The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-28
OVER 1-,34O,OOO
 SAW 5 GAMES DURING SEASON
Chicago Bears Proved One of Greatest Grid
 Machines
By GEORGE KIRKsEY

4OSoAOAAoA AOOVOeAl oAJAOChCOCd UO 4lCW heights in 1940. Artistically and financially, it was the greatest year the National Football league has en- joyed since it's formation in 1921.
 For the fifth consecutive year at- tendance figures were broken, 1,345,- 06l persons viewing the 55 league championship games and the league play-off. The combined total repre- sents a gain of 2.5 per cent over 1889. More than 250,0O0 attended the league all-star and exhibition games. The Chicago Bears won the worlds professional title, stunning the gridiron world with an unbe- lievable 73-0 triumph over the Washington Redskins in the play of game at Griffith stadium in Washington on December 8. A capacity crowd of 36034 saw the game with another 25,000 turned away.
 The Bears-Redskins' battle set the grid world af1ame with talk of Coach George Halas' formation, man-in-motion" offense. Moderniz- 1 ing one of the oldest formations in football with a man in motion, Halas
 threw a monkey wrench at the the-
 ories of those football disciples who have maintained that Notre Danes
 box and Warmers single wingback were the two foremost attacking forces in the game.
 Deception Added
 By adding one or two men in mo- tion, running laterally toward the sidelines, Halas added deception to the old T formation and made the defense spread. The Bears running attack features no blocking by the backs. The fullback and halfbacks run naked" The quarterback handles the ball on every play, feed- ing it to the other backs or passing. Most of the Bears straightaway power is based on quick-opening hole in the line by massive forwards. There is little doubt but that the Bears tremendous success with this new idea is certain to have its effect on the offensive trend of football in 1941.
 The versatility of the Bears was evidenced in the playoff game by the fact that 10 different men scored the first 10 touchdowns. It wasn't until the 11th touchdown that the Bears had 8 repeater. Most of foot balls heavy thinkers were unani- nous in the -rinion the Bears dem- onstrated ,reatest collection of backs ever Il on one team-Bill Osmanski, Sid Luckman, Ray Nolt- ing, George McAfee, Joe Maniaci, Gary Famiglietti, Harry Clark, Bob- by Swisher, Ray McLaen, Bob Sny- der, Jack Manders and Solly Sher- t, man. For all round group class no team has ever exhibited anything to match this gang.
 When the officials ran out of footballs because of the Bears high placekicks into the stands for extra points, the officials told the Chicago quarterback they were down to their last pigskin. The Bears quarterback said, "Okay, we'll pass for the next extra point" And they did. That's how tremendous the Bears were in the championship game.
 Late Starters
 The Bears didn't hit their stride until November because of injur- les and other drawbacks. During the regular season they won eight games and lost three. They were beaten by the Chicago Cardinals in a mid-week game, 21-7; lost to De- troit, 17-14; and bowed to the Red- skins, 7-3, in game in which the Bears claimed poor officiating mur- Idered them.
 The Redskins hit their peak early, winning eight straight before losing to Brooklyn and New York. They won the eastern title with nine vic- tories and two defeats. Washington led the league in scoring with 245 points; in yards gained passing with 1,379 yards; in bunting with an av- craze of 40 yards per kick from the line of scrimmage; in run back of puntS with APT yards and points after touchdown with 20.
 Passing reached a new high. Sammy Baugh, Washington, and Davey O'Brien, who retired at the end of the season to become a G. man, each set three new passing records. Baugh regained the pass ing crown he won in 1897 by com pleting III passes out of TIT for 1867 yards, an efficiency mark of 62.7 per cent, highest of all time. In his final game against the Red- skins O'Brien completed the amaz- ing total of B passes for 316 yards, both single game records. O'Brien's total compilations for the season were 124, another new standard.
 Whizzer White, Detroit Lions, cap tured the ground-gaining title with 514 yards in 146 attempts, regain ing the title he won in 1888 as freshman with Pittsburgh. Banks McFadden, rookie from Clemson playing his first season with Brook lyn. was the only first year man to finish among the first 10 ground gathers. He was fourth with All yards in 65 attempts for an average of 6.3 yards per clip, highest in the league.
 HutsOn Leads Scorers
 Don Hutson. Green Bays mirac- ulous pass catcher, won the indi- vidual scoring title, making seven touchdowns and IS conversions for a total of 57 points. He is the first end to win the scoring laurel.
 The 10 club circuit will remain intact with the same lineup for 194l but there's been a change in ownership at Pittsburgh. Alemis Thompson, young socialite and Yale graduate who inherited S6.O00,0OO at the age of l6, bought the Pittsburgh franchise from Art Rooney and in- stslled Earle tGreasy) Ntaie, Yale's assistant coach, as head mentor Of