2006-11-22 14:52:10 · 14 answers · asked by gandalf 4 in Sports ➔ Football (American)
Thanksgiving Day football, once a tradition among the high schools and colleges of America, has more or less faded into oblivion in most sections of the country. But it is still alive in the National Football League in two franchise cities, Detroit and Dallas, where Thanksgiving Day football has become a normal, expected way of life. Beginning in 1966, Dallas has missed playing on the holiday only in 1975 and 1977.
However, when it comes to Thanksgiving Day football, NFL style, most fans first think of the Lions and the tradition that was started in 1934. It was their first year in Detroit after a local radio executive, George A. Richards, had purchased the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans and moved the team to Detroit. The Spartans were members of the NFL from 1930 to 1933.
With the Spartans, not only was Richards bringing a proven, quality team to Detroit, he was also bringing at least one super-star, Earl "Dutch" Clark, one of the most versatile backs ever to play the game. Clark had an outstanding supporting cast in the Detroit backfield with a big, talented line anchored by Frank Christiansen.
Even though he knew there was some risk in scheduling a game on Thanksgiving Day, Richards also recognized that his Lions were taking a back seat to the baseball Tigers on the sports pages. So as one way of attracting Motor City fans during the team's first season, he opted for the Thanksgiving Day contest.
Thus the football-on-Thanksgiving tradition became firmly established in Detroit. With the exception of a six-season gap from 1939 to 1944, the Thanksgiving Day game has been played with no interruptions.
2006-11-22 15:10:46 · answer #1 · answered by themcdonsinaz04 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Contrary to most of the answers here, it is beyond tradition. Back when there were two football leagues in the 1970's, the NFL merged with the AFL creating the current system of the National Football League. The Lions and Cowboys were part of the NFL and contracted an agreement with the AFL to play Thanksgiving games. It is under heavy scrutiny that this is unfair for other teams as both Dallas and Detroit have experience playing this annual game with four days rest, while other teams do not have the comfort of expecting a Thanksgiving game until the release of the season schedule.
2016-05-22 20:23:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In 1934 G.A. Richards(The owner of the Lions) opted for the Thanksgiving Day contest between the Bears and Lions to attract Motor City fans during the team's first season which from then had a game in Detriot on Thanksgiving.
Dallas started playing on thanksgiving in 1966
2006-11-22 15:01:35 · answer #3 · answered by mikhial66 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Originally there were no games on Thanksgiving. Then the Detroit Lions owner got the bright idea that he could have a day to himself without any other teams playing besides his own and their opponents.
Don't really know how Dallas got into the action but I assume the league office was so happy with how the detroit games were doing that they asked america's team to play on thanksgiving as well
2006-11-22 14:56:37 · answer #4 · answered by Martin H 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The two networks (fox and cbs) just picked to teams. Fox always has the same teams..Dallas, Philly, New York G, and Washington. Cbs just has local teams. For some reason they picked Dallas and Detriot though....probably for the same reason that they picked KC and Denver to play on NFL Network this year. A better question would be why do even play on thanksgiving??
2006-11-22 15:59:29 · answer #5 · answered by imsmartkid 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
George Washington
2006-11-22 15:13:37 · answer #6 · answered by sailfido 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Some corporate P.O.S. who doesn't know anything about the game. I'd much rather see GOOD teams play!
2006-11-22 14:55:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
detroit isnt playing dallas this thanksgiving
2006-11-22 15:00:01 · answer #8 · answered by jm 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Detroit and Dallas ,have been a long tradition.
2006-11-22 14:55:13 · answer #9 · answered by Rather be dead than red... 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Who cares at least we have something to watch. They may stink but who cares we get to watch them stink.
2006-11-22 15:29:45 · answer #10 · answered by Eaglesfan19 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