Comments on: Ex-Lion Alex Karras given days to live

By: bucforever

bucforever — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:32:29 +0000

I just heard the sad news today. My heart and prayers go out to Alex and his family. He will be remembered as a great football player and a wonderful man .

By: fdugrad

fdugrad — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 02:11:35 +0000

Showing my age, however though I certainly remember “Mongo,” I remember him as an outstanding player and his role in “Paper Lion.” How fast time passes and how cruel the process.

By: 2difshoe

2difshoe — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 22:33:02 +0000

Left it all out on the field each and every game, and that is what GREAT players do !

Thanks for the memories, Mr. Karras !

Peace be with you !

By: harbourimages

harbourimages — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 22:25:17 +0000

Very sad. For a wonderful insight into what a great player he was, dust off George Plimpton’s PAPER LION and read the section where a young NFL player who faced Karras first when Alex had a groin injury and made the mistake of saying something like “Karras is a good player, but he doesn’t have the really great moves of some of the better players in the NFL.” This was posted on Karras’ locker prior to the Lions’ next game against that same rookie. During THAT game a healthy Karras ran around, over, under and through the kid, sacking their QB several times. After the game, as only he could, Karras said to the kid, “Well assface, how ya like them moves!” What a terrific player. So sorry to hear this….

By: orangebluedonkey

orangebluedonkey — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 21:24:24 +0000

This article got me a bit misty. He was a helleva player.

By: omniusprime

omniusprime — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 21:15:32 +0000

I’m glad I was fortunate enough to watch Alex Karras play in the NFL with the Lions. His acting wasn’t as good as his football playing but he was an excellent football announcer. My best wishes to Alex and his family!

By: mamiller2012

mamiller2012 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:40:12 +0000

A frequent Johnny Carson visitor, his best line came after the New Orleans Saints kicked the NFL record 63-yard field goal against the Lions. Alex’s feelings about the (former soccer) kicking specialists then just becoming popular in the NFL: “I’m goingk to keeck a touchdown!” Classic Karras at his best.

By: jcb6427

jcb6427 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:24:44 +0000

He still can’t believe Tom Dempsey made that 63 yard field goal. Karras was a great player who was able to continue, after football, and become successful in his second career. His roles in Blazing Saddles, Paper Tiger (George Plimpton’s essay on life within the Lion’s played by Alan Alda), and TV commedy “Webster” were memorable. Sorry to hear of his plight and wish him well. He made an impact on many of us.

By: ezwriter69

ezwriter69 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:00:08 +0000

Alex Karras was a GREAT player, a strong, quick athletic, aggressive (okay, flat out dirty, read Plimpton’s Paper Tiger), 250 pound defensive tackle who would most certainly be in the Hall if he hadn’t had that little gambling issue. He led IOWA to a national championship and the LIONS to an NFL title, believe it or not.
Remember him for what and who he was, celebrate his life and his career.
Hey, he made it to 65 before his brain quit on him, that’s MANY more years than average for an NFL’er of his generation, and WAY older than the bulk of today’s players with long careers will reach before their bodies and brains fail.
Despite Eric Winston’s protestations to the contrary, it WAS, in Karras’s time, a gladiator show, as of course it still is now; and Alex Karras was as gifted and as fierce as anyone who ever competed in the arena.
Godspeed, Alex, you were a great one indeed.

By: mrsfudd

mrsfudd — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:51:03 +0000

I grew up just outside of Detroit in the 60′s. I remember that Coca Cola bottlecaps had a plastic lining with the pictures of NFL players. I remember that my brother and I had both Alex Karras and Dick Butkis. Alex Karras was one of the greats both on the field and off. He had a great reputation, a loving family and a successful career in football and Hollywood. Younger football players and younger aspiring actors would do well to look to this man as a role model. He will be missed. My prayers to his wife Susan Clark.

By: joeinsm

joeinsm — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:35:35 +0000

This is sad news. I loved him in Victor/Victoria. What a charmer. He will be missed.

By: jimmylions

jimmylions — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:03:05 +0000

Alex Karras came from that 60s era full of great players who were also interesting characters and great storytellers.

He played back in an era when what happened between linemen in the trenches was extremely violent and physical – almost all of it is now against the rules. Virtually everything was fair game and virtually nothing was too dirty.

