Sunday, February 5, 2012

Advertisement for USFL clothing from 1984 championship program


As you're getting ready for Super Bowl XLVI, here's an advertisement from the $3 program1 for the second United States Football League championship game, which my dad and I attended on July 15, 1984,2 in Tampa Stadium.

The Philadelphia Stars3, my favorite team, defeated the Arizona Wranglers, 23-3. Before the 1984 season, the Arizona Wranglers had been traded for the Chicago Blitz. After the season, the Philadelphia Stars moved to Baltimore. And people wonder why the league was only around for three seasons.

It wasn't for lack of trying that the league folded. The teams had bright colors and memorable nicknames/logos -- including the Denver Gold, Birmingham Stallions, Memphis Showboats, Houston Gamblers, Tampa Bay Bandits, San Antonio Gunslingers and Pittsburgh Maulers.

I have plenty of great USFL memories. The Philadelphia Stars and the USFL in general were much more interesting in the early 1980s than the Philadelphia Eagles, who had a guy named Marion as their head coach. Nuff said.

Share your favorite USFL memories in the comments section below!

Footnotes
1. From Page 57 of the program:
  • "Today's National Anthem will be performed by one of the country's newest and exciting country-rock bands: Alabama.
  • "Halftime performances by the Chamberlain Chiefettes, Just Kids, Mary May Dance Studio, Suncoast Girl Scout Council, Suncoast Twirlers, Good Time Cloggers, Berry Patch Cloggers, Sun Country Cloggers and May's Twirling Cadets."
2. This game was played one year, to the month, before New England Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis was born. You may go ahead and feel old now.
3. The Philadelphia Stars' impressive roster included Kelvin Bryant, Chuck Fusina, Sean Landeta, Sam Mills, Bart Oates, Brad Oates and, hailing from Red Lion, Pennsylvania, York County's own Scott Fitzkee.

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