1.
1920 Chicago Cardinals season
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The 1920 Chicago Cardinals season was their inaugural season in the National Football League. The team finished 6–2–1, earning fourth in the league and their final games of the season against the Chicago Stayms Foresters was played after the NFL season was officially over and didnt count towards the standings. The Chicago Cardinals, who were named the Racine Cardinals, finished 4–2–3 in their 1919 season in the Ohio League, at the meeting, they tentatively agreed on a salary cap and pledged not to sign college players or players already under contract with other teams. They also agreed on a name for the circuit, the American Professional Football Conference and they then contacted other major professional teams and invited them to a meeting for September 17. Representatives of the Buffalo All-Americans and Rochester Jeffersons could not attend the meeting, team representatives changed the leagues name slightly to the American Professional Football Association and elected officers, installing Jim Thorpe as president. Under the new structure, teams created their schedules dynamically as the season progressed. After joining the league, owner Chris OBrien signed halfback John Paddy Driscoll for $3,000, one of Driscolls young running backs was Ralph Horween, who previously played under the name of B. Awarded the Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup and named APFA Champions. Note, pigskin, The Early Years of Pro Football. Siwoff, Seymour, Zimmber, Jon, Marini, Matt, the Official NFL Record and Fact Book 2010. When Football Was Football, The Chicago Cardinals and the Birth of the NFL
1920 Chicago Cardinals season
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1920 Chicago Cardinals season
2.
University of Phoenix Stadium
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University of Phoenix Stadium is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Glendale, Arizona, west of Phoenix. It is the home of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League and it replaced Tempes Sun Devil Stadium as the Valley of the Suns main outdoor stadium. The stadium is adjacent to the Gila River Arena and it features the first fully retractable natural grass playing surface built in the United States on top of an AirField Systems drainage system. It was one of the stadiums for the Copa América Centenario in 2016 and it hosted the NCAA Final Four in 2017. The University of Phoenix acquired the rights in September 2006. The University of Phoenix name is applied as a sponsor, and not as the home stadium of the university. Since moving to Arizona in 1988, the Cardinals had played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University, the Cardinals had only planned to play there until a new stadium could be built in Phoenix. However, the savings and loan crisis derailed funding for a new stadium, over time, the Cardinals expressed frustration at being merely tenants in a college football stadium. Lack of having their own stadium denied them additional revenue streams available to other NFL teams, the Cardinals campaigned several years for a new and more modern facility. The 63, 400-seat stadium opened on August 1,2006 after three years of construction, the stadium was designed by Eisenman Architects and HOK Sport. The ceremonial groundbreaking for the new stadium was held on April 12,2003, LED video and ribbon displays from Daktronics in Brookings, South Dakota were installed in 2006 prior to Arizonas first game of the season. The cost of the project was $455 million and that total included $395.4 million for the stadium, $41.7 million for site improvements, and $17.8 million for the land. Contributors to the stadium included the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, the Arizona Cardinals, the stadium has 88 luxury suites — called luxury lofts — with space for 16 future suites as the stadium matures. The 25 acres surrounding the stadium is called Sportsmans Park, included within the Park is an 8-acre landscaped tailgating area called the Great Lawn. There are no obstructed view seats in the stadium, there are visible areas in the upper deck of the end zone where seats could have been put in but were not due to the giant super columns supporting the roof structure. The endzone area on the side of the facility where the field tray rolls in, the roof is made out of translucent Bird-Air fabric and opens in 12 minutes. It is the first retractable roof built on an incline. The first preseason game was played August 12,2006 when the Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers
University of Phoenix Stadium
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University of Phoenix Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium
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The playing field outside and lined for the Arizona Cardinals.
University of Phoenix Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium
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The roof of University of Phoenix Stadium.
3.
Glendale, Arizona
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Glendale /ˈɡlɛndeɪl/ is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 226,721, in the late 1800s what is now known as Glendale, Arizona, was all desert. He completed the canal, which would bring water to the desert land, Murphy was deep in debt, since he had agreed to be paid in Arizona Canal Company stock and bonds and land instead of cash. In 1887, Murphy formed the Arizona Improvement Company and his objective was to sell the land and water rights south of the canal. Murphy had to raise capital from out of state sources in order to meet payroll, Murphy decided to refer to this land as Glendale. In 1891, Burgess Hadsell worked with Murphy to bring 70 Brethren, soon settlers, attracted by the towns ban on alcoholic beverages, continued to arrive. In 1895, Murphy platted the town site and amended the plat to include a town park. It was bounded by Lamar Road on the south, 55th Avenue on the east, Myrtle Avenue on the north, the construction of a railroad from Prescott to Phoenix was made possible with an exchange of the right-of-way made by Murphy along Grand Avenue. The railroad allowed Glendale settlers to transport goods to the north, the construction and commercial applications of the Beet Sugar Factory in 1906, also contributed to the growth of Glendale. Though the operations of the factory lasted until 1913, it played an important role in the increase of immigrant and migrant settlers in the city. City Attorney Craig Tindall resigned his city post in 2013 upon request of the mayor, Tindall was subsequently the subject of an ethics complaint regarding his purported conflict of interest between his work for IceArizona and his Glendale post. He was still receiving city severance pay at the time IceArizona hired him, the complaint was filed by former city councilmember Phil Lieberman. After Tindall resigned from the City of Glendale, a press release announced that he had joined the well-known Phoenix law firm Fennemore Craig, Glendale is located at 33°32′19″N 112°11′11″W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 55.8 square miles. As of the census of 2000, there were 218,812 people,75,700 households, the population density was 3,929.5 people per square mile. There were 79,667 housing units at a density of 1,430.7 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 75. 54% White,4. 70% Black or African American,1. 45% Native American,2. 74% Asian,0. 13% Pacific Islander,11. 97% from other races, and 3. 47% from two or more races. 24. 84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race,21. 3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5. 8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older
Glendale, Arizona
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Downtown Glendale, Arizona as viewed from the intersections of Glendale Ave. and 58th Ave.
Glendale, Arizona
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Seal
Glendale, Arizona
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William John Murphy - Founder of Glendale
Glendale, Arizona
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Downtown Glendale with Glendale Glitters around Christmas
4.
Tempe, Arizona
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Tempe, also known as Haydens Ferry during the territorial times of Arizona, is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece, Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix, it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale on the north, Chandler on the south, and Mesa on the east. Tempe is also the location of Arizona State University, the Hohokam lived in this area and built canals to support their agriculture. They abandoned their settlements during the 15th century, with a few individuals, fort McDowell was established approximately 25 mi northeast of present downtown Tempe on the upper Salt River in 1865 allowing for new towns to be built farther down the Salt River. The two settlements were Haydens Ferry, named after a service operated by Charles T. Hayden, and San Pablo. The ferry became the key river crossing in the area, the Tempe Irrigating Canal Company was soon established by William Kirkland and James McKinney to provide water for alfalfa, wheat, barley, oats, and cotton. Pioneer Darrell Duppa is credited with suggesting Tempes name, adopted in 1879, after comparing the Salt River valley near a 300-foot -tall butte, to the Vale of Tempe near Mount Olympus in Greece. The Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad, built in 1887, crossed the Salt River at Tempe, the Tempe Land and Improvement Company was formed to sell lots in the booming town. Tempe became a hub for the surrounding agricultural area. The completion of Roosevelt Dam in 1911 guaranteed enough water to meet the needs of Valley farmers. Less than a later, Arizona was admitted as the 48th state. In the 20th and 21st centuries, Tempe has expanded as a suburb of Phoenix, Tempe is the headquarters and executive office of one Fortune 500 company, Insight Enterprises. Limelight Networks, LifeLock, First Solar, the Salt River Project, Circle K, Fulton Homes, cold Stone Creamery was originally headquartered in Tempe and location #0001 is still in operation today at 3330 S McClintock Drive in Tempe. Tempe is also home to the first and largest campus of Arizona State University and it was the longtime host of the Fiesta Bowl, although the BCS game moved to University of Phoenix Stadium, located in Glendale, in 2007. It then began hosting the Insight Bowl which is now known as the Cactus Bowl, edward Jones Investments has a regional headquarters in Tempe. China Airlines operates the Phoenix office in Tempe, Tempe houses several great performance venues including Gammage Auditorium and the Tempe Center for the Arts. On New Years Eve, the city hosts the Fiesta Bowl Block Party, the event typically has a national band heading a concert, along with several other local and national bands. Gammage Auditorium was also the site of one of the three Presidential debates in 2004, and Super Bowl XXX was played at Sun Devil Stadium, additionally, Tempe is the spring training host city of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Tempe, Arizona
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Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
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Tempe between 1870 and 1880.
Tempe, Arizona
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the former
US Airways headquarters in Tempe
Tempe, Arizona
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Hayden Ferry Lakeside development on the north end of Downtown Tempe.
5.
National Football League
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The National Football League is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference and the American Football Conference. The NFL is one of the four professional sports leagues in North America. The NFLs 17-week regular season runs from the week after Labor Day to the week after Christmas, with each team playing 16 games, the NFL was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. The NFL agreed to merge with the American Football League in 1966, and the first Super Bowl was held at the end of that season, the merger was completed in 1970. Today, the NFL has the highest average attendance of any sports league in the world and is the most popular sports league in the United States. S. The NFLs executive officer is the commissioner, who has authority in governing the league. The team with the most NFL championships is the Green Bay Packers with thirteen, the current NFL champions are the New England Patriots, who defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34–28 in Super Bowl LI. Another meeting held on September 17,1920 resulted in the renaming of the league to the American Professional Football Association, the league hired Jim Thorpe as its first president, and consisted of 14 teams. Only two of these teams, the Decatur Staleys and the Chicago Cardinals, remain, the first event occurred on September 26,1920 when the Rock Island Independents defeated the non-league St. Paul Ideals 48–0 at Douglas Park. On October 3,1920, the first full week of league play occurred, the following season resulted in the Chicago Staleys controversially winning the title over the Buffalo All-Americans. In 1922, the APFA changed its name to the National Football League, in 1932, the season ended with the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans tied for first in the league standings. This method had used since the leagues creation in 1920. The league quickly determined that a game between Chicago and Portsmouth was needed to decide the leagues champion. Playing with altered rules to accommodate the playing field, the Bears won the game 9–0. Fan interest in the de facto championship game led the NFL, beginning in 1933, the 1934 season also marked the first of 12 seasons in which African Americans were absent from the league. The de facto ban was rescinded in 1946, following public pressure, the NFL was always the foremost professional football league in the United States, it nevertheless faced a large number of rival professional leagues through the 1930s and 1940s. Rival leagues included at least three separate American Football Leagues and the All-America Football Conference, on top of regional leagues of varying caliber. Three NFL teams trace their histories to these leagues, including the Los Angeles Rams
National Football League
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The headquarters of the National Football League at
345 Park Avenue,
Midtown Manhattan,
New York City, U.S.
National Football League
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National Football League
National Football League
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The
Akron Pros won the first APFA (NFL) Championship.
National Football League
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NFL Commissioner
Roger Goodell
6.
1920 NFL season
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The 1920 APFA season was the inaugural season of the American Professional Football Association—renamed the National Football League in 1922. The league was formed on August 20,1920, by independent professional American football teams from Ohio, at the meeting, they first called their new league the American Professional Football Conference. A second organizational meeting was held in Canton on September 17, at the meeting, the name of the league became the American Professional Football Association. Four other teams joined the Association during the year. Meanwhile, Jim Thorpe of the Canton Bulldogs was named the APFAs first president, scheduling was left up to each team. There were wide variations, both in the number of games played and in the number played against other Association members. Thus, no standings were maintained. In addition, football teams in the APFA also faced independent football teams not associated with the league, for instance, the Rochester Jeffersons played a schedule consisting mostly of local teams from their local sandlot circuit and the NYPFL, not the APFA. The Akron Pros ended the season as the undefeated team in the Association. Despite this, two one-loss teams—the Decatur Staleys and Buffalo All-Americans—who both tied Akron that year made cases for a co-championship. At the league meetings in Akron on April 30,1921, the Pros were awarded the Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup for the 1920 season, according to modern NFL tie-breaking rules, the 1920 Buffalo All-Americans would be co-champions. They would be tied with the Akron Pros in win percentage,9.5 wins to 1.5 losses, both teams beating out the Staleys, who would have a season that counted 11 wins to 2 losses. Prior to the APFA, there were several other loose, professional organizations, the representatives then contacted other major professional teams and invited them to a meeting for September 17. Representatives of the Buffalo All-Americans and Rochester Jeffersons could not attend the meeting, under the new league structure, teams created their schedules dynamically as the season progressed, so there were no minimum or maximum number of games needed to be played. Also, representatives of each team voted to determine the winner of the APFA trophy, the regular-season schedule was not fixed but was created dynamically by each team as the season progressed. The following table was formed by NFL History, which used contemporary newspapers, the first game involving an APFA team occurred on September 26, when the Rock Island Independents beat the St. Paul Ideals 48–0. The first official game between APFA members occurred on October 3, when the Dayton Triangles beat the Columbus Panhandles 14-0, the Triangles Lou Partlow scored the leagues first touchdown and George Hobby Kinderline kicked the first extra point. An historic marker placed by the Ohio Historical Society at Triangle Park in Dayton marks the location of that first ever game, the final game of the season was a 14–14 tie between the Racine Cardinals and the Chicago Staleys on December 19,1920
1920 NFL season
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Ralph Hay, one of the founding representatives
1920 NFL season
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Akron Pros
1920 NFL season
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Racine Cardinals
1920 NFL season
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Dayton Triangles
7.
National Football Conference
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The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League, the highest professional level of American football in the United States. This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference, currently contain 16 teams each, a series of league expansions and division realignments have occurred since the merger, thus making the current total 16 clubs per each conference. Since the 1970 AFL–NFL merger, the Dallas Cowboys lead the NFC with the most conference titles, the current NFC title holders are the Atlanta Falcons. Since 2002, the NFC has 16 teams that organized into four divisions each with four teams, East, North, South, two of these games are assigned on the basis of a particular teams final divisional standing from the previous season. The remaining 8 games are split between the roster of two other NFL divisions and this assignment shifts each year and will follow a standard cycle. Using the 2012 regular season schedule as an example, each team in the NFC West plays against every team in the AFC East and NFC North. In this way, non-divisional competition will be mostly among common opponents – the exception being the two games assigned based on the teams prior-season divisional standing, at the end of each season, the top six teams in the conference proceeds into the playoff. These teams consist of the four winners and the top two wild card teams. The NFC playoffs culminate in the NFC Championship Game with the receiving the George Halas Trophy. The NFC Champion then plays the AFC Champion in the Super Bowl, both the AFC and NFC were created after the NFL merged with the American Football League in 1970. When the AFL began play in 1960 with eight teams, the NFL consisted of 13 clubs, by 1969, the AFL had expanded to ten teams and NFL to 16 clubs. However, team owners could not agree to a plan on how to align the clubs in the NFC. When the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers joined the league in 1976, they were placed in the NFC and AFC, respectively. The Seahawks returned to the NFC as a result of the 2002 realignment, the Carolina Panthers joined the NFC in 1995. Parity is generally greater among NFC teams than AFC teams, the only NFC team that has never made a Super Bowl appearance is the Detroit Lions. Since the 2002 realignment, the time that an NFC team made back-to-back Super Bowl appearances was the Seattle Seahawks in 2013 and 2014. Since 1970, only two teams have relocated, in 1988, the St. Louis Cardinals moved to Phoenix, Arizona, while the Los Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995, and back to Los Angeles again in 2016. The original NFC logo, in use from 1970–2009, depicted a blue N with three stars across it, the three stars represented the three divisions that were used from 1970–2001
National Football Conference
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National Football Conference logo (2010-present)
8.
