Thursday, August 30, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
From The Edge Of The World
Joseph Kittinger
Click Click Click:
First Man in Space - Skydiving From The Edge Of The World
The Highest Step
Kittinger later served three combat tours during the Vietnam War, flying a total of 483 missions, the first two tours as an aircraft commander in A-26 Invaders. On a voluntary third tour in 1971-72, he commanded the F-4 Phantom 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron and then became vice commander of the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. On March 1, 1972, he shot down a MIG-21 in air-to-air combat, and was later downed himself on May 11, 1972, just before the end of his tour. He spent 11 months as a prisoner of war in the "Hanoi Hilton" prison.
This Is A Man's Man, Tom Brady Who?
Click Click Click:
First Man in Space - Skydiving From The Edge Of The World
The Highest Step
Kittinger later served three combat tours during the Vietnam War, flying a total of 483 missions, the first two tours as an aircraft commander in A-26 Invaders. On a voluntary third tour in 1971-72, he commanded the F-4 Phantom 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron and then became vice commander of the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. On March 1, 1972, he shot down a MIG-21 in air-to-air combat, and was later downed himself on May 11, 1972, just before the end of his tour. He spent 11 months as a prisoner of war in the "Hanoi Hilton" prison.
This Is A Man's Man, Tom Brady Who?
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
W T F ?
Ladies, Ladies . . . Please Stop !
AC/DC
I cannot play AC/DC without throwing
some Bon Scott into the mix! RIP Brother !
TNT
High Voltage
Whole Lotta Rosie (Admit it, we have all been there . . .)
Shot Down in Flames
Bad Boy Boogie
ps: If you are a chick trying to cover AC/DC
Do it right like this band, Hell's Belles
ps ps: Rock On Little Dude!
The Shining
The Movie We Remember
The Original Trailer:
Fan Trailer:
Various Clips:
And What Could Have Been
Shining
The Original Trailer:
Fan Trailer:
Various Clips:
And What Could Have Been
Shining
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
"Excuse Me, My Babysitter is Stuck"
Calm 7-Year-Old Aids in Sitter's Rescue
Written by C. Johnson, Internet News Producer
A 7-year-old Granite Bay boy is credited with helping rescue his babysitter who got stuck in a dumb waiter in his home.
The incident took place Thursday night, according to the Placer County Sheriff's Department. The 21-year-old sitter was playing hide and seek with the boy when she went into the home's dumb waiter compartment, which the boy had warned her to not enter. The dumb waiter descended under the weight and became stuck.
The boy called 911 for help. He is also heard calming his upset 5-year-old sister.
South Placer Fire personnel were dispatched but delayed from entering the home because the family's German shepard was guarding the premises. Once firefighters gained entrance, they were able to extricate the babysitter who sustained some cuts and scrapes. She did not require medical treatment.
Copyright 2007 News10 / KXTV
Written by C. Johnson, Internet News Producer
A 7-year-old Granite Bay boy is credited with helping rescue his babysitter who got stuck in a dumb waiter in his home.
The incident took place Thursday night, according to the Placer County Sheriff's Department. The 21-year-old sitter was playing hide and seek with the boy when she went into the home's dumb waiter compartment, which the boy had warned her to not enter. The dumb waiter descended under the weight and became stuck.
The boy called 911 for help. He is also heard calming his upset 5-year-old sister.
South Placer Fire personnel were dispatched but delayed from entering the home because the family's German shepard was guarding the premises. Once firefighters gained entrance, they were able to extricate the babysitter who sustained some cuts and scrapes. She did not require medical treatment.
Copyright 2007 News10 / KXTV
DC United Update
United tops L.A. as Beckham debuts
Emilio's early strike proves enough in tough 1-0 win
By Charles Boehm / MLSnet.com Staff
WASHINGTON -- On a night when David Beckham made his debut in Major League Soccer, it was Luciano Emilio's goal that proved to be the difference as D.C. United defeated a 10-man Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 on MLS Primetime Thursday before a sold-out RFK Stadium.
Emilio's strike from well outside the area in the 27th minute -- which gave him the league lead with 13 goals on the campaign -- was all either team could muster in a game played mostly in a driving rain. Beckham's entrance in the 72nd minute couldn't turn around the Galaxy's fortunes, who had been reduced to 10 men just five minutes earlier when Kyle Martino was sent off with a straight red card.
United coach Tom Soehn made just one change from the lineup that hammered the New England Revolution 3-0 last Sunday, as United attacking midfielder Christian Gomez was kept out of the starting lineup for a second consecutive game. But this time it was Fred -- coming off a red-card suspension -- who took over the Argentinian's playmaking duties, with Josh Gros taking the left midfield slot.
Galaxy boss Frank Yallop made two changes to the team that played to a scoreless draw against Toronto on Sunday, as his team desperately playoff contention. Kyle Martino and Quavas Kirk came into the team for Peter Vagenas and the injured Troy Roberts, as Yallop reverted to a 4-4-2 scheme after playing with three forwards in Canada.
