Remembering Ken Stabler

My mind floods more than usual and my heart runs over with emotions, recalling the great quarterback Ken Stabler, who died last week at the age of 69.

So many memories, so many great football moments back when I believed football, at least the great competition, was so great.

Ken Stabler, who played primarily with the Oakland Raiders and about whom I once said in my own 18 year old’s football preview “stood back and threw darts,” was a big part of it.

The left handed quarterback Stabler provided great clutch plays indelibly etched in my mind.

1972: before Franco Harris’ “Immaculate Reception” gave the slightly favored Pittsburgh Steelers a (13-7) divisional round win vs the Raiders, “The Snake,” as Stabler was known, went around left end for a 30 yard touchdown that gave Oakland a (7-6) lead very late in the game.

1974: Stabler leads the winning drive against Miami from the Oakland 32, culminating in a touchdown pass to Clarence Davis, the latter making the catch between two Dolphins’ defenders, to dethrone the two time Super Bowl champions in the divisional round of the playoffs.

1976: Most important, since it was in a season the Raiders finally won the Super Bowl, Stabler, despite his gimpy knees, ran left and dove into the end zone from 3 yards out lifting the Raiders over the New England Patriots in the divisional round of the playoffs.

It must require a left turn to get to a “better place,” as Mr. Stabler is there now, many of us richer for the memories he provided.