Along with two former Packer teammates - Herb Adderly and Forrest Gregg - Thurston is one of only three players in pro football history to play on six World Championship teams. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in January 1975.
This is how a football player used to look, before there were shaved legs and UGG boots. Fuzzy Thurston at his locker, being interviewed after the 1966 championship game.
Thurston was well known for his response to a sportswriter's question about how he prepared for the famous Ice Bowl game, where the game time temperature was 13 degrees below zero. Thurston responded that he drank "about 10 vodkas" in order to stay warm. Thurston remained popular in Wisconsin after his playing days and could often be found at Fuzzy's, a bar he owned not far from Lambeau Field.
I stopped at Fuzzy's once when I was a college kid. Fuzzy was there, tending bar. This was in the years before big salaries, when the players had to work in the off season in order to make a living. Fuzzy was loud and funny, the same as he was on the field.
Here he is a few years ago, at Lambeau with Jerry Kramer on the left.
RIP, Fuzzy. Most of your team mates from that era have already left the field and headed to the big locker room.
11 comments:
He was a good man.
RIP.
Wow! The great old Packers are leaving us!
Read a really great article about what the boys a few days ago.
All in their 80s and many suffering from dementia.
And, I'm going to say the obvious... pro and college football were better, more enjoyable games when they were dominated by white guys.
Bart Starr is in bad shape. H was to appear at Homecoming Day at Lambeau, but had a stroke, then a heart attack, then another stroke in the week before the game. The prognosis isn't good.
Brett Favre flew to Alabama to spend time with Bart in the hospital, and tole Starr that he need to get through physical rehab so that the two of them could make it to Lambeau next year.
That's a tall order at this point, I'm afraid.
Nice tribute, Haz.
Thanks, Haz. I was @ Jets v Packers game in September and they introduced Fuzzy and other Packers. My Jersey friends were impressed. They had to wheel the old warrior out but he was smiling and waving.
My, my, my, how times have changed. Now the people who own the media have a designated hero named pajama boy.
I forgot to say, I've tipped quite a few beers over at Fuzzy's and eaten the pre-game food that was provided.
"All in their 80s and many suffering from dementia."
I read recently that turmeric is a deterrent against brain decrepitude. Anyway I'm using it as a regular spice on the theory that it can't hurt.
@ricpic - Turmeric is an excellent anti-inflammatory. I know several MDs who use it in lieu of NSAIDS. They take a couple of capsules daily.
One of the greatest games the Detroit Lions ever played happened to be against the Packers on Thanksgiving day in 1962. I'm guessing 'Ol Fuzz, God rest his soul, missed a few assignments that day. My avatar happens to be a photo of Bart Starr about to disappear under a pile of Detroit players that day.
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