United striker Guy Roland-Kpene handed Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon his greeting card less than a minute in, knocking the Galaxy goalkeeper to the turf as he scooped up Fred's chipped through ball at the top of the penalty box.
Cannon was at the center of the action again in the eighth minute when he raced off his line to dive at Gros' feet as the rangy midfielder tried to lift a shot over him just beyond the left-hand post. Though the contact sent Gros flying to the turf, referee Jair Marrufo decided that Cannon had gotten a touch on the ball and waved play on. Gros got another decent look at goal just seconds later, but the veteran netminder denied him again, dropping low to gobble up his shot to the near post.
Emilio completely lost marker Kelly Gray on a corner kick in the 14th minute but United's leading scorer wasted Ben Olsen's glorious delivery, heading over the top from close range.
RFK's upper deck, rarely used for MLS matches, was teeming with fans anticipating a glimpse of Beckham. But the cascade of boos that greeted Landon Donovan every time he got near the ball made clear that United's supporters saw the U.S. star -- who has run riot in his recent outings at the venerable old stadium -- as the main danger to their team's hopes.
The Galaxy No. 10 nearly quieted his detractors in the 20th minute when he cut in from the right flank and snuck a far post left-footer past Perkins, with the netminder's view obscured by traffic in front of the net. But the low shot dribbled just wide of the post.
But it was United's top hitman who drew first blood and sparked the occasion to life with a sensational long-range blast in the 27th minute. Thus far Emilio had been pestering L.A.'s defense on aerial challenges and holding the ball well for his teammates -- but when Marc Burch's well-placed pass gave him a chance to turn at goal he made the most of it, drilling a shot towards the upper corner that a leaping Cannon got his hands to, but could not parry away from the net.
The crowd roared into life again soon after -- some boos, some cheers -- when Yallop directed Beckham to warm up on the grass behind the visiting bench, and the fans' swelling anticipation seemed to add urgency to the action as both teams pushed the tempo up a notch. Galaxy left back Ante Jazic was showing more attacking ambition as the half wore on, and his 43rd-minute jaunt down the touchline led to an angled endline cross that would have been easy pickings for Donovan had Devon McTavish not backtracked to slap the effort to safety.
The tackles were flying in left and right now and Marrufo finally elected to rein in the enthusiasm, producing a yellow card when Xavier left Kpene in a heap at midfield with a heavy challenge from behind.
Burch set off on a swashbuckling run just seconds before halftime, galloping into the box and leaving Xavier for dead with a nifty chip -- but his athletic side volley narrowly missed the target, rippling the outside of the net.
While many of the sellout crowd were breathlessly awaiting the introduction of the world's most famous footballer in the second stanza, a cheer went up when Soehn made the only chance at the half, inserting United legend Jaime Moreno for Kpene.
Bobby Boswell's mis-hit header nearly gave the Galaxy a fortunate equalizer in the 57th minute, allowing Gordon to nod the ball into Donovan's path -- and though the Galaxy playmaker fell to the turf under McTavish, Marrufo denied L.A.'s penalty appeals and waved play on.
Moreno was making his presence felt in D.C.'s final third, orchestrating play as the Black-and-Red strung together attractive passing sequences around the Galaxy box, and he nearly stunned Cannon at the hour mark when he lifted the ball off the turf and clipped a long-range shot just wide of the target.
As the deluge continued, United took a stranglehold on possession and L.A.'s flagging hopes were further drenched when Kyle Martino caught Fred's ankle with a lunging challenge that drew a straight red card from Marrufo, forcing the Galaxy to finish the match shorthanded. But Yallop, his team badly in need of points, had little choice but to go for broke with a bevy of attacking substitutions.P<> In the 69th minute, substitute Edson Buddle took control of Donovan's downward header and scooted around a slipping Boswell to hit a low shot on goal, but Perkins was well-placed to grab the effort with minimal fuss.
Not long after, the crowd finally erupted in a tremendous collective scream with the arrival of the historic moment everyone had been waiting for: Beckham's first MLS regular-season appearance. The England legend came in for Quavas Kirk to a deafening din of noise and took up a central midfield role -- but D.C.'s possession dominance meant that his occasions on the ball were few and far between.
Moreno was chasing his own piece of history, just one goal away from setting the all-time MLS goals record, and he came agonizingly close in the 80th minute, only to be denied by a sharp save from Cannon.
A D.C. foul along the Galaxy's left flank gave Beckham his inaugural MLS free kick opportunity five minutes from the end, and he duly bent in an inviting near-post service that substitute Carlos Pavon headed over the top.
Beckham then drove a defense-splitting through ball into Donovan's path, prompting Perkins to flirt with disaster as he raced out to launch a slide tackle at the edge of his penalty box, but Marrufo was on the scene and indicated that the D.C. netminder had not handled the ball outside the line as he dispossessed Donovan.
Buddle came ever so close to a precious equalizer in the dying moments after Pavon headed Xavier's booming long ball over Gros, but he slipped at the crucial moment and Perkins watched gratefully as his soft shot dribbled wide of the mark and United escaped with a vital three points.
