A 15-point drop in the Dow is Page 1 news in 1969. I wonder what
they would think of today’s economic meltdown.

Today in Baby Boomer nostalgia: Gordon Lightfoot makes
his debut in Los Angeles.

It took the Rams 12 days to decide they really didn’t want to fire Coach George Allen.

Owner Dan Reeves, who fired Allen over what he called a personality conflict, took it all back. Allen had been supported by many of his players, who held a news conference to claim they would retire if someone else was coaching the Rams. That’s an unusual step, but Reeves said he wasn’t swayed by unhappy players or fans.

The Times ran daily updates on the coaching search. As it became clear that Allen was still in the picture, the stories got a little strange. There was a planned meeting between the players and Reeves, there was a four-hour meeting between Allen and Reeves and there was speculation over Allen’s replacement. USC Coach John McKay and former Green Bay Coach Vince Lombardi were two names mentioned. Even when Allen was rehired, Reeves said two other coaches had been considered along with the former/current Ram coach.

On Jan. 5, Bob Oates wrote a thorough analysis of the problems between coach and owner: "Quite unintentionally, Allen has been destroying what Reeves built–and therefore what Reeves is."

Leave it to Jim Murray to capture the weirdness of it all. Here’s part of his column on the day after Allen was rehired/unfired.

"The announcement ceremony had all the warmth of the surrender signing on the battleship Missouri. The whole thing was as dignified as an axe murder. I have seen more smiles in a police lineup."

–Keith Thursby