Big Red (Cardinals mascot)
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Big Red is the mascot of the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. According to his biography, he hatched on October 4,1998. Hes also 6 foot 4 inches, has a 7-foot wingspan and he is one of the most recognizable mascots because of his appearance. He is at home game, and became their mascot on October 4,1998. Big Red has also appeared at Super Bowl XLIII, on February 1,2009, when the Cardinals went against the eventual champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers
Big Red (Cardinals mascot)
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Big Red in April 2009
9.
Bruce Arians
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Bruce Charles Arians is an American football coach who is the current head coach of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He also served as the coordinator and then interim head coach for the Indianapolis Colts during the 2012 season. Arians guided the Colts to a 9–3 record over his tenure and he has also been a head coach at the college level. Arians was the coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2007 to 2011 after being promoted from wide receivers coach. For his 9–3 record as the 2012s Colts interim head coach, following the 2014 season, in which the Cardinals posted an 11–5 record, Arians was named 2014s AP Head Coach of the Year. A native of Paterson, New Jersey, Arians graduated from William Penn High School in York, earlier, he attended York Catholic High School, where he was a standout scholastic quarterback. Arians attended and played football at Virginia Tech. As a senior in 1974, Arians was the quarterback in a wishbone offense for the Hokies football team. That season he completed 53 of 118 passing attempts for 952 yards with three passing touchdowns and seven interceptions and he rushed for 243 yards and eight touchdowns. Arians holds the Virginia Tech school record for most QB rushing touchdowns in a season with 11 and he was also the first white player to share a dorm room with a black player in VT history. His roommate was James Barber, father of Ronde and Tiki Barber, Arians began his coaching career in 1975 as a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech. Arians was also the coach at Temple University from 1983–88. While head coach for the Temple Owls, he compiled a 27-39 overall record over six seasons, besides Palmer, other standout players Arians coached at Temple included cornerback Kevin Ross, safety Todd Bowles, offensive guard John Rienstra, and running back Todd McNair. Ross, Bowles, and McNair would all serve as NFL assistant coaches with or under Arians. After coaching at Temple, Arians held positions with Mississippi State, at the end of the college football season in 1988, Arians was hired in the NFL as a running backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. It was during time with the Chiefs that he worked with the coach who brought him to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also spent one season as the ends coach of the New Orleans Saints in 1996. Following this stint was when he made a name for himself when he got the job as the coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 1998
Bruce Arians
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Arians in 2014 while head coach of the Cardinals
10.
History of the Chicago Cardinals
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The professional American football team now known as the Arizona Cardinals previously played in Chicago, Illinois. This article chronicles the history during their time as the Chicago Cardinals from 1920 to 1959. In 1898, Chicago painting and building contractor Chris OBrien established an amateur Chicago-based athletic club football team named the Morgan Athletic Club, OBrien later moved them to Chicagos Normal Park and renamed them the Racine Normals, since Normal Park was located on Racine Avenue in Chicago. In 1901, OBrien bought used maroon uniforms from the University of Chicago and it was then that the team changed its name to the Racine Cardinals. The original Racine Cardinals team disbanded in 1906 mostly for lack of local competition, a professional team under the same name formed in 1913, claiming the previous team as part of their history. As was the case for most professional teams in 1918, the team was forced to suspend operations for a second time due to World War I. They resumed operations later in the year, and have operated continuously. At the time of the founding of the modern National Football League, in 1920, the team became a charter member of the American Professional Football Association, for a franchise fee of $100. The person keeping the minutes of the first league meeting, unfamiliar with the nuances of Chicago football, recorded the Cardinals as from Racine, the team was renamed the Chicago Cardinals in 1922 after a team actually from Racine, Wisconsin entered the league. That season the team moved to Comiskey Park, the Staleys and Cardinals played each other twice in 1920 as the Racine Cardinals and the Decatur Staleys, making their rivalry the oldest in the NFL. They split the series, with the team winning in each. In the Cardinals 7-6 victory over the Staleys in their first meeting of the season, each scored a TD on a fumble recovery. The Cardinals defeat of the Staleys proved critical, since George Halass Staleys went on to a 10-1-2 record overall, 5-1-2 in league play. The Akron Pros were the first ever champions, they finished with an 8-0-3 record, 6-0-3 in league play. Since the Pros merely had to tie the game in order to win the title, had the Staleys not lost to the Cardinals, they would have gone into that fateful game with an 11-0-1 record, 6-0-1 in league play. As it was, it all but assured that the Staleys/Bears, in 1922, the Staleys, now renamed the Bears, went 9-3-0, losing to the Cardinals twice. The Bears still edged the Cardinals for 2nd place in the league, in 1923 and 1924, the Bears got the better of the Cardinals all three times the two teams played. But in 1925, the Bears went 0-1-1 against the Cardinals with the tie meaning the Cardinals were only a ½ game in front of the Pottsville Maroons heading into their fateful 1925 showdown
History of the Chicago Cardinals
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The Chicago Cardinals in 1920.
History of the Chicago Cardinals
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First logo, introduced in 1920 and used until 1934.
History of the Chicago Cardinals
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The 1921 Chicago Cardinals.
11.
1925 NFL Championship controversy
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The 1925 National Football League Championship, claimed by the Chicago Cardinals, has long been the subject of controversy. The controversy centers on the suspension of the Pottsville Maroons by NFL commissioner Joseph Carr, the Maroons were one of the dominant teams of the 1925 season, and after defeating the Chicago Cardinals on December 6, came away with the best record in the league. Further, they argue that the Maroons, who were reinstated the next year, others claim that Chicago were the legitimate champions based on the rules of the time. In 1963, the NFL investigated and rejected Pottsvilles case, both the NFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame continue to list the Cardinals as the 1925 NFL champion. On December 6, Pottsville defeated Chicago, 21–7, to establish the best record in the league and seemed to all, the game against the Notre Dame All-Stars had been originally devised by Frankford. However, when they were defeated by the Maroons in a second contest. Instead, Pottsville would host the All-Stars at Minersville Park, while Frankford scheduled another league game against the Cleveland Bulldogs, Pottsville was excited to host Notre Dame, hoping it would be a huge financial windfall for the team. However, they felt that Minersville Park, a school field with a low capacity, was too small for such a big event. Instead, they scheduled the game in Philadelphia, in the Yellow Jackets territory, Frankford protested to commissioner Carr, who warned the Maroons in writing that they faced suspension if they played in Philadelphia. However, the Maroons claimed that the league office approved the game during a telephone call. As a result of the suspension, Pottsville was prohibited from playing a game against the Providence Steam Roller or from completing its season. Ironically, Frankford was hurriedly substituted for the game at Providence, meanwhile, Chicago scheduled and won two hastily arranged games against teams that had already disbanded for the season. Hoping for some cash, the Cardinals arranged to play the Milwaukee Badgers. Indeed, the Badgers were unable to bring back their full roster and resorted to substitute four high school players, the NFL heavily sanctioned both Chicago and Milwaukee following their game, going so far as to force the Badgers owner to sell the team. Carr said they would consider the game for removal from the standings, however, Cardinals owner Chris OBrien was later offered- but refused to accept- the Championship title for his team. At the owners meeting after the end of the season, he argued that his team did not deserve to take the title over a team which had beaten them fairly, the NFL said it would revisit the issue later, but never did. It was only after the Bidwill family purchased the team in 1933 that the Cardinals began claiming the championship title, furthermore, Pottsville had beaten Chicago, proving they were definitely a premier team. By 1963, the NFL appointed a commission to examine the case
1925 NFL Championship controversy
–
The Maroons' self-made trophy (carved out of
anthracite coal) now in the
Pro Football Hall of Fame
12.
2008 NFL season
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The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan Believe in Now. Conversely, the Detroit Lions became the first NFL team with a season since the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season. For the first time since the NFL expanded to the sixteen game season in 1978, previously two teams won two or fewer games in 1979,1981,1985,1992 and 2001. In preseason games, the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game was played August 3 between the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins, which aired on NBC. Other preseason highlights included the first game of the Toronto Series, the Bills won that game, 24–21. The games kickoff was ninety minutes earlier than years, at 7 p. m. EDT. Other featured games during the week included the NBC Sunday Night Football game between the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts, in which the Kyle Orton-led Bears upset the Colts 29–13. Also, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady suffered a season ending injury against the Kansas City Chiefs, the 2008 season also was the third season of the use of the flexible scheduling for Sunday games starting with Week 11. This was the second season that the league played at least one regular season game outside the United States as part of its International Series. The contest between the San Diego Chargers and the New Orleans Saints was played at Wembley Stadium in London on October 26, the Chargers played at Buffalo the week beforehand on October 19 so they could immediately travel to London afterward in order to get used to the time difference. The league has also approved the Bills’ request to play at least one regular season game at Torontos Rogers Centre over each of the next five seasons. Team owner Ralph Wilson petitioned the league to play at least one game in Canada to strengthen his clubs fan base in Ontario, the game in Toronto was on December 7, after the end of the 2008 CFL season, against the Miami Dolphins, Miami won 16–3. CBS televised both games regionally, the Toronto game was carried across Canada on Rogers Sportsnet and City TV, a third game on NFL Network, featuring the Arizona Cardinals and the Philadelphia Eagles followed at 8,15 PM EST. The NFLs Pro Bowl all-star game at the end of the season was played at Aloha Stadium in the Honolulu, the league had the option under their current contract to hold the game elsewhere, including the possibility of moving it to the host site of the Super Bowl. W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT = Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against Playoff seeds are marked in parentheses, Giants clinched the NFC #1 seed over Carolina based on a head-to-head victory. B Miami finished ahead of New England in the AFC East based on conference record. C San Diego finished ahead of Denver in the AFC West based on a division record. D Baltimore clinched the AFC #6 seed over New England based on a conference record
2008 NFL season
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Thomas Jones scores a touchdown for the
New York Jets against the
St. Louis Rams in week 10 of the season
2008 NFL season
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Seattle and the
New York Jets play on December 21, 2008
2008 NFL season
–
NFL on Fox announcers at
Candlestick Park, November 16, 2008
2008 NFL season
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2008
NFC South champions
Carolina against
Chicago in week 2 of the season
13.
2009 NFL season
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The 2009 NFL season was the 90th season in the history of the National Football League. The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9,2009, and this was the first time in NFL history two teams won their first 13 games or more. The 2009 NFL Draft was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26,2009, the 2009 season began on September 10,2009. The Tennessee Titans defeated the Buffalo Bills 21–18, and both wore throwback jerseys celebrating the two franchises AFL origins, both teams made their first Hall of Fame Game appearance since the 1980s. The rest of the matchups were announced March 30,2009. Highlights, among others, included a rematch of Super Bowl XLIII between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals on ESPN, the opening weekend game on NBC Sunday Night Football featured the Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers, which the Packers won, 21–15. San Diego defeated Oakland by a score of 24–20 in the nightcap with their own fourth quarter comeback, during the month of October, teams across the league honored National Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing gloves, wristbands, patches, towels and shoes accented with pink. Banners were hung around league stadiums to raise awareness, and the NFLs website featured a pink background, Referees and coaches hats also had pink accents. In addition, the NFL Referees Association donated $24,000 to breast cancer charities throughout the month, also used were pink goal post padding, pink coins, and pink ribbon decals on the field and on footballs. This years International Series game was played October 25,2009 at 1,00 pm EDT again at Wembley Stadium in London, the New England Patriots defeated the designated home team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 35–7. CBS televised this game on a basis as the Patriots were the visiting team. The Thanksgiving Day games were contested on Thursday, November 26,2009, on Fox, Green Bay won over Detroit, 34–12. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Oakland Raiders, 24–7 on CBS, and in the prime time NFL Network game, earlier reports on a potential Bills-Toronto Argonauts doubleheader and reports of the league favoring other teams were proven inaccurate. No preseason game was played in series for 2009. The league scheduled a rare Friday night game on December 25, the game, held at LP Field in Nashville, saw the San Diego Chargers trounce the Tennessee Titans 42–17. Although both teams are charter AFL franchises and thus celebrated their 50th season in 2009, this game was not part of the organized celebrations. All other games were announced on April 14,2009 on the NFL Network and this season marked the first time ever that the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers met at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo in regular season play. In 2002, when the current scheduling formula was arranged, the fact that Buffalo had never hosted Tampa Bay in the Buccaneers history was one of the quirks cited in creating the formula
2009 NFL season
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The 2009 NFL season marked the 50th season of the original eight charter members of the
American Football League.
14.
2015 NFL season
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The 2015 NFL season was the 96th season in the history of the National Football League, and the 50th of the Super Bowl era. The Panthers became the first team since the 2011 Green Bay Packers to win all but one of their regular season games and not win the Super Bowl. During the 2015 season, the Oakland Raiders, the St. Louis Rams, NFL owners eventually only approved the relocation of the Rams, by a vote of 30–2 on January 12,2016. Thus,2015 ended up being the Rams last season in St. Louis, the 2015 NFL League Year began on Tuesday, March 10,2015 at 4,00 p. m. ET. m. ET and trading period for 2015 began, a total of 453 players were eligible for some form of free agency at the beginning of the free agency period. Four players were assigned the franchise tag by their teams. These players were wide receivers Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas, linebacker Justin Houston, the player given the transition tag was Charles Clay. On March 19,2015, Clay signed a five-year, $38M contract with the Buffalo Bills, an unusually large number of big name players switched teams via trade prior to the 2015 season. Eagles coach Chip Kelly used his newly obtained GM powers to make many blockbuster trades, the Philadelphia Eagles traded 2-time All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso. The Eagles also traded Pro Bowl quarterback Nick Foles along with their selection in the round of the 2016 NFL Draft to the St. The Saints also traded away Pro Bowl guard Ben Grubbs and wide receiver Kenny Stills, the Detroit Lions acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Haloti Ngata from the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for draft picks to help make up for the loss of Ndamukong Suh in free agency. The 2015 NFL Draft was held April 30 – May 2,2015, the draft process began with the NFL Scouting Combine, where draft-eligible players were evaluated by team personnel, which was held in Indianapolis on February 17–23. On October 2,2014, Auditorium Theatre in Chicago was announced as the site of the draft. The previous fifty NFL drafts had been held in New York, in the draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston the first overall selection. Training camps for the 2015 season began July 22 and continued through the end of preseason, the normal training camp window ran from late July to late August or early September. Most of the camps had rookies report first, then veterans, at that point, some teams practiced versus another organization, like the Bills practiced against the Browns this year. Teams started training camp no earlier than fifteen days before the teams first scheduled preseason game, at that point, the rosters for each team were open to 90 players. Those rosters were cut to 75 by Week 3 of preseason, prior to the start of the regular season, each team played at least four exhibition games
2015 NFL season
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Gifford in 2009.
2015 NFL season
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Bednarik in 1952.
2015 NFL season
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Stabler in 2007.
2015 NFL season
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Sanders (far right) in 2007.
