NFL great Max McGee dead at 75

October 21, 2007 12:52 AM

Max McGee was not expected to play in Superbowl I. He ended up catching 7 catches for 138 yard and two touchdowns including the first ever in Superbowl history. After retiring he became one of the most popular broadcasters the team ever had. He also was one of the founders of Chi-chi's restaurant. He died from a fall on Saturday. He was 75.
posted by Bonzai (14 comments total)

The "popular broadcasters" link has some of his calls from near the end of his career (which included the Packers Superbowl XXXI victory) check them out, he was great.
posted by Bonzai at 12:55 AM on October 21, 2007

I had no idea that Chi-chi's had gone out of business after the Hepatitis outbreak. That's what I got out of this post.
posted by allen.spaulding at 1:07 AM on October 21, 2007

Fond childhood memories of Chi-chi's, a 'Mexican' restaurant where the spiciest thing on the menu was the cinnamon on the fried ice cream.
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:55 AM on October 21, 2007

every once in awhile, vince lombardi's packers would lose a game, and the next morning in the locker room, coach lombardi would get back to basics; (holding up football) "this, team, is a football."

and max mcgee would say "not so fast, coach, not so fast."
posted by bruce at 7:42 AM on October 21, 2007 [1 favorite]

I used to go to Chi-chi's in college. I had no idea it had closed either. Fortunately, their corn cake lives on, at least in my kitchen.
posted by textilephile at 7:46 AM on October 21, 2007

I worked at Chi-Chi's for two years while in high school. It really should have been closed the whole time and I have no idea how the place ever passed health inspection. Granted I have no frame of reference as to the cleanliness of other restaurants, but I thought it was pretty disgusting.
posted by fusinski at 8:08 AM on October 21, 2007

I remember that, for some mysterious reason, they called their burritos "burros." Isn't that a donkey? So, I'm eating donkey on a tasty flour tortilla?
posted by MythMaker at 9:48 AM on October 21, 2007

Jerry Kramer played for those great 60s Packers teams along with McGee. His book, Instant Replay, was one of my favorite childhood books. Not sure how well it holds up now, but thanks for fond memories, Bonzai.
posted by Kwine at 9:58 AM on October 21, 2007

At least we still have Chi-Chi's corn cake.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:49 AM on October 21, 2007

That Super Bowl catch was one of the most spectacular one-handed grabs you will ever see. There's a lot more about McGee . He hadn't expected to play, much less star in Super Bowl I and he was so hung over he had left his helmet in the locker room.

Truly one of the greats.
posted by notmtwain at 6:57 PM on October 21, 2007

I spent countless fall afternoons listening to Max and Jim Irwin call Packer games.

Thanks, Max!!
posted by DieHipsterDie at 7:07 PM on October 21, 2007

.
posted by mimi at 6:49 AM on October 22, 2007

MythMaker, burrito just means little donkey. Supposedly the word originates from Sonora gold miners whose wives packed them lunch in a tortilla package.
posted by BrotherCaine at 6:01 PM on October 23, 2007

I worked at Chi-Chi's as a bartender for five years, right up until it closed-- And I just found out about Max McGee the week before he died. How random.
posted by mdbell79 at 8:46 AM on October 26, 2007