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
Emilio's early strike proves enough in tough 1-0 win
By Charles Boehm / MLSnet.com Staff
WASHINGTON -- On a night when David Beckham made his debut in Major League Soccer, it was Luciano Emilio's goal that proved to be the difference as D.C. United defeated a 10-man Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 on MLS Primetime Thursday before a sold-out RFK Stadium.
Emilio's strike from well outside the area in the 27th minute -- which gave him the league lead with 13 goals on the campaign -- was all either team could muster in a game played mostly in a driving rain. Beckham's entrance in the 72nd minute couldn't turn around the Galaxy's fortunes, who had been reduced to 10 men just five minutes earlier when Kyle Martino was sent off with a straight red card.
United coach Tom Soehn made just one change from the lineup that hammered the New England Revolution 3-0 last Sunday, as United attacking midfielder Christian Gomez was kept out of the starting lineup for a second consecutive game. But this time it was Fred -- coming off a red-card suspension -- who took over the Argentinian's playmaking duties, with Josh Gros taking the left midfield slot.
Galaxy boss Frank Yallop made two changes to the team that played to a scoreless draw against Toronto on Sunday, as his team desperately playoff contention. Kyle Martino and Quavas Kirk came into the team for Peter Vagenas and the injured Troy Roberts, as Yallop reverted to a 4-4-2 scheme after playing with three forwards in Canada.
United striker Guy Roland-Kpene handed Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon his greeting card less than a minute in, knocking the Galaxy goalkeeper to the turf as he scooped up Fred's chipped through ball at the top of the penalty box.
Cannon was at the center of the action again in the eighth minute when he raced off his line to dive at Gros' feet as the rangy midfielder tried to lift a shot over him just beyond the left-hand post. Though the contact sent Gros flying to the turf, referee Jair Marrufo decided that Cannon had gotten a touch on the ball and waved play on. Gros got another decent look at goal just seconds later, but the veteran netminder denied him again, dropping low to gobble up his shot to the near post.
Emilio completely lost marker Kelly Gray on a corner kick in the 14th minute but United's leading scorer wasted Ben Olsen's glorious delivery, heading over the top from close range.
RFK's upper deck, rarely used for MLS matches, was teeming with fans anticipating a glimpse of Beckham. But the cascade of boos that greeted Landon Donovan every time he got near the ball made clear that United's supporters saw the U.S. star -- who has run riot in his recent outings at the venerable old stadium -- as the main danger to their team's hopes.
The Galaxy No. 10 nearly quieted his detractors in the 20th minute when he cut in from the right flank and snuck a far post left-footer past Perkins, with the netminder's view obscured by traffic in front of the net. But the low shot dribbled just wide of the post.
But it was United's top hitman who drew first blood and sparked the occasion to life with a sensational long-range blast in the 27th minute. Thus far Emilio had been pestering L.A.'s defense on aerial challenges and holding the ball well for his teammates -- but when Marc Burch's well-placed pass gave him a chance to turn at goal he made the most of it, drilling a shot towards the upper corner that a leaping Cannon got his hands to, but could not parry away from the net.
The crowd roared into life again soon after -- some boos, some cheers -- when Yallop directed Beckham to warm up on the grass behind the visiting bench, and the fans' swelling anticipation seemed to add urgency to the action as both teams pushed the tempo up a notch. Galaxy left back Ante Jazic was showing more attacking ambition as the half wore on, and his 43rd-minute jaunt down the touchline led to an angled endline cross that would have been easy pickings for Donovan had Devon McTavish not backtracked to slap the effort to safety.
The tackles were flying in left and right now and Marrufo finally elected to rein in the enthusiasm, producing a yellow card when Xavier left Kpene in a heap at midfield with a heavy challenge from behind.
Burch set off on a swashbuckling run just seconds before halftime, galloping into the box and leaving Xavier for dead with a nifty chip -- but his athletic side volley narrowly missed the target, rippling the outside of the net.
While many of the sellout crowd were breathlessly awaiting the introduction of the world's most famous footballer in the second stanza, a cheer went up when Soehn made the only chance at the half, inserting United legend Jaime Moreno for Kpene.
Bobby Boswell's mis-hit header nearly gave the Galaxy a fortunate equalizer in the 57th minute, allowing Gordon to nod the ball into Donovan's path -- and though the Galaxy playmaker fell to the turf under McTavish, Marrufo denied L.A.'s penalty appeals and waved play on.
Moreno was making his presence felt in D.C.'s final third, orchestrating play as the Black-and-Red strung together attractive passing sequences around the Galaxy box, and he nearly stunned Cannon at the hour mark when he lifted the ball off the turf and clipped a long-range shot just wide of the target.
As the deluge continued, United took a stranglehold on possession and L.A.'s flagging hopes were further drenched when Kyle Martino caught Fred's ankle with a lunging challenge that drew a straight red card from Marrufo, forcing the Galaxy to finish the match shorthanded. But Yallop, his team badly in need of points, had little choice but to go for broke with a bevy of attacking substitutions.P<> In the 69th minute, substitute Edson Buddle took control of Donovan's downward header and scooted around a slipping Boswell to hit a low shot on goal, but Perkins was well-placed to grab the effort with minimal fuss.
