Two Of The Best Football Players Of The 1970’s SNAKE, A REVERED LION, THE PRODUCER, THE IRISH TELEVISION STAR, AND THE MAN WHO MADE MONEY FROM BEES Ken Stabler was the swashbuckling left-handed quarterback of the Oakland Raiders who led the team to the victory in Super Bowl XI. The NFL MVP in 1974, he may be the best player not in the NFL Hall of Fame. Charlie Sanders was the great tight end for the Detroit Lions of the 1970’s who is in the NFL Hall of Fame. He is generally regarded as one of top tight ends in football history. Jerry Weintraub was the talent agent and producer who produced The Karate Kid series and did shows for Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Val Doonican was the Irish singer, popular on British television for over 20 years. Burt Shavitz founded the lip balm and cosmetic company “Burt’s Bees” that retains his logo today. Kenneth Michael "Ken" Stabler (December 25, 1945 – July 8, 2015), nicknamed "The Snake", was an American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Oakland Raiders (1970–1979), Houston Oilers (1980–1981) and New Orleans Saints (1982–1984). He played college football for the University of Alabama. Stabler became a highly touted football player at Foley High School in Foley, Alabama. He led Foley to a win-loss record of 29–1 over his high school career—the only loss coming against Vigor High School. He was an all-around athlete in high school, averaging 29 points a game in basketball and excelling enough as a left-handed pitcher in baseball to receive minor-league contract offers from the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. He was an all-american athlete. During his high school career, he earned his nickname "the Snake"[1] from his coach following a long, winding touchdown run. Stabler was recruited by legendary head coach Bear Bryant at Alabama, joining the team in 1964. Due to National Collegiate Athletic Association regulations at the time, freshmen were ineligible to play; therefore, Stabler would sit out during the 1964 season. In that season, the Crimson Tide won the National Championship with quarterback Joe Namath. In the 1965 season, Stabler was used sparingly as a back-up to Steve Sloan at quarterback,[2] following Namath's departure to the AFL. That year, the Crimson Tide won their second consecutive National Championship, finishing the season with a record of 9-1-1. The team defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Orange Bowl, 39–28. As a junior in 1966, he took over the quarterback position full-time. He led the team to an undefeated, 11–0 season which ended in a 34–7 rout of Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl. Despite the unblemished record, the Tide was snubbed by the polls, finishing in third behind Notre Dame and Michigan State. Stabler finished his career at Alabama with a 28–3–2 record as a starter. Charles Alvin Sanders (August 25, 1946 – July 2, 2015) was an American football player who played tight end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League from 1968 to 1977. Sanders was chosen for the NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team and voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007. Sanders graduated from James B. Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he starred for the American football, baseball, and basketball teams.[1] He attended the University of Minnesota, where he played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.[2] He was named to the All-Big Ten Conference Team in his senior year, when he recorded 21 receptions for 276 yards with two touchdowns, as Minnesota tied for the Big Ten Conference championship with an 8–2 record.[3] The Lions chose him in the third round of the 1968 NFL Draft, and he became their starting tight end for the next ten seasons. He had 336 career receptions for 4,817 yards and 31 touchdowns.[4][5] He was also known as a superior blocker. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl seven times (1968–1971 and 1974–1976).[5] He was the only rookie to be named to the 1969 Pro Bowl, following a season where he had 40 receptions for 533 yards.[6] Sanders was named to the All-Pro First Team for the 1970 and 1971 seasons, receiving the most votes of any player in both years.[7] During an exhibition game in 1976, Sanders injured his right knee, ending his career.[5] Sanders was named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team as selected by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[6] Sanders was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1997,[8] and the Minnesota M Club Hall of Fame in 2013.[3] In 2008, Sanders was chosen as a member of the Lions' 75th Anniversary All Time Team.[

• published: 28 Jul 2015
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