Lunchbreak: Doleman Remembered by Souhan for More Than On-Field Talent

[Viktor]

The Vikings family continues to mourn the passing of Hall of Fame defensive end Chris Doleman, who on Tuesday lost a courageous battle with brain cancer.


Doleman is remembered for being a "disruptive force" on the football field and a "phenomenal human being" off of it.


He is remembered by family, friends and teammates but also by media members who covered his career, including the Star Tribune's Jim Souhan, who called Doleman "much more than a tremendous football player."


Souhan, who began writing for the paper in 1990, recalled reuniting with Doleman in 1999 after Head Coach Dennis Green "signed Doleman, 37, out of retirement to bolster the team's pass rush." Souhan wrote:


When Green called in 1999, Doleman admitted he had not been training. "I haven't been doing anything but hitting the driver, the sand wedge," he said then. "I don't even walk on the golf course. I ride."


Nevertheless, Doleman returned to the Vikings, signing a one-year contract for the veteran minimum of $400,000.


During his first stint with the Vikings, Doleman often carried an expensive-looking briefcase into the locker room. Teammates teased him, saying he was carrying an apple and a newspaper. When Doleman read the Wall Street Journal, it seemed as much to send a message as to gather information. He didn't want to be seen as one-dimensional.


Souhan assured that Doleman certainly wasn't one-dimensional.


Doleman loved golf and fine wine, and that's what he wanted to talk about when I reintroduced myself in September of 1999.


He invited me to sit next to him and quizzed me on my knowledge of wine, which was minimal. He offered wine and book recommendations. As fierce as ever on the field, Doleman wanted to let me know that he knew there was more to life than football, and that he had used football to give himself a good life.