BlackandBlueBook.com

Mention the Packers and Cowboys in the same sentence and most people automatically think of Dec. 31, 1967, when the teams played for the NFL championship at Lambeau Field in what has become known as the “Ice Bowl.”

Sixteen seconds left, the Packers on the Cowboys 1-yard line, out of time outs and trailing 17-14. Packers coach Vince Lombardi decided against a tying field goal because he didn’t want the fans to sit anymore in the minus-13 temperature. Bart Starr sneaks into the end zone behind the blocking of Jerry Kramer and Ken Bowman, giving the Packers a 21-17 win and their third NFL title.

The second of those titles came the previous year when the Packers won a 34-27 shootout at the Cotton Bowl. After those two games in the 1960s the teams didn’t meet again in the playoffs until the 1990s. The Cowboys beat the Packers in second-round games following the 1993 and 1994 seasons and then rallied from a 27-24 deficit for a 38-27 victory in the title game in the 1995 season.

Former Packers quarterback Bart Starr lost just once in seven games as a player against the Cowboys, and that was in 1970, when the Packers were no longer a dominating team.

As great as Brett Favre is, he’s had limited success against Cowboys, winning two two of 10 games. Both of the wins came in Green Bay; he’s never won in Big D.

The teams, both 10-1, play Thursday night in Dallas in what should be a preview of the NFC championship game. The Packers are dominating the NFC North and the Cowboys are doing the team in the East. Whoever wins this one will probably have home-field advantage if the teams meet again in January.

Wouldn’t it be some thing that 40 years after the Ice Bowl, these teams hooked up again for a championship game at Lambeau?

Adrian Peterson, who already has rushed for 224 yards in one game for the Vikings, has got me thinking about some of the other great running backs in  Black and Blue History.

Those that come to mid quickly are Gale Sayers, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders.

Here is a list of great performances by running backs in the first 40 years of the division.

Top Rushing Performances

1967-2006 (150 yards or more)

39 occurrences

Yards   Player  Team    Att.    Opponent        Date
275     Walter Payton   Bears   40      vs. Vikings     11-20-1977
220     Barry Sanders   Lions   23      at Vikings      11-24-1991
205     Walter Payton   Bears   23      at Packers      10-30-1977
205     Gale Sayers     Bears   24      at Packers      11-3-1968
197     Mel Farr        Lions   24      at Vikings      11-12-1967
192     Walter Payton   Bears   28      at Packers      11-3-1985
189     Billy Sims      Lions   36      at Packers      11-20-1983
188     Barry Sanders   Lions   20      vs. Packers     12-4-1994
184     Barry Sanders   Lions   30      at Packers      10-29-1989
182     Walter Payton   Bears   23      vs. Vikings     9-9-1979
179     Ted Brown       Vikings 29      at Packers      10-23-1983
176     Ahman Green     Packers 19      at Bears        9-29-2003
175     Walter Payton   Bears   35      vs. Packers     12-9-1984
174     James Jones     Lions   36      at Vikings      9-7-1986
172     James Stewart   Lions   32      vs. Bears       10-20-2002
171     Samkon Gado     Packers 29      vs. Lions       12-11-2005
170     Robert Smith    Vikings 15      at Bears        10-15-2000
167     Barry Sanders   Lions   23      vs. Bears       10-23-1994
167     Barry Sanders   Lions   22      vs. Packers     10-29-1995
167     Barry Sanders   Lions   19      vs. Bears       11-27-1997
163     Walter Payton   Bears   32      vs. Packers     12-11-1977
163     Barry Sanders   Lions   24      at Vikings      9-1-1996
162     Walter Payton   Bears   23      vs. Lions       10-29-1978
161     Barry Sanders   Lions   19      at Bears        9-14-1997
161     Ahman Green     Packers 25      at Vikings      12-17-2000
160     Walter Payton   Bears   23      vs. Lions       9-18-1977
160     Altie Taylor    Lions   23      vs. Packers     10-28-1973
160     Ahman Green     Packers 23      vs. Lions       9-14-2003
159     Terry Allen     Vikings 22      at Bears        9-18-1994
157     Billy Sims      Lions   27      vs. Vikings     9-28-1980
157     Ahman Green     Packers 17      vs. Lions       9-9-2001
156     Chuck Foreman   Vikings 33      at Lions        12-17-1977
156     Kevin Jones     Lions   33      at Packers      12-12-2004
155     Dave Osborn     Vikings 21      vs. Packers     12-3-1967
155     Barry Sanders   Lions   25      vs. Packers     10-15-1998
153     Dorsey Levens   Packers 29      at Lions        9-19-1999
152     Barry Sanders   Lions   20      at Packers      11-3-1996
152     Thomas Jones    Bears   23      at Packers      9-19-2004
150     Chuck Foreman   Vikings 26      vs. Bears       10-16-1977
 

Whether it’s been during talk shows or when I was on a recent book tour, one story in the book that has been brought up constantly is the one involving Chuck Hughes suffering a heart attack while playing for the Detroit Lions in an NFC Central (now NFC North) game against the Chicago Bears in a game in October of 1971.

