Hey, everyone. For several years I had season tickets to the Atlanta Falcons football games. They were end zone seats at the old Fulton County Stadium but I enjoyed having them. We were only about seven rows off the grass and from where I sat I had a great view of touchdown passes that Steve Bartkowski threw to guys like Alfred Jackson and Alfred Jenkins. To this day I have a picture in my mind of William Andrews, the great fullback, breaking through the line with his knees pumping as high as his head and racing for the end zone, seemingly right into my face. It was a good time to be me.
I remember one Sunday when the Miami Dolphins came to town. They were the dynasty at the time, having won Super Bowls with Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and their quarterback, Bob Griese.
It so happened that I was by myself that day and being in no hurry, I thought that I'd let the traffic fade away into the bowels of Interstate 75 and Interstate 20. By coincidence, I exited the stadium at the spot where the Dolphins' bus was parked. I'm not much of a groupie and I wouldn't ask anyone for an autograph but I stood and watched as the Dolphins loaded onto their team bus for the trip to the airport. I was on a concrete ramp a few feet above them, leaning on a rail, drinking a coke. There was a crowd of kids surrounding Bob Griese. After all the other guys were on the bus and the bus was sitting there idling, I watched as Mr. Griese signed autographs until every kid had his autograph, a kind word or a pat on the head. Then Bob climbed aboard and the bus left. Shortly thereafter I headed north for home.
Occasionally I think of this when I see the high-paid riff-raff of professional sports. Don't get me wrong, there are still plenty of great guys in the NFL and other sports, certainly many of them better people than me. The 'me first and last guys', the thugs, the dirty players, the greed, leaves me a bit cold. Frankly, as a father, I'd rather see my son do something with class, that showed character, than to see him win a Super Bowl. I'd rather see him do the 'guy stuff' of going to work when you're sick, to feed your family, or being kind to the poor or weak. There are very few people that I know personally whom I would trust to do the right thing if the chips were down. My sons are among this group.
I read in the paper where Peyton Manning built a hospital for children in New Orleans. In the same paper were accounts of the various turmoil and failings surrounding other 'stars'.
Goodnight Mr. Griese, wherever you are, and thanks for the object lesson. When I walked through the Pro Football Hall of Fame a few years ago and saw your bust, I smiled and remembered the autographs.
From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.
I remember one Sunday when the Miami Dolphins came to town. They were the dynasty at the time, having won Super Bowls with Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and their quarterback, Bob Griese.
It so happened that I was by myself that day and being in no hurry, I thought that I'd let the traffic fade away into the bowels of Interstate 75 and Interstate 20. By coincidence, I exited the stadium at the spot where the Dolphins' bus was parked. I'm not much of a groupie and I wouldn't ask anyone for an autograph but I stood and watched as the Dolphins loaded onto their team bus for the trip to the airport. I was on a concrete ramp a few feet above them, leaning on a rail, drinking a coke. There was a crowd of kids surrounding Bob Griese. After all the other guys were on the bus and the bus was sitting there idling, I watched as Mr. Griese signed autographs until every kid had his autograph, a kind word or a pat on the head. Then Bob climbed aboard and the bus left. Shortly thereafter I headed north for home.
Occasionally I think of this when I see the high-paid riff-raff of professional sports. Don't get me wrong, there are still plenty of great guys in the NFL and other sports, certainly many of them better people than me. The 'me first and last guys', the thugs, the dirty players, the greed, leaves me a bit cold. Frankly, as a father, I'd rather see my son do something with class, that showed character, than to see him win a Super Bowl. I'd rather see him do the 'guy stuff' of going to work when you're sick, to feed your family, or being kind to the poor or weak. There are very few people that I know personally whom I would trust to do the right thing if the chips were down. My sons are among this group.
I read in the paper where Peyton Manning built a hospital for children in New Orleans. In the same paper were accounts of the various turmoil and failings surrounding other 'stars'.
Goodnight Mr. Griese, wherever you are, and thanks for the object lesson. When I walked through the Pro Football Hall of Fame a few years ago and saw your bust, I smiled and remembered the autographs.
From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.
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