15.
Comiskey Park
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Comiskey Park was a ballpark in Chicago, Illinois, the home of the Chicago White Sox from 1910 through 1990. Built by owner Charles Comiskey and designed by Zachary Taylor Davis, it hosted four World Series, the field was also the site of the 1937 heavyweight title match in which Joe Louis defeated then champion James J. Braddock in eight rounds. The Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League also called Comiskey Park home when they werent playing at Normal Park or Soldier Field, the Cardinals won the 1947 NFL Championship Game over the Philadelphia Eagles at Comiskey Park. A new ballpark opened in 1991, across 35th Street and south of its predecessor, originally also called Comiskey Park, it was renamed U. S. Cellular Field in 2003 and Guaranteed Rate Field in 2016, the park was built on a former city dump that Comiskey bought in 1909 to replace the wooden South Side Park. It was originally built as White Sox Park, but within three years was renamed for White Sox founder and owner Charles Comiskey, the original name, White Sox Park, was restored in 1962, but it went back to the Comiskey Park name in 1976. Comiskey Park was very modern for its time and it was the third concrete-and-steel stadium in the major leagues to be built since 1909. As originally built, it seated almost 32,000, a record at the time, briefly, it retained the nickname The Baseball Palace of the World. The parks design was influenced by Sox pitcher Ed Walsh. Later changes were made, but the park remained more or less favorable to defensive teams, for many years this reflected on the White Sox style of play, solid defense, and short, quick hits. The park was unusual in that no player ever hit 100 home runs there, the first game in Comiskey Park was a 2–0 loss to the St. Louis Browns on July 1,1910. The last game at Comiskey was a win, 2–1, over the Seattle Mariners on September 30,1990, the White Sox won their first-ever home night game, over St. Louis on August 14,1939, 5–2. The first no-hitter at Comiskey Park was hurled by Vern Kennedy on August 31,1935, Comiskey Park was the site of four World Series. In 1917, the Chicago White Sox won games 1,2 and 5 at Comiskey Park, in 1918, Comiskey Park hosted the World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. The Cubs borrowed Comiskey Park for the series because of its seating capacity. The Red Sox defeated the Cubs four games to two, games one, two and three were played at Comiskey Park. The Red Sox won games one and three, attendance was under capacity in that war year. The best crowd was game 3, with some 27,000 patrons, in 1919, the White Sox lost the infamous Black Sox World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, five games to three in a nine-game series
Comiskey Park
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Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
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Outside of Old Comiskey Park, 1986
Comiskey Park
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Longtime Sox organist Nancy Faust
Comiskey Park
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Batting practice at Old Comiskey Park, 1986
16.
Wrigley Field
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Wrigley Field /ˈrɪɡli/ is a baseball park located on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home of the Chicago Cubs, one of the citys two Major League Baseball franchises and it first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charles Weeghmans Chicago Whales of the Federal League, which folded after the 1915 baseball season. The Cubs played their first home game at the park on April 20,1916, chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. of the Wrigley Company acquired complete control of the Cubs in 1921. It was named Cubs Park from 1920 to 1926, before being renamed Wrigley Field in 1927, in the North side community area of Lakeview in the Wrigleyville neighborhood, Wrigley Field is on an irregular block bounded by Clark and Addison Streets and Waveland and Sheffield Avenues. Wrigley Field is nicknamed The Friendly Confines, a phrase popularized by Mr. Cub, Hall of Fame shortstop and first baseman Ernie Banks. The oldest park in the National League, the current seating capacity is 41,268, it is the second-oldest in the majors after Fenway Park, between 1921 and 1970, it was also the home of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. The elevation of its field is 600 feet above sea level. Baseball executive Charles Weeghman hired his architect Zachary Taylor Davis to design the park, the original tenants, the Chicago Whales came in second in the Federal League rankings in 1914 and won the league championship in 1915. In late 1915, Weeghmans Federal League folded, the resourceful Weeghman formed a syndicate including the chewing gum manufacturer William Wrigley Jr. to buy the Chicago Cubs from Charles P. Taft for about $500,000. Weeghman immediately moved the Cubs from the dilapidated West Side Grounds to his two-year-old park, in 1918, Wrigley acquired the controlling interest in the club. In November 1926, he renamed the park Wrigley Field, in 1927, an upper deck was added, and in 1937, Bill Veeck, the son of the club president, planted ivy vines against the outfield walls. The Ricketts family has been pursuing a Wrigley Field renovation since buying the team. Their current plan, revealed during the annual Cubs Convention in January 2013, calls for a $575-million, the team could not come to terms with the rooftop owners who have a lease with the team until 2023 in exchange for paying 17% of the gross revenues. In May 2014 the Cubs announced they would pursue the original 2013 plan to modify the park, the 1060 Project – Phase One started Monday, September 29,2014. During the off-season, the bleachers in both outfields were expanded and the footprint was extended further onto both Waveland and Sheffield Avenues. A3,990 sq ft Jumbotron scoreboard was added to the left field bleachers and it is topped with a sign advertising Wintrust Financial, a Rosemont-based bank and a Cubs Legacy Partner, the W in Wintrust flashes after every Cubs win. A2,400 sq ft video scoreboard was added in the right field bleachers. After the close of the extended 2015 season, work began on Phase Two of the project, the previous clubhouse space was utilized to enlarge the dugout and add two underground batting cages, an auditorium, and more team office space
Wrigley Field
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Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
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Wrigley Field in 2004
Wrigley Field
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3,990-square foot videoboard overlooking new left field bleacher seats
Wrigley Field
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Wrigley Field is known for its distinctive ivy-covered outfield walls.
17.
Soldier Field
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Soldier Field is an American football stadium located in the Near South Side of Chicago, Illinois. It opened in 1924 and is the field of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. With a football capacity of 61,500, it is the third-smallest stadium in the NFL, Soldier Field was designed in 1919 and opened on October 9,1924, as Municipal Grant Park Stadium. The name was changed to Soldier Field on November 11,1925 and its formal dedication as Soldier Field was on Saturday, November 27,1926, during the 29th annual playing of the Army–Navy Game. Its design is in the Neoclassical style, with Doric columns rising above the East and West entrances, the stadium cost $13 million to construct, a very large sum for a sporting venue at that time. In its earliest configuration, Soldier Field was capable of seating 74,280 spectators and was in the shape of a U. Additional seating could be added along the field, upper promenades and on the large, open field and terrace beyond the north endzone. Soldier Field was used as a site for many sporting events, the Chicago Cardinals used it as their home field for their final season in Chicago in 1959. A dozen years later in September 1971, the Chicago Bears moved in and they had intended to build a stadium in Arlington Heights. In 1978, the Bears and the Chicago Park District agreed to a 20-year lease, both parties pooled their resources for the renovation. The playing surface was AstroTurf from 1971 through 1987, replaced with grass in 1988. In 1989, Soldier Fields future was in jeopardy after a proposal was created for a McDome, which was intended to be a stadium for the Bears. Because of this, Bears president Michael McCaskey considered relocation as a factor for a new stadium. The Bears had also purchased options in Hoffman Estates and Aurora, in 1995, McCaskey announced that he and Northwest Indiana developers agreed to construction of an entertainment complex called Planet Park, which would also include a new stadium. However, the plan was rejected by the Lake County Council, beginning in 1978, the plank seating was replaced by individual seats with backs and armrests. In 1982, a new press box as well as 60 skyboxes were added to the stadium, in 1988,56 more skyboxes were added increasing capacity to 66,946. Capacity was slightly increased to 66,950 in 1992, by 1994, capacity was slightly reduced to 66,944. During the renovation, seating capacity was reduced to 55,701 by building a grandstand in the end of the U shape
Soldier Field
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Soldier Field in 2006
Soldier Field
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Soldier Field
Soldier Field
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Sculpture of a sailor and his family, gazing eastward, over
Lake Michigan
Soldier Field
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Aerial view from 2002, showing Soldier Field with interior demolished.
Meigs Field is to the right in the image.
18.
Metropolitan Stadium
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Metropolitan Stadium was a sports stadium that once stood in Bloomington, Minnesota, just outside Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Millers minor league team played at Met Stadium from 1956 to 1960. The Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings then played at the Met from 1961 to 1981, the North American Soccer League soccer team Minnesota Kicks also played there from 1976 to 1981. The area where the stadium once stood is now the site of the Mall of America, after the rejection of numerous sites, a stadium committee appointed by Moore approved a 160-acre plot of farmland in Bloomington. The stadium would replace Nicollet Park as the home of the American Associations Minneapolis Millers, as the site in Bloomington was approximately equidistant from the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul, it was thought this would be the best location for a prospective Major League team. After a plan by architects Thorshov & Cerny won approval, groundbreaking was scheduled to begin on June 20,1955. The construction was almost delayed, however, when the owners of the property on which the stadium would be built on began a protest, one of these owners created a barricade of farm equipment along his property line that ran directly through where the stadiums infield would be. The dispute was settled in time for the groundbreaking to move forward as planned, many spectators and dignitaries attended the groundbreaking, including Minneapolis mayor Eric G. Hoyer and several members of the Minneapolis Millers. On February 7,1956, an accident occurred on the site when a portable heater used to cure concrete exploded in the stadiums basement. The Millers were then the top team of Stonehams New York Giants. Under major league rules of the time, the Giants owned the major league rights to the Minneapolis area, negotiations were also held with the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Athletics and Washington Senators. However, the Giants chose to follow the Brooklyn Dodgers to the west coast at the urging of Dodgers owner Walter OMalley, who owned the Millers crosstown rivals, the St. Paul Saints. San Francisco had long been home to the Pacific Coast Leagues San Francisco Seals, as part of the deal, the Millers parent team then became the Red Sox, who had no plans to move anywhere. The latter game brought 15,990 fans to the stadium, including Calvin Griffith, in October 1960, Calvin Griffith announced that his Washington Senators would move to Metropolitan Stadium and later became the Minnesota Twins. The Twins played their first home game on April 21,1961 with a loss to the new Washington Senators, the Millers and their perennial crosstown rival St. Paul Saints were then promptly folded by Major League Baseball. To ready the stadium for the Twins, a $9 million renovation increased the capacity from about 22,000 to over 30,000 by the completion of the Twins inaugural season. During the Twins first 10 seasons at the Met, they outdrew the average American League team each year, the National Football League was also interested in placing a team at the Met. Conversations were had with Violet Bidwill Wolfner, owner of the Chicago Cardinals, the Cardinals moved two of their regular season home games against the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants to Bloomington for the 1959 NFL season
Metropolitan Stadium
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Metropolitan Stadium
Metropolitan Stadium
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Batting practice before a 1963 game at Metropolitan Stadium.
Metropolitan Stadium
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Metropolitan Stadium in 1962
Metropolitan Stadium
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The Beatles at Metropolitan Stadium, August 1965; the ticket was $4.16 plus tax.
19.
Busch Memorial Stadium
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Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium II, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri, that operated for 40 years, from 1966 through 2005. It opened four days after the last baseball game was played at Sportsmans Park, the stadium was designed by Sverdrup & Parcel and built by Grün & Bilfinger. Edward Durell Stone designed the roof, a 96-arch Crown of Arches, the Crown echoed the Gateway Arch, which had been completed only a year before Busch Stadium opened. It was one of the first multipurpose cookie-cutter facilities built in the United States and its final event was the sixth game of the 2005 NLCS on October 19. The stadium was demolished by wrecking ball in late 2005 and part of its footprint is occupied by its replacement stadium—the new Busch Stadium. The baseball Cardinals had played at Sportsmans Park since 1920 and they originally were tenants of the St. Louis Browns of the American League. Although the Cardinals had long passed the Browns as St. Louis favorite team. In 1958, Charles Farris, the head of development. Groundbreaking occurred on May 25,1964, and construction took just under two years, the plan also included parking garages, a hotel, and office buildings. A few years later, it became the new home of the Spanish Pavilion from the 1964 New York Worlds Fair. The stadium opened on May 12,1966, one month into the baseball season, however, the Civic Center part was almost never used, and most people called it simply Busch Memorial Stadium. The stadiums grass was replaced with AstroTurf in 1970, in part because St. Louis notoriously hot summers made it difficult to keep the grass alive. The Cardinals retained the traditional dirt skin infield for eight seasons, with artificial turf, the playing conditions at Busch Stadium were among the hottest in baseball, with temperatures well above the local official readings. Anheuser-Busch bought the stadium in 1981 for $53 million and renamed it simply Busch Stadium, following Buschs last 1995 event—the Rams October 22 game prior to the opening of the now-Dome at Americas Center—the Cardinals retrofitted it into a baseball-only stadium. A large section of the upper deck outfield seats was closed, replaced with a scoreboard and flags commemorating the Cardinals retired numbers. The stadiums original natural grass field was restored, and the walls were repainted green from their original blue. Busch Memorial Stadium was originally slated to be imploded like most modern-day stadium demolitions to be able to finish construction on the new stadium in time for the 2006 season. Due to fear of damaging the nearby Metro subway and stadium station, it was decided to tear down the stadium with a ball, piece-by-piece
Busch Memorial Stadium
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Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium
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New and old Busch Stadiums.
Busch Memorial Stadium
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Old Busch Stadium in the process of being torn down.
20.
Sun Devil Stadium
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Sun Devil Stadium is an outdoor football stadium on the campus of Arizona State University, in Tempe, Arizona, United States. It is home to the Arizona State Sun Devils football team of the Pac-12 Conference, the stadiums current seating capacity is 56,232 and the playing surface is natural grass. The gridiron within the stadium was named Frank Kush Field in honor of the coach of the ASU football team in 1996. Sun Devil Stadium is undergoing a $256 million renovation that is scheduled to be completed before the 2018 season, the stadium has hosted two annual college football bowl games, the Fiesta Bowl from 1971 to 2006, and the Cactus Bowl from 2006 to 2015. Sun Devil Stadium was the home stadium of the NFLs Arizona Cardinals after the teams arrival to the Phoenix metropolitan area in 1988. The Cardinals moved across the Valley to University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale following the 2005 season, built in 1958, the stadiums original capacity was 30,000. The first addition in 1976 substantially raised the capacity to 57,722, seating was added to the south end zone, along with press and sky boxes. A year later, in 1977, the tier was completed to bring seating to 70,311. In 1988,1,700 more seats were added to bring the facility, during that time the Carson Student Athlete Center was added to the south end. The building is the home of the ASU Athletic Department, in 2007, engineers realized the stadiums concrete base of the stadium was buckling due to the rusting of structural steel supporting the foundation. Stadium designers had neglected to waterproof the structure when it was built, engineers estimated $45 million in repairs would be needed to maintain the stadium beyond 2010. A new Arizona bill allows the Arizona Board of Regents to set up a district on ASU property to collect revenue from local businesses, money from the fee will go toward the funding of renovation projects of ASUs athletic facilities, including the stadium. It was estimated the fund would accumulate enough money to begin planning renovations within 2–5 years, in April 2012, Sun Devil Athletics unveiled an estimated $300 million plan for renovated Sun Devil Stadium that entails reduced stadium capacity, field turf and fabric roof shading. The plan to cover the stadium with fabric was later scrapped, in October 2013, Sun Devil Athletics announced the removal of approximately 5,700 north end zone upper deck seats that reduced the stadium capacity to 65,870 for the 2014 season. The 2016 and 2017 Cactus Bowls, which are played in Sun Devil Stadium. Phase 1, Sections of the deck were removed. The bleachers behind the end zone were replaced with a steel. Phase 2, The west side of the bowl was demolished
Sun Devil Stadium
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Pac-12 Championship Game at Sun Devil Stadium on December 7, 2013
Sun Devil Stadium
Sun Devil Stadium
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Sun Devil Stadium at the southeast entrance
Sun Devil Stadium
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Sun Devil Stadium Press Box, 1998
21.
