The LCG (Semi) Weekly Reminiscence: The Year of the Scab
By Cecilio's Scribe on Jun 06, 2008 with Comments 0
The LCG Weekly Reminiscence is a (semi) weekly feature that is part recent sports history, part personal memories and part pop culture redux. Today, we relive our lasting sports memory from 1987. See you for ’88 next week (or as soon as we get to it).
They called them scabs. Not the nasty incrustation that you can’t seem to avoid picking, but, rather the scab defined as “a worker who refuses to join a labor union or to participate in a union strike, who takes a striking worker’s place on the job, or the like.”
Just like Keanu Reeves in the now timeless classic “The Replacements,” cast-offs, has-beens, no-name rookies and those thirsting for one last moment in the sun, got off their respective couches and abandoned their day jobs to return to the gridiron in 1987.
Yes, my most memorable moment from 1987 was the NFL strike. Sure, I was only 10 at the time, but I knew craptastic football when I saw it. It was actually a good thing I was only 10 years old at the time. Football meant a lot, but it wasn’t the all-encompassing, plan-your-weekend-around-it, lone shining moment during the long, cold winter that it has since become.
Can you even imagine if such a crisis broke out in today’s pigskin-crazed America? It would be RIDICULOUS. Take the whole NFL Network uproar and multiply it times, I don’t know, maybe a trillion. I can’t fathom. Bad things would happen. OK, my brain can’t handle even contemplating such a disastrous scenario.
But back in the 8-7, for 24 days, NFL players went on strike. It eventually resulted in a shortened 15-game season (as one weekend’s games were cancelled). Three games were played with replacement players as the NFLPA regulars picketed. Those who took their place were granted once-in-a-lifetime chances to don the uniforms of their favorite teams. Many had never stepped foot on an NFL field. Others had been through training camps and practice squads but never further. Still more had played in the League once upon a time but long since retired.
The on-field result was ugly. It was the equivalent of an XFL-quality product masquerading as the real thing. Only without the awesome nicknames. While the scabs were trotting out for the second and third weeks, many fewer fans were turning in. In the end, the
Here’s a look at some of the other things I was paying attention to back in 1987. C’mon, admit it. Maybe you were too?
- The Bundys invaded the living room, although my mother was extremely opposed to what she called “trash.” Christina Applegate…
- Koosh balls
- That redheaded woman mesmerized me in Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again” video
- Bon Jovi released “Livin’ on a Prayer.” Who knew 20 years later I’d still be singing that song (albeit drunk in a bar with others)
- The G-Men won the Super Bowl, and I had a moment of weakness as a Jets fan. I bought a Giants Gatorade dunk t-shirt.
- I also believe I may have been rocking a jean jacket around this time…pretty cool, right?
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