Not long after, the crowd finally erupted in a tremendous collective scream with the arrival of the historic moment everyone had been waiting for: Beckham's first MLS regular-season appearance. The England legend came in for Quavas Kirk to a deafening din of noise and took up a central midfield role -- but D.C.'s possession dominance meant that his occasions on the ball were few and far between.
Moreno was chasing his own piece of history, just one goal away from setting the all-time MLS goals record, and he came agonizingly close in the 80th minute, only to be denied by a sharp save from Cannon.
A D.C. foul along the Galaxy's left flank gave Beckham his inaugural MLS free kick opportunity five minutes from the end, and he duly bent in an inviting near-post service that substitute Carlos Pavon headed over the top.
Beckham then drove a defense-splitting through ball into Donovan's path, prompting Perkins to flirt with disaster as he raced out to launch a slide tackle at the edge of his penalty box, but Marrufo was on the scene and indicated that the D.C. netminder had not handled the ball outside the line as he dispossessed Donovan.
Buddle came ever so close to a precious equalizer in the dying moments after Pavon headed Xavier's booming long ball over Gros, but he slipped at the crucial moment and Perkins watched gratefully as his soft shot dribbled wide of the mark and United escaped with a vital three points.
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
"Show Them To Me"
Song: Rodney Carrington
Video: carrfan07 - Awesome Job
Censored Version
Uncensored Version at pleaseshowthemtome.com
Click Click Click: http://www.pleaseshowthemtome.com/
Video: carrfan07 - Awesome Job
Censored Version
Uncensored Version at pleaseshowthemtome.com
Click Click Click: http://www.pleaseshowthemtome.com/
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Kappa Sigma Fall Rush Video 2007
Mu-Tau Chapter at Austin Peay State University
By Brother Mike Maiocco (Fence)
By Brother Mike Maiocco (Fence)
Football Six-Pack
Hall of Fame Game Tonight !
Will Ferrell prepares Ryan Kalil for the NFL draft
You Play to Win the Game !
United Way
Tom Brady (admit it, we all have a man-crush)
Jim Rome vs Jim Everett
"F" Da Eagles Girl
Will Ferrell prepares Ryan Kalil for the NFL draft
You Play to Win the Game !
United Way
Tom Brady (admit it, we all have a man-crush)
Jim Rome vs Jim Everett
"F" Da Eagles Girl
DC United Update
United dominate
first-place Revolution
Luciano Emilio scores
two goals for D.C.
By Kyle McCarthy
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - D.C. United surprised Eastern Conference leaders New England Revolution with a comprehensive and dominating 3-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium.
United took a surprising lead in the 22nd minute after Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis fumbled a Clyde Simms shot and left the rebound for Josh Gros to finish. Luciano Emilio doubled the advantage in the 31st minute from Guy Roland-Kpene's defense-splitting feed before hitting for his second in the 76th minute off a one-two from a quick free kick.
The win pulled United into a tie for third place in the East, along with the New York Red Bulls just six points behind the Revolution.
It was all United deserved for their ability to break up New England's attack in midfield and create opportunities for Emilio on the break, but the Revolution will be disappointed not to have carried the momentum from Thursday's 2-0 victory against Kansas City. There was other bad news for New England after Michael Parkhurst was withdrawn on 37 minutes with an apparent right knee injury. United also picked up an injury worry when second-half substitute Jaime Moreno was substituted for 28 minutes into his stint with apparent soreness in his lower back.
United left Christian Gomez (charley horse) and Jaime Moreno (hamstring) on the bench and handed a start to Clyde Simms in place of Brian Carroll.
Revolution head coach Steve Nicol made only one change from Thursday's victory against Kansas City with Avery John dropped in favor of James Riley.
Nicol watched his side start well but drop their levels as United gradually came into the game after the first 15 minutes. Emilio headed towards goal after 19 minutes, but Reis was alert to tap the first significant chance over the bar.
But Reis was left to complain in disgust after his error gifted United the first goal in the 22nd minute. Simms curled his attempt to the far post and Reis got his body behind the ball at the first attempt. But still prone on the ground, he left the ball sitting for Gros to come through and poke it into the net. Reis voiced his disgust to referee Alex Prus, claiming play should have been stopped because he had one hand on the ball, but the goal stood.
Emilio added the second nine minutes later after a superb through pass from Kpene. Kpene's ball slipped past James Riley as Emilio had gained space off the Revolution's defender's shoulder, and the Brazilian slotted past Reis from the heart of the area to give United a two-goal cushion.
New England's terrible first half continued when Parkhurst limped off injured in the 37th minute after suffering an apparent right knee injury in a non-contact situation.
Taylor Twellman nearly scrambled one back for the home side on 40 minutes, but his header hit the right post from a Steve Ralston corner kick.
United 'keeper Troy Perkins had to dive towards the back post a minute prior to the interval after Jay Heaps headed down from a corner kick. Pat Noonan tried to side-foot it in at the far post, but Perkins blocked out the attempt for a corner kick.