American football
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The offense must advance at least ten yards in four downs, or plays, or else they turn over the football to the opposing team, if they succeed, they are given a new set of four downs. Points are primarily scored by advancing the ball into the teams end zone for a touchdown or kicking the ball through the opponents goalposts for a field goal. The team with the most points at the end of a game wins, American football evolved in the United States, originating from the sports of association football and rugby football. The first game of American football was played on November 6,1869, during the latter half of the 1870s, colleges playing association football switched to the Rugby Union code, which allowed carrying the ball. American football as a whole is the most popular sport in the United States, Professional football and college football are the most popular forms of the game, with the other major levels being high school and youth football. As of 2012, nearly 1.1 million high school athletes and 70,000 college athletes play the sport in the United States annually, almost all of them men, in the United States, American football is referred to as football. The term football was established in the rulebook for the 1876 college football season. The terms gridiron or American football are favored in English-speaking countries where other codes of football are popular, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, American football evolved from the sports of association football and rugby football. What is considered to be the first American football game was played on November 6,1869 between Rutgers and Princeton, two college teams, the game was played between two teams of 25 players each and used a round ball that could not be picked up or carried. It could, however, be kicked or batted with the feet, hands, head or sides, Rutgers won the game 6 goals to 4. Collegiate play continued for years in which matches were played using the rules of the host school. Representatives of Yale, Columbia, Princeton and Rutgers met on October 19,1873 to create a set of rules for all schools to adhere to. Teams were set at 20 players each, and fields of 400 by 250 feet were specified, Harvard abstained from the conference, as they favored a rugby-style game that allowed running with the ball. An 1875 Harvard-Yale game played under rugby-style rules was observed by two impressed Princeton athletes and these players introduced the sport to Princeton, a feat the Professional Football Researchers Association compared to selling refrigerators to Eskimos. Princeton, Harvard, Yale and Columbia then agreed to play using a form of rugby union rules with a modified scoring system. These schools formed the Intercollegiate Football Association, although Yale did not join until 1879, the introduction of the snap resulted in unexpected consequences. Prior to the snap, the strategy had been to punt if a scrum resulted in bad field position, however, a group of Princeton players realized that, as the snap was uncontested, they now could hold the ball indefinitely to prevent their opponent from scoring. In 1881, both teams in a game between Yale-Princeton used this strategy to maintain their undefeated records, each team held the ball, gaining no ground, for an entire half, resulting in a 0-0 tie
American football
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Larry Fitzgerald catches a pass while defended by
Cortland Finnegan at the
2009 Pro Bowl
American football
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A photograph of
Walter Camp, the "Father of American Football", taken from 1878 when Camp was captain of
Yale 's football team
American football
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William "Pudge" Heffelfinger, widely regarded as the first professional football player
American football
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A quarterback for the
Kiel Baltic Hurricanes under center, ready to take the snap
22.
Phoenix metropolitan area
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The United States Census Bureau designates the area as the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler Metropolitan Statistical Area, defining it as Maricopa and Pinal counties. As of the Census Bureaus 2015 population estimates, the Valley had 4,574,351 residents, the gross domestic product of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area was $215 billion in 2014, 15th largest amongst metro areas in the United States. It is also one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas, gaining nearly 400,000 residents from 2010 to 2015. The 2000 Census reported the population of the area to be 3,251,876. As for the 2010 Census, the two-county metropolitan area was reported to have a population of 4,192,887, Metro Phoenix grew by 941,011 people from April 2000 to April 2010, making it one of the fastest growing metro areas in the country. This also contributed to the entire states exceptional growth, as the area is home to just over two-thirds of Arizonas population. As of the 2010 census, there were 4,192,887 people,1,537,137 households, and 1,024,971 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 73. 0% White,5. 0% Black,3. 3% Asian,2. 4% Native American or Alaska Native and 16. 2% of other or mixed race,29. 5% were Hispanic of any race. In 2010 the median income for a household in the MSA was $50,385, the per capita income was $24,809. What follows is a list of places in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, the Office of Management and Budget defines a metropolitan area as the core city plus its county and any nearby counties that are economically dependent on the core city. However, Arizona has relatively large counties and a harsh, rugged desert landscape, for these reasons, much of the land that is part of the Metropolitan Statistical Area is rural or completely uninhabited. The core part of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area is the Phoenix–Mesa, Arizona Urban Area, Places that fall completely or partially within the boundaries of the Phoenix-Mesa, AZ UA are in bold below. 1,537,058 Places with 250, 000+ inhabitants Mesa pop,254,276 Places with 150, 000–249,999 inhabitants Gilbert pop. 166,934 Places with 75,000 to 149,999 inhabitants Surprise pop,75,664 Places with 30,000 to 74,999 inhabitants Buckeye pop. 32,236 Places with 10, 000–29,999 inhabitants Coolidge pop, the average elevation is about 2,000 feet, with the highest point being 2,704 feet. The Phoenix Metropolitan area is notable for its warm, desert climate, on average, the area receives about 9 inches of rain annually, with less than 1 inch of snow every decade. In total, the region will see about 32 days of precipitation each year. The MSA is one of the sunniest major metropolitan areas, receiving 295 days of sunshine, the average July high is about 104 °F, with the average January low being about 37 °F, still above freezing
Phoenix metropolitan area
Phoenix metropolitan area
Phoenix metropolitan area
Phoenix metropolitan area
23.
Chicago Bears
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The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears compete in the National Football League as a club of the leagues National Football Conference North division. The Bears have won nine NFL Championships and one Super Bowl and hold the NFL record for the most enshrinees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Bears have also recorded more victories than any other NFL franchise. The franchise was founded in Decatur, Illinois, in 1919 and it is one of only two remaining franchises from the NFLs founding. The team played games at Wrigley Field on Chicagos North Side through the 1970 season, they now play at Soldier Field on the Near South Side. The Bears have a rivalry with the Green Bay Packers. The team headquarters, Halas Hall, is in the Chicago suburb of Lake Forest, the Bears practice at adjoining facilities there during the season. They hold their training camp from late July to mid-August at Ward Field on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Originally named the Decatur Staleys, the club was established by the A. E. Staley food starch company of Decatur and this was the typical start for several early professional football franchises. The company hired George Halas and Edward Dutch Sternaman in 1920 to run the team, the 1920 Decatur Staleys season was their inaugural regular season completed in the newly formed American Professional Football Association. Full control of the team was turned over to Halas and Sternaman in 1921, official team and league records cite Halas as the founder as he took over the team in 1920 when it became a charter member of the NFL. The team relocated to Chicago in 1921, where the club was renamed the Chicago Staleys, under an agreement reached by Halas and Sternaman with Staley, Halas purchased the rights to the club from Staley for US$100. In 1922, Halas changed the name from the Staleys to the Bears. The team moved into Wrigley Field, which was home to the Chicago Cubs baseball franchise, as with several early NFL franchises, the Bears derived their nickname from their citys baseball team. Halas liked the bright colors of his alma mater, the University of Illinois. The Staleys/Bears dominated the league in the early years and their rivalry with the Chicago Cardinals, the oldest in the NFL, was key in four out of the first six league titles. During that span, the Bears posted 34 shutouts, the Bears rivalry with the Green Bay Packers is one of the oldest and most storied in American professional sports, dating back to 1921. The franchise was a success under Halas, capturing the NFL Championship in 1921
Chicago Bears
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The team's founder
George Halas (right) with NFL Commissioner
Pete Rozelle
Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
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The 1924 team photo
Chicago Bears
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Bears Hall of Famer
Mike Ditka is the only person in the modern era to win an NFL championship as a player and coach for the Chicago Bears.
24.
Green Bay Packers
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The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League as a club of the leagues National Football Conference North division. They are also the third-oldest franchise in the NFL, organized and it is the only non-profit, community-owned major league professional sports team based in the United States. Home games are played at Lambeau Field, the Packers are the last vestige of small town teams common in the NFL during the 1920s and 1930s. Founded in 1919 by Earl Curly Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun, between 1919 and 1920, the Packers competed against other semi-pro clubs from around Wisconsin and the Midwest. They joined the American Professional Football Association, the forerunner of todays NFL, the Packers have won 13 league championships, the most in NFL history, with nine NFL titles before the Super Bowl era and four Super Bowl victories. They won the first two Super Bowls in 1967 and 1968 and were the only NFL team to defeat the American Football League prior to the AFL–NFL merger. The Vince Lombardi Trophy is named after the Packers head coach of the same name and their two further Super Bowl wins came in 1997 and 2011. The Packers are long-standing adversaries of the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit Lions, the Bears–Packers rivalry is one of the oldest in NFL history, dating back to 1921. The Green Bay Packers were founded on August 11,1919 by former high-school football rivals Earl Curly Lambeau, Lambeau solicited funds for uniforms from his employer, the Indian Packing Company. He was given $500 for uniforms and equipment, on the condition that the team be named for its sponsor, the Green Bay Packers have played in their original city longer than any other team in the NFL. On August 27,1921, the Packers were granted a franchise in the new pro football league that had been formed the previous year. Financial troubles plagued the team and the franchise was forfeited within the year, before Lambeau found new financial backers and these backers, known as the Hungry Five, formed the Green Bay Football Corporation. After a near-miss in 1927, Lambeaus squad claimed the Packers first NFL title in 1929 with an undefeated 12–0–1 campaign, among the many impressive accomplishments of these years was the Packers streak of 29 consecutive home games without defeat, an NFL record which still stands. The arrival of end Don Hutson from Alabama in 1935 gave Lambeau, credited with inventing pass patterns, Hutson would lead the league in receptions eight seasons and spur the Packers to NFL championships in 1936,1939 and 1944. An iron man, Hutson played both ways, leading the league in interceptions as a safety in 1940, Hutson claimed 18 NFL records when he retired in 1945, many of which still stand. In 1951, his number 14 was the first to be retired by the Packers, after Hutsons retirement, Lambeau could not stop the Packers slide. He purchased a large lodge near Green Bay for team members, rockwood Lodge was the home of the 1946-1949 Packers, though the 1947 and 1948 seasons produced a record of 12-10-1, and 1949 was even worse at 3-9
Green Bay Packers
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Curly Lambeau, founder, player and first coach of the Packers.
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
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Packer great
Brett Favre, a three time
All-Pro, three time
NFL MVP, and
Super Bowl XXXI champion in his 16 years in Green Bay
Green Bay Packers
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Former Packers tight end
Bubba Franks, 2007
25.
Major League Baseball
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Major League Baseball is a professional baseball organization, the oldest of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. A total of 30 teams now play in the National League and American League, the NL and AL operated as separate legal entities from 1876 and 1901 respectively. After cooperating but remaining legally separate entities since 1903, the merged into a single organization led by the Commissioner of Baseball in 2000. The organization also oversees Minor League Baseball, which comprises about 240 teams affiliated with the Major League clubs, with the World Baseball Softball Confederation, MLB manages the international World Baseball Classic tournament. Baseballs first professional team was founded in Cincinnati in 1869,30 years after Abner Doubleday supposedly invented the game of baseball, the first few decades of professional baseball were characterized by rivalries between leagues and by players who often jumped from one team or league to another. The period before 1920 in baseball was known as the dead-ball era, Baseball survived a conspiracy to fix the 1919 World Series, which came to be known as the Black Sox Scandal. The sport rose in popularity in the 1920s, and survived potential downturns during the Great Depression, shortly after the war, baseballs color barrier was broken by Jackie Robinson. The 1950s and 1960s were a time of expansion for the AL and NL, then new stadiums, Home runs dominated the game during the 1990s, and media reports began to discuss the use of anabolic steroids among Major League players in the mid-2000s. In 2006, an investigation produced the Mitchell Report, which implicated many players in the use of performance-enhancing substances, today, MLB is composed of thirty teams, twenty-nine in the United States and one in Canada. Baseball broadcasts are aired on television, radio, and the Internet throughout North America, MLB has the highest season attendance of any sports league in the world with more than 73 million spectators in 2015. MLB is governed by the Major League Baseball Constitution and this document has undergone several incarnations since 1875, with the most recent revisions being made in 2012. Under the direction of the Commissioner of Baseball, MLB hires and maintains the sports umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, MLB maintains a unique, controlling relationship over the sport, including most aspects of Minor League Baseball. This ruling has been weakened only slightly in subsequent years, the weakened ruling granted more stability to the owners of teams and has resulted in values increasing at double-digit rates. There were several challenges to MLBs primacy in the sport between the 1870s and the Federal League in 1916, the last attempt at a new league was the aborted Continental League in 1960. The chief executive of MLB is the commissioner, Rob Manfred, the chief operating officer is Tony Petitti. There are five other executives, president, chief officer, chief legal officer, chief financial officer. The multimedia branch of MLB, which is based in Manhattan, is MLB Advanced Media and this branch oversees MLB. com and each of the 30 teams websites. Its charter states that MLB Advanced Media holds editorial independence from the league, MLB Productions is a similarly structured wing of the league, focusing on video and traditional broadcast media
Major League Baseball
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MLB
headquarters at
245 Park Avenue,
Midtown Manhattan,
New York City, USA
Major League Baseball
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Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
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National League
Baltimore Orioles, 1896
Major League Baseball
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Cy Young, 1911 baseball card
26.
St. Louis Cardinals
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The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the National League Central division. Busch Stadium has been their home ballpark since 2006, with origins as one of the early professional baseball clubs in St. Upon the discontinuation of the AA, St. Louis joined the NL in 1892, at time, they were called the Browns. One of the most successful franchises in history, the Cardinals have won 11 World Series championships. Their 19 National League pennants rank third in NL history, in addition, St. Louis has won 13 division titles in the East and Central divisions. While still in the AA, St. Louis won four league championships, the Cardinals have won 105 or more games in four different seasons and won 100 or more a total of nine times. Cardinals players have won 20 league MVPs, four batting Triple Crowns, and three Cy Young Awards. Baseball Hall of Fame inductees include Lou Brock, Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson, Whitey Herzog, Rogers Hornsby, Joe Medwick, Stan Musial, Branch Rickey, Red Schoendienst, Ozzie Smith, and Bruce Sutter. In 2016, Forbes valued the Cardinals at $1.6 billion, making them the 7th-most valuable franchise in MLB, their revenue the year was $300 million. Since their purchase in 1995, owner William DeWitt, Jr. s investment group has seen enormous growth from the $147 million purchase price, John Mozeliak is the general manager and Mike Matheny is the manager. Professional baseball began in St. Louis with the inception of the Brown Stockings in the National Association in 1875, the NA folded following that season, and the next season, St. Louis joined the National League as a charter member, finishing in third place at 45-19. George Bradley hurled the first no-hitter in Major League history, the NL expelled St. Louis from the league after 1877 due to a game-fixing scandal and the team went bankrupt. Without a league, they continued play as a barnstorming team through 1881. For the 1882 season, Chris von der Ahe purchased the team, reorganized it, and made it a member of the American Association. 1882 is generally considered to be the first year existence of the St. Louis Cardinals, the next season, St. Louis shortened their name to the Browns. Soon thereafter they became the dominant team in the AA, as manager Charlie Comiskey guided St. Louis to four pennants in a row from 1885 to 1888. Pitcher and outfielder Bob Caruthers led the league in ERA and wins in 1885 and he also led the AA in OBP and OPS in 1886 and finished fourth in batting average in 1886 and fifth in 1887
St. Louis Cardinals
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Charles Comiskey, shown here circa 1910, guided the Browns to four
American Association titles.