It was the only time in NFL history that a player died on the field — he was pronounced dead 41 minutes after collapsing with 1:02 remaining in the game — but was clinically dead as he lay on the field.

There is a picture in the book of Bears linebacker Dick Butkus standing over the fallen Hughes. The first thought is that Butkus had something to do with it, that he may have hit Hughes so hard that he died. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

After running a pattern, Hughes clutched his chest and collapsed. In the book, Lions linebacker Mike Lucci said Butkus was one of the first to signal to the sidelines that something was wrong.  A caller to a show I was on on WGN radio on Sunday recalled another picture in which it appeared as if Butkus was celebrating a hit that leveled Hughes.

It didn’t happen that way. Hughes suffered a heart attack and Butkus was trying to help him.

Sunday, I met a friend in Albertville, Minn., halfway between St. Cloud, where I began a book-signing tour on Saturday, and Minneapolis, to watch the Packers-Vikings game.

We met at a sports bar where the vast majority of the crowd was donned in purple. Yeah, it was a Vikings crowd. Didn’t matter to my friend, who wore a Packers T-shirt.

Anyway, we’re watching the game and when Brett Favre threw his NFL record 421st touchdown pass, my buddy threw a fist in the air and yelled, “There it is!”

The bar fell silent, except for the volume on the TV. Then, a close-up of Favre appeared on the television screens throughout the bar. One or two fans began clapping. Within seconds, almost everyone in the bar applauded Favre’s feat.

It was a classy moment by a bunch of fans who didn’t let their loyalty get in the way of cheering a rival NFC North player for breaking one of the NFL’s most important records.

I even heard one Vikings fan say, “I wish we had that guy. We’d have a ton of Super Bowl trophies.”

 The Bill Belichick spying scandal got me thinking about George Halas and how he was known for bending and even breaking the rules.

It was widely rumored throughout the league that Halas had an apartment above Wrigley Field, where the Bears’ played home games when Halas was the team’s coach. Legend has it that Halas would be up in the apartment on Saturdays while the opposing team practiced at Wrigley. He’d be watching with binoculars, hoping to steal something that would help his team the next day.

Packers coach Vince Lombardi, aware of the rumors, would have fun at the old man’s expense, according to Dave Robinson, one of Lombardi’s linebackers in the 1960s.

“Vince would put his trick plays in Saturday practice just for George,” Robinson recalled. “Football was fun in those days. The word was that at one time George offered $1,000 for one of the Green Bay Packers play books, and Vince said, ‘Hell, for a thousand dollars I’d send him one.’ Stuff like that went on all the time.”

Former Lions linebacker and coach Joe Schmidt remembered a game between the Bears and Lions in 1962 at Wrigley Field played on a frozen field. Schmidt tackled Willie Galimore and as he got up, noticed that Galimore’s shoes were  missing cleats, all he had were iron pegs, which helped him gain more traction.

Schmidt grabbed an official and started complaining.

“I said, ‘Dammit, these shoes are illegal,’ and George says,  ’I want to tell you guys his shoes are OK and both of you guys better get the hell out there and get the game going’”

Schmidt remembered that the official grabbed him and said, “Come on kid, I’m not going to argue with him. Let’s go.”

We’re getting great responses from readers, bookstores and the media about the book and we’ll do our best to keep you informed of all the Black & Blue events, radio, TV and public appearances.

Check out the calendar function here at www.blackandbluebook.com. It’s being updated almost daily with new information about where to meet Bob Berghaus, where he’ll be signing copies of Black & Blue and making appearances, as well as interviews where you can tune in.

We’ve also listed the dates and times when Black & Blue teams are facing off now that the season is finally underway.

For the last two years the Bears have dominated the NFC North. The Bears should win the division again, but not as easily as last season when they won 13 games during the regular season and advanced to the Super Bowl.

The reason? The other three teams are better and are capable of beating the Monsters of the Midway this season. When NFC North teams meet, expect the battles to be intense and defensive minded.

