Darryl Stingley, paralyzed by Tatum hit, dies at 55?

Question

Why did Jack Tatum never appologize for the blatant unnecessary hit in an nfl exhibition game?

Answer 1

ESPN did an interview with Tatum about a year or so ago and asked him this question. Tatum said is sorry that Stingley was paralyzed but it was a clean hit at the time and he was not going to apologize for how he played the game. He said he did not feel like he did anything wrong and therefore had no reason to apologize.

If you believe in karma though, Tatum has lost a leg due to diabetes, not as bad as what he did to Stingley but a small bit of retribution.

Tatum played the game one way, always and it should be no surprise he did not apolgize. It is a shame what happened to Stingley and hopefully now Tatum will at least say he was wrong.

Answer 2

Darryl Stingley Paralyzed

Answer 3

Hate to agree with a NY Yankees fan being a sox fan but this one is correct Tatum is a murderer. He's a piece of scum that has never had any remorse for his DIRTY hit yes I said it dirty! Jack Tatum along with Skip Thomas and George Atkinson and the rest of the 78 Raiders went out there trying to injure someone every sunday. Anyone who believes that Darryl Stingley's injury was just a biproduct of a dangerous game you're just as bad as Tatum. That injury could have been avoided if Tatum wasn't trying like hell to kill everyone he hit. I mean that if any of you saw him play he tried to end someones career every hit. Tatum was also proud of what he did to Stingley, by writing his shameful book "They Call Me The Assassin" just proves he wanted to profit from his crime. Damn scum!! Oh well last time I checked Jack Tatum wasn't in the best health either, may he die a slow painful death with as much anguish as possible.

Answer 4

Fans, coaches, players, the sports media, they ALL want hard-hitting football, and that's what they get, or else we'd all go find some other sport to watch, right??

I think Tatum feels bad, but in order to truly (publicly) express his sorrow, he would have to have the entire football culture (fans, coaches, media, team "win at all cost" doctrine, etc.) back him up. Which they won't. Apologizing would be seen as a sign of weakness. In other words, he's keeping the faith. "Hit 'em high, hit 'em low, hit 'em hard."

I feel bad for both the Stingley family, as well as Tatum. But let him live with his own private demons, much as we all have to do in life.

Answer 5

I just saw the hit, it wasnt a cheap shot, and he didnt clothline him. He made a play. He went to see Stingley in the hospital and the family wouldnt let him. He hasnt apoligized for the hit because it wasnt a cheap shot. If you watch the play, Tatum ran up and hit Stingley. It wasnt a late hit, or didnt do anything special to hit him, it was just a hit. Do some more research before calling the guy a jerkoff.

Answer 6

Wow, I was just searching the internet myself wondering the same thing. Tatum has to be scum. He is the lowest of the low. Some people may say, "Oh he was intense, played hard every play." But still, you apologize to the man. You're too scared to apologize? Tatum is not a man. Tatum is a piece of ****.

Answer 7

Well, his nickname as a player gives us a clue:
"The Assassin".
He probably felt he was just doing his job, but I was an avid Raiders fan back then and Jack Tatum was and I imagine still is a nasty, mean son of a *****

Answer 8

Tatum is in the same class as Lavar Arrington, Lester Hays and that bozo DB in Chicago

Answer 9

Are you serious? Tatum played the game one way, hard. What happened to Darryl was an accident.

Answer 10

Because like most Raiders in the 70's, Tatum was/is a piece of ****.

edit: To Matt(right below me)--Have you even seen the play we are talking about?? Tatum reached out and clotheslined him! It is one of the cheapest, dirtiest hit in NFL history. Sure, he didn't mean to paralyze him, but drunk drivers don't mean to run people over either. They engage in risky behavior that puts others at risk. For that, Tatum is to blame.