St. Louis Cardinals
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Team logo
St. Louis Cardinals
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Rogers Hornsby won two
Triple Crowns as a Cardinal.
St. Louis Cardinals
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Pitcher
Chris Carpenter, essential in two
World Series titles, won 10 playoff games with a 3.00 postseason ERA.
27.
Arizona State Sun Devils football
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The Arizona State Sun Devils football team represents Arizona State University in the sport of American football. The Sun Devils team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Arizona State University has fielded a football team since 1897 and has an all-time record of 600-382-24. The Sun Devils are currently led by head coach Todd Graham and play their games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The Sun Devils have won seventeen conference titles, including three Pac-12 titles, a number of successful and professional football players once played for ASU. The school has 3 unanimous All-Americans and 16 consensus selections, among the most lauded players the school has produced are Pat Tillman, Terrell Suggs, Mike Haynes, Darren Woodson, Charley Taylor, and John Henry Johnson. In addition to its players, ASUs football program has been noted for its coaches, most notably Frank Kush, Kush also led the Sun Devils on their longest winning streak against the University of Arizona, ASUs traditional rival. Frederick M. Territorial Normal did not field a team in 1897,1898. George Schaeffer served as the football coach at Tempe Normal School from 1914 to 1916. Aaron McCreary oversaw the schools football program from 1923–1929, during this time, the school changed its nickname from the Owls to the Bulldogs and the name of the school was changed to Arizona State University. McCreary left ASU with a 25–17–4 record, Ted Shipkey led the Arizona State football program from 1930–1932, compiling a record of 13–10–2. Shipkey was replaced by Rudy Lavik, who led Arizona State to a less impressive 13–26–3 mark in his five seasons, dixie Howell served as ASUs head coach from 1938-1941, compiling a record of 23–15–4. In 1947, Ed Doherty became head coach at Arizona State and he left after ASU five days after defeating rival Arizona, 47–13, because he felt that he didnt have enough job security. Clyde Smith took over the reins of the Arizona State football program in 1952, Smith resigned following the 1954 season. On February 5,1955, Michigan State assistant coach Dan Devine accepted the coaching position at Arizona State. Joining him as an assistant was Frank Kush, who would have greater success at the school after Devines departure. During his three years, Devine compiled a record of 27–3–1, including a spotless 10–0 mark during his final campaign, in that last season, Devines team led the nation in total offense and scoring, averaging just under 40 points per game in the latter category. Devines success at Arizona State resulted in an offer from Missouri, Frank Kush was promoted to the position of head coach at Arizona State, which he would hold for the next 22 years. During his time at Arizona State, Kush was known for being one of the most physically demanding coaches in the game and his daily football practices in the heat of the Arizona desert are still the stuff of legend today
Arizona State Sun Devils football
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Arizona State at the Rose Bowl
Arizona State Sun Devils football
28.
Pottsville Maroons
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The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1920, they played in the National Football League from 1925 to 1928, in 1929 they relocated to Boston, where they played one season as the Boston Bulldogs. The team was founded as the Pottsville Eleven, an independent team playing in the local eastern Pennsylvania circuit, home games were played at Minersville Park, a high school stadium in nearby Minersville. They joined the local Anthracite League in 1924, the year they adopted the Maroons nickname. The next season they joined the NFL under owner John G. Streigel, though dominant on the field, a controversial suspension cost them the 1925 NFL Championship. They were reinstated the year, but after two successive losing seasons in 1927 and 1928, Streigel sold the Maroons to a group in Boston. The 1928 roster included three future Pro Football Hall of Fame members – Johnny Blood McNally, Walt Kiesling, and coach Wilbur Pete Henry – but posted the worst record in franchise history. Writer John OHara, who would go on to become a world-famous novelist with Appointment in Samarra, like other coal towns in eastern Pennsylvania, Pottsville had been fielding football teams from at least the 1910s. The team that became the Maroons was established in 1920 as the Pottsville Eleven, the team was initially unaffiliated with any league, playing on the independent circuit against other teams from the coal mining towns of eastern Pennsylvania. Still, the team maintained a local presence by recruiting many Pottsville natives to its roster. The result was a team with consistent winning records and strong crowds, in 1924 local surgeon John G. Doc Striegel purchased the Pottsville Eleven for $1,500. That year teams in the local circuit decided to form a league, zacko sent them twenty-five maroon jerseys, giving birth to the name. During the 1924 Anthracite League season, the Maroons added three members of the NFLs 1923 Canton Bulldogs championship team to their roster and these players were Larry Conover, Harry Robb and future Hall of Fame inductee Wilbur Pete Henry. A suit filed by Henrys former NFL team was out on a technicality by a Pennsylvania judge. The Maroons then posted a 6–0–1 record against Anthracite League teams, when neither team accepted, Striegel scheduled a game with the NFLs Rochester Jeffersons, who had not beaten an NFL opponent since 1921. These two teams met in a finale on the last Sunday of November. Rochester managed to defeat Pottsville 10–7, giving the Maroons their only loss of the season, however Pottsville ended its 1924 season with an overall record of 12–1–1, scoring 288 points and allowing only 17 while capturing the Anthracite League title. The Anthracite League collapsed after the season, but Striegel and the Maroons were undeterred and they applied for, and received, a franchise in the NFL
Pottsville Maroons
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Pete Henry's 1928 Pottsville Anthracite Coal Charm
Pottsville Maroons
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Pottsville Maroons Boston Bulldogs
29.
Super Bowl I
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The National Football League champion Green Bay Packers defeated the American Football League champion Kansas City Chiefs by the score of 35–10. Coming into this game, considerable animosity remained between the AFL and NFL, thus the teams representing the two rival leagues felt pressure to win. The Chiefs posted an 11–2–1 record during the 1966 AFL season, the Packers finished the 1966 NFL season at 12–2, and defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 34–27, in the 1966 NFL Championship Game. Still, many writers and fans believed any team in the older NFL was vastly superior to any club in the upstart AFL. The first half of Super Bowl I was competitive, as the Chiefs out-gained the Packers in total yards, 181–164, early in the third quarter, Green Bay safety Willie Wood intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards to the five-yard line. The turnover sparked the Packers to score 21 unanswered points in the second half, Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr, who completed 16 of 23 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns, with 1 interception, was named MVP. When the NFL began its 40th season in 1960, it had a new and unwanted rival, but unlike the NFLs prior rivals, the AFL survived and prospered, in part by signing NFL rejects who turned out to be highly talented players the older league had badly misjudged. Soon the NFL and AFL found themselves locked in a bidding war for the top free agents and prospects coming out of college. Originally, there was an agreement between the two not to raid each other by signing players who were already under contract with a team from an opposing league. This policy broke down in early 1966 when the NFLs New York Giants signed Pete Gogolak, the AFL owners considered this an act of war and immediately struck back, signing several contracted NFL players, including eight of their top quarterbacks. Eventually the NFL had enough and started negotiations with the AFL in an attempt to resolve the issue, as a result of the negotiations, the leagues signed a merger agreement on June 9,1966. Among the details, both agreed to share a common draft in order to end the bidding war for the top college players. Los Angeles was not awarded the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game until December 1,1966 six weeks prior to the kickoff, likewise, the Green Bay Packers played the Kansas City Chiefs, with the Packers winning 35–10. The Chiefs entered the game after recording an 11–2–1 mark during the regular season, in the AFL Championship Game, they beat the Buffalo Bills, 31–7. Kansas Citys high-powered offense led the AFL in points scored and total rushing yards and their trio of running backs, Mike Garrett, Bert Coan, and Curtis McClinton all ranked among the top-ten rushers in the AFL. Quarterback Len Dawson was the passer in the AFL, completing 159 of 284 of his passes for 2,527 yards and 26 touchdowns. Wide receiver Otis Taylor provided the team with a deep threat by recording 58 receptions for 1,297 yards. The Chiefs also had a defense, with All-AFL players Jerry Mays
Super Bowl I
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Super Bowl I
30.
Super Bowl
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The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the National Football League. The game is the culmination to a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. Normally, Roman numerals are used to each game, rather than the year in which it is held. For example, Super Bowl I was played on January 15,1967, the single exception to this rule is Super Bowl 50, which was played on February 7,2016, following the 2015 regular season. The next game, Super Bowl LII, scheduled for February 4,2018, the game was created as part of a merger agreement between the NFL and its then-rival league, the American Football League. It was agreed that the two champion teams would play in the AFL–NFL World Championship Game until the merger was to officially begin in 1970. After the merger, each league was redesignated as a conference, currently, the National Football Conference leads the league with 26 wins to 25 wins for the American Football Conference. The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most Super Bowl championship titles, with six, the New England Patriots have the most Super Bowl appearances, with nine. The day on which the Super Bowl is played, now considered by some as an unofficial American national holiday, is called Super Bowl Sunday and it is the second-largest day for U. S. food consumption, after Thanksgiving Day. In addition, the Super Bowl has frequently been the most-watched American television broadcast of the year, in 2015, Super Bowl XLIX became the most-watched American television program in history with an average audience of 114. The NFL restricts the use of its Super Bowl trademark, it is called the Big Game or other generic terms by non-sponsoring corporations. As a result, watching and discussing the broadcasts commercials has become a significant aspect of the event, for four decades after its 1920 inception, the NFL successfully fended off several rival leagues. However, in 1960, it encountered its most serious competitor when the American Football League was formed. The AFL vied heavily with the NFL for both players and fans, but by the middle of the decade the strain of competition led to merger talks between the two leagues. Prior to the 1966 season, the NFL and AFL reached an agreement that was to take effect for the 1970 season. As part of the merger, the champions of the two agreed to meet in a world championship game for professional American football until the merger was effected. A bowl game is a college football game. Exploiting the Rose Bowl Games popularity, post-season college football contests were created for Miami, New Orleans, and El Paso, Texas in 1935, by the time the first Super Bowl was played, the term bowl for any major American football game was well established
Super Bowl
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The
Super Bowl XXXV broadcasting compound, full of
satellite trucks
Super Bowl
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The generic Super Bowl logo used since
Super Bowl XLV in 2010, showcasing the
Vince Lombardi Trophy. Each year's logo has the host stadium as a backdrop and the
Roman numeral of the game below the phrase "Super Bowl".
Super Bowl
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Jennifer Hudson sings the national anthem at
Super Bowl XLIII.
Super Bowl
–
Madonna performing with
LMFAO during the
Super Bowl XLVI halftime show.
31.
Chicago Cubs
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The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball as a club of the National League Central division. The team plays its games at Wrigley Field, located on the citys North Side. The Cubs are one of two league teams in Chicago, the other, the Chicago White Sox, is a member of the American League Central division. The Cubs, first known as the White Stockings, was a member of the NL in 1876. The Cubs have appeared in a total of eleven World Series, the 1906 Cubs won 116 games, finishing 116–36 and posting a modern-era record winning percentage of.763, before losing the World Series to the Chicago White Sox by four games to two. The Cubs won back-to-back World Series championships in 1907 and 1908, the 108-year drought was also the longest such occurrence in all major North American sports. Since the start of play in 1969, the Cubs have appeared in the postseason eight times through the 2016 season. The Cubs are known as the North Siders, a reference to the location of Wrigley Field within the city of Chicago, there is a divisional rivalry with the St. Louis Cardinals and also a newer rivalry with the Milwaukee Brewers. There is also a rivalry with the White Sox. The Cubs began play in 1876 as the Chicago White Stockings, joining the National League as a charter member. Owner William Hulbert signed multiple star players, such as pitcher Albert Spalding and infielders Ross Barnes, Deacon White, the White Stockings played their home games at West Side Grounds and quickly established themselves as one of the new leagues top teams. Spalding won forty-seven games and Barnes led the league in hitting at.429 as Chicago won the first ever National League pennant, which at the time was the games top prize. After back-to-back pennants in 1880 and 1881, Hulbert died, and Spalding, the White Stockings, with Anson acting as player-manager, captured their third consecutive pennant in 1882, and Anson established himself as the games first true superstar. In 1885 and 86, after winning N. L. pennants, both seasons resulted in match ups with the St. Louis Brown Stockings, with the clubs tying in 1885 and with St. Louis winning in 1886. This was the genesis of what would become one of the greatest rivalries in sports. In all, the Anson-led Chicago Base Ball Club won six National League pennants between 1876 and 1886. As a result, Chicagos club nickname transitioned, and by 1890 they had known as the Chicago Colts, or sometimes Ansons Colts
Chicago Cubs
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The 1876 White Stockings won the N.L. Championship
Chicago Cubs
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Team logo
Chicago Cubs
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The 1906 Cubs won a record 116 of 154 games. They then won back-to-back World Series titles in 1907–08
Chicago Cubs
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Club logo 1927 - 1936
32.
National Football League playoffs
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The National Football League playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held after the end of the National Football League regular season to determine the NFL champion. Six teams from each of the two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records, and a tie-breaking procedure exists in the case of equal records. The tournament ends with the Super Bowl, the championship game. NFL postseason history can be traced to the first NFL Championship Game in 1933, though in the early years, from 1933 to 1966, the NFL postseason generally only consisted of the NFL Championship Game, pitting the leagues two division winners. The NFL playoffs then expanded in 1967, when four teams qualified for the tournament, when the league merged with the American Football League in 1970, the playoffs expanded to eight teams. The playoffs were expanded to 10 teams in 1978 and 12 teams since 1990, the 32-team league is divided into two conferences, the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference, each of which has 16 teams. Since 2002, each conference has been divided into four divisions of four teams each. The tournament brackets are made up of six teams each of the leagues two conferences, following the end of the regular season. Qualification into the works as follows, The 4 division champions from each conference. Two wild-card qualifiers from each conference, which are seeded 5 and 6, the names of the first three playoff rounds date back to the postseason format that was first used in 1978, when the league began using wild-card teams. The first round of the playoffs is dubbed the wild-card playoffs, in this round, the third-seeded division winner hosts the sixth seed wild card, and the fourth seed hosts the fifth. There are no restrictions regarding teams from the same division matching up in any round, the NFL does not use a fixed bracket playoff system. The number 1 seed will host the worst surviving seed from the first round, only twice since 1990 has neither a number one-seeded team nor a number two-seeded team hosted a conference championship game. If teams are tied, the seeding is determined by a set of tie-breaking rules. One potential disadvantage is that the two teams with the best records in a conference could play each other before the championship if they are in the same division. The New York Giants and New York Jets have shared the home stadium since 1984. Thus, if both teams need to host playoff games on the weekend, they are always required to play on separate days. Often, teams will finish a season with identical records and it becomes necessary, therefore, to devise means to break these ties, either to determine which teams will qualify for the playoffs, or to determine seeding in the playoff tournament
National Football League playoffs
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Logo of the National Football League playoffs, 2010–present
33.
