Lyle Alzado on "Up Close" with Roy Firestone (1991)

Lyle Alzado discusses his use of steroids, as well as the inoperable brain tumor that would eventually end up taking his life.

[@robertruiz287]

My uncle took me to meet Lyle and the other Raiders at training camp in Oxnard Ca back in the 80s. Lyle was such a nice man. I will not forget the kindness he showed to me and everyone around him.

[@vinceniederman3235]

@Robert Ruiz Nice Lyle Was Indeed a Nice Guy Off The Field Without Question!

[@themjpaul]

I'm truly lucky to personally know Cindy and Justin Alzado. Justin looks just like his dad. He is as nice as his father was.

[@brocklee1996]

I watched this when it aired. I was 21 and about to start using roids. I heard his message loud and clear and because of Lyle I never ended up using them. I always envied the huge muscle guys in Golds Gym Northridge California, but deep down I was glad and still glad I never used them . I'm 47 and very healthy and fit. Had I used steroids, I may not be writing this statement! RIP Mr Alzedo

[@JoseOrtiz-n9o]

God was looking at you that day, and you listened.

[@stevenserial4080]

Healthy People get cancer everyday. Steroids or not.

[@stevenserial4080]

@Joseph Kobatake it's a combination of factors bit genetics determine whether a person on steroids dies of a heart attack. Taking low doses of a few different steroids on and off isn't going to make most people sick. Lou Simmons of westside barbell has been on steroids for just under 50 years and he's still going strong.

[@absoluteb22]

You got to keep your nuts!

[@OrangeDiamond33]

I took them responsibility for 20 years with no ill effects. Still healthy.

[@fredscaboda4617]

He used to workout at a gym where i was a member. What a sweet guy...he would talk to you for 20 minutes. Always treated everyone the same....

[@factman4766]

@arthur wiebe Shame on you. Character is a choice. I encourage you to choose again. I too met Lyle when he owned a restaurant on La Cienega. The man didn't know me, but spent 5 minutes at my table telling stories, couldn't have been nicer.

[@metalinl-a1128]

My best buddy who passed in 96. He told me stories about him n Lyle working out together with the Raiders. Wild lives they both had. R.I.P LYLE and DON. You were one badass singer. I'll see you very soon. But not yet. Not yet

[@vinceniederman]

@Frad Scaboda I Bet Lyle Was a Nice Person in General!

[@davidincognito7285]

He should be remembered for who he was and what he did on the field rather than steroids. He was a tough dude carrying a lot of heartache.

[@robertdore9592]

He admitted playing with a lot of anger and channeling that to devastating effect, I remember some footage of him threatening Gene Upshaw, when he was with the Broncos :-)

[@fiftybm3541]

If he didn’t do this interview then we would focus on what he did on the field

[@encyclopediaamericana7234]

He's remembered for both by me.

[@Ronin_Noir]

He wanted to be remembered for using steroids. There’s another interview he did and he even said it himself so other players especially children or kids can avoid the same pitfalls

[@44style1]

Steroids defined him.

[@suprafahrer6453]

Takes a lot of guts to put down your pride and admit when you've done something wrong. Lyle you were a great person, player and actor. Been almost 30 years since you've past and you're character, feelings and true personality is one of a Kind. RIP

[@cryptoprepper2933]

Breaks my heart. A man who was greatly misunderstood. I feel you, Lyle.

[@vinceniederman]

This Interview Almost Brings Me To Tears As a Eagles Fan Since 1995!

[@carltonrch8545]

How was he misunderstood??

[@christopherhowe4947]

rest in peace Lyle Alzado.

[@topoftheapple8139]

I took no joy in watching this video. 27 years later I still feel bad for him. He made a mistake, but damn, what a awful price to pay. I wish some how he could have been given a second chance. RIP Lyle. :(

[@kickoutpodcast8436]

SkinsFan 44-HTTR his courage from this is hall of fame worthy absolutely

[@AS-er4ud]

To be fair, there is no guarantee that steroids he used caused his cancer. There is however a guarantee that he would have never made the NFL had he not. Also, it's important to remember that he ABUSED steroids to an extreme. My guess is, it greatly exasperated any health issues he was predisposed to. Whether he would have gotten cancer had he not, we'll never know. RIP.

