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SI story on the Saints first season
Posted on 6/20/17 at 1:45 pm
Posted on 6/20/17 at 1:45 pm
LINK
John Mecom was 26 when he bought the team
Since he was 15, Little John had been an integral part of his father’s oil empire, an ever-expanding conglomerate that generated a family fortune in excess of $200 million by the mid-’60s. As a teenager he had brokered deals in countries such as Lebanon, Israel, Yemen and Afghanistan. He owned 15 cars—Ferraris, a Lotus, a Scarab, a Lola, several De Tomaso racers, Corvettes, Mustangs, an Amphicar that drove across water—and 10 airplanes. On the family ranch near Houston he housed a menagerie of 75 animals, brought over from Africa and elsewhere, in a 5,000-acre refuge—lions and zebras and llamas and the like. By the time he was 25, his Mecom Racing Team had become one of the most successful auto racing units in the country.
John Mecom was 26 when he bought the team
Since he was 15, Little John had been an integral part of his father’s oil empire, an ever-expanding conglomerate that generated a family fortune in excess of $200 million by the mid-’60s. As a teenager he had brokered deals in countries such as Lebanon, Israel, Yemen and Afghanistan. He owned 15 cars—Ferraris, a Lotus, a Scarab, a Lola, several De Tomaso racers, Corvettes, Mustangs, an Amphicar that drove across water—and 10 airplanes. On the family ranch near Houston he housed a menagerie of 75 animals, brought over from Africa and elsewhere, in a 5,000-acre refuge—lions and zebras and llamas and the like. By the time he was 25, his Mecom Racing Team had become one of the most successful auto racing units in the country.
8
Posted on 6/20/17 at 2:05 pm to LSUMJ
quote:
Since he was 15, Little John had been an integral part of his father’s oil empire, an ever-expanding conglomerate that generated a family fortune in excess of $200 million by the mid-’60s. As a teenager he had brokered deals in countries such as Lebanon, Israel, Yemen and Afghanistan. He owned 15 cars—Ferraris, a Lotus, a Scarab, a Lola, several De Tomaso racers, Corvettes, Mustangs, an Amphicar that drove across water—and 10 airplanes. On the family ranch near Houston he housed a menagerie of 75 animals, brought over from Africa and elsewhere, in a 5,000-acre refuge—lions and zebras and llamas and the like. By the time he was 25, his Mecom Racing Team had become one of the most successful auto racing units in the country.
Who am I kidding? Of course I do
Posted on 6/20/17 at 2:10 pm to kingbob
does anyone remember the reasoning behind why Mecom sold the team?
Posted on 6/20/17 at 2:29 pm to hsfolk
Just from memory (I could be wrong) he was just frustrated with all the losing and the fans hating him.
Posted on 6/20/17 at 2:32 pm to hsfolk
good read. I can't imagine how excited Joan was that one Sunday in Miami against the Colts.
Posted on 6/20/17 at 2:33 pm to LSUMJ
I LOVED those retro unis, so flamboyant and gold, a distinctive look that accurately represents New Orleans.
Posted on 6/20/17 at 5:35 pm to johnnydrama
Mecom used to send the saints to dodger town for training aka vero beach so he could take his yacht over there. Remember it like it was yesterday.
Posted on 6/21/17 at 9:17 am to hsfolk
quote:
does anyone remember the reasoning behind why Mecom sold the team?
As I recall it, the oil business was in the dumpster and Mecom just needed the money. This is about the same time that LSU doubled its tuition and just about everyone in the oil business in Louisiana was looking for jobs.
Posted on 6/21/17 at 9:30 am to MMauler
Linebacker Steve Stonebreaker
That has to be one of the best names ever for a linebacker
That has to be one of the best names ever for a linebacker
Posted on 6/21/17 at 1:49 pm to LSUMJ
quote:
John Mecom was 26 when he bought the team
I think they mean "when his daddy bought him the team"...
Posted on 6/21/17 at 3:48 pm to Hangover Haven
Not to hijack, but I looked up Mecom Racing Team on wiki, and found out that in 1966 Graham Hill won the Indianapolis 500 while driving for John Mecom, Jr, and the Mecom Team in their Lola-Ford. Well at least he was a winner in something. I never knew that.
It also said Roger Penske used to drive for him, and that he helped Danica Patrick transition from karts to professional racing car driver in 1998.
It also said Roger Penske used to drive for him, and that he helped Danica Patrick transition from karts to professional racing car driver in 1998.
Posted on 6/21/17 at 3:59 pm to ShootingsBricks4Life
quote:
Linebacker Steve Stonebreaker. That has to be one of the best names for a linebacker.
He was well loved in New Orleans. He took his own life in
1995.
Posted on 6/21/17 at 4:10 pm to LSUMJ
Man, what a great article, thanks!
I LOL'ed at the paragraph on the halftime circuses.
I LOL'ed at the paragraph on the halftime circuses.
Posted on 6/22/17 at 10:40 am to hellsu
quote:
He was well loved in New Orleans. He took his own life in
1995.
Yep, I knew about this. Pretty sad. Crazy how now that would be a HUGE espn story now.
Posted on 6/22/17 at 10:57 am to MMauler
quote:
As I recall it, the oil business was in the dumpster and Mecom just needed the money. This is about the same time that LSU doubled its tuition and just about everyone in the oil business in Louisiana was looking for jobs.
More casualties of the epic oil crunch that prevented Louisiana from enjoying the fruits of Reagonomics.
Posted on 6/22/17 at 5:32 pm to LSUMJ
Our W/L record post Mecom is actually pretty decent compared to how maligned we once were
Posted on 6/23/17 at 11:47 am to LSUMJ
Saints Yearbook 1967 -- NFL Films, links to 15 other Saints Yearbook films
Posted on 6/23/17 at 12:14 pm to Kafka
most cool kafka
Many hate Duncan but his book on the early Saints is must-read for all whodats
Linkage
Duncan book
Many hate Duncan but his book on the early Saints is must-read for all whodats
Linkage
Duncan book
Posted on 6/23/17 at 12:25 pm to LSUMJ
This article captures perfectly why I believe the Saints and New Orleans are so much more meaningful than most any other sports franchise. You always hear people say after a team wins a championship how they have the best fans, best team, best city, yada, fricking yada. But you can only get stories and histories like this for likely only a very few teams.
Posted on 6/23/17 at 12:48 pm to Kafka
Check out the 1978 Saints yearbook. My second year of paying attention and it was devastating to a 7 year old.
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