The elder Donovan was the third man in the ring at 19 of Joe Louis' title fights and some 150 championship bouts in all. Donovan Sr., arguably the most famous fight referee of all time. "Kosher hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pizza, baloney, and a couple of cases of Schlitz are all I'd need on a desert isle."ĭonovan's father was Arthur J. "I've never been a gourmet eater," he wrote. He was hardly particular about what he ate (or drank), which could explain why he spent much of his life hovering around 300 pounds, although the playing weight of the 6-foot-3 Donovan was listed at 265. Things went swimmingly until the shower door burst open, flooding his room and the one below it.ĭonovan had a thousand more stories like that, many of which were chronicled in his autobiography, appropriately titled, "Fatso." Donovan liked to say he was a light eater - "When it got light, I started eating." Once, he filled a hotel shower stall with water and went for a dip.
"He was one of the greatest people I played against all my life."ĭonovan played in the 1958 championship game between the Colts and New York Giants, a contest that was decided in overtime and ultimately tabbed by some football historians as "The Greatest Game Ever Played." The winner's share was $4,700 the most Donovan ever earned in one season was $22,000.īut Donovan got a million dollars' worth of memories and more than enough material for storytelling. "Some of the greatest football ever played by a defensive tackle was played by Art Donovan," said Hall of Fame center Jim Ringo, who died in 2007. Donovan performed on the football field as well as anyone at his position, even though he once said the only weight he ever lifted was a beer can. But Uecker's game was baseball, and his schtick dealt with his limited abilities. Long after his career was finished, Donovan made a living on the talk-show circuit, weaving yarns about the NFL's good old days - as he put it, "When men were, well, men."ĭonovan was much like Bob Uecker, who also became popular on late-night talk shows through his stories about sports. Voted into the Hall of Fame in 1968, Donovan was an outstanding lineman and an even better storyteller. The world is not as bright tonight because we lost someone who could make us all smile." "Baltimore is now without one of its best and someone who was a foundation for the tremendous popularity of football in our area. "We lost a friend, one of the finest men and one of the greatest characters we were fortunate to meet in this community and in this business," Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said. While many later knew Art as a colorful ambassador to the sport because of his personality, those who played alongside and against him attest to his grit and greatness," Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said in a statement.ĭonovan also spent single seasons with the New York Yanks and Dallas Texans in a career that lasted from 1950 through '61. Art was a battle-tested veteran who stood among the giants in helping lead the Colts to their first two world championships. "Art was the first Colts player to be inducted into the Hall, and his roots date back to the very start of the franchise. Art Donovan, shown here in a 2008 photo, helped the Baltimore Colts to championships in 1958 and '59. at Stella Maris Hospice in Baltimore, according to Kevin Byrne, senior vice president of public and community relations for the Baltimore Ravens.ĭonovan made a name for himself as a feisty defensive tackle for the Baltimore Colts, helping the team to world championships in 1958 and '59.
Art donovan pro#
Art Donovan, the lineman whose hilarious stories about his football career enabled him to maintain his popularity long after his election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died Sunday night.
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