Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. That's a well known piece of history. But who integrated the NFL? 

Well, it's an amazing story with lots of binge drinking, miraculous comebacks and hot dog eating. Seriously. 

Just in time for the Super Bowl, we're calling up David Fleming, author of A Big Mess in Texas: The Miraculous, Disastrous 1952 Dallas Texans and the Craziest Untold Story in NFL History. He explains how one of the worst teams in NFL history shaped the game we know today. 

 

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. That's a well known piece of history. But who integrated the NFL?&nbsp;
Well, it's an amazing story with lots of binge drinking, miraculous comebacks and hot dog eating. Seriously.&nbsp;
Just in time for the Super Bowl, we're calling up David Fleming, author of <a href="https://a.co/d/4XITSCb">A Big Mess in Texas: The Miraculous, Disastrous 1952 Dallas Texans and the Craziest Untold Story in NFL History</a>. He explains how one of the worst teams in NFL history shaped the game we know today.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.

Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history &mdash; from the Revolutionary War to rock &amp; roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.

American History Hotline

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts. 

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts.&nbsp;

Podcasts from iHeartRadio

American History Hotline with Bob Crawford

Who Integrated the NFL?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f2a7410d-307a-49bb-b003-b3e1014ff17e/transcript

Join celebrated history professor Matthew Andrews for discussions about sports from their earliest days in the colonies all the way to their present status as culture defining billion dollar industries. 

Sports are more than a collection of games, much more. From Jackie Robinson to the 1968 Olympics to Mia Hamm, sports have provided a stage for important conversations about equality and justice, and helped push the American experiment forward one generation after the next. Check back for new episodes every Tuesday & Thursday. 

Available on the Curiosity Audio Network, the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Join celebrated history professor Matthew Andrews for discussions about sports from their earliest days in the colonies all the way to their present status as culture defining billion dollar industries. Sports are more than a collection of games, much more. From Jackie Robinson to the 1968 Olympics to Mia Hamm, sports have provided a stage for important conversations about equality and justice, and helped push the American experiment forward one generation after the next. Check back for new episodes every Tuesday &amp; Thursday. Available on the Curiosity Audio Network, the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Untold History of Sports in America

Roald Dahl is a beloved children’s author. Turns out, he was also a British spy during WWII! So how does one transition from seducing prominent Americans’ wives to writing Matilda? 

Well, we’re glad you asked! We called up the creator of a new docu-series called The Secret World of Roald Dahl to get all the dirt on this famous children’s author. 

Aaron Tracy, Creator of The Secret World of Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl is a beloved children&rsquo;s author. Turns out, he was also a British spy during WWII! So how does one transition from seducing prominent Americans&rsquo; wives to writing&nbsp;Matilda?&nbsp;
Well, we&rsquo;re glad you asked! We called up the creator of a new docu-series called <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-world-of-roald-dahl/id1868436905">The Secret World of Roald Dahl </a>to get all the dirt on this famous children&rsquo;s author.&nbsp;
Aaron Tracy, Creator of The Secret World of Roald Dahl

Did Willy Wonka’s Creator Spy on America? 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f8145015-6dd8-45ff-94a2-b3de01465a11/transcript

In honor of President's Day, we're sharing some of the best conversations we've had about Honest Abe and General Washington. 

We speak with historian Alexis Coe (You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington) about George Washington myths, including whether or not his teeth were made of wood. 

We also speak with Julian Zelizer about which party Abraham Lincoln would belong to today.

Check out Julian's Substack, The Long View. 

 

In honor of President's Day, we're sharing some of the best conversations we've had about Honest Abe and General Washington.&nbsp;
We speak with historian Alexis Coe (<a href="https://www.alexiscoe.com/aff">You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington</a>) about George Washington myths, including whether or not his teeth were made of wood.&nbsp;
We also speak with Julian Zelizer about which party Abraham Lincoln would belong to today.
Check out Julian's Substack, <a href="https://julianzelizer.substack.com/">The Long View.</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;

A Washington & Lincoln Birthday Special!

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ba0a273b-da08-4d56-bce4-b3f1011a0581/transcript

You gotta keep 'em separated. That's a lot of people's opinion about mixing sports and politics. But as the world turns its eyes to Italy for the 2026 Winter Games, you have to wonder if this is the ideal place to make a political statement. 

To understand how acts of political activism have played out at the Olympics throughout history, we call up Jules Boykoff. He's the author of numerous books about the Olympics, including What are the Olympics For?

So, are the Olympics fair game for protest? Or should athletes keep their eye on the ball ... or épée ... or curling stone? You get the point. 

You gotta keep 'em separated. That's a lot of people's opinion about mixing sports and politics. But as the world turns its eyes to Italy for the <a href="https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026">2026 Winter Games</a>, you have to wonder if this is the ideal place to make a political statement.&nbsp;
To understand how acts of political activism have played out at the Olympics throughout history, we call up Jules Boykoff. He's the author of numerous books about the Olympics, including <a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-Are-Olympics-Jules-Boykoff/dp/1529230284">What are the Olympics For?</a>
So, are the Olympics fair game for protest? Or should athletes keep their eye on the ball ... or &eacute;p&eacute;e ... or curling stone? You get the point.&nbsp;

Are the Olympics an Appropriate Place for Protest? 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/88a49420-5641-4b77-8eda-b3e20165fc98/transcript

Who Integrated the NFL?

The Untold History of Sports in America

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American History Hotline with Bob Crawford

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