The Packers won their last four games in 2006 and finished at 8-8. Brett Favre is back and is only seven touchdown passes away from breaking Dan Marino’s all-time record of 420. The Packers lost running back Ahman Green during the offseason and are lacking many weapons to be a high-scoring team. Defensively, the Packers are very solid, with defensive ends Aaron Kampman and Cullen Brooks the standouts of a solid front line and talented linebackers A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett lining up behind them.

The Packers have a defense will keep them in games and create turnovers that will give the offense a chance.

The Vikings also have a solid defense, one that limited opponents to just 68 rushing yards a game last year. Defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, both Pro Bowl players last season, return to lead the run-stuffing. The Vikings need to improve a pass defense that yielding just under 237 yards a game. Veteran safety Darren Sharper, who led the Vikes with four interceptions a year ago, is among the returnees in the secondary.

This is a defense that will keep the team in the game. The Vikings have turned the offense over to second-year quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who could struggle. Rookie runnjing back Adrian Peterson had a solid preseason and is expected to contribute right away. But if the Vikings make a run at the playoffs, the defense will be the reason.

In Detroit, the Lions are looking to improve on a 3-13 record because of an offense that could generate excitement in the Motor City. Veteran quarterback Jon Kitna threw 21 touchdown passes last year and he has a stable of good receivers in Mike Furrey (98 catches in 2006), Roy Williams (82 receptions last year) and rookie Calvin Johnson, the team’s top draft pick from Georgia Tech who could be a special talent.

The Lions are going to struggle on defense but because of the offensive weapons there are some experts who believe the Lions could at least double their win total from last year and maybe even challenge for a playoff spot.

The Bears’ defense produced a league-high 44 turnovers last year and once again is the heart of the team. Linebacker Brian Urlacher and tackle Tommie Haris are among the best in the NFL at their respective positions. Harris coming back from a hamstring tear he suffered near the end of last season. He only played a handful of snaps during the preseason and will be limited early in the season. But once he’s playing the majority of the snaps, opposing teams will have trouble running the ball.

Quarterback Rex Grossman’s insonsistency is a problem but not enough for the Bears to suddenly become an also-ran.

My predictions: Bears 10-6; Lions 9-8; Packers 8-8; Vikings 7-9.

While working on Black and Blue, I spent time at the offices of every team in the NFC North doing research and conducting interviews. I started out at the offices at the Minnesota Vikings where I had arranged interviews with several people who had been with the organization for years.

I figured at some time I would try and contact Bud Grant, the coach of the great Vikings teams that went to the Super Bowl four times. That time came sooner than I expected. Late in the morning of the day I spent at Vikings headquarters, Bob Hagan, the team’s director of publicity, came into the archive room where I was working and told me to bring my notebook and tape recorder. I followed him down a hall and asked where we were going. He told me I was about to meet Bud Grant.

“I’m not prepared for this,” I said. Seconds later I was shaking hands with him.

“A book on the Black and Blue, think anyone will buy it,” Grant asked.

For the next 25 minutes, he told stories of why the division was so special and earned the name Black and Blue. When Hagan came to get him for lunch, Bud asked if I was hungry. We went to the Vikings mess hall where Grant told me stories for another 45 minutes. We were interrupted several times by people who came over to say hi to Bud.

He was gracious and answered everything I asked him. I don’t gush over people but it was a thrill to spend that time with him and a great start to the project.

Bob’s own newspaper gives him a little ink about the book

The book won’t be in stores until Aug. 28, but we had a pre-launch last week, selling the book at a couple of functions at Capital Brewery in Middleton, Wi. and at a Sports Collector’s Show on Milwaukee southwest side.

The book was well-received and people told me their memories of the Black and Blue teams. Most of them involved the Packers, but I did meet some Vikings fans and several Bears fans. Many of the people who either purchased the book or inquired about it were baby boomers with fond memories of the Lombardi-era Packers. Younger folks said they’ve heard all the stories from their fathers or grandfathers about the Lombardi Packers, Dick Butkus, George Halas, Bud Grant.

Some people who stopped by were acquaintances from the past who took the time to say hello…. and buy a book. People wanted to know who I all talked to, how long I worked on the book, what kind of research it took to complete the project. But the biggest question has been: “Who is on the Cover? ”

Most people thought it was a Packer. They look at the facemask and automatically think lineman. Jerry Kramer and Forrest Gregg were the popular choices. When I told people it was not a lineman, many guessed Lynn Dickey, the gunslingling wuarterback of those high-scoring Packers teams of the early 1980s. Someone guessed Jim Del Gaizo, another quarterback. A couple guessed it was Boyd Dowler, the great end who was Bart Starr’s favorite receiver.

All interesting guesses and all wrong.

So who is the mystery man?

Keep guessing. It will come to you.