Instant Replay- The Unedited Version

Coach Lombardi was insistent that we pay attention to every detail. He worried about the lights in the film room and the food at the training table. The paper used to print up the play books. The size and type of towels in the locker room.

But most of all he was concerned about the balls.

Not his balls of course. The balls we used to play the game with on the field. You see depending on how the ball was inflated it could do different things. If it was inflated to the max when you kicked it would go really far. If it was deflated then it was easier for Bart Starr to grip and for the receivers to catch in the freezing cold tundra of Lambeau field. Of course you couldn't deflate them too much because of Hornung. You see he like to put them in his mouth. He loved to have balls in his mouth. He was funny that way.

Coach Lombardi was super strict about all of the equipment. The tackling sleds. The whirlpool. And of course the tackling dummies. He always tested them every training camp. He wanted to make sure they were big enough and hard enough. That is why he would sit on them and feel them between his cheeks.

At least that is what he said. Hey. He's the Coach.

(Instant Replay- The Unedited Edition, Jerry Kramer & Dick Schaap Random House 1968)