Wednesday, September 18, 2002
Unitas remembered as mythic hero
The Associated Press
BALTIMORE — NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue joined past and present football legends, politicians and fans wearing No. 19 to remember the life of Hall of Fame quarterback John Unitas.
“He was mythic,” Tagliabue said at Monday's funeral. “He symbolizes football, and, more importantly, he symbolizes leadership.”
Unitas died Wednesday of a heart attack at 69.
More than 2,000 mourners packed the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen to honor Unitas. A small plane flew overhead with a banner reading “Unitas We Stand” in red, capital letters. Several men wore Baltimore Colts jerseys, with Unitas' No. 19, over their coats and ties.
“He was the greatest,” said former Colts teammate Art Donovan. “He should get this kind of respect. He's the guy who put Baltimore on the map.”
Hall of Fame receiver Raymond Berry, Unitas' most frequent partner during their Baltimore Colts' days, told mourners his teammate was a “once-in-a-lifetime quarterback.”
“You elevated all of us to unreachable levels, whether we were in the stands or on the field,” Berry said. “You made the impossible possible. Those images of your performances still haven't faded.”
Berry said toughness was Unitas' greatest asset.
“In a different body, you would have been an ideal middle linebacker, but we're all glad God made you a quarterback,” Berry said.
The memorial service was followed by a funeral Mass celebrated by Baltimore's Cardinal William Keeler.
“We remember the cheers that rang out from 33rd Street, celebrating a man in black hightop shoes,” Keeler said, recalling Unitas' glory days at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.
“He humbly and generously dealt with everyone, whether a grandson beginning to play football or a fan seeking autograph,” Keeler said. “He led and he touched others by his integrity and loyalty.”
Also attending the funeral were Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick and players Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware and Michael McCrary; former Baltimore Colts teammate Tom Matte; Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams; state Comptroller William Donald Schaefer; Republican Rep. Robert Ehrlich and Mayor Martin O'Malley.
The casket was closed during the service, and the body will be cremated.
Unitas played for the Baltimore Colts from 1956 to 1972, and for the San Diego Chargers in 1973. He set 22 NFL passing records during his career, was named Most Valuable Player of the NFL three times and was named to the Pro Bowl 10 times. He led the Colts to an overtime victory over the Giants in the 1958 NFL championship game.
Outside the cathedral, Ravens president David Modell said Unitas supported the new team when it came to Baltimore from Cleveland before the 1996 season.
“Johnny U was the father of modern football, so all of us, including my father, who enjoyed participating, owe that to Johnny,” Modell said. Modell's father, Art Modell, is the Ravens' owner.
Unitas' six sons were the pallbearers. Chad Unitas choked back tears as they prepared to take the coffin out of the hearse. As the casket, topped with white roses and stargazing lilies flowers, emerged, a bagpiper played “Edelweiss.”
Frank Gitschier, a former coach at the University of Louisville, was the first speaker.
“The world has lost one of its greatest legends and all of you have lost a friend,” Gitschier said. He recalled how he met Unitas 52 years ago, when he was recruiting as an assistant coach.
Gitschier said he was told, “This kid is tough as nails and he could really throw the ball.” After he promised Unitas' mother that he would go to Mass every Sunday and would graduate, she agreed he could attend Louisville.
“It was no great recruiting coup — we got Johnny U because no one else wanted him,” Gitschier said.
Several of Unitas' children also spoke.
Daughter Janice Unitas DeNittis said she remembered sitting on her father's lap as a little girl as they watched game film over and over. She said that after practice, her father and Berry would often run pass plays in their yard until they perfected them.
His son Joe recalled his dad's reputation as a straightforward man, including his traditional pregame speech to his teammates, “'Talk is cheap. Let's go play.”'
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Unitas remembered as mythic hero 
