Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-06
SEGH AT LARGE
Giants, Jets Vie
For Same Back
By MORRIS sIEGEL

The NEW YORK JETS are no smashing success on
the field up front it counts the most at the box
office But in less than year they have managed to
achieve status their predecessors the Tans never at
tanned in their Strfe-srewn Swear history: Recognition
The Giants, of all people finally have been made to
realize there's another football team IN New York push
ing for business The Jets haven't become too pushy yet
But even So the Giants the Yankee Stadium tenants
want to cut them down while the Jets still are re-
garded as only little better than bush league
Both teams drafted Matt SHELL Ohio State fullback
and it must be presumed both want Smell to play The
Giants aren't too hard up for ullback at the moment
but If Smell signs with the Jets would mean more to
the Giants than losing just another football player
II would also mean a loss Of face and this the SNUG
Giants are trying to avoid nkeSanother licking.
SONNY WERBIIN THE showbz man who rescued
the Jets the Harry Wismer administration, has
changed lot Of things about the team including tne
name He is also trying establish Jets image So far
he has done a remarkable job.
Intervening Smell would help his campaign immeas-
uraby Smell not regarded as the greatest nne punge
since Bronko NagurSk not by the JETS but Wer-
bin can him to his team 1t would be con-
siderable victory the AFL underdogs on the New York
battlefront of pro footballs boiling cold war
To that end werblin, who had the stars seek him
out when MICA before switching to football jetted
to Ohio State yesterday to try and make Smell see his
point OF course Werbln'S convincer is a bankrol.
In this area the Giants have formidable foe What
werbn doesn't in the way of coin Of the realm he
doesn't need. However If he does, he can get It,
wERBLN AND THE Giants get along beautifully,
at least where Werbln sits Despite his romance
with the Jets, Werblin remains Giants season ticket
holder He watches them when their games don't conflict
with the Jets schedule activity at Aqueduc where Wer
bin also has proprietary interest.
With an immediate audience Of about IL million to
draw from in the New YorkConnecticut area, Weroln
is of the reasonable opinion there plenty of fans here
for both teams.
LET the Giants have their fans" he says well be-
happy with their layoff Let all those people who say
they disappointed not being able to buy Giants
tickets come to and will have no complaints so
what if we are second choice their money isn't It's as
good as anybodys"
Werblin's commercial logic is unassailable He thinks
combination of two factors will definitely put the jets
over hump next Even thinking as lar aneao s
next season is progress for the Jets.
Last year. under wismer, the future was reduced TO
the next game There moments OF grave doubt even
there.
IN 1864 THE Jets move into Shea Stadium on Long
Island which will also house the Nets. ana isn't IL
ironica that two Of the finest plants in the world IN
New and Washington are the residences OF lou
the worlds most chronic losersthe Senator'S REDSKINS
Jets and Nets? -.
ANYWAY a new place to play and an improved team
werbln thinks will Jack up interest and attendance
nicely However momentary the Jets are Trying 70 pre-
sent a new face to the local popuatlon.
BY necessity they had to depend on volunteers and
patriots to field team at the beginning OF the season
when Weeb Ewbank took over The Inflated Tans be-
uueathed the Jets bad name ana oraIG SC Oh ~ OOU
ball players all signed, but with 1.-The other league
At one point Ewbank about to petition the parole
board for the pardon of Willie Sutton and the MAD
bomber to use in the Jet backfed However, Things nave
shaped up by scroungng and patching, to such an ex-
tent the Jets with SSH log have shot at the Eastern
title.
THE JETS WERE reduced to the embarrassment OF
using Giant castoffs when Ewbank first mustered tne
troops last July Lee GroSscup an original NO. choce "
onfS uoS ~
Grosscup couldn't make the Jets, although he had
quartebacked the Ttan in 1852 This failure LED MIN 10
the conclusion that perhaps pro football wasn't his strong
suit So he quit and wrote book, Fourth and One he
has not been selected Ieraures apro squad either
When they to the new 6OOOO-seat playground In
Long Island the Jets will be divorcng themselves from
a slight hunk of revenue they hadn't counted on
Two years ago, when the Jets were the Tans, park
ing space around Yankee Stadium scare Giants
fans had the Polo Grounds where the Tans-JetS
receive percentage for storing autos.
For the Titans parking fees from Giants fans often
amounted to almost as much Titan ticket sales.