Tag: Sam Battistone

1975 Hawaiians Program from the World Football League

The Hawaiians

May 24, 2022

The Hawaiians pro football team was the first North American major pro sports franchise based outside the continental United States and Canada. The team was part of the rebel World Football League (1974-1975), formed to challenge the NFL in the mid-1970’s. Thanks to solid ownership and an alluring locale, the Hawaiians persuaded nearly a dozen NFL veterans to jump to the WFL, including All-Pros John Gilliam, Calvin Hill and Ted Kwalick. But only Hill would ever suit up for the team.

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1977-78 New Orleans Jazz Medi

New Orleans Jazz

March 16, 2019

The NBA’s Utah Jazz began life as the New Orleans Jazz expansion franchise in 1974. New Orleans’ elite player was former LSU star Pete Maravich, but the Jazz never managed to surround Pistol Pete with enough complimentary talent to break through. The Jazz failed to post a winning record or make the playoffs during their five seasons in the Big Easy from 1974 to 1979. The franchise moved to Salt Lake City in the spring of 1979.

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Southern California Sun World Football League

Southern California Sun

April 19, 2011

The Southern California Sun was an Anaheim-based franchise in the World Football League of the 1970’s. The Sun were known for their psychedelic (by the prevailing standards of pro football) magenta and orange uniforms and for signing top-flight USC stars Anthony Davis and Pat Haden.

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