Monday, Dec. 29, 2008

The Football Game that Changed It All

On December 28, 1958, at an icy Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, the Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants, 23-17, to win the NFL championship. Back then, pro football was just a niche sport, but the "Greatest Game Ever" changed everything, setting it on a path to become the most successful pro sport in America. It was the first NFL game to go into sudden death overtime, and featured 12 players and three coaches who were bound for the Hall of Fame. Most importantly, the dramatic contest was broadcast to a national television audience, and ever since then football and the small screen have enjoyed a near-perfect marriage. Here's a look at some lasting legends of football's "Greatest Game Ever."