Tatum takes the count....

[ChargerMike]

Haven't seen this posted, but then I didn't look too hard. If it's GD, it won't be the first time


Jack Tatum, a three-time Pro Bowler with the Oakland Raiders and a star at Ohio State, died Tuesday of a heart attack, according to multiple reports. Tatum was 61.

A first-round pick by Oakland in the 1971 draft (No. 18 overall), Tatum earned a reputation as one of the hardest hitters to ever play in the NFL -- a fact played out in his nickname, "The Assassin."

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault," Tatum once said.

His hit on Sammy White in Super Bowl XI, a game won 32-14 by the Raiders, still endures on NFL highlight reels. Tatum's most punishing tackle, though, came on Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley during a 1978 preseason game. As Stingly went up for a pass, Tatum delivered a crunching blow high, paralyzing Stingly.

Tatum also played a role in one of sports' most famous plays, "The Immaculate Reception," Franco Harris' dramatic playoff game-winning touchdown catch for the Steelers. It was Tatum's hit on Pittsburgh's Frenchy Fuqua that redirected a Terry Bradshaw pass into Harris' arms. Harris went on to score a touchdown to give the Steelers a 12-7 victory.

After nine years with the Raiders, Tatum was traded to Houston in 1980, then retired following the season.

Tatum was a three-time first-team All-Big Ten player for Woody Hayes' Buckeyes from 1968-70 and twice earned All-America honors.



"We have lost one of our greatest Buckeyes," current Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said in a statement. "When you think of Ohio State defense, the first name that comes to mind is Jack Tatum. His loss touches every era of Ohio State players and fans."

After retiring from the NFL, Tatum battled with diabetes, a disease that wound up forcing the amputation of all five toes on his left foot, then later his right leg.

[L45B]

Truly one of the greatest defensive backs ever to play the game. And one of the all-time greats to play at Ohio State.

[poptart]

Amazing how often "Oh, Jack Tatum," is said when a Raider fan is asked who his all-time favorite player is.

Not only the consumate ASS KICKER as a safety, but the guy was just a GREAT player.

[War Wagon]

He was one mean SOB back in the day when the Raiders were actually feared and respected.

RIP

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

Good riddance. I hope he died a painful death.

It would have been nice to see someone tear off his prosthetic leg and beat him to death with it...

[ChargerMike]

^^^^^^^ a Darell Stingly fan?

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

Don't have an issue with the hit. Never did. It's Tatum's fucking scumbag way in which this motherfucker handled the hit afterwards. The only time he ever contacted Stingley afterwards was to try and promote a book or something other way to profit off of the hit. "Hey Stingley, I have a booksigning tomorrow. Mind showing up so I can knock you out of your wheelchair, piss on your face and sell some books?" Tatum was the lowest form of life on earth. I hope he died a painful death. Fuck him.




A few years ago, representatives of Tatum proposed a reconciliation with Stingley to be televised on Fox. Stingley was all for it until late Globe sportswriter Will McDonough called and told him Tatum was coming out with a new book and wanted to use the interview to boost sales.

If ever bitterness was going to overtake Stingley, that would have been the day. That incident changed his point of view, but it didn't change him. It didn't harden his heart. All it did was change the meaning of reconciliation for him.

"Each time we've been contacted by people representing Jack, there always turned out to be another agenda," Sands said. "If Tatum contacted Darryl or me to talk, Darryl would be more than willing to do it. But not for the media. Not for money. Darryl is rightfully cynical about that now."

Not long ago, Stingley was approached by Deion Sanders about sitting down with Tatum for such a meeting to be shown as part of CBS's football pregame package. Sanders told Stingley he was a Christian man, too, and perhaps it would do a lot of people filled with bitterness some good to see how he had handled an incident that changed his life without filling him with hate.

"I told him if they showed up at my door without a camera then we could have some real healing," Stingley said. "This is a world built on hype. Selling newspapers. TV ratings. Those are real. But in my world what's important is to have a forgiving nature. I was always ready for reconciliation with Jack Tatum. I was willing to do it once before until we learned at the final hour that it was about selling a new book. That changed my mind. I could not allow anybody to capitalize on my situation any more.

"I could not understand why a person would still take that approach so many years later. How could he try to take advantage of the situation again? How could he not feel serious regret or remorse for what happened?

"If he called me today, I'd answer. If he came to my house, I'd open my door to him. All I ever wanted was for him to acknowledge me as a human being. I just wanted to hear from him if he felt sorry or not. It's not like I'm unreachable. But it's not a phone call I'll be waiting for anymore."

But if Stingley's prayers for Tatum are answered, the call will come, and if it does, he'll answer because even though his legs were stilled 25 years ago, his heart beats on.

"Maybe this setback will let him take a walk in faith," Stingley said. "Maybe it will unlock his jaw and make him pick up a phone. That night he created for me a life he knows nothing about. Now life and God have taught me to have compassion for that person. If I thought it would help him, I would print my phone number right in your newspaper. If he wants to just sneak me an e-mail he can send one to http://www.DarrylStingleyFoundation.com.

"What happened to me 25 years ago will never be forgotten but you can't hold on to bitterness. I can't do much of anything alone but I've been able to put my existence into perspective. I'm not perfect. I get angry. I lash out. But I choose not to hate. It's such a cliche to hate. How can I benefit from that?

"The whole thing about life is it's a trial, but I know why I'm here and I know who I am. When I chose to forgive Jack Tatum years ago, I chose to believe he was tormented, too. Maybe he needed forgiveness. I never got to tell him that, but it can't rain forever.

"I'm one of God's children. Jack Tatum is one of God's children, too. We both have crosses to bear. For each of us there's always a battle between the good side and the bad side. Sometimes the bad side wins. Sometimes the good. It's up to us to make the choice. I choose to believe in God."

Darryl Stingley also chooses to believe in something else. He chooses to believe the phone will ring one day and Jack Tatum will be on the other end. If it does, he'll choose to say "hello" and see where it leads.

[mvscal]

Tatum was the lowest form of life on earth. I hope he died a painful death. Fuck him.

RACK. Tatum wrote the book on being a classless fuck knob. Fortunately, he was turned into worm shit one toe and one leg at a time.

Burn in hell, cocksucker.

[Paul]

I'll miss TAJT....he was a well-respected poster here. RIP

[Go Coogs']

That fucking trainwreck between him and Earl Campbell at the goal line was beyond viscious. I think both players lost two years apiece on their careers after that hit.