Sonny Werblin facts for kids

Sonny Werblin (born March 17, 1910, died November 21, 1991) was a very important person in entertainment and sports. He owned the New York Jets football team and led Madison Square Garden. He also built and ran the huge Meadowlands Sports Complex.

Werblin was born in Brooklyn, New York. He went to Rutgers University. In 1932, he started working for Music Corporation of America (MCA). He was so good at his job that by 1951, he became the president of MCA's television part.

At MCA, Werblin became famous for finding and helping talented people. He worked with many big stars in music, movies, and television. In the 1950s and 1960s, Werblin led a team that created TV shows for all three major networks. This was possible because he was so good at managing the stars who appeared in these shows. Many popular TV shows were made under his leadership at MCA.

His power in the entertainment world was so big that people called him "Mr. Show Biz." However, in 1962, other companies in the entertainment industry took legal action against him and MCA. After this, MCA's ability to manage stars was greatly reduced by new rules.

Werblin left MCA and soon found a new exciting project: the American Football League (AFL). He completely changed professional sports, and his impact is still felt today. Because of his old connections at NBC (National Broadcasting Company), he was able to get a TV contract for the AFL all by himself. This quickly made the AFL almost as popular as the older NFL. This also helped create the Super Bowl as a huge TV event.

Sonny Werblin helped create the idea of a "Sports Star" as we know it today. His first big "star" was New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath. Under Werblin's guidance in the mid-1960s, Namath became the most famous athlete in America. Werblin also hired football scout and coach Wilbur "Weeb" Ewbank for his Jets team. Werblin chose the team's name and colors. Ewbank quickly helped the Jets become a top team, just like he had done for the NFL Baltimore Colts in the 1950s.

In 1938, Sonny Werblin married Leah Ray Hubbard (1915–1999). Leah Ray was a well-known singer during the Big Band era. She sang with famous orchestras like Tommy Dorsey's and Phil Harris's. She also acted in more than ten movies. In 1936, she was in a short film called Double or Nothing, which was nominated for an Academy Award. She met Sonny Werblin while performing with Phil Harris's orchestra. They were married for over fifty years until Sonny's death in 1991.

Sonny Werblin died from a heart attack on November 21, 1991. He was 81 years old. He passed away at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. He had homes in Manhattan, Miami, Florida, and Rumson, New Jersey.

Building Sports Empires

Sonny Werblin was a key figure in building major sports businesses. He made big changes to how sports teams and stadiums were run.

Leading the New York Jets

In 1963, Sonny Werblin and his business partners bought the American Football League (AFL) team, the Titans of New York. The team's first owner was Harry Wismer. Werblin changed the team's name to the Jets. He also drafted Matt Snell in the first round and convinced him to join the Jets instead of the NFL's Giants.

His biggest success came in 1965 when he signed University of Alabama quarterback Joe Namath. Namath had also been drafted by the NFL St. Louis Cardinals. Werblin paid $427,000 to sign him. Werblin and Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis did not want to pay a special fee that the NFL was asking for. This fee was $100,000 each year for twenty years. Other AFL owners agreed to the terms, which also meant changing the AFL's name and logo.

Werblin was bought out by the Jets' owners before the 1968 season. That season, the team went on to win Super Bowl III. They beat the Baltimore Colts in one of the biggest upsets in sports history. Some sports writers later joked that there was a "Curse of Sonny Werblin" on the team because he was fired.

Creating the Meadowlands Complex

Sonny Werblin was the person who built the huge Meadowlands Sports Complex. This complex is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. He managed the complex from 1971 to 1977.

When it was announced that the New York Giants football team would start playing at the new Giants Stadium in 1976, a reporter asked Werblin about a New York team playing in New Jersey. Werblin famously explained the area's geography by saying, "If you pave the Hudson River it becomes 13th Avenue."

Leading Madison Square Garden

In 1978, Werblin became the head of Madison Square Garden and its properties. This included famous sports teams like the New York Rangers (hockey) and the New York Knicks (basketball). In 1984, he stopped managing the daily operations of Madison Square Garden. However, he remained the chairman of its board of directors.

Thoroughbred Horse Racing

Sonny and Leah Werblin also owned and raced Thoroughbred horses. Their horse farm was called Elberon Farm. They had many successes in racing. Their young male horse, Silent Screen, was named the best two-year-old male horse in America in 1969. Their young female horse, Process Shot, was named the co-best two-year-old female horse in America in 1968.

Sonny Werblin was also a major owner and board member of Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. It's interesting to note that the first four co-owners of the New York Jets were all people he knew from horse racing. They were quiet partners in the Jets, letting Werblin use his famous skills to handle the press and develop sports stars.

Giving Back to the Community

Sonny Werblin and his wife created the David and Leah Ray Werblin Foundation. This foundation gives money to Rutgers University, other charities, and cultural activities. Rutgers University built the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center on its Busch Campus. This center is near High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. It has weight-training areas and the university's main pools for water sports.

See also

• American Football League players, coaches and contributors