Page 20 - AT

A20 SPORTS
Thursday 30 January 2020

Hall of Fame DE Doleman dies at age 58

By DAVE CAMPBELL in an interview with the St. Pro Bowl selection who
AP Pro Football Writer Paul Pioneer Press. played in 232 of a possible
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Hall Doleman returned to U.S. 236 regular-season games.
of Fame defensive end Bank Stadium as recently as The 6-foot-5 Doleman
Chris Doleman, whose en- last October, for the Ring of played two seasons for At-
viable blend of speed and Honor induction for former lanta and three seasons
power made him one of teammate Steve Jordan. with San Francisco before
the NFL's most feared pass Former teammate and fel- returning to Minnesota to
rushers during 15 seasons in low Hall of Famer Randall finish his career in 1999.
the league, has died. The McDaniel pushed Doleman "Chris was a great example
longtime Minnesota Vikings to and from the on-field for players past and pres-
star, who had 150½ career ceremony in a wheelchair. ent, as he embodied all
sacks to rank fifth on the all- Doleman, an Indianapolis the best characteristics
time list, was 58. native who played in col- of a Viking — resilience,
The Vikings and the Pro lege at Pittsburgh before toughness and a competi-
Football Hall of Fame ex- being drafted by the Vi- tive spirit," the Vikings said.
pressed their condolences kings with the fourth overall "Chris always carried him-
in separate statements pick in 1985, was inducted self with dignity and class.
confirming Doleman's In this Dec. 15, 2013, file photo, former Minnesota Viking into the Hall of Fame in Vikings fans worldwide will
death on Tuesday night. Chris Doleman acknowledges the crowd during a ceremony 2012. greatly miss him."
honoring the All Mall of America Field team during halftime of
Doleman had surgery two an NFL football game between the Vikings and the Philadelphia He converted from line- Hall of Fame president and
years ago to remove a Eagles in Minneapolis. backer to defensive end CEO David Baker said wit-
brain tumor after being di- Associated Press and spent his first nine sea- nessing Doleman's baptism
agnosed with glioblasto- sons with the Vikings, col- in the Jordan River during
ma, an aggressive type of lanta, but later that year he for the team's Ring of Honor lecting a league-high 21 a Hall of Fame trip to Israel
cancer that killed U.S. Sen. was able to travel to Can- induction ceremony for the sacks in 1989 while forming was "one of the honors" of
John McCain of Arizona in ton, Ohio, for the Hall of late Dennis Green, one of a fierce pass-rushing tan- his life.
2018. Fame induction ceremony his coaches with the Vi- dem with defensive tackle "The legacy of Chris Dole-
The diagnosis and surgery that included former team- kings. Keith Millard, who had 18 man will live forever in Can-
kept Doleman from attend- mate Randy Moss. That fall, "Just the thought of catch- sacks himself that year for ton, Ohio, for generations
ing Super Bowl 52 in Min- he married his wife, LaTresa ing up with everybody pulls the NFC North champions. to learn from how he lived
neapolis, requiring a five- Doleman, and they trav- you through those dark He was a two-time first- a life of courage and char-
week hospital stay in At- eled to Minnesota together times," Doleman said then team All-Pro and eight-time acter," Baker said.q