Both teams made changes at the break. New England inserted Adam Cristman for Andy Dorman, while United withdrew Kpene for the recovering Moreno in an attempt to get him match fitness.
New England started well in the first 10 minutes of the half but United continue to disrupt momentum in midfield as the Revs attempt to claw back into the contest. Heaps tucked his header over the bar on 67 minutes from a Ralston free kick after Simms fouled Smith.
United sealed the three points in the 76th minute through the quick thinking of Emilio. After being fouled by Wells Thompson on the New England side of the halfway line, Emilio sprung to his feet and played a quick free kick to Olsen. Olsen fed his return pass past the flatfooted Revs defense onto Emilio's run. Emilio then raced into the area before sliding his effort under Reis for his second tally on the game, joining Eddie Johnson atop the league scoring charts with his 12th goal of the season.
Cristman nearly pulled one back a minute before full time after being played through by fellow substitute Wells Thompson, but his effort narrowly missed the far post.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
Video Six-Pack
AC/DC - Shot Down in Flames (AKA Ronnie's Theme Song)
Scorpions - The Zoo
Nena - 99 Luftballons
Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance
Bauhaus - Ziggy Stardust
Dramarama - Anything, Anything
Scorpions - The Zoo
Nena - 99 Luftballons
Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance
Bauhaus - Ziggy Stardust
Dramarama - Anything, Anything
The Triplets
Cowboys Ring of Honor Ceremony
Michael Irvin - Hall of Fame 2007
Troy Aikman - Hall of Fame 2006
Emmitt Smith - Hall of Fame 2010
Michael Irvin - Hall of Fame 2007
Troy Aikman - Hall of Fame 2006
Emmitt Smith - Hall of Fame 2010
Michael Irvin
2007 Hall of Fame
enshrinement speech
ESPN.com
Following is the transcript of former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin's enshrinement speech at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio Saturday night:
PRESENTER JERRY JONES
Hey, man, that will fire you up there. What an honor to be here with you, to be right here on this historic ground with these champions, these champions sitting here behind us.
You know, it is unique what can be the makeup of a championship team. A championship team can have a catalyst. They can have a spark, someone that can put a fire in another person's heart.
The Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s were champions. They were in three Super Bowls and won them in four years' time. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here to tell you tonight that the heartbeat, the heart and the soul of those championship teams, was Michael Irvin. Michael came to Dallas with a self proclaimed nickname, the Playmaker.
Now, at first many people didn't understand why this young guy would brand himself with such a bold nickname. But we begin to figure it out real, real soon.
When it was third and long, opposition coaches knew exactly where Troy Aikman was throwing the ball. The defensive backs knew exactly where Aikman was going with the ball. Everybody in the stadium knew where the ball was going, but they couldn't stop it.
Troy Aikman often said the greatest thing about Michael Irvin is you could throw him the ball when he was covered or you could throw him the ball when it was open, and the results were usually the same almost all the time. It was either a completion and most of the time it was for a first down.
Now, when you've got a quarterback that has that kind of confidence in your receiver, you can have some offense. That's how you earn the name Playmaker, and that's how you keep it.
His performance always improved as the level of competition increased. He routinely had his best games against Deion Sanders, Darrell Green, Rod Woodson, Aeneas Williams. And his numbers increased as that long season went along and we got closer to the playoffs. From the regular season to the playoffs, from the playoffs to the Super Bowl, that was Michael Irvin's best days.
At the pinnacle of his career in 1995, he had 11 100 yard receiving games, a mark that is still an NFL record today. But the Dallas Cowboys' offenses really weren't designed for the receiver to get big stats. They really weren't designed for Troy, the quarterback, to really rack 'em up in statistics.
The teams were designed to win championships, and what that meant was take what the defense gave you. Now, with the backdrop of all of that, the fact that one team could produce the NFL's greatest all time rushing leader in Emmitt Smith, the fact that last year the first opportunity that he had a chance to be honored with these men, Troy Aikman came into the NFL Hall of Fame.
And the fact tonight that Michael Irvin is going to go in the Hall of Fame, it just shows you the team concept and shows you the balance that was there. The player that epitomized it more than anyone on the team, the player that taught it, the player embellished it, that was Michael Irvin and his leadership.
You can't get to Canton, Ohio without exceptional talent. But athletic ability alone was only a part of Michael's gifts. His hard work is legendary. In two a days, the grind of all of it. When you'd be on the field in the morning and in the afternoon, someone would look around and find, Where is Michael? He'd be down on the field with pads on in the hot sun getting some more in.
His passion, his competitiveness were really possibly his greatest gifts he shared them with his teammates on a daily bases. He practiced every day with the determination of a rookie that was hanging by a thread to make the team, and that's the way this great player approached it.
Aikman told me yesterday that Michael would never let the team have a bad practice. If there was a lull, he would create something between the defense and the offense. He'd get some stuff going just so that team could practice and get better for what they had to face Sunday.
Maybe that's the quality that separates the good players from the great players, the Hall of Fame players. Or maybe it's just the natural instinct of a man who had 16 brothers and sisters and knew that nothing in life was going to be given to him.
