"Alex Karras, the former NFL Pro Bowl defensive lineman who went from sacking quarterbacks to memorably KO’ing a horse in Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles, has died in Los Angeles today. He was 77 and sadly, he is among a growing number of football greats who suffered from dementia. Karras played three decades in the NFL and belied the image of the big lug defensive lineman by using his charm and sense of humor to become quite successful in television and films."
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God, I LOVED this guy!
He had THE best moment in the entire movie!
... and also the best line in the film, too.
I can't think of a greater cinematic comedic moment in motion pictures aside from Slim Pickens riding an H-bomb into Russia at the end of Dr. Strangelove!
>SIGH< They don't make many former athletes like this who much of a sense of humor anymore.
One can only hope Mr. Karras went to his reward knowing that he picked up the day of anybody watching Blazing Saddles still one of the few comedies that makes me laugh every time I watch it...
Rest in peace.