2016 NFL season
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For the first time since the 2003 NFL season, neither of the previous seasons Super Bowl participants made the playoffs. The 2016 season was also the last season for the San Diego Chargers before their return to their city of Los Angeles for 2017. The 2016 NFL league year began on March 9,2016 at 4,00 p. m. ET, all 2015 players contracts expired and trading period for 2016 begin. A total of 496 players were eligible for some form of free agency at the beginning of the free agency period, in addition, a number of highly paid players were released after the start of the league year to allow their teams to regain space under the salary cap. On March 9, the Philadelphia Eagles traded cornerback Byron Maxwell, linebacker Kiko Alonso, on March 9, the Philadelphia Eagles traded running back DeMarco Murray along with a 2016 fourth-round draft pick to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 2016 fourth-round draft pick. On March 11, the Philadelphia Eagles traded quarterback Mark Sanchez to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a conditional 2017 seventh-round draft pick. On March 15, the New England Patriots traded Pro Bowl defensive end Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for guard Jonathan Cooper and a 2016 second-round draft pick. On March 16, the Chicago Bears traded tight end Martellus Bennett along with a 2016 sixth-round draft pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2016 fourth-round draft pick. On April 9, the Denver Broncos traded offensive tackle Ryan Clady, on August 16, the Tennessee Titans traded wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for G/T Dennis Kelly. On September 3, the Philadelphia Eagles traded quarterback Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2017 first-round draft pick, on October 31, the New England Patriots traded linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns for a conditional 2017 third-round draft pick. The 2016 NFL Draft was held between April 28 − April 30,2016 in Chicago, by way of a trade with the Tennessee Titans, the Los Angeles Rams held the first overall pick and selected QB Jared Goff. Oakland Raiders defensive back Charles Woodson announced he would retire from football at the end of the 2015 season on December 21,2015. He played eighteen seasons, starting with the Raiders for eight seasons and after spending seven with the Green Bay Packers, he returned to the Raiders for his final three seasons. He was the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the 2009 season and is tied with Rod Woodson, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch announced his retirement from professional football on February 7,2016. Lynch played nine seasons, four with the Buffalo Bills and the five with the Seahawks. Lynch was a five-time Pro Bowler, led the league in rushing touchdowns two seasons, co-led in total touchdowns one season, and won a title with the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII. Carolina Panthers defensive end Jared Allen announced his retirement from football on February 18,2016. Allen played twelve seasons, his first four with the Kansas City Chiefs, then six with the Minnesota Vikings, a five-time Pro Bowl and four-time All-Pro selection, Allen tallied 136 quarterback sacks during his career
2016 NFL season
34.
NFC Championship Game
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The National Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two semi-final playoff games of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the National Football Conference, the winner then advances to face the winner of the American Football Conference Championship Game in the Super Bowl. The game was established as part of the 1970 merger between the NFL and the American Football League, with the merged league realigning into two conferences. Since 1984, each winner of the NFC Championship Game has also received the George Halas Trophy, named after the founder and longtime owner of the NFLs Chicago Bears, George Halas. The first NFC Championship Game was played following the 1970 regular season after the merger between the NFL and the American Football League. The game is considered the successor to the original NFL Championship, every NFC team has played in an NFC Championship at least once. The Seattle Seahawks, who have members in both the AFC and the NFC, hold the distinction of appearing in both conference title games. Only the Detroit Lions have yet to win an NFC Championship Game, at the end of each regular season, a series of playoff games involving the top six teams in the NFC are conducted. In the current NFL playoff structure, this consists of the four division champions, the two teams remaining following the Wild Card round and the divisional round play in the NFC Championship game. Initially, the site of the game was determined on a rotating basis, since the 1975–76 season, the site of the NFC Championship has been based on playoff seeding based on the regular season won-loss record, with the highest surviving seed hosting the game. A wild card team can only host the game if both participants are wild cards, in case the fifth seed would host the sixth seed. Such an instance has never occurred in the NFL, the original design consisted of a wooden base with a sculpted NFC logo in the front and a sculpture of various football players in the back. The trophies are now a new, silver design with the outline of a hollow football positioned on a base to more closely resemble the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Numbers in parentheses in the winning team column are NFC Championships won by that team, bold indicates team won Super Bowl that year. Numbers in parentheses in the city and stadium column is the amount of times that area and stadium has hosted a NFC Championship. ^ a, Overtime ^ b, The Seahawks were members of the NFC in 1976 and then members of the AFC from 1977–2001, including their only appearance in the AFC Championship Game, they hold a combined 3–1 record between both Conference Championship Games
NFC Championship Game
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NFC Championship Game logo, 2001–2005
NFC Championship Game
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NFC Championship logo
35.
Super Bowl XLIII
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The Steelers defeated the Cardinals by the score of 27–23. The game was played on February 1,2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, with this victory, the Steelers became the first team to win six Super Bowls. The win was also Pittsburghs second Super Bowl victory in four years, the Cardinals entered the game seeking their first NFL title since 1947, the longest championship drought in the league. Pittsburgh jumped to a 17–7 halftime lead, aided by linebacker James Harrisons Super Bowl-record 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, but the Steelers marched 78 yards to score on wide receiver Santonio Holmes 6-yard game-winning touchdown catch with 35 seconds left. Holmes, who caught nine passes for 131 yards and a touchdown and he became the sixth wide receiver to win the award, half of whom are Steelers. Tampa was selected for the site on May 25,2005. Super Bowl XLIII was the second Super Bowl at this venue, eight yards of playing field are shown, alluding to the games status as the championship of the 2008 NFL season. In a tradition starting with the Super Bowl XL logo, two stars — one red, representing the AFC, and one blue, representing the NFC — are flanked on either side of the Super Bowl XLIII logo. The tagline for Super Bowl XLIII as well as the 2008 NFL season is Believe In Now, the seeds of Super Bowl XLIII can be traced back to the end of the 2006 season. After winning Super Bowl XL in 2005, the Pittsburgh Steelers fell to an 8–8 record the following year, at the end of 2006, Bill Cowher ended his 15-year tenure as their head coach, leaving with a 149–90–1 regular season record and a 12–9 record in the playoffs. Both offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and assistant head coach Russ Grimm were widely considered the front-runners to succeed Cowher in Pittsburgh, in the 60 years since their last national championship, the team had won just one playoff game. The Steelers then passed over Grimm and instead hired Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, of historical note the game matched up two franchises previously merged into a single team, Card-Pitt, for the 1944 season in response to the depleted rosters during World War II. It was the third Super Bowl in history to feature two pre-expansion era teams, joining Super Bowl XIV and Super Bowl XLI and this game also featured the oldest franchise in the NFC playing the oldest franchise in the AFC. The Cardinals were founded in 1898 as an independent amateur team in Chicago, the Steelers, founded in 1933 as the Pittsburgh Pirates, are one of only three AFC teams that pre-date the 1960 NFL season. Warner started for the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV and Super Bowl XXXVI, winning the first and losing the second one, under Tomlins first season as head coach, the Steelers improved to a 10–6 record in 2007. The Steelers excelled on defense and led the NFL in fewest points and yards allowed per game, up front, their line was anchored by defensive end Aaron Smith, who recorded 60 tackles and six sacks. Behind him two of the Steelers starting linebackers ranked among the top-ten sack leaders in the NFL, LaMarr Woodley, Pro Bowl linebacker James Farrior was also a big contributor, recording 3.5 sacks and leading the team with 133 tackles. The Steelers secondary was led by Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu, for the fifth year in a row the Steelers offense was led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who finished the season with 3,301 passing yards and 17 touchdowns, with 15 interceptions
Super Bowl XLIII
–
Raymond James Stadium at night, with the Lombardi Trophy banner for Super Bowl XLIII replacing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers banner.
Super Bowl XLIII
–
Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII
–
Three cheerleaders waving
Terrible Towels at a
Pittsburgh rally prior to the game.
Super Bowl XLIII
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Fans wave as the
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the stadium during the pregame ceremony.
36.
Pittsburgh Steelers
–
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers compete in the National Football League, as a club of the leagues American Football Conference North division. Founded in 1933, the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC, Pittsburgh has won more Super Bowl titles and hosted more conference championship games than any other NFL team. The Steelers have won 8 AFC championships, tied with the Denver Broncos and they share the record for most conference championship games played in with the San Francisco 49ers. The Steelers share the record for second most Super Bowl appearances with the Broncos, and Dallas Cowboys, the Steelers lost their most recent championship appearance, Super Bowl XLV, on February 6,2011. The Steelers were founded as the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 8,1933, by Art Rooney, taking its name from the baseball team of the same name. The ownership of the Steelers has remained within the Rooney family since its founding, the current owner is Arts son, Dan Rooney, who has given much control of the franchise to his son Art Rooney II. The Steelers enjoy a large, widespread fanbase nicknamed Steeler Nation, the Steelers currently play their home games at Heinz Field on Pittsburghs North Side in the North Shore neighborhood, which also hosts the University of Pittsburgh Panthers. Built in 2001, the stadium replaced Three Rivers Stadium which hosted the Steelers for 31 seasons, prior to Three Rivers, the Steelers had played their games in Pitt Stadium and Forbes Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL first took to the field as the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 20,1933, through the 1930s, the Pirates never finished higher than second place in their division, or with a record better than.500. Prior to the 1940 season, the Pirates renamed themselves the Steelers, during World War II, the Steelers experienced player shortages. They twice merged with other NFL franchises to field a team, during the 1943 season, they merged with the Philadelphia Eagles forming the Phil-Pitt Eagles and were known as the Steagles. In 1944, they merged with the Chicago Cardinals and were known as Card-Pitt and this team finished 0–10, marking the only winless team in franchise history. The Steelers made the playoffs for the first time in 1947 and this forced a tie-breaking playoff game at Forbes Field, which the Steelers lost 21–0. The Steelers also received a $3 million relocation fee, which was a windfall for them, the Steelers history of bad luck changed with the hiring of coach Chuck Noll for the 1969 season. The Pittsburgh Steelers 1974 draft was their best ever, no team has ever drafted four future Hall of Famers in one year. They also enjoyed a regular season streak of 49 consecutive wins against teams that would finish with a record that year. The Steelers suffered a rash of injuries in the 1980 season, the 1981 season was no better, with an 8–8 showing
Pittsburgh Steelers
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Steelers' five Super Bowl rings before 2009
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
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Roethlisberger in a Steelers' throwback jersey during 500th franchise win
Pittsburgh Steelers
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Heinz Field, current home of the Pittsburgh Steelers
37.
2008 Arizona Cardinals season
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The 2008 Arizona Cardinals season was the 89th season for the team in the National Football League and their 21st season in Arizona. The season marked the Cardinals first-ever Super Bowl appearance, coming as a result of their victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship, the Cardinals slogan for the season was Shock The World. In that wild card game, the Cardinals defeated the Atlanta Falcons, the next week, for the Divisional round of the playoffs, the Cardinals traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, where they upset the number 2 seeded Carolina Panthers. In Super Bowl XLIII, the Cardinals winning streak ended, though they led the Pittsburgh Steelers with less than a minute left to play in the game, they lost, 27–23. Three years later in Super Bowl XLVI, the New York Giants would become the first 9–7 team to win, the Cardinals began their 2008 campaign on the road against their NFC West rival, the San Francisco 49ers. In the first quarter, Arizona took flight as kicker Neil Rackers got a 25-yard field goal, the 49ers responded with RB Frank Gores 41-yard TD run. In the third quarter, the Cardinals began to soar as Rackers got a 31-yard field goal, in the fourth quarter, the 49ers tried to respond with Nedney getting a 30-yard field goal. Afterwards, Rackers 30-yard field goal sealed the victory for Arizona, with the win, the Cardinals began their season at 1–0. Coming off their road win over the 49ers, the Cardinals played their Week 2 home opener against the Miami Dolphins. In the first quarter, the Cardinals scored first as QB Kurt Warner threw 2 touchdown passes to WR Anquan Boldin, in the second quarter, Arizona increased their lead with a 45-yard field goal by Neil Rackers. In the third quarter, the Cardinals increased its lead to 24–0 with rookie running back Tim Hightower getting a touchdown run. In the process, he became the first Cardinals rookie running back to score in each of his first two games. The Dolphins finally got on the board when kicker Dan Carpenter nailed a 32-yard field goal, the Cardinals replied with Warner and Boldin hooking up with each other for a third time on an eight-yard touchdown pass. In the fourth quarter, Miami tried to rally as running backRonnie Brown got a one-yard TD run, with the win, the Cardinals improved to its first 2–0 start since 1991. This game was one of three times that Kurt Warner finished a game with a perfect passer rating. Coming off their win over the Dolphins, the Cardinals flew to FedEx Field for a Week 3 duel with the Washington Redskins. In the first quarter, Arizona trailed early as Redskins RB Clinton Portis got a three-yard TD run, in the second quarter, the Cardinals continued to trail as kicker Shaun Suisham got a 48-yard field goal. The Cardinals would end the half with QB Kurt Warner completing a four-yard TD pass to WR Anquan Boldin, afterwards, Arizona answered with Warner completing a 62-yard TD pass to WR Larry Fitzgerald
2008 Arizona Cardinals season
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The Cardinals playing against the
Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl
2008 Arizona Cardinals season
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Celebration after Cards win NFC championship game, January 18, 2009.
2008 Arizona Cardinals season
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Coin flip before
SB XLIII
38.
2015 Arizona Cardinals season
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The 2015 Arizona Cardinals season was the franchises 117th season, 96th season in the National Football League and the 28th in Arizona. It was also the teams 10th season playing their games at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals clinched their first NFC West title since 2009, in addition to the first 13-win season in franchise history and they also clinched a first round bye for the first time in franchise history. The Cardinals beat the Green Bay Packers 26–20 in overtime in the divisional round, note, Intra-division opponents are in bold text. With the win, the Cardinals began their season at 1-0, with the win, the Cardinals improved to 2-0. With losses by the 49ers and Rams, they remain in first place in the NFC West, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick would throw 4 interceptions in this game, with 2 of them being returned for touchdowns. The 2 pick sixes led to the first scores of the game for Arizona, Kaepernick became the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to throw 2 pick sixes to begin the game. Overall, the Cardinals bombed the 49ers, 47-7, with the win, the Cardinals improved to 3-0 for the second straight season. The Cardinals failed to stop the St. Louis Rams all game long, only being held to 5 field goals, the Cardinals go to 3-1 With the win, the Cards improved to 4-1. The Steelers were led by backup quarterback Landry Jones in this due to the absence of Ben Roethlisberger. Jones would have a good game, throwing for 168 yards on only 12 throws. Carson Palmer would throw 2 interceptions while he threw the ball 45 times, with the loss, the Cardinals fell to 4-2. This would turn out to be their only loss of the season. With the win, the Cardinals improved to 5-2, the Cardinals would trail 20-7 at halftime, but they would come back to win 34-20 behind a 300 yard passing game from Carson Palmer. Palmer also added 4 touchdown passes in the mix, with the comeback win, the Cards improved to 6-2. Arizona would trail 29-25 in the quarter, but they would outscore Seattle 14-3 in the final 5 minutes. Carson Palmer would throw for 300 yards for the second straight week, with the win, Arizona improved to 7-2. Arizona would win a shootout against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cardinals would build leads of 28-14 and 31-21 in the third and fourth quarters, but the Bengals would come back to tie the game 31-31 on a Mike Nugent field goal
2015 Arizona Cardinals season
39.
