Donald Trump bought the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL) before the start of the 1984 season, the league’s second season, for less than $10 million.
To own a Major League sports team is the dream of most American sports fans. How about if the team you owned was the New York Yankees or New York Football Giants or the New York Knicks? Go back in time and throw in the mix the old Brooklyn Dodgers or the old New York Giants. Imagine being called “The Boss” by such great players as Mickey Mantle, “Yogi” Berra, Reggie Jackson, Don Mattingly, Alex Rodriguez, Lawrence Taylor, Phil Simms, Eli Manning, Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella and/or Willie Mays. Dreams! We all have em. Donald Trump bought a USFL pro football team. Could an NFL team be next? Would the league want him? Check it out.
Back in 1985, I was a friend of Art Rust, Jr., the “Godfather” of sports talk radio. Donald Trump was not only Art’s friend but also a constant caller to Art’s radio show. Art had many callers. Having a daily three-hour radio show for six days a week meant that so many people had the opportunity to speak with Art and they loved him. When Art’s wife Edna passed away in 1986, so many of his fans sent their prayers and condolences. A memorial service was held in her honor at Riverside Church, on the edge of the Morningside Heights and Harlem.
At the time of Edna’s passing, I worked in an office that was located in midtown Manhattan, so I had no problem getting up to the Riverside church by subway. The memorial service celebrated Edna’s life and when it was over, I met Art and expressed my condolences. I mentioned that I had to get back to my office, but before leaving, Art introduced me to Mr. Trump and upon Art’s insistence, Mr. Trump agreed to drive me back to my office, in his chauffeur-driven limousine.
Sitting in the back of the limo with Mr. Trump, I tried to think of a conversation that would be of interest to him. Being a sports fan, I said that it must be great to own a professional football team, but his response floored me as he said, “Nah! It’s only business.” “Only business?” Real Estate! Accounting! Lawyers! Retail stores! Manufacturing plants! Those are businesses. Owning a professional football team? That’s God-like. I couldn’t believe what he said to me. I was so happy when we reached my street and I got the hell out of the limo, having the feeling that I was going to throw up. It took me quite some time to recover. There was no way that George Steinbrenner or Wellington Mara would ever think or say such a thing.
Donald Trump owned a pro football team. To him, it was only business. The team and the league went bankrupt. Now Donald Trump is president of the United States. I wonder if he thinks that heading our great country is only a business. If he does, God help us all.
Alvin H. Goldberg
Great Neck
