BlitzChick

Once the first word hit the media, the news spread quickly amongst the Raider Nation.

I know fans texted, called, twittered and posted the news that left us all reeling. John David Tatum, known as Jack Tatum , passed away from a heart attack at 61 years of age.

When I read it, I didn't want to believe it. I searched the internet to locate something, anything, that would lead me to draw a Samuel Clemensesque finding that the rumors of his death were an exaggeration.

This is not the turn of the century. No reporter was sent miles to investigate. This is the information age where the news takes minutes, rather than weeks to determine. No amount of denial , no amount of hope for misinformation could hide the truth.

The NFL's one and only "Assassin" is no longer with us. That trying to pin point the origin of the nickname is an impossibility means nothing to us that watched him play.

Where does one start eulogizing a childhood hero that one has met, spoken to, but could not call friend?

Details of his life are everywhere.

He was born November 18, 1948 and died July 27, 2010.

Though he was born in Cherryville, North Carolina, he grew up in Passaic, New Jersey. Though some players had a deep love for the game from a young age, Jack didn't start playing football until his sophomore year at Passaic High School. Like most high school athletes, he played multiple positions: running back, fullback and defensive back.

As far as college goes, Ohio State wanted him as a running back. If one wondered about his speed, yes, he was fast. At 5' 11", 205 lbs (though one web site has him at 5'10" and 200 lbs.), and in full pads, he could cover the 100 yards of a football field in roughly 10 seconds.

At the urging of Lou Holtz , Buckeyes HC Woody Hayes turned the very promising running back into a defensive back that covered the best wide receivers, and saw time at linebacker. His hits leveled the biggest fullbacks and tight ends college ball had to offer. He earned All -Big Ten honors '68 -'70. He was named All American in '69 and '70, unanimously. His name was mentioned in the same breath as the words "Heisman Trophy". The Buckeyes' record with Jack as a defensive starter was 27-2. Tack on a National Championship victory, too.

As recognition for what Jack accomplished as a player, he was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in '81 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

Ever hear of the "Jack Tatum Hit of the Week Award?" That was introduced to the Ohio State football program back in 2001 by coach Jim Tressell. Obviously it was awarded to the player with the best defensive hit of a game. Not defensive play. Defensive HIT.

He did more than hit his opponents. He drove through them. They were like those water filled plastic cans one sees as a barrier on highways. A car plows through them, they explode. Jack hit his opposition, they fell, flipped, tumbled and sometimes somersaulted. Hard. Because that's what every collision was like with Jack Tatum. Hard.

On the field, he never half-assed a play. He never went through the motions. Every game counted. Every play counted. He gave everything he had every play. And to the best of his ability. While Jack himself said "I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault", his most well known hits were clean and within the rules. During his tenure as a Raider, Oiler and even his post NFL career, he was often vilified for his ability.


He started his NFL career after being drafted number number 19 overall in the 1st round of the 1971 draft by the Raiders. He started in 106 games and played in 120 games as a Raider, and played in another 16 games in his final season as a Houston Oiler. He finished is career with 37 interceptions, for 736 yards with a long of 66 yards. His 104 yard fumble return for a touchdown remains an NFL record, though Aeneas Williams tied it not long ago.

These numbers earned him Pro Bowl honors 3 consecutive years, '73-'75. In '73 he was named Defensive Back of the Year by Football Digest. From '73-'77 he was an ALL-AFC selection. He was second team All Pro in'74 and '77.

He earned everyone of those honors.

Yet some of those in the media used their position to try to re-write history and lies about Jack. Especially when it comes to the hit on New England Patriot Darryl Stingley, may he rest in peace. In what has been one of the most talked about hits in professional sports, anyone that has watched tape of the hit knows it was clean.

One of the biggest problems those involved in the media had with Jack regarding this incident was that he never apologized to Mr. Stingley.

Jack's position remained that he shouldn't apologize for doing his job, and on a clean hit. I remember an interview where he alluded to not being happy that Darryl Stingley was paralyzed, but that isn't the same thing as apologizing for the hit itself. I, like most Raiders fans, understand this. I may do things that adversely affect my clients/customers at work, but it is my job. I have no animosity towards them. If they call me I explain and say what happened and wish them luck. I don't seek them out and say "I'm sorry I did my job well." It was just an unfortunate and unlucky coincidence that the hit, coupled with the fact that Stingley was laying himself out for the poorly thrown ball, that caused the injury. No one has blamed the quarterback for the ball being where it was. That was why Stingley was even hit.

Jack didn't pull punches. His books , "They Call Me assassin", "They Still Call Me Assassin" and "Final Confessions of NFL Assassin Jack Tatum" were best sellers. He calls out the NFL for its deficiencies of the times as he saw them.

But I remember him for his hits. I remember watching him play knowing that there were very few battles that Jack couldn't win. Didn't help us against the Steelers when the ball bounced off Frenchie Fuqua in the game called "The Immaculate Reception". (Should be the Immaculate Deception.) I was a teenager when I watched my beloved Raiders finally get into the big dance to square off against the Minnesota Vikings. The irony that the Raiders were in the Super Bowl and soundly beat the franchise that they should have been was lost on me at the time. But not now. I loved watching that hit on Sammy White. I have an autographed photo of it.

(John Vella, former offensive lineman for the Raiders, had a Jack Tatum Day in August of 2003 to try to help raise money after Jack lost part of his foot as the result of a staph infection, a complication from diabetes. He later lost his leg and wore a prosthetic leg. It was because of this Jack tried to draw attention to the disease. The Jack Tatum Fund for Youthful Diabetes is based in Ohio for those interested.)

Jack had a great hit on Bronco player Rob Lytle that caused a game winning fumble for the Raiders. Except for some reason the officials awarded Denver the ball. (Think play offs 77-78)

When Lynn Swann was asked once what he thought of when he through of Raiders, his answer was "Pain". We know why.

I can list everything else, but they are just words.

When one thinks of great Raiders centers, Jim Otto and Dave Dalby come to mind. When one thinks great safeties, Jack comes to mind. Not just for the Raiders, but for ANY NFL team. Players from other teams have claimed to have tried to style themselves after Jack. That's an impression.

Amazingly, as big as he played and as hard as he was on the field, he was just a regular guy, straight forward , honest, with a surprisingly quiet voice and a gentle but firm handshake for fans.

He will remain a grid iron hero, a great player, a good man and always a Raider.

My friend Ed used this Eldridge ****ey quote: "Respect commands itself and it can neither be given nor withheld when it is due."

It is fitting when talking about Jack. He was a fierce and feared competitor, but I can't think of anyone that didn't have respect for what he accomplished.

Rest in peace, Jack. The Raider Nation will never forget you, and honor your memory.

As ever,

Win lose or tie, RAIDERS til I DIE!

BlitzChick