His hand nervously hovered over the button.
He had been waiting
for someone else to make the final call,
not wanting to be responsible
for what would be an historic event
that would affect millions of lives.
As the clocked ticked down,
the button was pushed.
History forever linked him to -
The Heidi Game.
________________________________
On this date in history, Dick Cline, an NBC programmer hit the button that switched from the November 17, 1968 okay this is Thursday’s date and this is a Flash Fiction Friday but I’m going with it Oakland Raiders versus New York Jets football game to the movie Heidi. With only 65 seconds left in the game, the Jets kicked a field goal to give them a 32-29 lead. After commercial break, the network went to their originally scheduled 7:00 PM airing of the movie Heidi. What fans across America missed after that was two touchdowns by the Oakland Raiders in a span of nine seconds. So many irate fans called NBC after game results were flashed on the screen 20 minutes later, that their switchboard yes, switchboard…this was 1968, remember! literally blew a fuse. Even emergency lines were clogged for hours and you thought Katrina was a disaster. Final score Raiders - 43 Jets - 29 NBC - 0.
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This is a Flash Fiction Friday 55
hosted by Mr. Knowitall.
For more 55's pay him a visit -
Mr. Knowitall.
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If you think Micro Fictions are fun.
Come join me for a Sunday 160.
A challenge using exactly 160 characters
in a story, poem or writing of your choice.
24 comments:
remember this only because I sooo wanted to see Heidi;-)great 55
interesting bit of information...
ha..ha...happy friday ~
I only remember cuz I was pulling for the Raiders ( home team and all)
Yeesh--the typos! Anyway, trying again:
Hard to believe they didn't burn the studio down--good thing it's at 30 Rock and not in Oakland. Back when I watched the NFL madly(don't tell G-man) I was a major Raiders fan, but '68 is before even my fan time. Thanks for the nugget of info, and the prison inmates below with the problems with soy ought to see if bread and water once a day might not clear their little digestive problems up.
and the guy got fired...or should have been...he probably had security take him to his car...
HEDGEWITCH!!!! What Next? You used to work for Haloburton?
KP...I remember that game, we were watching it at our Fraternity house. Thanks for the memory.
Excellent 55
Thanks for playing, and have a Kick Ass Week End
With the paragraph at the bottom to extend the story...I'm pretty sure that was more than 55. :P
wow, great history lesson. I love hearing about this stuff :)
It would be the same here in the UK over football.
Football/Heidi....
nah - I think I'll read a book! :)
LOL, amazing info there. We had something similar in the soccer World Cup last year when a broadcaster cut to an advert early and missed the only goal of the game!
Jamie
Although a mere 7 year old at the time, I adored watching football with my dad. Yep, I remember.
Wow that was a MAJOR blunder!
Good story for 55 ! thanks.
I remember it happening but I think I was tripping on that particular night to get ready for school the next day.
"Heidi!"
"Grandfather?"
"Heidi! Come quickly!"
"What's wrong, grandfather?"
"Where the HELL is the game?"
Well, you just filled in a piece of football history that I didn't even know I had missed! Excellent 55, MM. You never fail to entertain and enlighten- and so succinctly, too :)
Heidi, eh? Wow. *shakes head*
Too bad it wasn't to big breasted girls on trampolines instead... Sure, hardcore football fans would still be pissed but it's kinda hard of hard to be mad at that.
Good thing they didn't have hackers or home computers back then. I am cringing at the idea of what would happen of that happened now.
REALLY??? that cracks me up! I am a huge Saints fan, if that happened during a Saints game, and there was no such thing as "the internet" I probably would have lost my mind..
LOL Having seen how serious All american are about their game its a wonder it didn't catch fire or blow up with being so hot with action taking calls.
LOL
Loved it, thanks and thanks for the lovely comment on mine. I love quirky bits of info that make sense, once you know where they came from. ;)
So glad I wasn't making that call. Would suck to have to carry that around with you.
A marvelous 55! What a story, too, and weird that I do not remember it. The family dynamics were not suited to football, although there was a lot of game playing...
Oh I remember the wrath that caused!
Nice one!
That's what I'd call a colossal blunder of epic proportion. This football fan would have been completely irate had that been the game I was watching.
Tina @ Life is Good
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