RIP Darryl Stingley

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070405/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_obit_stingley_2

CHICAGO - Former New England Patriot receiver Darryl Stingley, who was paralyzed after a hard hit during an NFL exhibition game nearly 30 years ago, has died. He was 55.

Stingley was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital early Thursday after he was found unresponsive in his home, according to Tony Brucci an investigator with the Cook County medical examiner's office.

An autopsy was scheduled. The cause of death was not immediately available.

Stingley played football until August 12, 1978, when the 26-year-old receiver went up for a pass during an exhibition game and was hit from behind by
Oakland Raiders' safety Jack Tatum. The hit broke Stingley's neck and left him a quadriplegic for life.

Stingley was born and raised in Chicago. He was a star running back at John Marshall High School. He attended Purdue on a football scholarship.

In 1973, he was a first-round draft pick of the Patriots, owned by Robert Kraft.

"On behalf of the Kraft family and the entire Patriots organization, we're deeply saddened by news of Darryl Stingley's death, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Stingley family at this time," said team spokesman Stacey James.

 

Dayum....

How do you feel today, Jack Tatum?

RIP

 

Tatum never apologized for the hit. He said it was part of the game and I understand that to an extent. But at one point, you would think that he would've shown compassion.
Ironically, Tatum had a limb removed because of diabetes.
In a side note, wikipedia has already updated his bio. I am impressed.

 

According to this article, Tatum has lost both legs. As a former friend of mine used to say, God don't like ugly.

<http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-070405stingley,1,7458320.story?ctrack=1&cset=true>
Tatum suffered his own setbacks, eventually losing his left leg to diabetes and his right leg to an arterial blockage.

Tatum wrote a book, "They Call Me Assassin," celebrating his reputation as a vicious hitter.

 

Stingley is the next-to-worst case scenario for every football player. Have the Patriots retired his number or anything like that?

RIP

 

Ron Santo lost limbs, too.

What did he do?

Leave fucking God out of this stuff.

 

After the game in which he was paralyzed - the only NFL person to visit him in the hospital was John Madden who was then the coach of the Raiders. I've always respected Madden for that and have always been disgusted that the Patriots under the Sullivan's were such a group that would rather rush to make the flight home than to see a crippled teammate in the hospital.

I also take issue with the linked article because it makes it seem like Robert Kraft owned the team back when Stingley was paralyzed.

 

Jeebus... what would be the worst-case scenario?

I'll never forget that 1979 season opener against the defending NFL champ Steelers at Shaefer Stadium when Darryl was in the club seats.

Don't know if I have ever seen such an outpouring of emotion from fans.

It's sad, sad.

But it was a legal hit by Jack Tatum.

He certainly shouldn't have apologized for it.

 

From a 2003 KR article by Dennis Georgatos

-----------
Tatum, 54, played until 1980, but friends say his approach to the game was never the same after the hit on Stingley. They said he also became more withdrawn and continues to feel anguish over Stingley's fate.

"It affected him big-time," said George Atkinson, who played alongside Tatum in the Raiders secondary. "I mean, I saw Wendell Tyler run over Jack not long afterward, and that just didn't happen before. His game was different. He was not as aggressive."

Madden said after Stingley's injury, Tatum "went into a shell. It's a burden he's had for a long time."

Tatum, who is battling serious health problems that included the recent amputation of his left leg because of circulatory complications related to diabetes, could not be reached for comment. He wrote that he was shattered by the thought "my tackle broke another man's neck and killed his future" in his autobiography, "They Call Me Assassin."

In a sequel to the book, Tatum added, "I'm sorry that I can't change events, sorry that it happened, sorry that he didn't jump up, sorry that nothing I ever do or say will make it better."

But Tatum hasn't expressed those thoughts to Stingley. The two haven't spoken to each other since the tragedy.

For his part, Stingley said he let go any bitter feelings toward Tatum years ago.

"I've had a lot of time to heal and think," he said.

 

You're right...I noticed that too. Kraft was still a season ticket holder back then.

 

In my estimation, dying on the field.

 

Good sir, we shall agree to disagree then.

Having someone wipe my ass, put on my clothing, make my meals... never to be able to get a hard-on.... for 30 years is the ultimate prison sentence to this observer.

Let me be Chuck Hughes over Darryl Stingley any day of the week.