Lemar Parrish                                                     
5'11" 181
Cornerback                                                      
Cincinnati Bengals
1970 - 1982
13 Seasons
166 Games Played
47 Interceptions
13 Fumble Recoveries
13 Touchdowns
8 Pro Bowls


Lemar Parrish was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 1970 NFL Draft. He was the 163rd player picked overall that year. Parrish went to college at Lincoln University of Missouri. Parrish was a running back in college.

In 1969, Lamar set the schools record for for longest punt return, when he returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown against Southwest Missouri State. He also set school records for most punt return yards in a game (129 yards on 3 returns), and highest average per punt return in that game (43 YPR). That year, Parrish averaged 16.8 yards per punt return. That, and his career average of 15.5 YPR, are still school records. He made the NCAA All American Team in 1969.

He is the most famous athletic figure in the schools history since the 1950's, when tennis great Althea Gibson taught there, and Canadian Football League Hall of Fame Running Back Leo Lewis attended the school. Parrish has returned to his alma mater, and is the head coach of the schools football team. Lemar Parrish is in the Lincoln University Hall of Fame.


In his 1970 rookie season, he was incredible. Parrish had five interceptions,and scored a touchdown on both a punt return and kickoff return. He averaged 30.1 yards per kick return and recovered a fumble. He also scored on a blocked field goal return. He would go to the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons.

He followed that up next season with seven interceptions. He took one interception 65 yards for a touchdown, and one fumble for a touchdown. In 1972, Parrish picked off five passes and took two in for touchdowns. He also returned a punt for a touchdown. In 1973, he has two interceptions and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

The 1974 season saw Parrish returned to the Pro Bowl by setting a still standing Bengals record with an NFL leading 18.8 yards per punt return average. He also scored two touchdowns on punt returns. One went for 90 yards and is presently the second longest in Bengals history. He also recovered a fumble and took it 47 yards for a touchdown.

He would go to the Pro Bowl every year up until the 1977 season. In 1977, Parrish had three interceptions and took one in for the last touchdown of his career.

After the 1977 season, Parrish was traded to the Redskins, after a contract dispute, with defensive end Coy Bacon by the Bengals to Washington for the Redskins’ first-round pick in the 1979 draft. That first-round pick ended up being the 12th overall selection, which Cincinnati used to pick running back Charles Alexander out of Louisiana State.

Parrish was not asked to return kicks on the Redskins, yet still made a immediate impact on the Redskins defense his first year with four interceptions. The next year, he had nine interceptions and was named First Team All-NFL and to the Pro Bowl.. He followed that up with seven interceptions in 1980, and was named to his last Pro Bowl. Parrish left the Redskins after 1981, and joined the Buffalo Bills in 1982. He retired after that year.

Lemar Parrish is the Bengals All-Time leader in touchdowns scored by "return or recovery" with 13. This is still tied third All-Time in NFL history with two others. His two interceptions returned for TDs is still tied for the most in a game, with many others in NFL history. He was also the only player in Cincinnati history ever to score two "return or recovery" touchdowns in a single game, which he did separate 3 times.

When he retired, his three fumble returns for touchdowns tied an NFL record. He still fourth All-Time in Bengals history for interceptions in a career, and second in touchdowns scored by interception.

His four punt returns for touchdowns ranks first in Cincinnati Bengals history. He also is first in career average for kickoff returns with 24.7, touchdowns in a season on kick off returns, interceptions made in one game, and touchdowns returned via interceptions in a season and a single game.

He ranks second in Bengals history with 130 punt returns, and punt return yardage in a season and career. He is third in franchise history in interception return yardage in a career. His 95 yard kick off return currently is the sixth longest in Bengals history.

Parrish did not win the 1970 Rookie of the Year Award probably because the Bengals had two players win the award the two previous seasons, even though he had a superior season to the winner, 49ers CB Bruce Taylor.

Lemar Parrish is a member of the Cincinnati Bengals 40th Anniversary Team.

Parrish epitomized the definition of "play maker" in his career. He was a shut down cornerback who teams tried to avoid. He would make the opponents cringe when he was asked to return kicks or punts. Parrish teamed with Ken Riley to form, perhaps, the best cornerback duo in the NFL in the 1970's.

He was also noted for his ability to stop the run, which is something he had to supply often due to the Bengals porous front seven. Safety Tommy Casanova was a beneficiary of this cornerback tandem, and made 3 Pro Bowls from 1972 to 1977. Casanova retired after Parrish left the Bengals.

Teams could not beat the Bengals by passing the ball, but they would win by running the ball up the middle. The Bengals often challenged the great Steelers teams of the 1970's, but would come up short. The pass defense was never the reason.

