DrBear Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Maybe this isn't logo-related - but in a way it is... (following from Giants.com)NFL clubs today unanimously endorsed a recommendation to return the name of the official game ball to ?The Duke? in honor of the late New York Giants owner WELLINGTON MARA, one of the most beloved and respected figures in professional sports history. Mara died last October.Mara, who spent 81 years with the New York Giants and made numerous contributions to the NFL, was named Wellington by his father after the Duke of Wellington. He was given the nickname ?The Duke? as a youngster by Giants players.The NFL game ball was known as ?The Duke? from 1941-69.The NFL first used a ball in honor of Mara called ?The Duke? in 1941 at the suggestion of Chicago Bears owner George Halas, who had helped arrange with Giants owner Tim Mara (Wellington?s father) for Wilson to become the league?s official supplier of game balls.?The Duke? ball was used through 1969 but was discontinued prior to the 1970 season, the first to be played in the NFL-American Football League merger. The NFL and AFL continued using a Wilson football, but with a new design.The official NFL Wilson football will continue to be manufactured in Ada, Ohio. Wilson recently extended its NFL contract through 2011, which will mark the 70th year of partnership, believed to be one of the longest agreements in sports history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audiodrama Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 A classy decision by the NFL. Quite a tribute to one of the league's most influential men. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yh Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 I echo the above sentiments. It's a nice move to honor one of the games literal and figurative Giants. And while we're on the subject of NFL game balls, does anyone know how often the balls are produced or replaced during the season? Seems to me that they may need (well, not actually need per se, but likely want) to change the balls to bear the signature of whomever Tags's replacement is going to be. I'm not sure when the final vote for commish is going to be taken but it seems to me that it will likely not get done before preparations are well underway for the upcoming season. Are NFL game balls reused from game to game? If not, what happens to them after they are "retired?" Although I would suspect they're donated to nonprofits for use in recreational or youth leagues, I have no information to confirm that. Anyone who might have some insight, please chime in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lumbergh Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 yeah pretty classy move, maybe they should also wear something on the helmets for a few weeks, like for pat tillman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southpawstu19 Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 is the "duke" ball just a change of the branding on the ball, like the large nfl logo, or is it a change of shape and dimensions to the ball? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puckguy14 Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 That ball might be valuable. Especially if Tagliabue is completely out before Training Camp begins. 2004 San Jose Sharks 7th Man Fan of the Year San Jose Gold Miners - 4x Lombardi Cup Champions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coast2CoastAM2006 Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 from what i can gather it will just be branding. Spoilers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gothamite Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Are NFL game balls reused from game to game? If not, what happens to them after they are "retired?" I don't believe that they are used. In fact, they might be replaced within the game.I know that the kickers use a different ball than the offense does, kept separate and apart from the regular game balls. The Green Bay Packers Uniform Database! Now in a handy blog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illinirox1 Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 yeah pretty classy move, maybe they should also wear something on the helmets for a few weeks, like for pat tillman. see:Giants jerseys during the last half of last season-They wore the white patches after Mara died. Put Your Hands up For Detroit (our lovely city) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sacker12 Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 Are NFL game balls reused from game to game? If not, what happens to them after they are "retired?" Although I would suspect they're donated to nonprofits for use in recreational or youth leagues, I have no information to confirm that. Anyone who might have some insight, please chime in. I would think that several balls from the week before would be used for the next game, but I think that they use mostly new balls for each game. I think the balls that are not considered to be usable for games are then used as practice balls. The balls should then be used by a chain of several positions (QB's using newer balls, linemen and kickers using the older balls) before being thrown away. I'm sure that other balls are then auctioned off or recycled in some way (trading card inserts, etc.).I know that that is how it is done in college, but I'm not very certain that it is done the same way in the pros. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJTank Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 I like this move allot I also like how the shield looks on there goldish. www.sportsecyclopedia.com For the best in sports history go to the Sports E-Cyclopedia at http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sacker12 Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 I've always wanted the NFL shield to be on the ball rather than just the wordmark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HurricaneDavid Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 I'm sorry, but I've always found this incredibly cheesy, even before Mara died. It just doesn't make sense. So, the guy's nickname is "The Duke." Then you call the football itself "The Duke." Are you calling the guy a football, or are you calling the football a person? As lame as the basketball called "The Rock" is, ...a football called "The Duke" is infinitely more lame.I do think the NFL shield is cool, but ditch The Duke. Oh, and white stripes wouldn't hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybird Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 I remember doing a term paper in college on the old American Football League. The footballs that the AFL used before the merger were made by Spalding, while the NFL used "The Duke" footballs. Atlanta Braves, please bring back the Indian Head logo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBear Posted March 28, 2006 Author Share Posted March 28, 2006 The Spalding one was called the J5-V, and had a slightly longer angle between the center and nose of the football, which aided a bit in passing. Before the first Super Bowl, Vince Lombardi likened it to "a Long Island frankfurter." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sacker12 Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 As a matter of fact, "The Duke" was originally made by Spalding until 1941. That was when Wilson became the official NFL ball manufacturer and bought "The Duke" name from Spalding. The Spalding version was then renamed the "J5V". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockchalk Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 I'm thinking that the quarterbacks are going to hate getting used to throwing the new ball, because while the shield looks good, I think that it would be less of the leather on the ball to get a good grip. I know I've heard complaints in the media before about the Super Bowl balls and other special occassion balls. I've decided to give up hope for all sports teams I follow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CC97 Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 I'm thinking that the quarterbacks are going to hate getting used to throwing the new ball, because while the shield looks good, I think that it would be less of the leather on the ball to get a good grip. I know I've heard complaints in the media before about the Super Bowl balls and other special occassion balls. They'll adjust --- Chris Creamer Founder/Editor, SportsLogos.Net "The Mothership" • News • Facebook • X/Twitter • Instagram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DG_ThenNowForever Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 I think they should use the XFL ball. Ha ha. 1 hour ago, ShutUpLutz! said: and the drunken doodoobags jumping off the tops of SUV's/vans/RV's onto tables because, oh yeah, they are drunken drug abusing doodoobags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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