[@thenerdarchives5425]

My dad was a crew member of the film DESTROYER. He said Lyle was easy going and always joking and having a great time with the cast and crew.

[@leonardkabasinskijr.]

LOVE that movie!

[@slipnorris5882]

one of the realest interviews ever. I still remember watching this in my teens and it resonates today still

[@terryfromm142]

Became a role model at the end

[@robertdore9592]

Ironically, Lyle was always a role model; he was never too roided up to help kids or visit hospital...

[@luperodriguez4525]

Rest in peace

[@davemojarra2666]

Really?

[@gmx5051]

When journalist were professionals

[@raymondsolisjr.1262]

Now ESPN stands for Extremely Stupid Political Network

[@encyclopediaamericana7234]

Word.

[@OzyMandias13]

Roy Firestone? A professional? He was corny af. Usually mining for emotional paydirt at the expense of good reportage. That's why he was perfect as itself in Jerry Maguire. He was the Barbara Walters of sports. His biggest professional black eye, poor choice of words aside, was his early 90s interview with O.J. Simpson. Roy asked about an incident involving alleged abuse of his wife. Apparently he had done no investigative journalism about the allegation bc he let The Juice quickly dismiss it as a non-event and they proceeded to have a really chummy sit down. In reality, he had beaten her that evening and in fact Nicole Simpson was hospitalized as a result of it. Two years later... well, it's fair to say that the interview didn't age well. Then there was the interview with Bobby Knight after footage of Knight putting his hand on one of his players throats became public. Firestone hadn't even watched the tape! I suggest you go watch that interview. At one point, Firestone is so rattled he drops all of his papers and Bobby Knight asks if everything is okay. TV personality? Sure. Celebrity athlete interviewer? Okay. A Professional Journalist? Negative.

[@GaryFox11000]

Roy Firestone was an incredible, genuine , very well prepared sports reporter ! 🙋‍♂️🏈

[@srpdesigns]

Everything about this era was much more real than what we have today.. The player and the man that he was, the actual reporter doing an honest interview without being censored by the news outlets or the NFL themselves... We lived in a much better place back then.

[@hookieaffeldt339]

WTF are you talking about? Where are you going with that comment? Do you really think people can't give good interviews now? I've watched some very good interviews in recent years, NFL and beyond. As for Lyle? Steroids didn't cause his cancer. Tough guy and great football player.

[@VeronicaAReed]

This took a lot of courage. So sad.

[@broaderrange5870]

No, it didn't. It was all bullshit: Steroids didn't cause his illness.

[@blacquesjacques7239]

+Golden Gulag Prove it

[@bastiaan0741]

His own doctors diagnosis for start, fool.

[@jameswhitmire716]

IDC what anyone says he deserves to be in the hall of fame. How many already inducted also took roids but never admitted to it. Mad respect.

[@Danimal77]

He built his body up to 270 pounds of muscle and died at 160 pounds. It was a very sad situation. I was 14 at the time of his death in 1992 and I remember this like it was yesterday. It was around the time of the WWF steroid trials where all the top wrestlers got off their cycle and all shrunk (Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, etc).

[@noshow22]

Dude lost over a 100 pounds, that's insane.

[@QueensNativeNYC]

Wow.. He went down to 160.. That's crazy for his height and bone frame to be 160, that would be like an average man going down to like 100 pounds.. Poor guy, the cancer just ate him up.. RIP Lyle!!!

[@thewebsiteisdown7720]

I saw this interview as a kid. More than 30 years later have never forgotten it and I'm still inspired by it. Mr. Alzado was a hero to me as a kid and even more so when he was sick. Now as a father my young kids will know who he is as an example to make the right decisions while they can. Thank you, Sir and God bless your family.

[@robertdore9592]

I loved this guy - 100% HEART... roids or not...

