A Legend passed yesterday.
The Nation mourns this morning as Kenny "The Snake" Stabler has passed. We know he will always be remembered nationally as the free spirited free wheeling gunslinger of the Oakland Raiders. But for those in Alabama who were raised in the sixties idolizing Alabama Football as a kid like my husband, to him, he will always be that Hero; the perfect tide quarterback that none has match before or after. So calm and always so cool no matter how intense the game or the size or magnitude of stage he was playing on. Steve McQueen played cool in movies but the "SNAKE" lived out the definition of cool daily on that big stage called life.
My husband and I had the opportunity a few years ago to spend time with his childhood hero - He was such a generous person giving us his time and joking around with us laughing and having fun talking about different plays that all Crimson Tide fans remember and hold dearly. At one point during the evening I noticed Ronnie, my husband, was wearing his championship ring giggling like a 10 year old while talking about the play to stop the clock.
" The Snake" will always be remembered in the hearts of all of us and we in the Tide Nation at times felt like we shared him with the rest of the world so you could enjoy this bigger than life personalty who was always be willing to give of himself to others for their happiness. He was an original and he never hid that fact. There is only one "THE SNAKE"
The Lord has just drafted the GREATEST quarterback in history. What team they must have in Heaven now.
My husband and I had the opportunity a few years ago to spend time with his childhood hero - He was such a generous person giving us his time and joking around with us laughing and having fun talking about different plays that all Crimson Tide fans remember and hold dearly. At one point during the evening I noticed Ronnie, my husband, was wearing his championship ring giggling like a 10 year old while talking about the play to stop the clock.
" The Snake" will always be remembered in the hearts of all of us and we in the Tide Nation at times felt like we shared him with the rest of the world so you could enjoy this bigger than life personalty who was always be willing to give of himself to others for their happiness. He was an original and he never hid that fact. There is only one "THE SNAKE"
The Lord has just drafted the GREATEST quarterback in history. What team they must have in Heaven now.
Gena, Kenny Stabler, Ronnie Statement from Alabama coach Nick Saban:
“I think anyone who had the chance to get to know Kenny would appreciate the great person he was and the pride he had for The University of Alabama. “I have had the chance to be around some of the best to ever play college and pro football, and Kenny may have been one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game. “I was lucky enough to work with him on our radio broadcast my first year in Tuscaloosa and also have some special memories with him at a couple of our golf events.
“He was not only an outstanding football player, he was an all-around great guy and someone I really enjoyed spending time with. We lost a legend today and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
Statement from former Oakland Raiders coach John Madden:
“I was head coach of the Raiders the entire time Kenny was there and he led us to a whole bunch of victories including one in Super Bowl XI. I've often said, If I had one drive to win a game to this day, and I had a quarterback to pick, I would pick Kenny. Snake was a lot cooler than I was. He was a perfect quarterback and a perfect Raider. When you think about the Raiders you think about Ken Stabler. Kenny loved life. It is a sad day for all Raiders.”
“I think anyone who had the chance to get to know Kenny would appreciate the great person he was and the pride he had for The University of Alabama. “I have had the chance to be around some of the best to ever play college and pro football, and Kenny may have been one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game. “I was lucky enough to work with him on our radio broadcast my first year in Tuscaloosa and also have some special memories with him at a couple of our golf events.
“He was not only an outstanding football player, he was an all-around great guy and someone I really enjoyed spending time with. We lost a legend today and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
Statement from former Oakland Raiders coach John Madden:
“I was head coach of the Raiders the entire time Kenny was there and he led us to a whole bunch of victories including one in Super Bowl XI. I've often said, If I had one drive to win a game to this day, and I had a quarterback to pick, I would pick Kenny. Snake was a lot cooler than I was. He was a perfect quarterback and a perfect Raider. When you think about the Raiders you think about Ken Stabler. Kenny loved life. It is a sad day for all Raiders.”
RSS Feed
