THE SINGUL AR LIFE OF AL EX KA RRAS

came to the rescue financially and patched dubbed the "Fearsome Foursome." Making who also admitted doing so received only things up with the Iowa coach. barely $10,000 fr om the Lions, during the fines. Alex resumed his wrestling career, During his junior year, Karras blos­ offseason he wrestled professionally, team- taking on such villains as the legendary somed into a star, earning All-American ing with Chicago Bears offensive guard Dick the Bruiser, who pinned him with a honors and leading Iowa to a Big Te n tide, Bobby "Crippler" Konovsky as "Killer" chokehold after Alex threw him out of the a 48-8 victory over rival Notre Dame, Karras. He and wife, Joanie, fo und a home ring. Reinstated in 1964 but unrepentant, and a Rose Bowl win over Oregon State in the area and eventually had five Alex once refused to call a pregame coin 35-19. Still, Alex briefly quit the team, children. Detroit reporter George Puscas toss, telling the official,"''m not permitted and coach and player almost carne to called Alex "one of the best mimics of his to gamble." blows after Evashevski accused him of game, a sort of Jackie Gleason in spiked In 1965 Emmeline, with three sons lollygagging on offense. Teammate Randy shoes." Te ammate Charlie Sanders said he having played in the NFL, was honored by Duncan recalled, "Evy was on everybody's had "baby bird legs" and terrible eyesight the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, back, and he was on Karras's big time." but unbelievable lateral movement. Ohio, as Mother of the Ye ar. Recalling his Iowa's record in 1957 dropped from 8-1 Back in Gary when the Lions fa ced fe elings of pride, Alex wrote: "I remember to 7- 1-1, but Alex won the Outland Tro- the Bears and brother Ted, Alex spotted her courage, the countless humiliations phy as best college lineman and finished Malharn, kissed him on the face, and then she had to go through because of my second to Te xas A & M running back John berated him fo r missing his wedding in intransigent ways. And I suddenly recalled David Crow fo r the Heisman Tr ophy, a Iowa and not coming to any of his profes­ the look on her face-something close to remarkable fe at fo r a tackle. sional games. Except fo r a second place · fe ar-when I fo llowed my brothers into Selected tenth in the 1958 National finish in 1962 with an 11-3 record, Alex a world that relied on brute fo rce fo r its Football League draft by the Detroit was saddlea witl1 mediocre teams while very existence. At that moment it struck Lions, Alex excelled as a defensive tackle, Te d earned a championship ring with the me that mom would have been happier if I malcing the three straight years 1963 Bears. That year Commissioner Pete had gone into another profession." beginning in 1959. With fe llow linemen Rozelle suspended Alex and Green Bay Alexplayed himself in the 1968 film Roger Brown, Darris McCord, and Sam Packers running back Paul Hornw1g fo r adaptation of author George Plimpton's Williams, he anchored what sportswriters betting on NFL games. Five other Lions book Paper Lion. The urbane author

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