[@hectorlopez1069]

Roids don't help players. They destroyed them.

[@jsboening]

She seems like a great wife. He was a lucky man to have her by his side.

[@VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM]

Yeah I'm sure him being famous and having lots of money had nothing to do with it.

[@mrtruthhurts2307]

@@VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM truth

[@Opethianaut]

It’s New Years Eve and here I am watching this clip. May you be at peace Lyle, and may your message resonate not only for steroids but for any ill advised drug. I hope you’re at peace and watching over your loved ones, Lyle! ❤️

[@DennardC_27]

I remember this as a kid. I see the pain and fear in his eyes now. So sad, RIP to a great

[@vinceniederman]

This Interview is So Tough To Watch Feeling Bad For Lyle!

[@leroystover1062]

Rest in peace Lyle Alzado Brooklyn's Finest

[@passionparade]

What a fantastic interview. I wish this kind of heart was still up close today. Firestone was the package deal.

[@markmetcalf7356]

I admire him for his courage to tell people he took steroids and the steroids made him sick! I took steroids and steroids made me sick with cancer.

[@gnryushi]

I hope you recovered.

[@robbyrobinson4500]

@DopieAntilope69 he died

[@neilvetter662]

@@robbyrobinson4500 tee hee that's fun

[@Hellenicheavymetal]

You are destroying your life with that garbage.

[@hectorlopez1069]

I guess you didn't do all of that on the football field, steroids did all of that.

[@jodihenry3015]

Sad , I think the brain cancer was more likely from severe head trauma , hard hits and concussions. He died way to young. I'm glad I got to watch Lyle play . He was one of my favorite players as a kid. Rip Lyle we will always remember how hard you played the game and with such emotion.

[@arturogomez6772]

As a young Raider fan, all I have are the memories

[@ironmanxp2003]

You know what....I think you hit the nail on the head with that one....Just thinking about it....considering pure Rage he put out in that Raider uniform due to his abusive childhood, the numerous concussions, his behavior in and out of the field....I really think he was actually misinformed and misdiagnosed about his condition...and the Chemo was the only thing that killed him......you have to keep in mind that the NFL and the quack doctors he went to were oblivious and ignorant to the permanent brain damage that comes with the sport of Football at that particular time....im not condoning the use of PEDs but I DONT THINK STERIODS IS TO BLAME for Lyle Alzados demise....just my opinion

[@peterhennessy4884]

Jodi Henry I'm only going to say it one more time Jody Henry he got brain cancer from a cadaver they took the pituitary gland growth hormone out and gave it to him therefore he got a human form of mad cow disease look it up in the eighties and early nineties lots of bodybuilders died and athletes to it's even in the video when his brother Pete says Lyle obtained some human growth hormone from Europe and they didn't know what was in that it was fun a human cadaver. yes hard hits to the Head are brutal but they don't cause brain cancer

[@trevorhansen5441]

Blunt force trauma does not cause brain cancer in any way shape or form, he already had the melanoma and all the human growth hormone he was taking literally advanced the growth of the tumor over 10x faster than it would normally grow. If he never did growth hormone it would have stayed small and he probably would have never heard of it and if he did he would be over 70 for sure.

[@ecosby100]

Jodi Henry it wasn't brain cancer it was that disease​ you get from dead bodies because back then that's how they made human growth hormone, from the glands of dead bodies

[@costalepas7192]

RIP Mr Alzado. You are a legend on and off the field!!!!

[@vinceniederman3235]

Lyle Alzado Tells Awesome Stories in This Interview Without Question and It's a Damn Shame He Died So Young at Age 43 RIP Lyle Alzado!

[@marklucca3044]

I saw Alzado play the Steelers back in 1983 in the L.A. Colosseum. He was huge. Then I saw him walking down Westwood Blvd. with his wife in 1988. . His eyes looked so sad. He was always a bad ass, but in reality he was a teddy bear.

[@mariahcarey9470]

Didn't he beat his wife?

[@marklucca3044]

@@mariahcarey9470 Well I didn't know him personally. I just saw him a couple of times.