Karras has said that he could never shake his opponents’ hand after a game. What transpired on the field was too nasty and too personal for gestures of sportsmanship.

In that context, one of my favorite Karras stories happened when the Lions faced the Packers at the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. It was a big game and the Lions brought along their team chaplin to lead their pregame prayer. Karras thought it was hypocritical to ask for god’s help in harming his fellow man in the violence, brutality, and bloodshed that was professional football. In the middle of the team prayer he yelled, “God is Lombardi!”

He’s a guy I would have loved to have met.

By: dman6015

dman6015 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:54:37 +0000

He’ll be missed. “Candygram for Mongo! Candygram for Mongo!”

By: makeham98

makeham98 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:24:30 +0000

Watch him playing himself in Paper Lion. Funnier than his later characters. Alan Alda is tough to stomach, be warned. But a fine football movie.

By: wozzmann1955

wozzmann1955 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:57:26 +0000

I am sure any of the surviving Lombardi era Packers would be able to tell you just how good Alex was.Classic battles in Detroit and Green Bay back in the 60′s

By: dustinq

dustinq — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:47:27 +0000

God bless Alex and his family. A great Lion, and from the sounds of things, a great guy.

By: birdmantd

birdmantd — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:41:29 +0000

Star athlete, broadcaster, actor who will be remembered for both a raunchy and family comedy. That’s quite an accomplished life. It’s a shame his last years were spent in deteriorating health.

By: thestrategyexpert

thestrategyexpert — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:21:26 +0000

One of my dad’s favorite players. I never got to see him play, only perform on Webster and I liked him. Hopefully the Lions will do some kind of tribute to him and show us what he did as a player and other things in his career and life.

By: nickpietrosante

nickpietrosante — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:15:21 +0000

I met Alex Karras at a Red Wings Old Timers Game v.s. Montreal at the old Olympia Stadium back in the day. He was as popular as Mr. Hockey and he was more than gracious in signing autographs for all us star struck kids. Peace be with you Alex.

By: coseybedaman

coseybedaman — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:12:11 +0000

Its a disgrace that this man isnt in the HOF. Unfortunately once he is gone NOW they will start to seriously consider his induction. Rather than when he can actually enjoy that achievement.

By: briang123

briang123 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:10:09 +0000

Amazing how the 1-year suspension he received for betting on NFL games is omitted from every article about him today. Winston Smith is clearly doing his job.

I did love Mr. Karras in Webster though. May he rest in peace.

By: larryboodry

larryboodry — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:09:42 +0000

Aw, this is sad…Prayers for him and those he loves.

By: knackstermyea

knackstermyea — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:01:07 +0000

Hope your last few day’s are peaceful and your family can be by your side at this most difficult time. Prayers to you and your family.

By: thepragmaticcowboy

thepragmaticcowboy — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:33:54 +0000

“Mongo only pawn in game of life.” – Farewell, Alex.

By: CKL

CKL — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:33:29 +0000

What a sad story. I’d rather get run over by a bus than go through what he’s and his family is going through with dementia. I hope they can all find some sort of peace.

By: dgforreal

dgforreal — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:28:37 +0000

Never got a chance to see him play, but he was a part of my childhood from Webster. Sad sad news.

By: nflhof

nflhof — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:16:54 +0000

As a young lad I visited the Lions training camp at Cranbrook in the early 70′s. Mr Karras approached my father and I and took the time to speak with us about the team and football. I will always remember that and from that day on he has been my favorite Lion. He is a true champion in my eyes. Hope he gets better someway somehow.

By: godofwine330

godofwine330 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:12:02 +0000

I was one who criticized “The well dressed” Imani Toomer on Sirius back in May when he knew little of this man and what he brought to the game. The Late Steve Sabol brought players like Karras into my living room on a weekly basis teaching me the game. Karras was one of the baddest defensive linemen in the history of the NFL. He played in an era before sacks were noted, so it would be difficult to impossible to compare him to the players of today or even the players of 20 years ago.

He seems to be on his way out, so all I can do is hope that the final leg of his journey to the afterlife is peaceful and as painless as possible.

By: detroitnorth

detroitnorth — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:39:28 +0000

Love, Light and Peace to Alex and his family.

By: oldassgoat

oldassgoat — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:38:40 +0000

Remember him better as “Mongo” in Blazing Saddles! Loved him in that role. God Bless You, Alex.