Posted on 08/05/2021 5:15:18 PM PDT by 11th_VA
A dozen NFL seasons packed with All-Pro roughhousing, easy celebrity and lots of laughs would be a fulsome career for any man. That was just Alex Karras’ opening act.
Karras was a natural in front of the camera, whether crumpling quarterbacks on a muddy field in Detroit or spilling locker-room secrets across the desk from Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show.” After his final season in 1970, he didn’t stay benched for long.
Karras put that tough-guy image and excellent timing to good use, launching a second career that introduced him to a new generation. He was a part-time pro wrestler, sportscaster, popular TV series guest, co-star of a hit sitcom, “Webster,” and all the while, a movie actor with credits ranging from “Against All Odds” to “Victor/Victoria” and perhaps most memorably to “Blazing Saddles.”
For all the acclaim that followed, Karras died at age 77 in 2012 without one of the honors he coveted most: a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame…
Karras’ installment should put to rest years of speculation about why he wasn’t inducted sooner. Despite being one of the game’s most-feared defensive tackles, some suggested the three-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler was hamstrung by a run of bad Lions teams and only one playoff performance. Others said Karras’ criticism of team owners and his running battles with then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle may have played a role, too. Most agreed that his nearly year-long suspension in 1963 for betting on NFL games — along with Green Bay Packers star running back Paul Hornung — made Karras a complicated choice. He didn’t help matters by refusing to show much contrition...
(Excerpt) Read more at ironmountaindailynews.com ...
Never heard of him.
Think Mongo from Blazing Saddles.
Mongo just pawn in game of life.
Mongo happy!
Then, you may have heard of his co-star on a TV series.
Webster. The actor , Emanuel something, is a midget who was also known as one of Michael Jackson’s ‘best friends’.
“Never heard of him.”
You missed out on a lot. He was a great defensive tackle. The Bears had Butkus, and the Lions had Karras. Two old school, rough-and-tumble, kick-ass football players. Both were fun to watch.
However ...
Most agreed that his nearly year-long suspension in 1963 for betting on NFL games — along with Green Bay Packers star running back Paul Hornung ...
Now, just put Pete Rose in the Baseball Hall of Fame ...
I assumed he was already in the HoF.
Alex had bad eyesight. He joked that he would go through the line, grab a player, see if he had the ball, tackle or throw to the ground.
The traditional Thanksgiving Day game was Detroit vs. Chicago. Well his brother Ted played offensive guard for Da Bears. They lined up at opposite ends of the line. One game, Ted had to switch guard positions due to injuries. Well Alex is being Alex and pushing the guard all over the field. finally the guard says, “Alex, take it easy, Mom, will be really mad at you at dinner.
Alex, Joe Garagiola, Yogi Berra and Bob Uecker had successful careers after sports. Interesting men. Garagiola and Yogi grew up in St. Louis together. really small world.
He was a pro...old school linebacker. I am surprised he was not inducted already.
TACKLE,,,sheesh,,,my mind sometimes
Oh, OK. I thought the headline said Karros (lifetime .268 hitter, mostly for Dodgers). Never mind.
Midget Emmanuel Lewis.
Yes, to me that was what he was, midget’s dad. ;-)
Never heard of him.
That is an unsolicited confession to being football ignorant.
This many posts and nobody brings up his appearance on The Odd Couple?
.... that was sarcasm although he did appear on the show.
https://youtu.be/uoJKuGFBO1s
Great player for Detroit. His place in the HOF is well deserved.
Karras did a lot of acting playing himself in a movie from 1968 called “Paper Lion”, starring Alan Alda as George Plimpton. Not a bad movie, especially if you like how the NFL used to be.
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