In the mid-1960s, the Lions served as the backdrop for the sports literature of George Plimpton, who spent time in the Lions training camp masquerading as a player. This was the basic material for his book "Paper Lion", later made into a movie starring Alan Alda plus a number of actual Lions players, including Alex Karras. On November 22, 1963, William Clay Ford Sr. purchased a controlling interest in the team for $4.5 million. During Ford's ownership tenure, which extended to his death in 2014, the Lions won just a single playoff game. Detroit's luck came to an end in 1963 as the team fell apart, finishing 5–8–1. A betting scandal involving Alex Karras and Packers running back Paul Hornung, which led to both players being suspended for the 1963 season, also played a part in the Lions' collapse. The team would improve the next year, finishing 7–5–2. Despite this, they missed the playoffs.