[@hectorlopez1069]

He was only 43 years old when he died.

[@sniper4596]

Every doctor and oncologist say that steroids had nothing to do with his cancer.

[@DMEseter]

I’ve been into football as a kid since the early 90’s and never heard of him until today what a tragedy and the nfl has really made him disappear

[@encyclopediaamericana7234]

Wow. They have?? I love you tube

[@robloxvids2233]

He was the bad guy in Ernest Goes to Camp.

[@richlabombard6780]

Dr Ken Leistner was a powerlifter, writer, chiropractor, etc., from NY. He wrote about Lyle’s work ethic, working on a trash truck in the summer heat, wearing a weight vest, etc., to supplement his training, etc. Nothing but admiration for Lyle.

[@Deetrim]

Look at the body building world right now... I always come back to this. He died the year I was born, I’ve been fascinated by him ever since seeing a special on him.

[@dennywayne8879]

In '85, I was up on the balcony, overlooking the workout area at the Venice Beach Gold's Gym. I "sort of" met Mr. Alzado. I had turned to my left, looking him right in the face. I was speechless. This guy was so intimidating & and big that I said nothing and just walked away. He was a scary big dude! Note: I was (& still am) a skinny musician, which added to the fear element. I wish I knew then what I know now, as I would have said something to him and prayed for him (if I had foresight of what his next 5 years were to be. On a plus experience. I met back up with my buddies downstairs to run into David Lee Roth just as he was leaving! He was super cool & signed autographs for us.

[@richardcarbone5572]

I met lyle as a kid when he played with and a part of the cardiak kids. I loved him and i miss him he was a great football icon. And anyone who wants to talk bad about him why dont they look at what he did for sick children he was a good man under the bad ass he was.

[@Jahblessamerica]

He went out being real and I respect that he’s a legend.

[@richardsongodyear915]

We all make mistakes. We're only human....

I don't and I'm not.

[@reginaldpeters5142]

@ knock it off everyone has made mistakes

[@neilvetter662]

@ that time in the 90s?

[@joseRodriguez-hv4lf]

Because of you sir , i am not into steroids of any kind . Saved my and many others life cuz of your message Thank you RIP🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@2301945]

I really feel bad for Lyle and his family. We need to understand that there´s no freedom without limits.

[@anthony-sk5tu]

this is so sad to watch he was such a good guy he did not deserve this

[@drmbowen]

yes, he reaped what he sowed

[@onepocketslim]

We all got it coming Doc

[@HoldenNY22]

I think he was a Good guy during this Interivew and during this time Period when he got humbled., but I wa a Asshole Bully at least on the Field and maybe off the Field. Maybe he repented at the End. Maybe he should have apologized for his Bullying Stuff.

[@williamanthony9090]

It's not about deserve. It hardly ever is.

[@barryfranco4051]

he did a lot to help kids. he was a good man.

[@BennysBenz]

He was such a stud. I grew up a Pats fan but Alzado and Long were ballers to bad.

[@mccown12]

RIP Lyle, we miss you man.

[@351974gordon24]

Lyle Alzado was such gracious person who showed how much courage he had when he told the truth. He didn't have to speak out against his steroid use since the doctors found no direct link to his steroid use and his brain tumor, but that is the whole point. He showed how much of hero is truly was when he spoke out when he was dying when he could have easily said nothing. God bless and continue to RIP, Mr. Alzado.

[@johntonelli5930]

He spoke out to hide that it was T-cell lymphoma, a condition that has been associated with AIDS patients that was killing him. Alzado was afraid that the public would conclude that he died from AIDS (and conclude that the rumours he was gay were true) due to the type of cancer he had - so he made up a bunch of complete lies about how his cancer was the result of his steroid use. Not a single one of Alzado’s doctors, or any legitimate medical expert have supported Alzado’s claim of a steroids-brain lymphoma link. He was simply ashamed of his homosexuality 🤦‍♂️

[@oscarmartinez2538]

He had courage and he was fearless to the very end of his life. We all make mistakes.

