RIP, Dr. Z

bigq

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
11,088
I always looked forward to the Dr. Z SI issue that kicked off the NFL season. The Pats almost always sucked back then but I still had a joyful optimism about them at the start of each season. :(
 

54thMA

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 15, 2012
10,154
Westwood MA
I got to meet him a number of years ago; I was selling at a toy soldier show in Hackensack and a customer was interested in a number of things, he looked very familiar. He asked if he could pay by check, I said sure, when he handed it to me, I saw the name and said "Thanks Doctor Z"...………...he laughed and we started talking football, just a great guy.

He became a regular customer of mine at the shows and via mail order from that point on, he said he liked me in spite of me being a Patriots fan...………;).

Found out he suffered a stroke several years ago, ESPN did a story on him at his house, in the background were loads of toy soldiers he had bought from me. His wife called me and asked if I'd be willing to help her sell his collection, which I did, the money went towards his care.

Last I had heard, she was moving him to a facility I believe in Ohio, was going to set her back 20,000.00.

Now I see this; what a nutpunch.

R.I.P. Doctor Z, it was an honor and a pleasure to get to meet and know you.
 

mikeot

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2006
8,148
I got to meet him a number of years ago; I was selling at a toy soldier show in Hackensack and a customer was interested in a number of things, he looked very familiar. He asked if he could pay by check, I said sure, when he handed it to me, I saw the name and said "Thanks Doctor Z"...………...he laughed and we started talking football, just a great guy.

He became a regular customer of mine at the shows and via mail order from that point on, he said he liked me in spite of me being a Patriots fan...………;).

Found out he suffered a stroke several years ago, ESPN did a story on him at his house, in the background were loads of toy soldiers he had bought from me. His wife called me and asked if I'd be willing to help her sell his collection, which I did, the money went towards his care.

Last I had heard, she was moving him to a facility I believe in Ohio, was going to set her back 20,000.00.

Now I see this; what a nutpunch.

R.I.P. Doctor Z, it was an honor and a pleasure to get to meet and know you.
I remember reading his SI pieces all the way back to my childhood. Your recollection is most moving. Sad news; RIP Doc.
 

gtg807y

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 31, 2006
3,162
Atlanta, GA
Forgivable miss at the end aside, that snippet alone brings back memories of his work. Quality analysis mixed in with great wit, with a needed dose of irreverence.
 

loshjott

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 30, 2004
14,946
Silver Spring, MD


Not that he could've known, but I'll always remember this.
I was going to post this. I still have it also.

Reading his continuing coverage of the Pats that season culminating in his Super Bowl article was sublime. He wrote that Belichick was not a rah rah "motivational" coach but that he possessed the greatest motivator quality - his players truly believed in his competence and that he'd always put them in the best situations to succeed.
 

Dotrat

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 11, 2002
2,135
Morris County NJ
This is really sad news, though I’d imagine after his strokes it may ultimately bring his loved ones some peace.

He was one of the few sportswriters I felt like I learned something from every time I read him. I still miss reading him.
 

kelpapa

Costanza's Hero
SoSH Member
Feb 15, 2010
4,639


Not that he could've known, but I'll always remember this.
I remember a discussion somewhere (maybe here?) that was trying to figure out the last time the Browns were ahead of the Patriots in a Power Ranking from a legitimate site. Before this year, was it this? Or 02?
 

soxhop411

news aggravator
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2009
46,278
The MMQB twitter account just gave an SOSH shoutout because of that screenshot
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 26, 2005
30,505
Terrible news, condolences to the family. He really was a pioneer, particularly as I understand it charting every play. I used to read him all of the time. RIP.
 

Super Nomario

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 5, 2000
14,012
Mansfield MA
I got to meet him a number of years ago; I was selling at a toy soldier show in Hackensack and a customer was interested in a number of things, he looked very familiar. He asked if he could pay by check, I said sure, when he handed it to me, I saw the name and said "Thanks Doctor Z"...………...he laughed and we started talking football, just a great guy.

He became a regular customer of mine at the shows and via mail order from that point on, he said he liked me in spite of me being a Patriots fan...………;).

Found out he suffered a stroke several years ago, ESPN did a story on him at his house, in the background were loads of toy soldiers he had bought from me. His wife called me and asked if I'd be willing to help her sell his collection, which I did, the money went towards his care.

Last I had heard, she was moving him to a facility I believe in Ohio, was going to set her back 20,000.00.

Now I see this; what a nutpunch.

R.I.P. Doctor Z, it was an honor and a pleasure to get to meet and know you.
I am reading his memoir right now and there is a whole chapter on the various items he collected. The first collection he mentions are his toy soldiers.