BY Paul Turse 8

Phil Villapiano acknowledges the tribute to Jack Tatum in the Bay Area Sports Drive digest.

Two Weeks for Tate benefit at the Jersey Shore exemplifies brotherhood--and a little “sisterhood,” too!

Unlike in some secret societies, the bond that ties football players together is nothing esoteric; rather, it is the simple empathy created by the struggle on the Sunday battlefield.

The hard knocks that the players endure do not occur just on the field but can often extend into their ordinary lives. And while these football stars may have loomed superhuman competing in football, when it comes to coping with life, they are often very much human. Such is the case with former Raider superstar DB Jack Tatum (’71-’79). Tate was legendary for his total abandonment on the field and his penchant for utterly disregarding his own body and laying hard knocks on his opponents. But now, Tate has been hit by a debilitating disease—diabetes, a medical condition that has resulted in a portion of his left leg being removed and leaving him in a somewhat precarious medical and financial condition.

The camaraderie that sustained football players during their careers can also carry over long after their playing days are over, as their former teammates often rally to their side during personal crises. Members of the NFL Players Association, along with Raiders booster clubs across the country, have come to the aid of their fallen friend, Jack Tatum.

While fans are often there for their players during a game, they often forget about them after their careers are over, but not when it comes to Jack Tatum and the Jersey Shore Raiders Booster Club (JSRBC), which is based in South Belmar, New Jersey, and meets at the Club Anticipation, a popular restaurant and hangout on the Shore.

Since football is a cathartic experience, like theatre, the Raider fans identify with their heroes and empathize with their struggle for that extra yard. For a few fleeting hours, the fans forget their tax audits, the bill for the kids’ braces, and whatever personal problems they have. When their team wins, they feel as though they can prevail. Moreover, if the team loses, the fans will still admire the heroic struggle of their team, often against overwhelming odds. So, after the goal posts come down and these fans return to their often-mundane lives and are forced to face their real problems, Raider brothers and sisters alike, come to believe that they, too, can go that extra yard in their own lives.

Now, the members of the JSRBC, along with the NFL Players Association, are praying that Tate can go that extra yard and pull through his ordeal. In order to show moral and financial support, the club held a fundraiser on Sunday, August 17, 2003. The group auctioned off Raider memorabilia, conducted a “blind” raffle (the items were in storage), and held a 50/50 raffle. Items from a Fred Biletnikoff 1970 Chevelle SS replica to the highlight of the day, an official Jack Tatum jersey, were auctioned off by former Raider standout LB Phil Villapiano (’71- ’79) and JSRBC president Gary Brown. A $25 admission for adults and a $5 admission for children entitled guests to unlimited amounts of food and beverages during the 3-hour event.

“It’s like a fraternity. We help out the people in the fraternity," Ben Hawkins (left) explains.

Definitive proof that there is a unity that exists among football players was the visit by former Eagle great WR Ben Hawkins (’66 – ’73). No matter who it is or what it is…one of the guys said that one of the guys is having problems, so we come on out…. People who we played against, people who we went to war against, but after it’s all over, we’re still friends and we’re still buddies. We’re all part of it." Hawkins summarized the true spirit of the brotherhood: “Jack knocked my head off, but I’m here for him.”

Mike Attardi, dedicated Raider backup kicker (91-92), gave further insight into the camaraderie that exists in football and in the NFL Players Association. “Jack was probably one of the best Raiders out there. He was a great, fearless, fearless ballplayer. He’s a great humanitarian. He’s at a lot of these charity events, so I felt, as an ex-Raider, that I should come out here and really give him a lot of support.”

To help with the event, Attardi was able to get a sweatshirt signed by Ronnie Lott and Howie Long, which was one of the items that were auctioned off.

“When times like this happen, and you have a fallen brother who has been through what you have been through—climb up the ranks of Pop Warner, high school, college, and then you go on to the NFL—it’s a brotherhood. There’s a fraternity there. I don’t care from what team you’re on or what team you played for, there is still that status and it’s still that brotherhood that’s there. So, I don’t care if you were a player back in the 30s, 40s, and 50s, or up to now, we still played the game of football, and it’s the greatest game on this earth, you know what I mean? So just to come back here and be around all the ex-players and be around friends and supporters, that’s great.”

When times like

this happen, and

you have a fallen

brother...it's a brotherhood.

Attardi (left)went on to explain how proud he is to be a member of the JSRBC and recalled how, when he attended the Super Bowl, many fans came up and acknowledged the JSRBC shirt he was wearing.

Attardi also praised the willingness of the group to help each other out. “I am in full support of everything we all do here. And anything that she does, I do; whatever he does, I do,” he said, noting the cooperative efforts of all the guys and gals that support and belong to the JSRBC.

Phil Villapiano acknowledged that outstanding support in regard to Jack Tatum during his time of need, indicating that, despite the seriousness of Tate’s condition, his former teammate’s “spirits are great.” However, as Villapiano noted, “his doctor bills are astronomical.” Thus, he asked Tate if there was anything that could be done to help. Tate acknowledged his difficulty and indicated that anything would be appreciated. “I got two kids in college, and I never expected this,” he confided to Villapiano.

Villapiano starts the auction off and running.

Villapiano was thankful to all the fans who attended the affair: “I just think it’s so wonderful that you people here never met the guy and could step up and help us out today. It’s just a great thing.”

