![Week 1 - 1985: NJ Generals vs Birmingham Stallions [Flutie's 1st Pro Game]](https://vidvio.s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/storage/DB7txPsy/thumb-4.jpg)
The Story of the Chicago Blitz and the Craziest Trade In Sports History
It was a spring football experiment that started off with a bang, but closed with a comical whimper. In 1983, the Chicago Blitz were one of 12 teams that opened the USFL's inaugural season. The league's founders believed that after the NFL season ended there was a thirst for football. Their plan was to quench it.
Build it and they will come--that was the league mantra. Sign the best talent available no matter the cost--that turned out to be another, tragically. Everybody would soon find out.
Unfortunately, those big crowds never arrived in Chicago---which is where this story truly begins. The Blitz played their home games at Soldier Field, but they averaged only 18,133 fans, third lowest in the USFL. By comparison, the Denver Gold were tops in the league, drawing 41,736 a game at Mile High Stadium.
The Blitz’s owner, a heart surgeon named Ted Diethrich lost millions in 1983. So did Jim Joseph the owner of the Arizona Wranglers who went 4-14 that first season. Joseph wanted out. Diethrich, who lived in Phoenix, wanted to stay in the league but believed the Blitz would draw better in Arizona.
What came next was the craziest transaction in the history of professional sports.
Commenting is available only to authorized / login users click below to
Create Account