Prescott, Arizona
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Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 39,843, the city is the county seat of Yavapai County. In 1864 Prescott was designated as the capital of the Arizona Territory, the Territorial Capital was moved to Tucson in 1867. Prescott again became the Territorial Capital in 1877, until Phoenix became the capital in 1889. The towns of Prescott Valley,7 miles east, Chino Valley,16 miles north, Dewey-Humboldt,13 miles east and this also sometimes refers to central Yavapai County in general, which would include the towns of, Mayer, Paulden, Wilhoit, and Williamson Valley. Combined with these communities the area had a population of 103,260 as of 2007. Prescott is the center of the Prescott Metropolitan Area, defined by the U. S. Census Bureau as all of Yavapai County, the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe reservation is located adjacent to and partially within the borders of Prescott. Arizona Territorial Governor John Noble Goodwin selected the site of Prescott following his first tour of the new territory. Goodwin replaced Governor John A. Gurley, appointed by Abraham Lincoln, downtown streets in Prescott are named in honor of each of them. Goodwin selected a site 20 miles south of the capital on the east side of Granite Creek near a number of mining camps. The territorial capital was moved to the new site along with Fort Whipple. Robert W. Groom surveyed the new community, and an initial auction sold 73 lots on June 4,1864, by July 4,1864, a total of 232 lots had been sold within the new community. Prescott was officially incorporated in 1880, Prescott served as capital of Arizona Territory until November 1,1867, when the capital was moved to Tucson by act of the 4th Arizona Territorial Legislature. The capital was returned to Prescott in 1877 by the 9th Arizona Territorial Legislature, the capital was finally moved to Phoenix on February 4,1889, by the 15th Arizona Territorial Legislature. The Sharlot Hall Museum houses much of Prescotts territorial history, Whiskey Row in downtown Prescott boasts many historic buildings, including The Palace, Arizonas oldest restaurant and bar is still the oldest frontier saloon in Arizona. Many other buildings that have converted to boutiques, art galleries, bookstores. Prescott is home to the Arizona Pioneers Home and Hospital for Disabled Miners, the Home opened during territorial days, February 1,1911. The city was named after author William H. Prescott, whose writings were popular during the Civil War
Prescott, Arizona
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Courthouse &
Buckey O'Neill statue
Prescott, Arizona
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First Territorial Capital and Governor's Mansion, 1864. Now part of
Sharlot Hall Museum
Prescott, Arizona
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First Prescott Courthouse, circa 1885
Prescott, Arizona
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Thumb Butte and Granite Mountain in Prescott.
40.
Northern Arizona University
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Governed by the Arizona Board of Regents and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the university offers 155 baccalaureate and graduate degree programs. As of fall 2016,30,368 students were enrolled,22,134 at the Flagstaff campus. The average cost of tuition and fees for a full-time, Arizona resident undergraduate student for two semesters is $10,764, and out-of-state undergraduates will pay an estimated $24,144. NAU also participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program, which offers lower tuition rates for students from the Western United States, for 2016 –2017, WUE tuition and fees are $15,638. NAU offers Flagstaff undergraduate students the Pledge Program, which guarantees the same rate for four years. According to the university rankings published by the Times Higher Education in 2016. The first graduating class, in 1901, consisted of four women who received credentials to teach in the Arizona Territory, in 1925, the Arizona State Legislature allowed the school, which was now called the Northern Arizona State Teachers College, to grant bachelor of education degrees. In 1929, the school became Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff, also in 1929, the Great Depression struck the nation, and the ASTC found new meaning in community outreach. Rather than collapsing, the school endured through the depression, in fact, Grady Gammage, the school president at the time, described higher education as a depression industry that fared well in hard times. Despite financial difficulties, enrollment increased from 321 students to 535 students between 1930 and 1940, and graduate work was introduced in 1937, ASTC was known for its diverse student body and ethnic tolerance. In fact, the first Hopi to receive a degree was Ida Mae Fredericks in 1939. Students came from farms, mining families, the East Coast. During the depression, lots of fraternities and clubs sprang up, reflecting the diversity of background, enrollment dropped sharply at the beginning of World War II, dropping to 161 in 1945. During this time, ASTC became a Navy V-12 program training site, however, the end of World War II brought increased enrollment as returning veterans returned to continue their education. The end of the war also expanded programs beyond teaching degrees, especially in the fields of art, also in 1958, the Forestry Program was introduced. With further growth over the two decades, the Arizona Board of Regents granted Arizona State College university status as Northern Arizona University in 1966. Snow is common in winter, with accumulations most prevalent in January, February, winter skiing is accessible at Arizona Snowbowl, an alpine ski resort located on the San Francisco Peaks,7 miles northwest of Flagstaff, with an average annual snowfall of 260 inches. NAU offers 91 bachelors degree programs,49 masters degree programs and 11 doctoral degree programs, the university was charged by the Arizona Board of Regents in 2006 to develop innovative ways to provide access and affordability to all Arizona residents
Northern Arizona University
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Sechrist Hall
Northern Arizona University
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Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University
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Robin Braun, United States Navy Vice Admiral
Northern Arizona University
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Rick Renzi, Arizona Congressman, District 1
41.
Flagstaff, Arizona
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Flagstaff is a city in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2015, the estimated population was 70,320. Flagstaffs combined metropolitan area has an population of 139,097. It is the county seat of Coconino County, the city is named after a ponderosa pine flagpole made by a scouting party from Boston to celebrate the United States Centennial on July 4,1876. Flagstaff lies near the edge of the Colorado Plateau, along the western side of the largest contiguous Ponderosa Pine forest in the continental United States. Flagstaff is located adjacent to Mount Elden, just south of the San Francisco Peaks, humphreys Peak, the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet, is located about 10 miles north of Flagstaff in Kachina Peaks Wilderness. Flagstaffs early economy was based on the lumber, railroad, Flagstaff has a strong tourism sector, due to its proximity to Grand Canyon National Park, Oak Creek Canyon, the Arizona Snowbowl, Meteor Crater, and historic Route 66. The city is also a center for medical device manufacturing, since Flagstaff is home to W. L. Gore, there exist several stories and legends regarding the origin of the citys name. It is said that, because of the flag that was raised, the first permanent settlement was in 1876, when Thomas F. McMillan built a cabin at the base of Mars Hill on the west side of town. During the 1880s, Flagstaff began to grow, opening its first post office, the early economy was based on timber, sheep, and cattle. By 1886, Flagstaff was the largest city on the line between Albuquerque and the west coast of the United States. A circa 1900 diary entry by journalist Sharlot Hall described the houses in the city at the time as a third rate mining camp, with unkempt air, in 1894, Massachusetts astronomer Percival Lowell hired A. E. Douglass to scout an ideal site for a new observatory. Douglass, impressed by Flagstaffs elevation, named it as a location for the now famous Lowell Observatory, saying, other things being equal. Two years later, the specially designed 24-inch Clark telescope that Lowell had ordered was installed, in 1930, Pluto was discovered using one of the observatorys telescopes. During the Apollo program in the 1960s, the Clark Telescope was used to map the moon for the lunar expeditions, in homage to the citys importance in the field of astronomy, asteroid 2118 Flagstaff is named for the city, and 6582 Flagsymphony for the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. The Northern Arizona Normal School was established in 1899, renamed Northern Arizona University in 1966, Flagstaffs cultural history received a significant boost on April 11,1899, when the Flagstaff Symphony made its concert debut at Babbitts Opera House. The orchestra continues today as the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, with its venue at the Ardrey Auditorium on the campus of Northern Arizona University. The city grew rapidly, primarily attributable to its location along the east–west transcontinental railroad line in the United States, in the 1880s, the railroads purchased land in the west from the federal government, which was then sold to individuals to help finance the railroad projects
Flagstaff, Arizona
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Downtown Flagstaff in 2000
Flagstaff, Arizona
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Seal
Flagstaff, Arizona
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Flagstaff ca. 1899; view of Post Office and other buildings on Terrace Street
Flagstaff, Arizona
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Northern Arizona University's Old Main building
42.
2015 Pro Bowl
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The 2015 Pro Bowl was the National Football Leagues all-star game for the 2014 season. It began at 6 pm local time on January 25 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the game was televised nationally by ESPN. The game continued the format that was debuted in the 2014 Pro Bowl. The game was the third Pro Bowl that took place in the site as that years Super Bowl. It was also the sixth year where the Pro Bowl took place prior to the Super Bowl. Hall of Fame wide receivers Cris Carter and Michael Irvin were selected as the captains of the game. Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens were the games coaches. The coaches were to come from the higher seeded teams in conference to lose in the Divisional Round of the 2014–15 NFL playoffs. However, the Denver Broncos and head coach John Fox mutually agreed to part ways following their playoff loss, two former players drafted players on to the teams. Each were assisted by two captains and one NFL. com fantasy football champion. Captain Michael Irvin was assisted by player captains DeMarco Murray and Joe Haden while Captain Cris Carter was assisted by player captains J. J. Watt, a two-minute warning was added to the first and third quarters, plus overtime, and the ball switched hands after every quarter/overtime. Teams were given two timeouts per quarter and if a team used one timeout in the first or third quarter. However, timeouts could not carry over from one half to next or into first overtime, a coin toss determined which team is awarded possession first, and the ball was placed on the 25-yard line at the start of each quarter and after scoring plays. Goal posts were narrowed from 18 feet wide to 14 feet wide, extra points were attempted from the 15 yard line. The rosters consisted of 44 players per squad, the defense was permitted to play cover two and press coverage. In the previous years, only man coverage was permitted, except for goal line situations, beginning at the two-minute mark of every quarter/overtime, if the offense did not gain at least one yard, the clock stopped as if the play were an incomplete pass. A 35-second and 25-second play clock were used instead of the usual 40-second and 25-second clock, the game clock did not stop on quarterback sacks outside of the final two minutes of regulation
2015 Pro Bowl
43.
Aloha Stadium
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Aloha Stadium is a stadium located in Halawa, Hawaii, a western suburb of Honolulu. It is the largest stadium in the state of Hawaii, Aloha Stadium is home to the University of Hawaiʻi Rainbow Warriors football team. It hosts the NCAAs Hawaii Bowl, and has also been home to the National Football Leagues Pro Bowl since 1980 and it also hosts numerous high school football games during the season, and serves as a venue for large concerts and events. A swap meet in the parking lot every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday draws large crowds. Aloha Stadium once served as field for the AAA Hawaii Islanders of the Pacific Coast League from 1975 to 1987 before the team moved to Colorado Springs. Before 1975, Honolulus main outdoor stadium had been Honolulu Stadium, however, it had reached the end of its useful life by the 1960s, and was well below the standards for Triple-A baseball. The need for a new stadium was hastened by the Rainbows move to NCAA Division I, located west of downtown Honolulu and two miles north of Honolulu International Airport, Aloha Stadium was constructed in 1975 at a cost of $37 million. The first sporting event ever held at Aloha Stadium was a game played between the University of Hawaii and Texas A&I on September 13,1975. The stadium was somewhat problematic for its primary tenant, the Islanders. It was located in west-central Oahu, far from the Islanders fan base, additionally, while TheBus stopped right at the main gate of Honolulu Stadium, the Aloha Stadium stop was located some distance from the gate. As a result, attendance plummeted and never really recovered—a major factor in the ultimate move to the mainland. Additionally, stadium management initially refused to allow the use of metal spikes, when the Tacoma Twins complied with a parent-club directive to wear the spikes, stadium management turned off the center field lights. After 35 minutes, the umpires forfeited the game to the Twins, the Islanders protested, claiming they had no control over the lights. However, the PCL sided with the Twins, citing a rule that the home team is responsible for providing acceptable playing facilities. As originally built, Aloha Stadium could be reconfigured into various configurations for different sport venues and other purposes. Four movable 7, 000-seat sections, each 3.5 million pounds could move using air casters into a configuration for baseball. In January 2007, the stadium was locked into its football configuration due to cost. There have been numerous discussions with Hawaii lawmakers who are concerned with the condition of the stadium
Aloha Stadium
Aloha Stadium
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A joint service color guard parades the colors at mid-field during the 2007 Pro Bowl game
44.
Honolulu
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Honolulu is the capital and largest city of the U. S. state of Hawaii. It is an part of and the county seat of the City and County of Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The city is the gateway to Hawaii and a major portal into the United States. The city is also a hub for international business, military defense, as well as famously being host to a diverse variety of east-west and Pacific culture, cuisine. Honolulu is the most remote city of its size in the world and is both the westernmost and the southernmost major U. S. city. For statistical purposes, the U. S. Census Bureau recognizes the area commonly referred to as City of Honolulu as a census county division. Honolulu is a financial center of the islands and of the Pacific Ocean. The population of the city of Honolulu was 337,256 as of the 2010 census, while the Honolulu CCD was 390,738, Honolulu means sheltered harbor or calm port. The old name is said to be Kou, a district encompassing the area from Nuuanu Avenue to Alakea Street. The city has been the capital of the Hawaiian Islands since 1845, as of 2015, Honolulu was ranked high on world livability rankings, and was also ranked as the 2nd safest city in the U. S. It is also the most populated Oceanian city outside Australasia and ranks second to Auckland as the most populous city in Polynesia, evidence of the first settlement of Honolulu by the original Polynesian migrants to the archipelago comes from oral histories and artifacts. These indicate that there was a settlement where Honolulu now stands in the 11th century, however, after Kamehameha I conquered Oʻahu in the Battle of Nuʻuanu at Nuʻuanu Pali, he moved his royal court from the Island of Hawaiʻi to Waikīkī in 1804. His court relocated in 1809 to what is now downtown Honolulu, the capital was moved back to Kailua-Kona in 1812. In 1794, Captain William Brown of Great Britain was the first foreigner to sail into what is now Honolulu Harbor, more foreign ships followed, making the port of Honolulu a focal point for merchant ships traveling between North America and Asia. In 1845, Kamehameha III moved the permanent capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom from Lahaina on Maui to Honolulu and he and the kings that followed him transformed Honolulu into a modern capital, erecting buildings such as St. Andrews Cathedral, ʻIolani Palace, and Aliʻiōlani Hale. At the same time, Honolulu became the center of commerce in the islands, an economic and tourism boom following statehood brought rapid economic growth to Honolulu and Hawaiʻi. Modern air travel brings, as of 2007,7.6 million visitors annually to the islands, today, Honolulu is a modern city with numerous high-rise buildings, and Waikīkī is the center of the tourism industry in Hawaiʻi, with thousands of hotel rooms. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has an area of 68.4 square miles
Honolulu
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Port of Honolulu, as seen by Russian artist
Louis Choris in 1816.
Honolulu
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Clockwise: Aerial view of
Downtown Honolulu,
Pearl Harbor right outside the city, statue of
King Kamehameha I in downtown,
Diamond Head, waterfront on
Waikiki Beach, and
Honolulu Hale (City Hall)
Honolulu
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Queen Street, Honolulu, 1856, by
George Henry Burgess.
Honolulu
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The
Great Chinatown Fire.
45.