Villapiano explained how the concept of the fundraiser began with a phone conversation between him and former Raider OT John Vella (’72 - ‘78), who now operates a sports store (Vella’s Locker Room) in Castro Valley, CA. Vella’s establishment has scheduled a daylong benefit for Tate on Saturday, the 23rd.

Villapiano noted that there are 59 booster clubs throughout the states and that the JSRBC is one of the best. “What we had decided was if every booster club could raise about $2000 bucks in the next couple of weeks—and Gary [Brown] and I came up with Two Weeks for Tate. And the booster clubs are calling this guy [Brown] every day saying ‘they’re in.’ Hey, 59 clubs at $2000 each. That could pay for some of these bills and help out Tate.”

During this two-week period, booster clubs throughout the country hope to raise a substantial sum to help Tate through his ordeal. At the time of this story, the JSRBC had not totaled the donations brought in from its benefit, but Gary Brown was sure that the group had exceeded its goal by a substantial margin.

President Gary Brown and godson Rusty, who had a good time, really!

The fans that attended all seemed to be in agreement as far as the mission of the day was concerned:

The amply endowed (with personality—that is) Miss Liberty, Sondra Fortunato, made a cameo appearance. Always ready to support Raiders football, the vivacious Fortunato came, perhaps, to bring a little good fortune to the auction and to Jack Tatum. Miss Liberty was recently honored for her efforts by the NFL Players Association (the first for a female) and also appears in the July 28, 2003, issue of Sports Illustrated.

John Laputka is a Booster Club member who commutes as often as possible from Staten Island to watch games

Hawkins (left) & Villapiano (right) with Miss Liberty, Sondra Fortunato.

with the New Jersey gang. Laputka came to the benefit looking “to join all good friends and people and looking forward to football again.” And, of course, to support Jack, he affirmed.

Craig Sulaitis, from Wall, NJ, snagged the Tatum jersey for $750, after outbidding his rivals in the auction. How did he feel about his purchase? “Ah, fabulous,” Sulaitis asserted. “Jack was one of the best hitters of all time. A great guy, and Phil [Villapiano] always talks about him. Tate was a number-one draft choice; Phil [Villapiano] was a number-two draft choice that year. I never saw a guy hit like that. Ronnie Lott probably was the closest, but Tate was the best. Anything you can do to help a guy out like that, you gotta.”

This artist's representation of Super Bowl QBs was one of the unique items auctioned off.

Was the jersey a steal at $750? “Absolutely! I think it is!” he exclaimed. Oh, and Sulaitus is not going to wear the jersey. Rather, he is going to frame it and give it to his new grandson. Furthermore, he was unable to take the jersey home with him. It is being sent out to Tate to be inscribed and autographed, and then it will be returned to the proud, Raider-faithful owner.

Stephen Bott, the winner of the 50/50 raffle, turned his portion over to Tate’s fund. The memories of Jack Tatum were far more valuable to Bott than the money. “I signed that thing over there [the banner]; I said thanks for all my childhood memories,” he explained. “There’s not another player like Jack Tatum. Never will be. And that’s how I feel.” The JSRBC awarded the 50/50 raffle winner a Ted Hendricks’ autographed football for his selflessness.

Even Jet fans, like Steve and Liz Markulin, came to support Tate. Steve Markulin explained why Jet fans would come out to support a Raider: “It’s all for football; it’s all for great players. You gotta respect every player that played and played good, no matter what team.”

As for Liz Markulin, she was in full agreement with her husband and eager to show her support, but also came along “for the fun,” she admitted with a laugh.

The Allen family—dad Donald, mom Cheryl, son “Little Don,” and daughter Sehmonyeh—supported the event and made a family day out of it. Donald Allen has been a Raider fan since 1969 and is a member of the JSRBC. When Cheryl Allen was asked if she was a longtime fan, she expressed the typical loyalty of the Raider fan’s wife. “No, I’ve just been a Raider fan because I’m married to him,” she said, indicating her husband, Donald. “I have no other choice,” she said with laugh. The same goes for Sehmonyeh and Little Don—they are Raider fans, too. “It’s a family thing,” Cheryl Allen affirmed. The Allens all concurred, laughing.

Little Don with the replica Biletnikoff Chevelle SS, which his dad purchased in the auction.

Aside from sharing quality family time, Donald Allen indicated that the benefit was ”just a way to show how much people care about him [Tate], even though he’s not playing football anymore, he’s still an Oakland Raider.”

Donald Allen summed up the true purpose of the event and his family’s reason for attending: “No, not so much the money, just to show that we care.”

The JSRBC stands as one of the most active and dedicated booster clubs in the USA. But more than that, the club epitomizes the essence of the word “booster.” Not only does the gang work to raise the morale of the fans in regard to the game, but they also dedicate their energies and creativity to bolster the hope of their fallen heroes. Two Weeks for Tate is a symbol of the spirit that marks booster clubs like this one throughout the Raider Nation. While the JSRBC called the event “‘Two Weeks for Tate,” the love and appreciation for one of their own—Jack Tatum—will extend for an eternity.


Fans signed the banner, all wishing for Tate's recovery.			Phil (l) and Gary (r) award Stephen an autographed ball.	Craig found fans of his own--two lovely volleyball players.			Craig, who purchased the Tate jersey poses with the digest.