In the locker room, he was a teammate first, a competitor second, and a superstar third. His leadership style not only transcended the cliques in the locker room, but his leadership style on our team and our organization went from the locker room and the equipment room all the way to the boardroom. It permeated it.
I don't know that we'll see again a professional football player with a combination of his strength and his skills as an athlete on the field and his unbelievable people skills. Smart, resourceful, communication, charm, the kind of charisma and tremendous will with the strength to get the respect of the team. He had his faults. But in a unique way, that only Michael Irvin could pull off.
His fallibility by the people who followed him, by the people who were looking at him, his fallibility gave them strength because they knew, too, how fallible they were, and they wanted to see somebody that could go down and come up stronger and try to get better when they got on their feet. That's what Michael Irvin brought to the Dallas Cowboys and his locker room.
He learned his game from his older brothers in Fort Lauderdale. He had a great high school he played for, St. Thomas High School. He became a star at the University of Miami, drafted by Gil Brandt and Tex Schramm. He was nurtured by coach Tom Landry. He was coached in college and embellished when he got to pro football by one of the greatest coaches, Jimmy Johnson.
He spent his entire career in the loving embrace of the Dallas Cowboys. His journey reaches a destination tonight here in Canton, and it was a longer journey than most, with a lot of bumps in the road. He got knocked down for the last time at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. But tonight he'll get up again and he'll take his place among the immortals of this great game.
Michael Irvin, he's a friend. If you're in my shoes, you feel like he's a son. He's an inspirational and natural born leader. He's a loving father and husband. He's a wonderful brother and son. He's a Dallas Cowboy.
And tonight, forever more, he's a member of the professional football Hall of Fame. It's with pride that I present to you Michael Irvin. C'mon up here.
MICHAEL IRVIN
Thank you. Father, I'd like to thank you for allowing us all to travel here safely, thank you in advance for the same in allowing us to travel home.
Father, thank you for the man that you sent me to help me in Bishop T.D. Jakes, my spiritual father. I ask you now to put your arms around my Hall of Fame classmate Gene Hickerson and his family. Father, hold them tight and love them right. In Jesus' name, I pray, amen.
Thank you.
I want to send a special love to all the people in Dallas, Texas, special love to all the Dallas Cowboy fans all over the world. Special love goes to my hometown of South Florida and all the Miami Hurricane fans, St. Thomas Aquinas fans.
I want to send love to every fan everywhere because you hear so often that people say, Oh, these are the guys that built the game. No. It's your hunger and your love for the game, your love for what we do that make this game what it is. I thank you for loving the game like we love it.
Jerry, those were kind words. Thank you. You know, when I first met Jerry he had just purchased the Dallas Cowboys. He had a bit of a concerned look on his face. I said to him, I said, We will have fun and we will win Super Bowls. You see, I knew Jerry had put all he had into purchasing the Cowboys. That's the way I see Jerry. He's a man that's willing to give all he has and all he wants to bring the Cowboy family Super Bowls.
Jerry, I appreciate your commitment to family, the Dallas Cowboy family and your own family. He has a beautiful wife, Jean. I tell her this. I just love her to death. Her spirit exudes beauty. Her mannerisms exude class. She's one of a kind. Jean, I do love you.
They have beautiful kids, daughter Charlotte, son Steven and Jerry, Jr. Each have played a role in my life and I thank all of them.
A heartfelt thank you to the selection committee, especially Rick Gosselin and Charean Williams. Charean is the first woman to have a seat on the selection committee. Charean, congratulations to you.
These gentlemen behind me, these men, they inspired me to become the player that I became. As I spent this week with these gentlemen that I've admired growing up, I kept thinking about how gifted they are. Man, they're gifted to run and cut, gifted to throw and catch, gifted to run through blocks and make great tackles.
And then I met their wives and their families and I realized that it's not only about the gift God gave us, but equally important is the help that God gave us. It's the people that God put in place to support us on our journey. So I will try to put the credit in the right place tonight and share with you my help and my journey.
I thank God for the help of my father Walter Irvin, whom I lost at the age of 17. He was my hero and he loved, I'm telling you, he loved the Dallas Cowboys. I woke up this morning smiling knowing that my father had not be here in the flesh but that he is in heaven watching and celebrating with his all time favorite coach, Coach Tom Landry.
Also Tex Schamm, Derrick Shepard and Mark Tuinei. Those guys, we think about them here, we feel them here. They will always be with us.
Before my father made his journey to heaven I sat with him. His final words to me were, Promise me you will take care of your mother. She's a good woman. As you've heard, my mother raised 17 children, most of whom are here tonight. There were challenges. But she would never complain. She always walked around the house and said, God has promised me that my latter days will be better than my former days. My mom and my Aunt Fanny, her oldest sister, they are part of my travel squad now.
As we travel, all they want is a nice room and an open tab on room service. When my workday is done I get to come by their room and we tell stories and we laugh and we have fun. We always end the night with them telling me, Baby, this is what God meant when he said, Our latter days will be better than our former days.
