The death of NFL great Alex Karras reminds me of a night in 1976 when I was working at WMUR-TV in New Hampshire and fell victim to a hoax by someone who wanted to see a blacked out football game.
About 90 minutes before the game a call came in and I answered. A man said he was Jim Spence from ABC Sports and the NFL had waived the blackout. Since the telex machine was in a locked office upstairs there was no way to get a written message from ABC. The caller then said to call New York and ask for him and confirm. I knew the ABC number by heart (212 LT1-7777) and did so. The operator answers ABC and I say this is WMUR an affiliate and I need to speak to Jim Spence and about a minute later the same person was on the line. Sounded legit to me. The booth announcer returned from supper and we announced we WOULD carry the game instead of a movie. Then all hell broke lose....
http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...eZdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GF8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2957,2680398
Here is the intro of that game with Frank, Howard and Alex
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54sYDyCJHj0
About 90 minutes before the game a call came in and I answered. A man said he was Jim Spence from ABC Sports and the NFL had waived the blackout. Since the telex machine was in a locked office upstairs there was no way to get a written message from ABC. The caller then said to call New York and ask for him and confirm. I knew the ABC number by heart (212 LT1-7777) and did so. The operator answers ABC and I say this is WMUR an affiliate and I need to speak to Jim Spence and about a minute later the same person was on the line. Sounded legit to me. The booth announcer returned from supper and we announced we WOULD carry the game instead of a movie. Then all hell broke lose....
http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...eZdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GF8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2957,2680398
Here is the intro of that game with Frank, Howard and Alex
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54sYDyCJHj0