Darryl Stingley, RIP

[Dan Gould]

It happened when I was a kid, so I never really heard informed commentary about whether it was a clean hit or not, or whether Jack Tatum was that dirty of a player ... but Stingley died in Chicago today.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/arti...stern_hospital/

[Chuck Nessa]

He was a jazz fan and used to show up regularly backstage at the Chicago Jazz Festival. He seemed like a really nice guy.

[Man with the Golden Arm]

damn ... I remember that well. RIP

Tatum was good - esp with the Buckeyes, but he was nasty. That whole Raider outfit then was something else.

[Chalupa]

Re:Tatum's hit.

At the time it was a legal hit but I think if he did it today he would be getting a serious fine. Regardless, the thing that bugged me about the whole incident, besides Stingley's paralysis, was that Tatum never spoke to Stingley afterwards. I don't know if an apology was needed but I think he could have reached out, as one fellow human being to another, and tried to show some sympathy to Stingley. He never did. On the contrary he started referring to himself as "The Assassin".

Edited April 5, 2007 by Chalupa

[zen archer]

It was an Exhibition game !!!.....They said that John Madden made contact with Stingley a lot

and if he missed a call he would apologize.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

It was an exhibition game and the ball was waaaaay overthrown. Stingley let up. Everyone relaxed. Tatum creamed Stingley from behind, well after the ball sailed over both of the players' heads. Afterward, as they took Stingley off on a stretcher, clearly messed up for a long time, Tatum was laughing and high-fiving his teamates.

Jack Tatum is a slimy human being. Karma's getting back at Jack though. He lost both his legs to diabetes. Now he's in a wheel chair.

I thought about high-fiving someone when I read that, but that would put me on his level of slime.

[connoisseur series500]

I remember the hit. I can't remember whether I was watching the game or not, but they played the hit on TV. It devastated the Patriot season. I agree that Tatum's attitude was execrable afterwards, and I even remember reading his book where he glossed over the hit. Raiders were a dirty team back then, although Lester Hayes wasn't a bad guy. He was famous for using a lot of stick em on his hands.

That Tatum hit along with the bogus call in that 70s playoff game, which prevented NE from moving on to the Super Bowl exemplifies the evilness of that team. (Where's Noj?) The tuck rule game served only as partial retribution. We still owe that team something nasty. (Where's Noj?)

[Noj]

We owe you miserable cheating Pats NOTHING!

Seriously, sad story. I was barely a sentient being when this occurred and wouldn't defend Tatum's actions. I always hate to see players on any team get hurt. I will add that it's funny how some players get labelled "dirty" while other assassins such as Rodney Harrison are held in reverence.

[connoisseur series500]

We owe you miserable cheating Pats NOTHING!

Seriously, sad story. I was barely a sentient being when this occurred and wouldn't defend Tatum's actions. I always hate to see players on any team get hurt. I will add that it's funny how some players get labelled "dirty" while other assassins such as Rodney Harrison are held in reverence.

Who, Rodney? "Assassin?" Huh? Go get em' Rodney!