Davidson, Ben (1940-2012) ‘The Mad Stork’

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: Ebay, 2023

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Ben Davidson stood out from the crowd (6’8″, 270) and was scouted in JC to come play football at Washington in 1959.
  • Amazingly, Ben didn’t really display an appetite before then for the sport, mainly enjoying basketball and track.
  • He played DT and TE for the Huskies in 59 and 60.
  • Was a 4th round pick of the New York Giants in 61, but was traded to the Packers before the season began.
  • In 1962, Davidson was traded again- this time to the Washington Redskins for a 5th rounder.
  • After a two year stint there, he’d be cut and joined the Oakland Raiders.
  • The rest would become history as Davidson etched himself in the annuls of NFL history as one of the league’s most feared and dominant defensive players at right defensive end.
  • 1970 was arguably his best year, when he posted 11.5 sacks.
  • After the 1972 season, Ben briefly retired and began to dabble in acting.
  • Returned to football in 1974 for a final season with the Portland Storm of the WFL.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 1966-’68
  • All-Pro 1967

NOTES:

You…

– Ben Davidson (as Rexar)
Conan the Barbarian

Ben Davidson didn’t have very many impactful or quotable lines in movies, but this by far, was one of the best of the entire film, Conan the Barbarian. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as the titular Conan- a barbarian bent on learning the Riddle of Steel, while consumed by lifelong revenge for the murder of his people.

During this scene Conan wrecks havoc on an orgy of evil people and just as he reaches the top of the amphitheater and begins his assault Rexar, played by Ben comes in and sees Conan. Instead of screaming, “YOU!”, He softly states…, “You..” Which just had so much impact when combined with Arnold’s powerful flex with the sword right afterwards. It’s an extremely effective scene.

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* Note that all stats were not tracked by the NFL during Hendrick’s playing era.

EPITAPH: Ben passed away of prostate cancer in 2012 at the age of 72.