I can't tell you how it makes me feel to know that God uses me to deliver His promise. I love you, mom. I love you, Aunt Fanny.
For better or for worse, those are the vows we take before God in marriage. It's easy to live with the for better, but rarely can you find someone who sticks around and endures the for worse. Sandy, my beautiful wife, I have worked tirelessly, baby, to give you the for better. But I also gave you the for worse, and you didn't deserve it. You didn't deserve it.
But through it all I experienced the depth of your love and I thank God for you. I love the mother that you are, the wife that you are, I love the way that you take care of our family, our daughters Myesha and Chelsea, and our sons Michael and Elijah. I thank you from a place that I can't mention, I can't even express, baby, for keeping our family together. I love you so much.
My football family, as Jerry told you, began at St. Thomas Aquinas High School under the wise tutelage of a great coach named George Smith. George Smith dedicated 37 years to that great program. He's a great man. I thank all the people at St. Thomas for believing in a young man like me.
And then I went on to the University of Miami. I think most of y'all know how I feel about the U. Yeah, the U. You better believe it. After that I was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys where I played and worked with some of the best to ever be around this game. For example, Emmitt Smith. Emmitt Smith is the all time leading rusher.
The great thing about that, his rookie year he said to me he was going to become the all time leading rusher. I doubted him like I think everybody would have. But what an inspiration to be in a room and see a man set a goal so high and then be persistent, be dedicated, and accomplish that which he set out to accomplish. Emmitt, you're an inspiration to so many.
The third part and the third member The Triplets is Troy Aikman. My quarterback, our leader. Troy Aikman led us to three Super Bowls. When I said "led," I mean led, to three Super Bowls. He's the winningest quarterback in the decade of the '90s. If you talk to him and you ask him what's his most memorable game, he will tell you that '94 NFC Championship game that everybody's talking about.
It's a game we were down by 21 and we lost, but we never gave up. That's the mark of a true leader. All he wants is for each player to give all he has all the time. That's Troy Aikman.
That game is one of my most memorable games for all those reasons, but it had a little something extra for me. We were down 21. Troy came to that huddle with those big blue eyes and he looked up and he said, Hey, I'm coming to you no matter what. Whew, let me tell you. As a wide receiver, that's all I ever wanted to hear. Just come to me no matter what. And he did, he did. He came to me no matter what.
But, Troy, you've always come to me no matter what, and I'm not just talking about on the football field. For that, you have a special place in my heart. You always will no matter what. I love you, Troy. I love you deeply.
As The Triplets, we received most of the press, the credit. But we were surrounded with some great guys, great players, talented guys. Guys like Darren Woodson, Dallas Cowboys all time leading tackle. My Cowboy counterpart Jay Novacek, what a great tight end he is. Daryl Johnston, the unsung hero, Moose. Larry Allen and Eric Williams are two of the better linemen, if not the best linemen, to ever play this game. The big fella, Nate Newton. Jim Jeffcoat. And one of the best cornerbacks and the finest athlete I've ever been around, that's Deion Sanders, Prime Time.
So, so many more.
You can't accomplish what we've accomplished with just great players. You also need great coaches. And we had that. We had guys like Norv Turner, Dave Wannstedt, Dave Campo. My position coach, coach Hubbard Alexander, who is my heart. Coach, you took me as a young man out of high school, and I know I gave you a lot of mess through the years. Thank you for being there, Coach. And our head coach, he had always be my head coach, that's Jimmy Johnson.
We worked hard. We had the best, and I'm telling you the very best, and I'm willing to take an argument with anybody on this, strength and conditioning coach in the world. His name is Mike Warsick. He has six Super Bowl rings. Six, people. Twice he has won three Super Bowls in four years, once with us and now with the New England Patriots. So if anybody wants to take an argument, I am a debater. I am here and ready.
Mike Warsick, you are, man, the very best. You put me back together from that knee injury. As we always tell each other when we say good bye, MissPaw (phonetic), which means may God hold you till we see each other again.
I also walked on campus at the University of Miami the same day with our PR director, Rich Dalrymple. I know some of you are saying it's fitting that you are tight with the PR director, Michael. But Rich has been a great friend. When I walk in his office now Rich has a picture of us. He has pictures of us at the University of Miami with this nice beautiful black hair, and then he has pictures of us now when he's all gray.
He says to me all the time, You see these gray hairs? I say, Yeah. He says, You gave them to me. I tell him, I say, Well, you see those four championship rings you have? I gave them to you, too.
I have experienced all this game has to offer on the football field, the losing, going 3 13, even 1 15. In my second season the career threatening knee injury, thinking I would never play this game that I love again. And even in 1999, the career ending neck injury. That which football players fear the most.
But I've also had some beautiful victories. We won three Super Bowls in four years. I can't tell you what that feels like. And we did it with guys that we loved to play with and guys that we loved. Folks, I'm telling you, that's the true essence of a football family, and that's exactly what we are not was what we are. I love all of those guys that I played with.
