Ben-Davidson-Obituary

Ben Davidson

Obituary

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) - Ben Davidson, the hulking defensive end who starred for the Oakland Raiders in the 1960s before becoming a famous television pitch man, has died. He was 72.

Davidson died Monday night. He was being treated for prostate cancer. Former Raiders coach John Madden first reported Davidson's death Tuesday on KCBS radio in San Francisco.

Davidson spent 11 years in pro football, starting with the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins in the NFL before joining the Raiders in the AFL in 1964.

That's where the 6-foot-8 Davidson became famous. With his distinctive handlebar mustache, raspy voice and physical play, Davidson helped personify Al Davis' renegade Raiders on the 1960s.

"He was a tough, gutsy ballplayer, team oriented with enough meanness in him to be feared and enough talent to be effective," former Raiders teammate Tom Flores said. Flores, who recently played golf with Davidson, got the news while in Las Vegas for a celebration of Davis, who would have turned 83 on Wednesday.

Davidson played in the second Super Bowl for Oakland after the 1967 season and then was on the team that lost the conference title game the next three seasons.

One of Davidson's most memorable plays came on Nov. 1, 1970, against Kansas City. The Raiders trailed 17-14 late in the fourth quarter when Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson ran for a first down to seemingly seal the win.

As Dawson was on the ground, Davidson dived into him with his helmet. In a rage, Chiefs wide receiver Otis Taylor jumped on Davidson and a brawl ensued.

"Their attitude was, if you've got a shot at the quarterback, take it," Dawson recalled in 2010.

The play was negated by offsetting penalties and the Chiefs eventually had to punt. Oakland tied the game on a field goal by George Blanda with 8 seconds remaining and that proved to be the difference in the AFC West race. The Raiders won the division with a recor d of 8-4-2, while the Chiefs missed the playoffs at 7-5-2.

Davidson didn't play football until going to East Los Angeles Community College. He went from there to the University of Washington, where he helped the Huskies win Rose Bowls in 1960 and '61.

He was then a fourth-round pick by the New York Giants in 1961. He played his rookie season with Green Bay, winning the NFL championship with the Packers in 1961.

He then spent two years in Washington before joining the Raiders in Davis' second season as coach in Oakland. He spent eight seasons with the Raiders. He was a second-team Associated Press All-AFL selection in 1965 and first-teamer in 1967.

"He was just a big, tall, skinny guy that Davis took a chance with," Flores said. "He was able to rush the passer and worked hard to get bigger and stronger, with the character and personality. He was always that way."

After his playing career, Davidson became a successful actor with roles in films like "M-A-S-H," ''Conan the Barbarian" and "Necessary Roughness" and he played himself in Miller Lite ads.

Davidson is survived by his wife, Kathy, and daughters Jan, Dana and Vicki.

JOSH DUBOW,AP Sports Writer


Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

Kathy, Janella, Dana, and Vicki, I just thought of all of you and your Dad today, and though I knew that your Dad had passed over a decade ago, I just now saw this opportunity to offer you my condolences but also thankfulness and celebration of your Dad's awesome life and how much you each meant to him.

I enjoyed knowing each of you during our years of swimming with Livermore Aquacowboys, and now our Grandkids are swimming for Aquacowboys! One of my favorite commercials was...

I was blessed to have Big Ben, my dad's friend, come watch me play me play football. Later I babysat his girls.

HELLO I REMEMBER BEN DAVIDSON WHEN I WAS A KID HE WAS A NICE GUYS I HE WOULD BUY US ORANGE CRUSH SODA AND ICE CREAM IN THE SUMMER TIME HE WOULD GIVE US A



FEW BUCKS TO HELP HIM SWEEP UP ON HIS PROPERTY IN OAKLAND BACK IN 1976 TO 1978 HE WILL SURELY BE MISS I WILL NEVER FORGET HIM LOVE ❤❤❤ YOU BEN REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND. MY CONDOLENCES TO THE DAVIDSON FAMILY

My condolences to the Family's...May God be a God of all Comfort and he will Comfort the Family's...My condolences

Godspeed Ben, and thank you for sharing a part of your life with us. A helluva football player!

The year was 1982 3 4 or5 .He came to Mobile Al .The club was Studebakers on airport blvd . Around this time he was doing beer commercials arm wrestling slamming hands thru tables .I was 5-10 180 lbs . The disc jockey said who wants to take on Ben .Me thinking hell no .Friends there started screaming Gene get up there .They knew I had shocked people taking down larger guys . So we locked arms Disco man said go. I didn't go down . 5 or so seconds go by a guy behind him whispered something...

I first meet ben 1965 I was in preschool in hayward ca. His daughter was in the same class. I was 4 yrs old. He came to pick up his daughter one day. I remember him like it was yesterday. He was the biggest guy i ever seen .
I remember talking to him that day. He was a gentle giant. He went outside for a moment. came back in to the preschool with his football shoulderpads. Ben put his shoulderpads on my shoulders. I will always remember that moment in time. God bless u ben.

My dad George Alexander, was a big wig at Kaiser Aluminum and used to
hang out with your dad, Ben at the Cactus Room for years. Many raider team mates used to do that and still do. My dad passed in 76 and next time I'm in
Oakland I have to get down there and have a pop and remember your father, my dad and the boys. Dad said Ben was the nicest person he ever met. Sorry your dad is gone, but never forgotten, I know that.

I'm saddened that I never had the opportunity to meet Ben personally, unless he ever went to the family reunion on the lake. My father was Ray Davidson. As with those of our family that have gone before us, we are Davidsons we are strong. Just don't tell any one we have a heart of gold and love like no other. Looks like you lived up to our name for we are cousins. Kathy and family I tried to get in touch long ago but seemed extremely difficult for me. They just don't let anyone have...