[@markmiller3308]

He could’ve just faded out without saying a word. He was called a “hero” for his on field exploits. His honesty at the end is what made him truly heroic.

[@watchmeyodel]

He was a crazy bastard. Alzado, Romanowski, Tatum were all infamous players for a reason. It takes balls to address your demons. Takes bigger balls to help a new gen avoid what you did. Lyle has my respect

[@taotaostrong]

Playing the old clip was so petty. Kudos to this man for choosing to do some good during his final days. He chose to do his best with the time he had left. Many people don’t.

[@jvl3097]

its the hgh not the steroids. the hgh causes cancer cells to grow more just like it cause muscle cells to grow more. sadly he probably had a cell in his brain that mutated and then just more grew from the hgh usage. still sad to watch. he did not deserve this.

[@josephel2391]

james LaManna Exactly right. it’s the HGH that more likely the culprit in his and Lance Armstrong’s cases.

[@johntonelli5930]

And HIV....

[@xpat73]

Alzado deserves a lot of credit for coming clean at the end. I guess when you are looking death in the face, you have nothing left to lose.

[@williammckenzi5885]

He lost his legacy I’m not saying it wasn’t the right thing to do cuz I think it was he should be in the hof cuz there is plenty others

[@davidneumann2705]

xpat73 cept you’re legacy

[@ultimatewarrior9589]

This man should be in the hall of fame! Over a thousand tackles, over a hundred sacks, and a super bowl win not to mention a sixteen year career. But above all else a down to earth human being who went above and beyond to be open and honest about something wrong he did and in my opinion that takes a true human being to do that. RIP Lyle.

[@bauerj3398]

2 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro. Nowhere near a HOF career for a defensive lineman.

[@dougbollacker5444]

@@bauerj3398 but we put guys like Jerry Jones in.

[@bauerj3398]

@@dougbollacker5444 But is that really what we want to use as a benchmark? Find the worst possible inductee, and then everybody above him gets in?

[@dougbollacker5444]

@@bauerj3398 The NFL is such a hypocrisy it makes me sick. They never talk about the amphetamines those guys used by the boatloads of that Era. He was using hgh when they couldn't find it in 1990 when he came out of retirement and tried to play again.

[@dougbollacker5444]

@@bauerj3398 Joe Namath is in the hof and by today's standards his numbers are avg. The 4000 passing yd season is done quite easy by very good qbs.

[@Sweetish_Jeff_]

As a kid, I was afraid of Lyle Alzado. As a teenager, I was empathetic for him. As a grown man, I have reverence for Lyle Alzado. Good dude. Flawed? Yes. But who isn’t? He made mistakes, but in the end he wanted to do the right thing and he saved lives. God bless you, Lyle. We will never forget you. 🙏

[@giachannel833]

I’m watching the raider right now...but there will never be a raider like Lyle Alzado again...you gave me the luv of 🏈...luv ya Lyle Alzado...I know your resting comfortably in peace🙏🏾

[@mattsweeny3957]

What a great interviewer...very loving and compassionate Roy..Matt NYC

[@KLEARSKITHEKREEPER]

This is an amazing interview.

[@Jason-to5cs]

Lyle sacrificed a surefire hall of fame induction to go public with this. Hopefully he didn't suffer too much.

[@mamster233]

Ostentatious Savant it does mean something for the family...

[@twiladickinson2234]

I think maybe Lyle found the love he was looking for...mission accomplished

[@robertdore9592]

If only he knew how loved he was.....

[@mizeryluvkompany]

Thanks for uploading this. Thank God for KZbin.

[@bigdawgbrownsnation6895]

Put Him In Hall Of Fame

[@MichaelHill-qc4yc]

First Ballot Hall of Infame

[@robertdore9592]

There's NO WAY, Lyle's going in the HOF....

[@bauerj3398]

Why? His career certainly does not merit HOF.

[@mikeyposs3132]

He was good - not great!

[@unclebugspayton]

Sad, but still one of the greatest ever play!

[@viking4130]

Lyle was a BEAST on the field and Roid rage was part of the reason. However he was a kind, humble man off the field especially in the years before he passed. RIP Lyle.

