John Matuszak

Mike Downey obviously likes the super macho, the wild, the rebellious. That John Matuszak was mainly a kamikaze on the field--and off the field--clearly appeals to Downey. And it probably appeals to a large number of sports fans. But violence violates and destroys. HAROLD S. SPEAR Pasadena

Life begins again Thursday night, when the Visigoths from one city take on the Huns from another, out on the village green. The ensuing mayhem will be televised to death -- thank God -- then analyzed as if a pop star's autopsy. That's right, the NFL is back. Hoopla is too weak a word. Yes, the republic survived another off-season. Good cheer will spread across the land. The kids are happy as if witnessing a first snow -- and by kids, I mean any child between the ages of 4 and 104. Me, I'm still a little stoned from that terrific Super Bowl.

The body of former Raider John Matuszak was flown home to Milwaukee, where his family will hold funeral services Wednesday. The Raiders will also hold a memorial service, although no date has been announced. Matuszak, 38, died Saturday night after suffering heart failure. An autopsy by the Los Angeles County Coroner's office failed to determine the cause of death and a department spokesman said that the results of toxicology tests may not be known until next week.

John Matuszak vowed to keep his Oakland Raider teammates in line. Instead, he kept them out all night. That was during the 1981 Super Bowl week in New Orleans, when Matuszak's capacity for alcohol and Quaaludes was as enormous as his 6-foot-8, 280-pound body. He basically drank Bourbon Street dry, the Raiders wound up beating Philadelphia for their second Super Bowl title, and fans to this day delight in recounting stories of the wild-eyed defensive lineman they called Tooz.

Contrary to what was stated in a column by Mike Downey (June 19), John Matuszak was not a dog killer. The myth originated in "Snake," Ken Stabler's autobiography. Matuszak responded in his own book, "Cruisin' with the Tooz," to Stabler's story: "Total, unadulterated fiction. Never happened . . . I love dogs and that made me furious." While I think most of Downey's column was fair, he left a false impression of Matuszak on this one significant point. There are a lot of people (and Matuszak was one of them)

Death should have feared John Matuszak. The other way around makes no sense. When the Grim Reaper came by to touch the Tooz on the shoulder Saturday night, the big guy should have sprung from his bed, ripped open his hospital gown from the neck down, roared like a primal beast and then poured the two of them a drink. He should have scared Death to death. When you consider how many times John Matuszak teased eternity before, toying with alcohol and Quaaludes and guns the way he did, working hard and playing harder, it is a wonder that he lived as long as he did. Yet, that's the Tooz for you; he was a wonder.

John Matuszak, the former Los Angeles Raider who died of an accidental overdose of painkiller last summer, left most of his estate to his mother and three sisters in Wisconsin but his Super Bowl rings will go to his nephews. Matuszak, a former all-pro defensive end noted for his aggression on the field, his flamboyance off it and his nickname, the Tooz, named his mother, Audrey Matuszak of Oak Creek, Wis., as his representative in the will formally filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Former Oakland Raiders defensive lineman John Matuszak was pronounced dead Saturday night after he was rushed to a hospital for an undetermined ailment, officials said. "He came into the hospital, and he has expired," said Karen Marlin, a nursing supervisor at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. The cause of death would be announced by the Los Angeles County coroner, she said. Ms. Marlin said additional information was being withheld, pending notification of family members.

John Matuszak, the former Los Angeles Raider who died of an accidental overdose of painkiller last summer, left most of his estate to his mother and three sisters in Wisconsin but his Super Bowl rings will go to his nephews. Matuszak, a former all-pro defensive end noted for his aggression on the field, his flamboyance off it and his nickname, the Tooz, named his mother, Audrey Matuszak of Oak Creek, Wis., as his representative in the will formally filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

He was the best of times, he was the worst of times. . . . There were always two of him: The Tooz, a raging, running-on-premium-and-lots-of-it, havoc-wreaking monster; and John Matuszak, a 6-foot-8, 280-pound puppy dog just begging for you to pat him on the head. The people who knew him by day adored him, remember him for his gentleness, his consideration, his unfailing kindness. The people who saw him out on the town on one of those nights didn't soon forget it.

Contrary to what was stated in a column by Mike Downey (June 19), John Matuszak was not a dog killer. The myth originated in "Snake," Ken Stabler's autobiography. Matuszak responded in his own book, "Cruisin' with the Tooz," to Stabler's story: "Total, unadulterated fiction. Never happened . . . I love dogs and that made me furious." While I think most of Downey's column was fair, he left a false impression of Matuszak on this one significant point. There are a lot of people (and Matuszak was one of them)

Former Raider star John Matuszak died of an accidental overdose of Darvocet, a prescription painkiller, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office reported Tuesday. The coroner's office reported it also found "a small amount of a cocaine metabolate" in Matuszak's blood. Department spokesman Bob Dambacher said it suggests that Matuszak "may have taken some cocaine within 24 hours of his death, or so." However, the coroner's report says that the cocaine had been ruled out by the medical staff as a factor in Matuszak's death.

Mike Downey obviously likes the super macho, the wild, the rebellious. That John Matuszak was mainly a kamikaze on the field--and off the field--clearly appeals to Downey. And it probably appeals to a large number of sports fans. But violence violates and destroys. HAROLD S. SPEAR Pasadena

A close friend and teammate of John Matuszak said at the former football player's funeral Wednesday he will remember the tearful talks he had with the man who called him "little buddy." Matuszak, a native of suburban Oak Creek, Wis., died of heart failure Saturday in Burbank at 38. About 600 people attended a funeral service at the Catholic church Matuszak had attended as a child. The service was marked by eulogies from friend Mickey Marvin, a former Raider guard, and Al Davis, the Raiders' owner.

Former Raider star John Matuszak died of an accidental overdose of Darvocet, a prescription painkiller, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office reported Tuesday. The coroner's office reported it also found "a small amount of a cocaine metabolate" in Matuszak's blood. Department spokesman Bob Dambacher said it suggests that Matuszak "may have taken some cocaine within 24 hours of his death, or so." However, the coroner's report says that the cocaine had been ruled out by the medical staff as a factor in Matuszak's death.

A close friend and teammate of John Matuszak said at the ex-football player's funeral today that he will remember the tearful discussions the two men shared more than the sport they played together. Matuszak, an Oak Creek native, died after suffering heart failure Saturday in Burbank at the age of 38. About 600 people attended a funeral service at the Catholic church that Matuszak attended as a child. The service was marked by eulogies from friend Mickey Marvin and Raiders managing general partner Al Davis.

The body of former Raider John Matuszak was flown home to Milwaukee, where his family will hold funeral services Wednesday. The Raiders will also hold a memorial service, although no date has been announced. Matuszak, 38, died Saturday night after suffering heart failure. An autopsy by the Los Angeles County Coroner's office failed to determine the cause of death and a department spokesman said that the results of toxicology tests may not be known until next week.