bowl. These are just a few of the NFL games that, over the years, have given us some fond - and perhaps some not so fond - memories. We root for and watch our favorite teams and players, hoping that this will be the season they go all the way. Unfortunately only 2 of the 32 teams will make it to the Super Bowl, and there is just one champion. During the season, sports sections and TV bring us a wide array of in-depth NFL happenings, starting with preseason practice and culminating with the Pro Bowl. What about the off-season activities of your favorite players? Too often we read a negative story, but what about the numerous positive contributions that NFL players, past and present, bring to their communities? Many have started charitable funds and are active in a myriad of fund-raising activities. High on the list of these fund-raisers are golf tournaments, with active involvement by both current and retired NFL players.

So just when and how did professional football players become involved in golf, both as an off-season sport and an opportunity to give back to their communities? What was the NFL like way back when? Who better to supply an answer than stars from 3 different eras? NFL Hall of Famer Bob St. Clair of the 49ers from the 50’s and 60’s, Kansas City Chiefs’ running back Ed Podolak for the 70’s, and the 49ers Dwight Clark of “The Catch” fame from the 1980’s. The 49er’s have retired St. Clair’s #79 and Clark’s #87, while Podolak, one of the Chief’s most hard-nosed players ever, is a member of their Hall of Fame and is their 2nd all-time leading rusher. I was fortunate enough to sit down with the 3 of them at the Mayacama Golf Club, where both Ed and Dwight are active in member services. In addition to learning more about their involvement in golf, I was treated to some almost unbelievable stories, many not repeatable, about the NFL during their careers. We watch the games on the tube and marvel at the skill and athleticism of today's players, but after listening to these stars of earlier eras, I sort of wish that the good old days of the NFL would return. Number of players - salaries - rules - number of games - the draft – technology - the changes since St. Clair joined the 49ers in 1953 are mind boggling. In Bob’s day there were 33 players on the team for the 12 game regular season, and many of them played both ways as well as on special teams. When Podolak was drafted by the Chiefs the regular season had gone to 14 games and the rosters had 40 active players plus the taxi squad. By the time that Dwight joined the 49ers the squad size was up to 53, with 7 of them inactive on game day, in addition to the practice squad.

There are many differences, and one relating to travel jumps out. Today teams get on their charter jet on Friday and head to the site of the Sunday game, returning after the game. Back in the 50’s the schedule was such that teams would have away games for 2 or 3 consecutive weeks, and would usually pick a central location and stay there for the entire road trip. Naturally in those days many players enjoyed an awesome social life. The 49er’s coach, Red Hickey, didn’t want his players out carousing, so selected an apartment complex in Virginia for one 3 week east coast swing. The players actually spent the majority of their time at the complex - of course when he made the arrangements coach Hickey didn’t know that it was the residence of many of the young ladies working in the Pentagon… There are always stories about players’ superstitions, but never about those of the owners. Dwight mentioned a trip to the east coast when the 49er’s plane broke down and the only aircraft owner Eddie DeBartolo was able to charter was a DC-10. Naturally the players enjoyed all of the extra room, hoping that it would become the norm. As they won the game, superstition took over and DeBartolo decided to use DC-10’s until they lost a game - the team won every road game that season. Incidentally, there were times Dwight wasn’t too happy about going from the 49er’s headquarters to Candlestick. Seems that when the team’s trainer drove he’d sing the Vanderbilt fight song all the way - needless to say, this didn’t sit too well with Dwight, a rival Clemson graduate.

Salaries? Million dollar contracts seem to be the rule today, a far cry from “the good old days.” St. Clair, who after playing his junior year on the undefeated 1951 USF team, finished his college career at Tulsa as the Dons dropped their football program, was drafted by the 49ers in the 3rd round of the 1953 draft. The team offered him $5,500, to which he said no, asking for (and eventually getting) $6,000, which included exhibition games. After a few years the team paid the players $50 per game for exhibition games. Incidentally, San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium football field was renamed for St. Clair. Bob played more games there (189) than any other player in history as it was home field for his high school (Poly), the USF Dons and the 49er’s. In 1969 the Iowa Hawkeyes’ Ed Podolak was drafted in the 1st round as a QB by the Canadian League and in the 2nd round as a RB by the Chiefs. He had been Iowa’s QB, but when RB Dennis Green (49er’s assistant coach; as well as Stanford, Vikings, Cardinals head coach) was hurt he moved to RB. Using the Canadian offer as leverage Ed was able to negotiate a 3-year 6 figure contract, including a $25,000 signing bonus. The amount for exhibition games had increased to $100 per game, and there was a season in which the Chiefs played 7 including the Hall of Fame game. Under today’s draft system, Dwight Clark would’ve been a free agent, as he was drafted out of Clemson in the 10th round of the 1979 draft. As the 249th pick he ended up with a $5,000 signing bonus and a 3 year contract of $110,000. By then the exhibition games had increased to $500 per. Their exhibition game schedule was something - they played 4 of them, often including a trip to Europe for one.

