Sam Huff gets a second chance to tell his story, and it’s still a good tale. The Washington Redskins broadcaster’s “Controlled Violence” is a somewhat updated version of his 1988 “Tough Stuff” — recalling his days as a New York Giants and Redskins linebacker, plus life after football.
“A politician will say the same thing twice or more,” Huff said. “Sometimes it’s duplicated, but that’s how the world is today. If I have a good play, I’ll use it all the time until somebody knows how to stop it.”
“Controlled Violence” is an outstanding series of short stories inside Huff’s life, including his admiration of coach Vince Lombardi, training camp at Carlisle, Pa., and playing and broadcasting alongside Sonny Jurgensen.
But 47 years after he was traded from New York to Washington, Huff’s anger still flows through the pages. He refers to his Giants coach as “that jerk Allie Sherman.”
“That’s the worst thing that ever happened to me,” he said. “Allie Sherman did not like me. He didn’t coach the defense. We coached ourselves. Sherman was the offensive coordinator. We were like two different teams. I did have a say after the trade was made. I did everything I could to show Sherman he made a mistake. I loved playing in New York.”
Huff’s failed 1970 attempt to become a congressman from West Virginia is an alarming look inside politics. Huff wrote that even longtime friends couldn’t vote for him. He lost the Democratic primary by 17,000 votes.
“That’s the worst thing I ever did,” Huff said. “It was out of my league. It’s a dirty rotten game. They gang up on you. You don’t have any teammates. It’s a different game.”
The story about rooming with Redskins teammate Joe Don Looney after being bribed $1,500 by team officials is a good one. Huff finally couldn’t control Looney, a character straight out of the movie “North Dallas Forty.” Looney was known for missing bed checks, womanizing and hitting teammates like Huff at full speed during walkthroughs. He died in a motorcycle accident in 1988.
“He was crazy,” Huff said. “He didn’t take anything from anybody. His name fit him perfectly — loony. He was different.”
Huff recalls Jurgensen with great affection. The linebacker and quarterback enjoy arguing whether defense or offense wins games.
“Sonny and I disagree a little bit but not enough to matter,” Huff said.
Indeed, Huff has no plans to retire from the booth. Neither does Jurgensen.
“Retirement — I don’t believe in it,” Huff said. “I’m going to do what I do for as long as I can. Football is my life ever since I was 15.”
The book spills plenty of names from throughout the years, especially from his New York days, when he shared a locker at Yankee Stadium with Mickey Mantle. His two encounters with John F. Kennedy are page turners. Not bad for the son of a coal miner who just wanted to work above ground.
“My life hasn’t been boring,” Huff said.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