[@vinceniederman]

I’ve Read That Lyle Was a Nice Guy in General!

[@gbond]

His interview with Arsenio Hall disappeared from the face of the earth. It’s not available anywhere. WTF

[@mamster233]

gbond did you ever find it?

[@rebellady04]

This should be played in highschools all the time

[@rwoods2k]

My father had season tickets to the Raiders that superbowl year and for years to follow. I remember getting to games early (sometimes before 11am) I would watch Alzado (and other Raiders) come out on the field and do his warm ups. As a 5th grade kid, I used to swear he was staring at me from time to time while doing his warm-ups. We were in Section 10, row 27, seats 5 and 6 near the famous locking room opening in the coliseum. I would watch Alzado doing his warm-ups in that end-zone thru binoculars, and swore he was looking at me. I used to look away when it happened, lol.

[@whataboutrob442]

Lots of respect for Lyle Alzado.

[@ZFKATNBADGER40]

The 80’s was an extremely dangerous decade for young men, alcohol & drugs rampant. Steroids without knowing the full side effects was prevalent. AIDS epidemic, it was a scary time in America.

[@eduardodavidgomezperez6099]

Cuando yo te vi por primera vez allá por los ochentas inmediatamente te convertiste en mi ídolo por tu agresividad al defender a los raiders,y me dió muchísima tristeza al saber que moriste por eso que metiste a tu cuerpo, creo yo que no lo necesitabas pero tú así lo decidiste,y lo digo sinceramente seguirás siendo mi IDOLO por siempre 😢

[@BELCAN57]

I remember the Sports Illustrated cover with Lyle on the cover, sick from cancer. The caption under the picture was "I LIED".

[@venturabay]

RIP Lyle Alzado, graduated from the same High School as Lyle, followed him his whole career...those bashing Lyle here in the comment section should stf...Lyle does not say steroids alone gave him brain cancer...he ALWAYS said HGH (humane growth hormone) he started taking towards the end of his football career was the next 'drug' he took to try and extend his football career was his downfall...to Lyle this was the 'natural' progression taken by athletes who are trying to gain an advantage...and of course Lyle is RIGHT...NFL should have policies to protect the players from taking potential dangerous drugs(PED) to stay in the NFL

[@vinceniederman]

True and He Never Stopped After 1969 Before His Passing in 1992!

[@francescoluigilocci4057]

I'm not a fan of American football but this bloke is a icon and I like the story of llye

[@horstebreedow8608]

It's not American football it's called football and yours is called Soccer.

[@nickhaa]

@@horstebreedow8608 for us Americans it’s football, but for foreigners it’s “American” football because they are not American. It works for foods too when you travel outside of the US.

[@horstebreedow8608]

@@nickhaa I like to Football

[@reefk8876]

This was such a heavy interview. Poor guy. RIP 🙏

[@roblocia437]

I liked lyle, he was one of the greatest football players to play the game. He was also honest and came out about it at the end..

[@patbackus7668]

Great woman , God bless her , and God bless you Lyle RIP 🙏🏻

[@comedyman112]

she was such a blessing for him

[@granierromain]

Took steroids made him a great intimidating player but make him die at 43 years . So sad for him. I hope he is in peace now.

[@vinceniederman3235]

One of The Toughest Players on The Field RIP Lyle Alzado Shame He Died So Young at Age 43!

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

I don't think it was caused by steroids, but I know kids like me who watched Alzado definitely thought twice about anabolics for a while.

[@Maniac1607]

His own doctor has said that there was no connection between his sickness and his steroid use. Look it up.

[@Yeomannn]

It was AIDS.

[@twiladickinson2234]

RIP Lyle you are in our hearts...

[@jasonhylnd001]

Damn what a shame. This guy whooped Ernest P. Worrell's little behind in Ernest Goes to Camp.

[@BAR-ct7ti]

jasonhylnd001 yeah but Ernest gave him a good "back hand" in the end.