While with the Redskins, Parrish also made fellow cornerback Joe Lavender a better player. Lavender made the Pro Bowl twice in his career, the same years that Lemar did. Parrish was a complete player. He could do it all. His penchant for taking the ball to the end zone was prodigious. He made his teams better, his teammates better, and now is teaching his students to be better.

Every year of his career saw him intercept at least one ball, except for his 1974 Pro Bowl season. To be named to the Pro Bowl by your peers, despite having no interceptions, truly shows his greatness and is an example of how opposing teams feared him. The following two Pro Bowl years of 1975 and '76 are further examples to make this fact concrete, because he had three interceptions total over this time.

I find it amazing to see Lemar Parrish yet to be inducted into Canton. Recent inductee Roger Wehrli went in with finally, so hopefully the voters are going to right long standing wrongs. It would be fitting to see Parrish and Riley inducted together.



Notable Players Drafted In 1970 * Denotes Canton Inductee

1. Terry Bradshaw, QB, Pittsburgh *
7. Mike Reid, DT, Cincinnati
9. Cedric Hardman, DE, San Francisco
10. Ken Burrough, WR, New Orleans
13. Doug Wilkerson, OG, Houston
17. Bruce Taylor, CB, San Francisco
18. Norm Bulaich, FB, Baltimore
19. Steve Owens, RB, Detroit
22. Jack Reynolds, LB, LA Rams
23. Duane Thomas, RB, Dallas
24. Raymond Chester, TE, Oakland
29. Jim Mandich, TE, Miami
30. Dennis Shaw, QB, Buffalo
31. Leo Brooks, DT, Houston
36. Joe "Turkey" Jones, DE, Cleveland
39. Art Malone, RB, Atlanta
43. Bill Brundige, DE, Washington
46. Richard Caster, WR, NY Jets
53. Mel Blount, DB, Pittsburgh *
55. Tim Foley, DB, Miami
66. Charlie Waters, DB, Dallas
76. Gerald Irons, DE, Oakland
80. Ed George, OT, Pittsburgh (CFL Hall of Fame)
110. Ron Saul, OG, Houston
114. Manny Sistrunk, DE, Washington
153. Pat Toomay, DE, Dallas
159. Jake Scott, DB, Miami
201. Mike Holmgren, QB, Saint Louis Cardinals  (Noted Coach)
204. Rich Saul, OG, LA Rams
218. Jim Otis, FB, New Orleans
248. Joe Dawkins, RB, Houston
259. Stu Voight, TE, Minnesota
287. Butch Davis, DB, Chicago  (Noted Coach)
335. Mark Washington, CB, Dallas
346. Mark Moseley, K, Philadelphia
348. Doug Sutherland, DT, New Orleans

WOW... That's all I can say at this point.

What a year it has been. YouGabSports has grown so much and it could not have been done without YOU... Yeah, you. All the members of our humble and beloved site. Many had said we were crazy and it was a ploy to deconstruct 'that' site. But to all those doubters ..l.. I am proud to say YouGabSports is here to say!!!

This time last year Sully, Kyle, and myself were burning the midnight oil putting together what we felt would be the best year long gift to those who would come here. Our hearts are swollen with pride to be able to give this gift day after day and know that you accept it for what it is and take full advantage of it... Which is what a gift should be.

Ok... enough of that crap... Who has been naughty and who has been offered the gift of going down that ol' dirt road??? Line em' up, we got something for everyone! Sure, our 'Santa' might smell of Whiskey and cheap cigars, but at least ours doesn't have to reregister with the state everytime he moves! You want a gift? I said get the fuck in line, bitches!

For Kevin: Valium. A big freaking 55 gallon drum of the shit. Easy big guy, easy. Oh, yeah. And a pamphlet on meditation for dealing with customer service reps...

For Kyle: A longer commute to work. Nothing says Christmas love like being left the fuck alone for more than 5 minutes. Santa also has the newest up-grade of 'Photo-shop' for you as a stocking stuffer.

For oldharry: A new bar stool. Hide the keys and disconnect the mandated ignition locking breathalyzer, this one is motorized. Twist the grip and off you go. Just make sure you wait a bit after that last Fred-Lite before heading down the road... Wouldn't want anything bad to happen.

For Mo: A years worth of cleaning services from the local house-maid service. The Taverns gonna need it after this years Festivus party! They will stop in once a month to dig the peanut shells out from behind the Karaoke machine.

For Lanz: SpellChecker... Enough said.

For Scottjax77: Tickets to next weeks WWE event at the Dome here in Syracuse! Can't guarantee delivery by the time the matches start. Oh, and and full day of no Yankee bashing... Can't guarantee that either... But it's the thought that counts, right?

For Dominic00: A brand new Blackha.... What? How in the hell is a fricking Blackhawks jersey on backorder... Really?.... 

 hotch - for our buddy north of the border, an upgraded anti-virus software for all the porn he sends us! Just our way of saying keep 'em coming!!!

