Posted on 08/04/2013 6:09:50 PM PDT by massmike
Art Donovan played pro football for 12 years. The rest of his life, he spent telling everyone about it.
Donovan, 89, who died Sunday of a respiratory ailment at Stella Maris Hospice, played and talked a great game. He was a Hall of Fame defensive tackle for the Baltimore Colts and an engaging raconteur at banquets and on TV talk shows. His cherublike face, adenoidal voice and side-splitting tales of yore captivated generations of viewers who never saw Donovan collar a quarterback or take down a runner.
"Artie made a career out of telling people everything that he'd done right — and wrong — in football," said Ordell Braase, his teammate on the field and in the broadcast studio. "The diversity of his appeal was amazing. Everyone wanted to hug 'Fatso,' from young girls to little old ladies."
Donovan died just before 8 p.m., surrounded by 15 to 20 family members, said his daughter, Kelly Donovan-Mazzulli.
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
I read his book...In it he talks about when he was in the Army he got hungry...raided the mess hall and got some Spam...He got caught and the mess sarge “made” him eat a whole case of Spam...He said it was like throwing the fox in the henhouse!!!
Art was interviewed on an HBO special about the men who made the NFL into an institution. He had great stories. Best one was about how much they drank back then:
He said he once tackled Bobby Layne [Detroit Lions QB] and while they were lying on the ground he could smell scotch on Layne’s breath.
Art said, “Jeez, Bobby, is that from last night?”
Bobby said, “Naw...I knocked off a couple at half-time.”
RIP.
Is this the time he sad he wanted to die by sitting under a tree and eating pizza until he exploded?
He was great on the NFL Films videos and shows over the years...a real character. RIP Mr Dononvan
What a riot.
He was the real life “Joe Rockhead”. LOL
I hope they have plenty of beer and cold cuts waiting for him up in heaven.
What a character, and he made it to 89.
RIP, Artie.
Glad someone posted this!
God bless Artie - Fatso - and the Baltimore Colts!
Good man and funny, blunt and honest guy.
Donovan dropped out of notre dame to join the marines in WW2. Was in the battle at Iwo Jima.
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