[@jasonhylnd001]

John Smith Yeah I know lol even if it was done in such a blindsided way he still got him good.

[@rts4133]

Ernest Goes To Camp. One of my favorite movies as a kid in 80's

[@brandonmorris9889]

Wait, Alzado was in that movie? I definitely missed it because I was watching that movie after Christmas a few years ago! 😁

[@runningkirkwa2934]

Ernest was too nice

[@adric137]

The message Lyle was trying to communicate is :DO NOT ABUSE STEROIDS OR OTHER DRUGS!!!!!

[@leraybojangles711]

Such a misfortunate tragedy, R.I.P. Lyle Alzado

[@williamanthony9090]

Maybe he didn't like being in Cleveland, but the fans loved having him with the Browns. If there's a "Football Heaven," I'll bet Lyle's there! Put in a good word for us, brother.

[@joeycastrellon7754]

Poor Lyle Alzado. I feel bad for him.

[@vinceniederman]

Shame He Took The Steroids For Years Before Passing Away in 1992!

[@vinceniederman]

I Heard Lyle Alzado Was a Great Player Before My Time and It’s a Shock That He Used Steroids For Years After 1969!

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Firestone did a great job back then.

[@jeremygonzalez7013]

Ur still remembered buddy rip

[@johnduffy6992]

a true Bad Ass on the field... i appreciate his honesty..

[@denniseverett1904]

I too saw this when it originallly aired..July 1991 when i was about to turn 20. It was shocking( like WTAF?) to me to see him looking like that after he appeared as a guest on one of the Late Nite shows about 10 months prior(he looked like the same old Alzado)

[@BlazeOfGlory742]

I was 17 when I saw this and it was crushing.

[@benevolent2077]

damn Rest in Peace Lyle! People don't understand him cause most people grew up eating out of a silver spoon.

[@gregsmithmetalrule]

He was one of my dads heroes when I grew up me and my dad would watch him every Sunday its how I became a raiders fan

[@hectorlopez1069]

He won a ring with the raiders in 1982. He was a beast in football.

[@josephpuchel6497]

Hey No matter what Lyle made his own decisions. He was an outstanding person and Player and will be remembered. God Bless

[@vinceniederman]

I Heard Lyle Was a Great Guy Off The Field Unlike His Playing Days When He Was a Rough Player!

[@chocolatetownforever7537]

Can you effing imagine having to block this man? Without roids he was an insane, but WITH them, with his size and strength as well? Kudos to ANYBODY that ever lined up against Alzado. Cheater or not, you are a MAN if you could hang in there with that guy. Dude was an animal out there.

[@cdub531]

Probably repeated trauma to the head for 16 years in the NFL when the game was extremely violent.

[@BigBlack81]

Like, really! In this whole fracas about CTE and player safety, why isn't Lyle's case being re-examined in the light of all the evidence about head trauma and the violent era of the NFL?

[@robertdore9592]

What about Jim Otto? Sure he has the physical trauma, but no obvious neural issues...

[@joninwm]

I watched this when it aired as Alzado was one of my favorite players. It was so sad to watch this.

[@charlesbelser158]

Some of you have absolutely no idea or comprehension of what you are talking about. He did what he had to do at his medium size against others who were four inches and 80 lbs more than him naturally in order to play in the pros. That was his business. He just too much for too long without ever cycling off for a while. In addition, to you who say he doesn't deserve to be in heaven or could not be, there are ex serial murderers in heaven who accepted Christ Jesus as their Lord and savior afterwards. Saul of Tarsus (later Paul), who hunted the early Christians to torture and kill them , who wrote most of the new testament is obviously in heaven as you can also be if you receive salvation.

[@thomasackerly7732]

He was amazing player Human being Man. RIP Bless him.

[@Garf_malarf]

What a good man, may he Rest In Peace.

[@JElias-po6zu]

i think Lyle had a good heart. he just made poor decisions in his youth. like most of us do. it just so happens taht his cost him his life at an early age. at least he did something positive by giving awareness about steroid use. regardless if thats what caused his disease or not...R.I.P. may God have you in his memory