IHM: A shelf for that nice new GabCup... Congratulations on the achievement. You earned it!

For fan82: A spit guard for your computer monitor. You keep up those rants and the doc might step in and increase your blood pressure medicine too.

For Harvey Dakota: A brand-spanking-new Welcome mat... Welcome to the Gab!!!

For B-Dub: A gift card to Dick'sSportingGoods for some new 'Pong' gear. But remember, acceptance of said gift releases the Gab and it's affiliates from any and all possible law-suits either active or pending.

For Broncs: Santa is an odd fellow... One gift is a box of ammo for your next big hunt. The other is a box of tissues for when your Broncos get booted from the first round of the playoffs.

For Beeze: Salad and Slim-Fast... Ground control to Major Tom. Let me be the first to congratulate you on becoming the Gab's first 'Ass-tronaut'

For TenaciousFranz: A free years' membership to the YouGab Day Care Center. We aren't quite sure if the background check has cleared on the baby-sitter yet... But drop off the boys anyway, someone will be here to watch them.

For Bandit: A free subscription to our version of the 'Vegas-Insider' We will give you a years worth of point spreads and pick-em's in one big, fat book. Sure, we may not know the schedule for the NFL next year, but what the hell... Make your picks anyway!

For PBK: A tub of Tums, a pound of Goodies Headache Powder, and a trunk full of Tylenol to ease the pain that is the Steelers 09-10 season, and a knock-off Championship Terrible Towel. Stillers is mis-spelled on it. I think MemberX was selling them.

For Last: But not least...HA.. Santa Gab is such a cut up. Must be the TavernNog. A new keyboard... or two. You keep up all the posting and we are gonna have to re-name the site after you.

Well now... Looks like SantaGab needs a pee-break and a smoke. For those still in line, the TavernElves will be passing out the rest of the gifts. Feel free to trade amongst yourselves. I think the only things left in the gift bag are stale Fruit-cake from last years party and $5 gift cards to businesses that aren't even in your part of town. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a cheap card to a Sonic when there isn't even one in your city.

Thanks SantaGab... YOU SUCK! Who bought all these DHL Delivery hats? What is this receipt of $245.31 from the OliveGarden doing in here? Now who's here... ARE THOSE STRIPPERS??? NO, turn that music off... Hey, wait a minute... No, keep it going, I am headed to the back with this one... see you in 5 minutes guys!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAAAAAAAASSSSSS!!!

PS - if your looking for any last minute gift ideas for the guys behind the scenes we have a suggestion. In the coming year when you pay us a visit would you mind clicking on GOOGLE ads, say one or two. This helps us from digging deep and aids us in keeping things afloat! Just a little shameless huckstering from the powers that be!

Have a Safe Christmas

Scott

Merry Christmas Gabbers!

That's right -- I said Merry Christmas. See, I'm not what you would consider "politically correct". In fact, I'm quite the opposite. See, I don't see what the point is in trying to train our society to do everything humanly possible to ensure that no one is offended by anything we say or do. If you are offended by me saying "Merry Christmas" then the problem's with you, not me.

And while we're on the subject of political correctness, can we please get this straightened out to where it's not blatantly offensive to people who wish to celebrate the Christian holiday of Christmas? Apparently, celebrating Christmas is such a disturbance that a local fire station here in Charleston isn't even allowed to have a nativity scene as a decoration, for fear that it may offend someone.

Now, I don't really care if the fire station wants to have the nativity scene or not. It doesn't make any difference to me. My problem with this is simple: had this been a menorah, or a Kinara, or an aluminum pole -- we wouldn't be having this controversy. Those items would have been allowed to stand with no trouble. But, don't let anybody put out a nativity scene -- you know, the symbol of what the holiday was originally about -- we just can't have that because we don't want to offend anyone. I guess it's okay to offend people who actually celebrate the Christian holiday of Christmas (you know, the majority of people in this country), just as long as the 5% of people who may actually be offended are happy and don't get their feelings hurt.

It doesn't matter to me if you are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Rastafarian, Agnostic, Atheist, or if you follow a religion that you made up yourself -- I really don't care. As an American you are free to worship whatever you want, and it is sad that the country that was built upon the foundation of religious and personal freedom has come to the point where it's okay to be anything you want to be, as long as you're not a Christian, because being a Christian is offensive to a select few people (yet, being politically correct is offensive to a heck of a lot more people, but it's still okay to be PC -- I just don't get it).

Anyway, back to my point. If any of you guys don't celebrate Christmas, then Merry Christmas anyway. And, I'm not saying this to be offensive, and I'm not saying this to be argumenative -- it's just that I grew up saying Merry Christmas, and it's engrained into my brain to say it that way. Happy Holidays just hasn't registered with me yet, and it probably never will -- it just doesn't put me in the same spirit as Merry Christmas does. I guess I'm old fashioned, but I don't care. I'm just being me.

