He was an excellent player who could've been just as good if he played cleanly. I despised the Raiders back then (and still do), mostly because of the way they beat up Namath. To quote the NYTimes story- "He probably was responsible for more late hits than any other player of that era. Many of the things he did regularly, like hitting the quarterback in the head, have since been all but eliminated by rule. Winston Hill, the Jets’ offensive tackle, called Davidson “the No. 1 cheap-shot artist” in the A.F.L." http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/raiders-davidson-enjoyed-being-villain/?ref=football
As that article notes, he wasn't really that great a player - above average, but far from an all-timer. He was far more famous than his actual performances warranted. As Hill said he was a disgusting cheap-shot artist, which is very much not the same thing as being a tough guy, despite what Al Davis liked to believe.
Correct. The Raiders were just beginning the Al Davis dynasty that would last for decades. They quickly developed the chippy, penalty-filled behavior that is still their trademark. The '67 Raiders were an awesome defensive team but Davidson was nowhere near the best player on it. His mustache and size (and dirty play) made him the most visible member of the D, and he certainly enjoyed the spotlight.
I'm to young to have ever seen him play but I do remember him from Conan and Necessary Roughness as a convict and of course the Miller Lite commercials with John Madden. I think he was also in the famous porno Behind the Green Door
So it was. So it was. I guess there is so much mis-information out there about it that I mis-remembered it too: This article attributes it to both of them: http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81189100&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true This article leaves it muddy. I remember that picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidi_Game and, to me anyway, this explanation is the most believable. . . http://www.sfexaminer.com/sports/nfl/2012/07/raiders-ben-davidson-was-true-class-act?category=20 Thanks for setting me straight after all these years!!
That is a myth. This is the truth- Ike Lassiter broke Namath's cheekbone. Davidson did not break Namath's jaw.
Cheekbone. I am near certain about this, but I'll check my sources and get back to you in the next few days.
It was Namath's right cheekbone and it was Ike Lassiter who was responsible for it during the 'Heidi' game (ftr, Jets had beaten Oakland earlier in the year in New York). Namath stayed in the game and was fitted with a special mask/birdcage for the Jets' next game in San Diego (a 37-15 Jet win). Further, Lassiter dislocated Namath's left ring finger in a pile just before halftime during the Jets' 27-23 AFL Championship Game win at Shea, this after POS Davidson had kneed Namath in the head. Source: Associated Press, "Namath: An Autobiography" - by Mark Kriegel. I also remember an interview with Namath years later saying that Lassiter in that Championship Game laughing and celebrating his cheapshot of Namath. Fuck Davidson, Lassiter, Davis and Oakland. ..... R.I.H.
