a football game on a day of infamy

[Ken Gargett]

was having a quick peek at stuff on the upcoming skins eagles game and came across a fascinating bit of history. in 1941, they played the last regular game of the season on december 7 in DC, with kick off at 2pm, which i gather was pretty much about the exact time the japanese attacked pearl harbour (8am?).

shortly after kick-off, the announcer kept making calls for various ambassadors, admirals, officers etc to get to their bases/offices/whatever asap. no announcement was made as to why. by 3/4 time, all the journos and photographers and officials had gone. there was apparently an odd quiet atmosphere. players and crowds later said that they knew something had happened but no idea what.

when the skins owner, george preston marshall, was asked why he had prevented any announcement of what had happened (skins management had received a telegram alerting to them about what had happened right at the start), he said, “I didn’t want to divert the fans’ attention from the game.”

later that night, apparently a large number of the redskins players, not best pleased at the actions of the japanese, all got together and marched on the japanese embassy to protest, though one of the players did say that they were rather keen to find as few people at the embassy who might be interested "in a fistfight".

and by the way, the skins won the game.