Pete Rozelle
Pete Rozelle
Alvin Ray "Pete" Rozellewas the commissioner of the National Football League for nearly thirty years, from January 1960 to November 1989, when he retired from office. He is credited with making the NFL into one of the most successful sports leagues in the world...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionEntrepreneur
Date of Birth1 March 1926
CitySouth Gate, CA
CountryUnited States of America
american-celebrity both leagues remain
Every franchise of both leagues will remain in its present location.
american-celebrity criticism frequently people quite receive regard success
I think the big thing I've had going for me in that regard has been the success of the league. I don't have quite as much control over things as people believe, so I frequently receive more credit than I deserve, and occasionally more criticism as well.
eventually harris hurting indicate louis polls public ruin taken valid
Squabbling in public will eventually ruin football; there's no doubt it's hurting us already. Polls taken by Louis Harris - polls as valid as any political polls - indicate that very clearly.
american-celebrity aspects athletic bad becoming internal job press public purely report saying
I'm not saying that the press is wrong to report any internal differences we have, but at the same time, I think it's our job to keep them from becoming public issues, for anything that detracts from the purely athletic aspects of the sport is bad for us.
american-celebrity came gave job line press reporters selected surprised taken took
At last, someone came to tell me I'd been selected as commissioner, which gave rise to the line that I took the job with clean hands. I was then taken downstairs to a press conference, and the reporters were as surprised as I was.
american-celebrity cities football operations preserved stadiums
Professional football operations will be preserved in the 23 cities and 25 stadiums where such operations are presently being conducted.
american-celebrity easier league term
During most of Bell's term of office, the league had 12 teams; there now are 26, which makes it much easier for a commissioner to operate.
american-celebrity believe emotional great pictures sports strongly surprise television
Which comes as no great surprise to me, for I strongly believe that sports are an emotional outlet, just as television and motion pictures are.
american-celebrity awful owners players simply
In fact, an awful lot of N.F.L. club owners have practically no influence on their players at all, simply because they're not full-time working owners.
american-celebrity black charge far people
The charge of stacking has no validity and, as far as black quarterbacks are concerned, the N.F.L. has had more than many people realize.
player looks owners
Rather than saying that the commissioner is hired by the owners and therefore is subservient to them, you have to look at whether or not the players are getting a fair shake.
emotional years needs
Considering what Americans have been confronted with in the last ten years, domestically and internationally, it's clear that we need emotional outlets; we have to have some peace from our problems
player thinking academic
I don't know if 1300 players could really participate in the selection of a commissioner, and I've never given it a great deal of thought. I think it's a logical point they could make, but it's only an academic one
jobs hands cleaning
At least I'm going into the job with clean hands.