Comments on: Merlin Olsen — R.I.P.

By: AW1 Tim

AW1 Tim — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:39:00 +0000

Agreed. I had the chance to meet him many years ago at Utah State. We were both alumni, and he’s probably the best known of all of them. He was many classes ahead of me, but it was still an honor to meet him. What i remember most was his humility and genuine warmth towards anyone he met. It was like he’d known you for 10 years rather than 10 minutes.

Valhalla indeed!

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:33:01 +0000

This makes me sad. As sad as I was when Max McGee died. Merlin Olson was so much part of the lore I grew up with because the Rams were some of the Packer’s fiercest competitors back in the Lombardi era. He was part of a generation of football players who played because they loved the game. I am sitting here now with tears in my eyes.
Rest in Peace Merlin, say hey to Vince and Max for us. Valhalla just got another one.

By: Rufus

Rufus — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:59:17 +0000

If “good genes” is code language for nepotism then I agree. Or, maybe he’s the only guy they could fit in the frame with Costas without requiring Bob to stand on a platform.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:43:39 +0000

Will do. Bob’s devolved so much in the last few years, but at least he earned his smarm (plus he can bounce between knowledgeable interviews with dignitaries, musicians, athletes, actors, anyone like nobody else). Buck just has good genes.

By: Wankette

Wankette — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:38:44 +0000

Troy deserves so much better than that silver-spoon Costas-wannabe

Dayum, Eric! tell Mrs P I told her to give you a kiss on the lips w/tongue for that remark.

By: -fritz-

-fritz- — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:38:03 +0000

RIP, Merlin! God bless!

By: Wankette

Wankette — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:35:35 +0000

Here’s what Joe Posnanski said about Olsen when he was talking about the busts in the Hall of Fame:

There’s Merlin Olsen’s bust, and it is smiling — not many busts in here are smiling — and you get the sense that if the bust had arms, they would be outstretched to help up the quarterback he just sacked.

GOD, I LOVE THAT QUOTE!! A lovely summing-up of a good, good man.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:05:44 +0000

Damn, ya beat me to it, Floyd... Ultimately, to each their own, but you can keep your Joe Buck and Troy Aikman combo (damn, Troy deserves so much better than that silver-spoon Costas-wannabe); anyone and Al Michaels (even in Al’s heyday); and the hell with Pat Summerall and John Madden, too (sorry, Pat’s slurred ramblings were funny – before I knew he had a drinking problem – but never understood the appeal of Madden, even well before he became a caricature of himself). For me, the gold standard will always be Merlin Olsen and Dick Enberg. Knew their shit through and through (when you’re a Hall of Fame lineman who played next to Deacon Jones as part of the “Fearsome Foursome”, how can’t you?), but never took themselves too seriously. Made watching games as fun as they can be without being there, and while it probably set the bar too high for a booth team to equal, so glad I got to learn from Olsen, also one of the smoothest on-air voices. Oh, yeah, loved those FTD commercials and that prairie show, too. Rest in peace and all prayers to the Olsen family. I’ll never forget him.