R.I.P.
DARRYL STINGLEY
September 18, 1951 – April 5, 2005
Born on the west side of Chicago, Darryl played running back at
John Marshall High School. He was offered a scholarship to play football at
Purdue University where he was converted to a wide receiver.
He played at Purdue from 1970 until 1972. He received his bachelor degree in 1992 in a commencement ceremony which was described as
“stirring.”In 2004 Stingley returned to Purdue to be inducted into the
Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame."The Purdue family has lost one of its treasured heroes in Darryl Stingley," athletics director Morgan J. Burke said.
"His strength and courage will never be forgotten. On behalf of the entire university, our thoughts and prayers are with his family."In 1973, Stingley was the first round draft choice of the
New England Patriots of the NFL. He played for the team from 1973 until 1977.
During a 1978 pre-season game against the
Oakland Raiders, Stingley was running a crossing pattern. As he went into the air to catch a pass he took a violent hit from the elbow of
Jack “The Assassin” Tatum. Stingley fell to the ground immediately.
He had to be taken off the field on a stretcher and in the coming days it was learned that he had broken his fourth and fifth vertebra and was a quadriplegic.
Over the years he gained some use of his right arm which allowed him to use an electric wheelchair.
Tatum never apologized for the hit, continuing to claim it was a
“clean hit.” In 1980 he wrote a book titled
“They Call Me Assassin” and tried to contact Stingley. Stingley refused to speak to him.
In 1983 on the 25th Anniversary of the hit, HBO tried to get both men into the studio to discuss the play. Again, Stingley refused calling the event a “publicity stunt.”
Stingley became the Director of Player Development for the Patriots. In 1983 Stingley co-authored his memoir entitled
“Happy To be Alive” with
Mark Mulvoy.
In 1993 he started a non-profit organization to assist troubled youths in the Chicago area.
He was pronounced dead yesterday at
Northwestern Memorial Hospital after being found in his home unresponsive. The cause of death has been attributed to heart disease and pneumonia complicated by quadriplegia.
Stingley is survived by his wife
Martine and three sons;
Hank, John and
Derek, who plays defensive back for the
Albany Firebirds in the Arena Football League.
THE COUCH NOTE: Jack Tatum would eventually face his own disability as his left leg was amputated below the knee in 2003 due to a staph infection caused by diabetes. Tatum also suffered from an arterial blockage that almost cost him his right leg. He currently uses a prosthetic leg to walk around or a wheelchair. Tatum currently works in increasing awareness of diabetes. To facilitate this goal, he created the Ohio-based Jack Tatum Fund for Youthful Diabetes, which finances diabetes research. Prior to Super Bowl XL, ESPN Andrea Kremer did an interview with Tatum confirming that he still has few regrets about paralyzing Stingley.All of
New England is patting themselves on the back today. The Red Sox bid
$51,111,111.00 just to get negotiating rights to
“Dice-K” and then signed him to a
$52,000,000.00 contract.
The
Red Sox $103,000,000.00 pitcher
Daisuke Matsuzaka stuck out 10 hitters in 7 innings and helped the Red Sox win 4-1 yesterday.
Pretty impressive outing …
EXCEPT IT WAS AGAINST THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS!!!!!The Royals went 61-100 in 2006; 56-106 in 2005 and 58-104 in 2004.Sheesh…. It was the KANSAS CITY ROYALS!
Take a cold shower Red Sox Nation.
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Finally,
George Carlin gives us his take on
Baseball vs.
FootballOur friend
Anndi, who is on the way with her
Chicklet to
CT to meet up
with
MaryFly and
Bug to see
Taylor Hicks will have a ball
(pun intended) with this.
CREDITS:DARRYL STINGLEY VIDEOWBZ RadioGil SantoCINDERELLA BOYFrom the movie CADDYSHACKBill MurrayWritten by: Brian Doyle MurrayHarold Ramis & Bill MurrayREAL MEN OF GENIUSMr. Golf Ball Washer InventorCreated By: Bob WinterTalent: Pete SlackerAnheuser BuschTALKING BASEBALL - BOSTON RED SOXTerry CashmanComposer: Terry CashmanFOOTBALL vs. BASEBALLGeorge CarlinHEADERVEM2007
