Chapter 17

Sunday's game against Pittsburgh was a breeze for the Pros. Jack's observation that Jessup was still at or near the peak of his game was vindicated. Ron hit Pete with a 40-yard touchdown pass at the very start and from then on the Pros scored almost at will.

With their 42 to 7 victory the Pros were in-Western division champions. Next Sunday they would meet the Cleveland Lakers for the world title in Los Angeles.

Jessup's last regular season game was a memorable performance for the veteran quarterback who had seen many other games credited to Jim O'Flanagan when Jessup set up many of the touchdowns. In all, he passed for three touchdowns and kicked three respectable field goals of 27,33,39 yards each.

At the half, Ron was honored as Jack had predicted he would be, with the presentation of a new station wagon, a television set and a stereo. And veteran that he was of the pro football world, he was visibly touched by the presentations, and the words that were said about him as a man and as a football player.

The mayor of the city was there to make a speech about Ron, saying he exemplified the spirit of the American way of life and that so long as men like Ron were around, this country had nothing to fear from the Communists. A movie star presented him with a plaque purportedly from the citizens of Los Angeles and finally the hero himself said a few words into a microphone.

He spoke with the proper humilty and made the proper obeisances, winding up with a meaningful reference to his great friend, Hank Collins. "I won't be back next season, but I hope for all the Pros that Hank recovers and returns to lead this team again, for without his leadership I doubt if we would be here trying for another pro football championship," he said.

Ron had utilized his speaker's platform to launch a popular movement for Hank's return. He had informed Jack of his intention to do so and Jack approved, saying he would follow up with the minority viewpoint of the regular Pros writers.

The friendship bond between Jack Fisher and Ron Jessup had revived the idea of putting up money for Jack to buy the newspaper on a partnership basis. The idea seemed much more attractive to Jack now than it had been in Chicago a week previous.

Ron didn't know too much about newspaper work but he was still comparatively young and with the experience and know how that Jack could put into the operation, Ron figured both of them could do well financially. Even if he were but a "silent partner," Ron thought he could have a desk at the newspaper office, help with business matters, meet people and perhaps handle much of the paper work. He had studied business administration in college, too.

Perhaps in time he would meet someone, fall in love, settle down wherever the newspaper might be located and raise a family. He was sure such a future would be better all around than to stay in football either as a player or as a coach. More security for him seemed assured by investing in a going business than in tripping around the gridirons of the nation, never knowing from one season to the next whether his contract would be renewed.

Jack thought too of the future, seeing the buying of a newspaper a good security move, with Ron's help financially and the business training he had in college to help pull them through. For Ron knew whether he bought a going newspaper or started a new one, the first four or five years could be tough financially.

He visualized a weekly newspaper in a moderate sized town where both he and Ron could settle down, become community leaders and put out a newspaper worthy of them and the community. Jack had experience on weekly papers, starting out on one in the beginning of his career, and working on others during the 1930's depression.

Most of his job had been in the news end of it but he had dabbled in selling ads and had helped in gaining new readers. It would be a real challenge to both of them.

He had a couple of possibilities in mind for buying and had even talked informally with one of the owners, an elderly man who wanted to retire soon. The other was owned by the widow of a man who had started from scratch and built up a good business. She had had little real newspaper experience and was anxious to sell.

Both papers were in prosperous towns in central California, with apparently good futures. Jack hoped he could strike a good bargain with one of them before the end of the year.

And Jack too, hoped to find a lady who would like to settle down in a town not far from San Francisco but yet small enough to enjoy.