I was just thinking of him, oddly enough. The silver lining of his chronic knee injury is that he avoided playing for 3 or 4 more seasons (in decline too) so he made it to nearly 81.
I used to say "Dick Butt Kiss, get it? Get it?" to my Dad a little too often as a kid.
since he was that next level bigger, faster, stronger than his peers ... it would be like him playing today but 6'6" and the equivalent weight and ability roaming the middle.
In the book The Greatest American Sportswriting of the 20th Century, there was an awesome piece on Butkus. Off the top of my head I can't remember who wrote it.
My now dead FIL told a story of going to the Illinois- Purdue game with his best friend. FIL was an Illini alum and his friend was a Purdue alum. Neither knew any of the players on the roster very well but FIL said he kept hearing the name Butkus over and over again and thought to himself, that guy must be pretty good.
https://youtu.be/lsWqX2LgXN4?si=TqQwaf_0s01Nb_t5
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Thanks for posting the vid. In the 80's, I was addicted to watching NFL Films. Brought back memories.
I used to say "Dick Butt Kiss, get it? Get it?" to my Dad a little too often as a kid.
My childhood
Such beautiful form too. Would put his head on the middle of the ball carriers chest and wrap him up, driving his legs like pistons.
since he was that next level bigger, faster, stronger than his peers ... it would be like him playing today but 6'6" and the equivalent weight and ability roaming the middle.
He bid on doing the championship game film for 1961 or something. Got it cheap. Then started doing team season highlight films.
Football follies put them on the map. Owners hated the idea because at that time sports films made Soviet propaganda look truthful.
Fans loved the fuck ups.