Of course, Christmas isn't the only holiday that I celebrate this time of year, and as most of us here at the Gab did I celebrated Festivus and was fortunate to be present at the Gab Awards ceremony. That is until I was brutally attacked by some of Sully's family members with a ping-pong paddle. Now, I'm not supposed to talk about it because my attorney, the one and only Jackie Chiles Esq. (suggested by Harry) instructed me to keep quiet about the details of the incident along with any details about the potential lawsuit that will be filed. Even though I'm not supposed to talk about it, I will say this: justice will be served. The innocent will not be denied his day in court, and me and my legal team will pull out all the stops to ensure that this situation is resolved.

On a serious note: congratulations to Beeze and IHM. You guys are two of the best bloggers we have here, and you deserved the recognition that was awarded to you. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading everything that you two guys have produced here, and I look forward to reading many more rants from the two of you in the future.

I truly hope that everyone here has the best Christmas holiday possible, and I hope you all take this time to spend it with those who are the most important. Take time to tell those around you how much you care about them, because you never know when the time will come when you will no longer have that opportunity.

A special Merry Christmas and thank you to the men and women overseas serving our country: you guys deserve a holiday break more than any of us, and it is my hope that you may have the best holiday possible given the circumstances you are in.

Take it easy everyone, and I'll see you back here on New Year's Eve. I'm gonna go grab a few cold ones now, it will make putting those toys together a hell of a lot more interesting...

Until next Thursday...

  I wrote this last year right around Christmas...And it being the season of giving, why not share it with the Gabbers...

Back for more Tales from the Fish House? This week I thought with it being the season of giving, I would share some tales from the many company Christmas parties the Fish House has had.

We've all heard the stories of office Christmas parties, where the boss is nailing his secretary, and the hot insecure chick is walking around with mistletoe just to be sure that guys pay attention, and keep her self-esteem up....Eventually she'll go home with one of them, or just go to a bathroom stall and get used, and continue to feel insecure...Then there's the creepy dude from the mail room...But this year some chick is going to get to know him. Really get to know the inner him...until she gets hammered, and then all she knows is he got in her, and everyone knows it.

Well Fish House parties weren't much different...I say weren't because the rich guys stopped having them when the realized they could make more money if they're open on Christmas Eve, instead of throwing a party for their hard working employees....But we had some good ones....I'm just gonna throw some examples at ya....But before that.....

You have to understand many of us in our youth really liked to drink, and maybe even liked to try out some drugs. Restaurant people work in restaurants because the white collar world frowns on us....Why? Because we don't hide our vices, and we tend to speak our mind....and we think sexual harassment is bullshit. That said on with the tales.....

One of the first things I think about, when I think about the good ole days is one of the owners of the Fish House, dressed up like Santa, with a bottle of vodka in one hand, and a 2' bong in the other, and a server, dressed like a slutty elf grinding on him....My how he's changed.

Then there was the GM who's wife was upstairs looking for him at the party, while he banging a server in the office...many of the staff members knew about this, because they kept going into the office to steal his blow, and watch the show...Everyone seemed to forget to tell him his wife was there. I was sitting with the kitchen manager at doing shots of whiskey, as we did a little play-by-play of the festivities.

There was one year I was getting sh!t faced with this server, and she is just going on, and on about being engaged, and she doesn't really love him, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah....So after many drinks I got her to re-think this whole thing...She came home with me and spent Christmas Eve with the Beeze...She later broke things off with him, but we were just a X-mas Eve one-nighter... She his happily married to an old friend of mine now....See everything works itself out.

I remember one year, one of the owners wives coming up to me with mistletoe....Yeah, she was that chick....and yeah we made it to a stall...I did what I had to do, and so did she....I didn't feel bad about it at all...You want to know why? Her old man was in the stall next to us with a server....Fucking freaks!!!

I think that should give you an idea...hell I'm getting a chubby just remembering all this sh!t.

Alright, how about another recipe....

You're gonna need party ryes for this one. (see previous post)

This is a Corned Beef and Swiss Appetizer.

1pkg (8oz) Philly Cream Cheese (softened)

2 t. Grey Poupon

1/4 lb. corned beef (chopped)

1/2 cup Kraft Shredde Swiss Cheese

2 T chopped green onion

Party ryes

Pre-heat broiler.

Beat cream cheese, and mustard in medium bowl with electric mixer. medium speed. Blend well.

Add corned beef, swiss cheese, and onion. Mix well. Spread onto party ryes.

Place on baking sheet, broil for 3 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Merry Christmas....Keep cooking, and keep Fucking.

Later, The BEEZE.