Daily Madden: Remembering Former Raiders Great Tom Keating
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) ��� Former All-Pro Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Tom Keating has passed away at the age of 69 from prostate cancer.
His family said he died at a hospice in Denver last Friday, two days shy of his 70th birthday.
John Madden remembered Keating as being "a very bright guy" who seemed to have everything.
"He was a great football player because he was strong, quick and fast. He was a bright guy and he had a lot of different interests that football players didn't have in those days," Madden said. "He loved to cook, he loved to study wines and he loved to ride his motorcycle in the off-season. He enjoyed life and he enjoyed a lot of different things in life. He was a great football player, but he wasn't all about football. There was a lot more to Tom Keating than that."
Madden said it's been a tough time for the Raiders recently with the deaths of some great players, Keating included. He and teammate Ben Davidson were diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer within two weeks of each other and ending up passing away two months apart.
He played seven seasons for the Raiders from 1966-1972 and was part of the team in 1967 that captured the AFL Title, following a 13-1 regular season record.
Madden also touched on Wednesday night's NFL season opener between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys. Although he doesn't like predictions, he said he expected a tight game between the two NFC East rivals.
Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.
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