I just mashed over to ESPN-something…and heard the news that Ken Stabler, the former Alabama Crimson Tide and Oakland Raider quarterback,  is dead.  He was 69.  A tear came to my eye.  I am shocked.

As a kid I was a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals.  My favorite player was Ken Anderson, the Bengals quarterback.  I thought he was awesome.

Even though the Bengals played in the same division, the AFC Central back in those days, as Terry Bradshaw,  the most feared quarterback my Bengals would face as far as I was concerned was Ken Stabler.  He was awesome.  The coolest cucumber that ever took the field before or since.  His fluid motion and his left-handed delivery transcended all that was expected and standard in the National Football League.

Ken “The Snake” Stabler was larger than life.  That is why I can’t believe I have made it longer than he did.

The 1975 the 11-3 Bengals went to Oakland at the end of December to play a playoff game.  My Bengals got beat 31-28…in large part to Ken Stabler.  I watched that game at my Granny’s house in Shreveport.  She was for the Raiders.  I was for my Bengals.

Ken Stabler…dead…those three words have no business together.  After a couple of weeks of finding out anything is possible, Ken Stabler’s death reaffirms to me that anything is indeed possible.  My prayers go out to The Snake’s family.

Speaking the football reverence rights…

Danny Johnson