What is the title a reference to ? What is "Forty" ? I would guess that there were 40 players on the Bulls, but they specifically mention that there are 45 players on the Bulls.
So what is the title a reference to ?
The "north 40" is an old term for the northen 40 acres of a standard 160 acre homestead lot back in the land rush days. "North Dallas" is the most affluent part of Dallas, Texas, and is the setting of the fictional Bulls. So "North Dallas 40" is a play on words, or a pun comprising of these terms.
"Dadoo4050: and who, disguised as a mild-mannered schoolteacher. . ."
oh wow - thanks dadoo. I would have never guessed that !
According to Gently, it was a reference to the 40 black players who could only live in the northern part of Dallas
I'll just stand over here being happy
Way back then north Dallas forty is what the Cowboys players called the practice fields and the land around them because they were like rural pastures. North40 or back 40 is an old farming term.
These days the Cowboys have a huge complex out there surrounded by housing developments.
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Don't make me stop this car!
Actually....maybe people should read the book. The offices are located in North Dallas, as he refers to time and again. During his first trip there, he mentions there are 40 front office suits that work for the team in that building. Seems pretty obvious to me that's what this book is about.
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Actually I did read the book. The question is how did Gent get the title and he said in this interview that he remember that 40 black players could not live anywhere else but in North Dallas. So he got the name from there.
I'll just stand over here being happy
That may be what Gent said, but it cannot be correct because:
(1) in those days and NFL team had 40 players TOTAL, regardless of race, and
(2) blacks were initially segregated into South Dallas, which remains a predominantly African-American section of the city.
North Dallas was then, as now, a mostly-white, affluent section. Black politicians in Dallas refer to white supporters as "Friends from the North."
"And me? I go on to become a big star in Italian Westerns."
You have to remember Gent is a burn out so what he says and what is the truth do not always mix
I'll just stand over here being happy