By Ken Paulk

DEAR FOLKS,

I can’t even imagine what Dad would say about this weekend’s Super Bowl. Dad played all sports, but in college at the University of Arkansas in the summer 1936 he was in a boating accident at Lake Fayetteville. He was trying to get a small boat off a trailer and like a knucklehead he was behind the boat pulling when his friend put the motor in reverse and within a split second, part of his right toes were gone. For the next 31 years he limited his sports to helping my brother and me in football and baseball. He enjoyed listening to games on the radio and, if lucky, watching a game on a television.

In his day as well as mine, a gifted player played both ways. Dad was short by today’s standards, 5 feet, 9 inches, but he weighed 180 pounds — he was a bruiser. The way he told it, he feared nothing and no one. Sort of like father, like son (not counting wives of course).

He played fullback as well as linebacker. I on the other hand played tight end and defensive left half. Both ways — that was then, but it ain’t now. Today we have specialist at all positions making millions of dollars per year. In Dad’s day no one was paid, as you played for the fun of the game. In my day, yes you were paid a little, but had to work selling autos, insurance or Fuller brushes to make a living. AKA “Death of a Salesman”.

The first Super Bowl was played in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 1967, with the kickoff at 1:15 p.m. PST. I think I told you good folks that my sister Vicki went to Texas Tech and was totally in love with Donny Anderson, who signed with the Packers in 1966 after the college all star game. During the first Super Bowl, it was Donny’s knee that knocked out Hank “the Hammer” Williamson, who earlier in the week was talking the first Super Bowl trash talk.

I barely remember Dad and Vicki listening to the game on the radio, with both jumping up and down as the Pack beat the Chiefs 35-10.

Let’s Get A-Grilling

In honor of the ’67 Packers as well as Dad and Vicki, let’s make up some post-Super Bowl grilling delights.

In the ’60s we didn’t have Buffalo wings, Tostitos or even chili cheese dip. We had beef and spirits. The first Super Bowl really didn’t mean a lot to folks. The American Football Conference was considered a renegade, with outcast and mediocre players not selected or washed up from the National Football Conference. So to honor this first game and to give tribute to Hank the Hammer, the first “Dirty Player,” let’s cook up some Dirty Steaks.

A Dirty Steak is nothing more than a strip steak cooked on the glowing coals. There are all kinds of theories as to why this tastes so good, but I feel it’s the charring effect caused by having the meat hover directly over a hot bed of coals.

Let’s Get Started

4 boneless strip sirloin steaks at least 1 inch thick
Coarse salt, at least a punch full (remember the difference between a pinch and a punch when measuring)
1/2 slab butter
Mushroom mustard sauce (made from scratch)
Natural lump charcoal
Pepper and other herbs as needed

Generously season both sides of the sirloins and let stand for 30 minutes or so. Place the steaks on the grill directly above the hot embers. Grill to taste and texture, turning only once with tongs after 5-7 minutes.

With your tongs, hold the steaks over the coals and brush off any residue ash with a brush or towel. Place the steaks on a flat platter and while hot, brush the butter on both sides and sprinkle a little garlic salt for taste.

Slice diagonally and serve with mushroom mustard sauce. This sauce is a mixture of sliced button mushrooms, flour, ground pepper, butter, cognac, beef stock, Dijon mustard, heavy whipping cream and Worcestershire sauce.

It just doesn’t get much better than this.

Gotta Git … but before I go …

I was glad my Dad was able to listen to the first Super Bowl. I don’t think he finished the game as he had to leave for church around 6 p.m. I wasn’t home, most likely out riding my motorcycle.

Dad passed away that evening.

Victor Lawrence Paulk
April 20, 1916 – January 15, 1967

Love you, Dad …

Ken Paulk is a Texas native and a Benicia resident.