Hawaii
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Hawaii is the 50th and most recent state to have joined the United States of America, having received statehood on August 21,1959. Hawaii is the only U. S. state located in Oceania and it is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean. Hawaii is the only U. S. state not located in the Americas, the state encompasses nearly the entire volcanic Hawaiian archipelago, which comprises hundreds of islands spread over 1,500 miles. At the southeastern end of the archipelago, the eight main islands are—in order from northwest to southeast, Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and the Island of Hawaiʻi. The last is the largest island in the group, it is called the Big Island or Hawaiʻi Island to avoid confusion with the state or archipelago. The archipelago is physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian subregion of Oceania, Hawaii has over a million permanent residents, along with many visitors and U. S. military personnel. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii is the 8th-smallest and the 11th-least populous, but the 13th-most densely populated of the fifty U. S. states. It is the state with an Asian plurality. The states coastline is about 750 miles long, the fourth longest in the U. S. after the coastlines of Alaska, Florida, the state of Hawaii derives its name from the name of its largest island, Hawaiʻi. A common Hawaiian explanation of the name of Hawaiʻi is that was named for Hawaiʻiloa and he is said to have discovered the islands when they were first settled. The Hawaiian language word Hawaiʻi is very similar to Proto-Polynesian *Sawaiki, cognates of Hawaiʻi are found in other Polynesian languages, including Māori, Rarotongan and Samoan. According to linguists Pukui and Elbert, lsewhere in Polynesia, Hawaiʻi or a cognate is the name of the underworld or of the home, but in Hawaii. A somewhat divisive political issue arose in 1978 when the Constitution of the State of Hawaii added Hawaiian as an official state language. The title of the constitution is The Constitution of the State of Hawaii. Article XV, Section 1 of the Constitution uses The State of Hawaii, diacritics were not used because the document, drafted in 1949, predates the use of the okina and the kahakō in modern Hawaiian orthography. The exact spelling of the name in the Hawaiian language is Hawaiʻi. In the Hawaii Admission Act that granted Hawaiian statehood, the government recognized Hawaii as the official state name. Official government publications, department and office titles, and the Seal of Hawaii use the spelling with no symbols for glottal stops or vowel length
Hawaii
–
Hawaii from space, January 26, 2014
Hawaii
–
Flag
Hawaii
–
Nā Pali coast, Kaua ʻ i
Hawaii
–
The main islands and undersea terrain of Hawaii
46.
Super Bowl XLII
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The Giants defeated the Patriots by the score of 17–14. The game was played on February 3,2008, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, the game is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in the history of sports, as well as one of the finest Super Bowl games. This Super Bowl was also a rematch of the game of the regular season, in which New England won. The game is best remembered for the Giants fourth-quarter game-winning drive, down 14–10, New York got the ball on their own 17-yard line with 2,39 left and marched 83 yards down the field. In the drives most memorable play, David Tyree made a leaping one-handed catch pinning the football with his hand to the crown of his helmet for a 32-yard gain. Wide receiver Plaxico Burress then scored the touchdown on a 13-yard reception with 35 seconds remaining. Only 10 total points were scored in the first three quarters, the Giants consumed a Super Bowl record 9 minutes and 59 seconds on their opening drive, but could only manage a field goal. The Patriots then responded with running back Laurence Maroneys 1-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter, Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who completed 19 of 34 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception, was named Super Bowl MVP. Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, who retired following the victory, had two tackles and one sack and this game was the first since Super Bowl IX that neither team scored at least 20 points. The telecast of the game on Fox broke the then-record for the most watched Super Bowl in history with an average of 97.5 million viewers in the United States, as always, the league considered several potential host cities before choosing the Phoenix area. In this case, the process drew special interest because the league considered holding Super Bowl XLII in New York City or Washington, New York Citys bid did not go far. Aside from the obvious climatic concerns, it was difficult to find a suitable stadium. Proposed renovations to the 1970s-vintage Giants Stadium were still being disputed amongst the various parties, Giants Stadium also lacked a roof, as did both of New York Citys baseball stadiums, and the NFL had never played an outdoor Super Bowl in a cold weather climate. The city of New York and the New York Jets failed to secure a deal to build a new West Side Stadium, during the years since the Super Bowl XLII bid fell through, Giants Stadium has been demolished. Its replacement, MetLife Stadium, was awarded Super Bowl XLVIII, Washington, D. C. s bid proved to be more viable as the D. C. area had a relatively new stadium in FedExField. DCs winter weather, although still potentially problematic, is milder than New Yorks climate, in the end, the process boiled down to three finalists, Washington, D. C. NFL owners finally chose University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona as the site for Super Bowl XLII during their October 30,2003 meeting in Chicago. In subsequent years, Raymond James Stadium in Tampa was chosen as the site for Super Bowl XLIII and the West Side Stadium was briefly designated as the venue for Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLII
–
University of Phoenix Stadium during Super Bowl XLII game day February 3, 2008.
Super Bowl XLII
–
Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII
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Manning at the Giants' victory rally at New York's City Hall
Super Bowl XLII
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Tyree re-enacting his now-famous catch during the victory rally at Giants Stadium several days after Super Bowl XLII.
47.
Super Bowl XLIX
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Super Bowl XLIX was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Football League for the 2014 season. The American Football Conference champion New England Patriots defeated the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks, 28–24, the game was played on February 1,2015, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It was the time the stadium has hosted a Super Bowl. With the loss, Seahawks joined the 1978 Dallas Cowboys,1983 Washington Redskins, after finishing the previous season by defeating the Denver Broncos, 43–8, in Super Bowl XLVIII, Seattle completed the 2014 regular season with a 12–4 record. The Patriots, who posted a 12–4 record, joined the Dallas Cowboys. For the second season, but only the third time in the prior 21 seasons. Seattle became the first team to appear in consecutive Super Bowls since New England won two straight, after the teams were tied 14–14 at halftime, the Seahawks built a 10-point lead to end the third quarter. The Patriots, however, rallied to take a 28–24 lead with two minutes left in the game. Seattle threatened to score in the moments, driving the ball to New Englands 1-yard line. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was named the games Most Valuable Player after a Super Bowl-record 37 completions on 50 attempts for 328 yards, four touchdowns, then-NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue further announced on March 5,2006, that Kansas City would host Super Bowl XLIX. However, the game was contingent on the passage of two sales taxes in Jackson County, Missouri, on April 4,2006. The first tax to fund improvements to Arrowhead and neighboring Kauffman stadiums passed with 53 percent approval, however, the second tax that would have allowed the construction of a rolling roof between the two stadiums was narrowly defeated, with 48 percent approval. Arizona had declined to bid for Super Bowl XLVIII, citing the economy, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed in April 2011 that Tampa and Arizona were selected as finalists. The league then announced on October 11,2011, that University of Phoenix Stadium will host Super Bowl XLIX. The New England Patriots had a start to their 2014 season, starting the season with a 2–2 record. By this point, the Patriots faced heavy criticism in the media, former Patriots safety and teammate Rodney Harrison declared Brady looked scared to death in the pocket and doesnt have any confidence in his offensive line. They finished fourth in the NFL in scoring and eighth in points allowed, the Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens 35–31 in the AFC Divisional playoffs, and then defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45–7 in the AFC Championship Game. Brady had another season in his 14th year as the teams starter, earning his 10th Pro Bowl selection with 4,109 passing yards and 33 touchdowns
Super Bowl XLIX
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Arrowhead Stadium was originally selected for Super Bowl XLIX, but plans to add a retractable roof ultimately fell through.
Super Bowl XLIX
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Super Bowl XLIX
Super Bowl XLIX
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University of Phoenix Stadium in
Glendale, Arizona, was chosen for Super Bowl XLIX.
Super Bowl XLIX
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Downtown Phoenix before the event.
48.
History of the Arizona Cardinals
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This article details the history of the Arizona Cardinals American football club. The Cardinals are the oldest extant professional football club in the United States, not long after the 1987 season, Bidwill agreed to move to the Phoenix area on a handshake deal with state and local officials, and the team became the Phoenix Cardinals. They planned to play at Arizona State Universitys Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe on a basis while a new stadium was being built. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the savings and loan crisis derailed financing for the stadium, in defiance of all geographic reality, the Cardinals remained in the NFC East. In March 1994, Bill Bidwill renamed the team the Arizona Cardinals due to fan preference, the rest of the NFL owners quickly approved the name change. The Cardinals had missed the playoffs by a game in their final season in St. Louis. At the end of week 11, they were 7-4 and in first place in the NFC East, however, they dropped their final five games to finish 7-9. They got off to another strong start in 1989, with victories over the Detroit Lions. However, a rash of injuries decimated the roster, with five games to go in the season, Gene Stallings, who had followed the team from St. Louis, announced he was retiring at the end of the season. Instead, general manager Larry Wilson ordered Stallings to leave immediately, the change cut the legs out from under the team, which lost its last five games to finish 5-11--the first of four straight 11-loss seasons. Bugels first three teams finished 5-11 in 1990 and 4-12 in both 1991 and 1992 before improving to 7-9 in 1993. During the 1993 season, the Cardinals outscored their opponents by 57 points, a three-game winning streak to close the season, including a 17-6 triumph over the playoff bound Giants, was not enough to save Bugels job. Buddy Ryan replaced Bugel in 1994, also serving as his own general manager, with typical bluster, he declared, Youve got a winner in town. He guaranteed victory in the 1994 week 3 game at the Cleveland Browns, the 1995 season saw the Cardinals drop to 4-12, including an embarrassing 27-7 loss to the expansion Carolina Panthers. Ryan was fired on December 26, less than 24 hours after the Cardinals lost 37-13 to the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, Dallas returned to Sun Devil Stadium 34 days later and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. Esiason threw for 522 yards in a victory over the Redskins in the Cardinals final game at RFK Stadium. The 1996 season also featured a lowlight, a 31-21 loss at home to the New York Jets, the highlight of the 1997 season was a 25-22 overtime victory over the Cowboys in week 2, ending Dallas 13-game winning streak over the Cardinals which dated back to 1990. During the 1998 season Jake Plummer enjoyed his greatest stretch of success during his tenure with the franchise, in terms of victories at least, as his quarterback rating was still an average 75.0
History of the Arizona Cardinals
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Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) and some other Cardinals in 2009.
History of the Arizona Cardinals
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University of Phoenix Stadium, the current home of the
Arizona Cardinals.
History of the Arizona Cardinals
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Big Red, the Cardinals team mascot, at the team's headquarters in 2009.
49.
Chicago
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Chicago, officially the City of Chicago, is the third-most populous city in the United States. With over 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the state of Illinois, and it is the county seat of Cook County. In 2012, Chicago was listed as a global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Chicago has the third-largest gross metropolitan product in the United States—about $640 billion according to 2015 estimates, the city has one of the worlds largest and most diversified economies with no single industry employing more than 14% of the workforce. In 2016, Chicago hosted over 54 million domestic and international visitors, landmarks in the city include Millennium Park, Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum Campus, the Willis Tower, Museum of Science and Industry, and Lincoln Park Zoo. Chicagos culture includes the arts, novels, film, theater, especially improvisational comedy. Chicago also has sports teams in each of the major professional leagues. The city has many nicknames, the best-known being the Windy City, the name Chicago is derived from a French rendering of the Native American word shikaakwa, known to botanists as Allium tricoccum, from the Miami-Illinois language. The first known reference to the site of the current city of Chicago as Checagou was by Robert de LaSalle around 1679 in a memoir, henri Joutel, in his journal of 1688, noted that the wild garlic, called chicagoua, grew abundantly in the area. In the mid-18th century, the area was inhabited by a Native American tribe known as the Potawatomi, the first known non-indigenous permanent settler in Chicago was Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. Du Sable was of African and French descent and arrived in the 1780s and he is commonly known as the Founder of Chicago. In 1803, the United States Army built Fort Dearborn, which was destroyed in 1812 in the Battle of Fort Dearborn, the Ottawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi tribes had ceded additional land to the United States in the 1816 Treaty of St. Louis. The Potawatomi were forcibly removed from their land after the Treaty of Chicago in 1833, on August 12,1833, the Town of Chicago was organized with a population of about 200. Within seven years it grew to more than 4,000 people, on June 15,1835, the first public land sales began with Edmund Dick Taylor as U. S. The City of Chicago was incorporated on Saturday, March 4,1837, as the site of the Chicago Portage, the city became an important transportation hub between the eastern and western United States. Chicagos first railway, Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, and the Illinois, the canal allowed steamboats and sailing ships on the Great Lakes to connect to the Mississippi River. A flourishing economy brought residents from rural communities and immigrants from abroad, manufacturing and retail and finance sectors became dominant, influencing the American economy. The Chicago Board of Trade listed the first ever standardized exchange traded forward contracts and these issues also helped propel another Illinoisan, Abraham Lincoln, to the national stage
Chicago
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Clockwise from top:
Downtown Chicago, the
Chicago Theatre, the
'L',
Navy Pier,
Millennium Park, the
Field Museum, and the
Willis Tower.
Chicago
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Traditional
Potawatomi costume on display at the
Field Museum
Chicago
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A 1903 painting of Chicago in 1833
Chicago
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An artist's rendering of the
Great Chicago Fire of 1871
50.
South Side, Chicago
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The South Side is part of the city of Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the three parts of the city, the others being the West Side and the North Side. Much of it evolved from the incorporation of independent townships. The citys sides have historically divided by the Chicago River. The South Side of Chicago was originally defined as all of the city south of the branch of the Chicago River. The South Side has an ethnic composition. It has great disparity in income and other demographic measures, although it has a reputation for being poor or crime-infested, the reality is more varied. The South Side ranges from affluent to middle class to working class to impoverished, the South Side is served by bus and L train via the Chicago Transit Authority and a number of Metra lines. It has several interstate and national highways, there is some debate as to the South Sides boundaries. The citys address numbering system uses a grid demarcating Madison Street as the East-West axis, Madison is in the middle of the Loop. As a result, much of the downtown Loop district is south of Madison Street, One definition has the South Side beginning at Roosevelt Road, at the Loops southern boundary, with the community area known as the Near South Side immediately adjacent. Lake Michigan and the Indiana state line provide eastern boundaries, the southern border changed over time because of Chicagos evolving city limits, the city limits are now at 138th Street. Using the Roosevelt Road boundary, the South Side is larger than the North, the exact boundaries dividing the Southwest, South and Southeast Sides vary by source. The differing interpretations of the boundary between the South and Southwest Sides are due to a lack of a natural or artificial boundary. One source states that the boundary is Western Avenue or the tracks adjacent to Western Avenue. This border extends south to a former railroad right of way paralleling Beverly Avenue. The Southwest Side of Chicago is a subsection of the South Side comprising mainly residential, predominantly white, architecturally, the Southwest Side is distinguished by the tract of Chicagos Bungalow Belt, which runs through it. With its factories, steel mills and meat-packing plants, the South Side saw a period of immigration which began around the 1840s
South Side, Chicago
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The
Victory Monument, which is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places, is located in the
Black Metropolis-Bronzeville District near the starting point of the
Bud Billiken Parade
South Side, Chicago
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In 2008,
One Museum Park (left May 25, 2008) replaced
1700 East 56th Street (right June 2, 2007) as the tallest South Side building. It has also replaced
340 on the Park as the tallest all-residential building in Chicago.
South Side, Chicago
South Side, Chicago
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A typical
Chicago Bungalow, examples of which are found in abundance on the South Side.
Current season
