RIP Kenny "The Snake" Stabler

[Baz]

One of the best QB's to ever play the game.....you will be missed Snake!

[Tobra]

Too bad, that guy was cool as hell.

I remember going to a fundraiser deal at the local HS, Raiders vs Radio, a bunch of DJs and local radio personalities playing basketball against football players. Mr Stabler was among the players there. I remember he was super cool and laid back, liked his accent. George Atkinson was soft spoken for a big guy, or looked pretty big to me anyway. Cliff Branch was too small to be a football player but could jump high enough to almost hit his head on the rim. That cat was so quick it was ridiculous.

RIP Mr Stabler, thanks for all those exciting Sundays.

[craigster59]

I was a rabid Raiders fan back in the day (until they pulled that LA bullshyte move). They had some great QB's. Lamonica, Plunkett, Stabler. Kenny was my favorite, hard playin, hard partying. He made Broadway Joe look like a *******. RIP Snake

[Ferraripete]

damn...this really caught me off guard. r.i.p.

[Baz]

As hard as it is to believe.....The Snake has yet to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Tells you something about these so-called "Halls of Fame"

[herr_oberst]

RIP, Snake.

Those were some great Sunday afternoons...

[MMiller]

This was sad news to hear.... RIP Kenny

Sucks to get old and having to watch all these greats from your youth pass...

[Baz]

[bivenator]

The Snake was a member of the Houston Oilers at the end of the Luv Ya Blue era. We had him at the end of his career but he was still very entertaining and tough as hell.
The popular bumper sticker in Houston at the time had a drawing of a snake with the caption "Shake Ya Snake"

[Dave Kost]

Great battles between the Raiders and Steelers in the early 70's. I too can't believe he isn't in the hall of fame!

No mention of his wife?

[Eric 951]

Growing up in Pittsburgh in the 70's and being a huge Steelers fan, I even had a Snake poster on the wall in his Black and Silver glory--the only non-Pittsburgh sports-related item I owned.

He will be missed.

[Don Ro]

I lived a few miles south of the Oakland Coliseum during his time w/the Raiders. I saw him a few times at favorite watering holes late at night, too.
The ladies loved him...and so did his teammates...and he was especially close to John Madden.
.
Kenny was known around those parts as a very kind and generous man.
Word got around that one Christmas he gave each of his front five a $10,000 Rolex watch.
.
Great memories, Kenny!
.
PS I also heard that Madden gave him license to call his own plays at times...uncommon in those days.

[dennis in se pa]

There is no reason to die of colon cancer. Get a checkup. My grandfather and father both died of colon cancer. You must educate others. This is totally preventable. Sad to hear.

[Rtrorkt]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

There is no reason to die of colon cancer. Get a checkup. My grandfather and father both died of colon cancer. You must educate others. This is totally preventable. Sad to hear.

+1. get your check up

As a Steelers fan of the 70's I hated the Raiders but really loved to watch Stabler play

[Seahawk]

When I was in college my Uncle used to take me to a few Raiders game a year. He was a devoted fan and season ticket holder who also knew a few players well, Jim Otto being the one I most remember.

I wasn't a Raiders fan but loved the Snake. Thanks for the memories.

Originally Posted by Don Ro

I lived a few miles south of the Oakland Coliseum during his time w/the Raiders. I saw him a few times at favorite watering holes late at night, too.
The ladies loved him...and so did his teammates...and he was especially close to John Madden.
.
Kenny was known around those parts as a very kind and generous man.
Word got around that one Christmas he gave each of his front five a $10,000 Rolex watch.
.
Great memories, Kenny!
.
PS I also heard that Madden gave him license to call his own plays at times...uncommon in those days.

[ForBell]

I never watched him in person, only on tv. as Don mentioned, I always heard that he was a late night boy - loved the ladies, too, and they him.
I do remember an interview with him where he was asked about his drinking and late night carousing. his response was something like, "I don't need a lot of sleep. I can get by with only a few hours. How much sleep do you need anyway to go out on Sunday and play for a few hours?"
and then this one, which i think captures Kenny's life style back then. "I even often have read Sunday's game plan by the light of a jukebox."

on play-calling, I remember a sideline video where Madden said to Stabler, "I don't care what you call, just get it in."

Art Shell always called him "My Alabama Boy."

Art Shell on Hall of Fame: Stabler, Branch "deserve to be in there" - Silver And Black Pride

[Don Ro]

This afternoon/evening the NFL Network, DirecTV Ch. 212, is showing historic Raider games from the Stabler era.

[oilcan]

Stabler to Biletnikoff !! How many times did you hear that in those epic games against the Steelers. He was one of a kind- on and off the field.