The rules have changed, equipment improved and there are now specialists for just about every situation. In Bob’s day almost every player played a dual role. Some of the QB’s were also the kickers, RB’s played defensive back, offensive linemen played on special teams and also defense in many situations. As for equipment, when he started there were no face masks, which resulted in one of his many memories. Against the Rams on a 4th down QB Norm Van Brocklin punted. Bob broke through the line and was able to deflect the ball slightly with his hand, right into his face, resulting in 5 teeth being knocked out and all kinds of blood. During the dead ball period they stuffed cotton in his mouth to control the bleeding and he finished the game. Blocking kicks was one of his many strengths - in one 12 game season he blocked 10 of them.

When Bob and Ed talked about some of the rules during their playing days Dwight was almost in awe of many of the things that were allowed. As an example, when St.Clair played the ball wasn’t blown dead when a ball carrier’s knee hit the ground - if the defense didn’t get on them and make sure they stayed down, runners could get up and keep going. Although the game is just as physical now as in the past, many of the rule and equipment changes have resulted in fewer injuries - such as Bob losing his teeth. He remembered an exhibition game against the Giants in his 1st season when the defensive lineman he was against punched him in the jaw, and there was no flag. On the next play Bob decided to get even, so he hit him and the ref threw the flag - seems that after throwing his punch the lineman told the ref to watch #79 as he was throwing punches. Punching was something there was a lot of way back when! During Ed’s career there was a future Hall of Famer who would often punch or slap opposing players on the ear. Another change was eliminating the clothes line tackle - Podolak still remembers his first kickoff return when his nose was broken by an overzealous defender, and of course no flag. There was strong agreement by all 3 that doing away with the head on the numbers tackle and helmet to helmet contact was long overdue and has had a positive impact on reducing injuries.

As all 3 were primarily offensive players, they spent quite a bit of their preparation analyzing opponents’ defenders. When asked about defenders, Dwight said that the Raiders Jack Tatum was the best tackler he faced, but was really glad he didn’t have to play against teammate Ronnie Lott. Lott was so intense and such a hard hitter that during training camp the coaches had to stop him from tackling his teammates. Podolak mentioned linebackers Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert and Ray Nitzke as ones he didn’t like to go up against, but that he feared Tatum the most as a tackler. In fact he feels that Tatum was a defensive back with a linebackers’ mentality. Ed also mentioned that he was glad to be on the same team as another outstanding linebacker, Willie Lanier.

Bob, Ed and Dwight each say that golf has played a role in their post football careers. While Mayor of Daly City, California, St.Clair started playing in charity fundraisers, something he still does, although he says that he now plays in scrambles only. As a member of the Summit Savings Bank board of directors he is often asked to play in tournaments, but limits his participation to charitable events. Podolak started playing in high school, and became serious about the game after retiring from the Chiefs.

Of course he hasn’t given up on football-now starting his 27th season broadcasting his Iowa Hawkeyes’ games on radio. With his 10 handicap, recently up from 9, he is a favorite partner of members of the Mayacama Golf Club where he spends quite a bit of the off season. Dwight’s love affair with golf started back in North Carolina when he was in the 8th grade and was given a set of clubs with wooden shafts. He dug a small hole in the backyard and started trying to chip in. One day he over-did it and broke a window. His mother was upset and told him that he’d have to do his golfing on a course, so he and a friend started going to Pine Lake in Charlotte, spending the entire day there either playing or retrieving balls from the lake. After retiring he stayed in the Bay area, opening Clark’s By The Bay, a popular peninsula restaurant. He has remained active in golf, and has played on the Celebrity Golf Tour. In 2007 he played in 42 charity events, and currently plays in many fundraisers, including joining Ed in events at Mayacama.

Yes, the post career lifestyle of many retired NFL stars includes charity golf events, as evidenced by Bob, Ed and Dwight. Each has many fond memories of his NFL career, but also of golf, and the role it has played since retiring from football. Another great example of retired NFL stars’ involvement in golf is Gallo’s annual Gridiron Open Charity Tournament, played on wine country courses such as The Links at Bodega Harbour, Chardonnay and Fountaingrove. The format is such that during their round each participant plays a few holes with different NFL “old timers.” The Golf & Lifestyle of NFL players, active and retired, positively impacts not only their communities, but our country as a whole. The positive charitable and community contributions by these three - in fact all – retired NFL stars is highly commendable!