Since retiring I have developed a deeper awareness and understanding for this game. First as a fan and then as an analyst. That is why I've learned it's so much more than merely a game. Thanks to ESPN. Thank you, ESPN, for giving me the opportunity to travel to NFL stadiums throughout this country, visiting with fans, and seeing this game from a completely different perspective.
The movie, Remember the Titans, is my favorite movie, staring Denzel Washington. I love the way in this movie the game of football brings those boys together, it unites those boys on that football field. It unites a whole town, black, white, old, young, rich and poor. It happens every year around this time in NFL locker rooms and NFL stadiums. So don't tell me it's just a game.
My favorite day was Monday, September the 25th, 2006. New Orleans, Louisiana, site of the Superdome. I watched our people who had suffered so grievously through Hurricane Katrina fill a stadium hours before a game and stay hours after the game. I witnessed those fans as they looked for each other, hugged one another and just be thankful to be in that stadium.
You see the game flexed its greatest muscle that day: the ability to heal. I experienced a football game that contributed to the healing of a city. So don't tell me it's just a game.
You know the Bible speaks of a healing place. It's called a threshing floor. The threshing floor is where you take your greatest fear and you pray for help from your great God. I want to share something with you today. I have two sons. Michael, he's 10, and Elijah, he's 8. Michael and Elijah, could you guys stand up for me. That's my heart right there. That's my heart. When I am on that threshing floor, I pray. I say, God, I have my struggles and I made some bad decisions, but whatever you do, whatever you do, don't let me mess this up.
I say, Please, help me raise them for some young lady so that they can be a better husband than I. Help me raise them for their kids so that they could be a better father than I. And I tell you guys to always do the right thing so you can be a better role model than dad. I sat right here where you are last year and I watched the Class of 2006: Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Harry Carson, Rayfield Wright, John Madden, and the late great Reggie White represented by his wife Sara White. And I said, Wow, that's what a Hall of Famer is.
Certainly I am not that. I doubted I would ever have the chance to stand before you today. So when I returned home, I spoke with Michael and Elijah . I said, That's how you do it, son. You do it like they did it. Michael asked, he said, Dad, do you ever think we will be there? And I didn't know how to answer that. And it returned me to that threshing floor. This time I was voiceless, but my heart cried out. God, why must I go through so many peaks and valleys?
I wanted to stand in front of my boys and say, Do it like your dad, like any proud dad would want to. Why must I go through so much?
At that moment a voice came over me and said, Look up, get up, and don't ever give up. You tell everyone or anyone that has ever doubted, thought they did not measure up or wanted to quit, you tell them to look up, get up and don't ever give up.
Thank you and may God bless you.
Transcript provided by the Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Real Michael Irvin...
By Jeff Pearlman
ESPN.com
CANTON, Ohio -- In the summer of 1995, Scott Semptimphelter was a rookie free agent quarterback from Lehigh University, an invitee to the Dallas Cowboys training camp with as much chance of earning a roster spot as the Memphis Showboats had of winning Super Bowl XXX.
To be blunt, Semptimphelter was invisible. He was a schlub in a red jersey just happy to be living out the fantasy before -- Poof! -- a career in medical supply sales awaited.
On one particularly blistering Austin afternoon, Semptimphelter was tapped upon the shoulder by Michael Irvin, the veteran receiver known as much for his myriad off-the-field problems as his status as one of the NFL's elite pass catchers. "C'mon," Irvin said, "I need you to throw to me."
Semptimphelter was stunned. Hadn't practice just ended 20 minutes ago?
Wasn't the temperature 102 degrees?
Shouldn't Irvin have been ... tired?
Nonetheless, the two trudged to a side field where Irvin ran one route after another, never jogging or stopping or taking so much as a sip of water. "In the middle of the workout he literally threw up on himself as he ran a route," Semptimphelter said. "I mean, he barfed profusely. Most guys would put hands on knees, say screw this and call it a day. Not Michael. He got back to the spot, ran another route, and caught the ball. It was absolutely amazing."
That, more than anything, is why they came to Saturday's ceremony. Why one former Cowboy after another shuffled his gridiron-battered body (or, in the case of Deion Sanders, shimmied his gridiron-battered body in a suit straight out of 3001 Space Odyssey) through the gates of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to pay homage to a man described as "the best teammate ever," "the ultimate team, ultimate hard-work guy," "the man who led us to where we wanted to go," "the heart of the Cowboys" and so on and so forth.
"We're here for Mike because Mike is always there for us," said Russell Maryland, Irvin's teammate at the University of Miami and with the Dallas Cowboys. "Good times, bad times, ups, downs -- you never have to worry about Mike's support. It's yours 100 percent of the time."
To get past the inevitable: Yes, Michael Irvin was caught with two exotic dancers and some cocaine in a motel room. And yes, Michael Irvin wore a mink coat to court. And yes, there was the White House and the strip clubs and the insufferable arrogance and insatiable cravings. And yes ... yes ... yes ... yes ... yes ... yes (Fill in here the ones we're missing).
But as any ex-teammate or Cowboy loyalist or family member will tell you, those were not Michael Irvin. Sure, they were elements of the legendary wide receiver. Newsworthy ones.
The real Michael Irvin, however, was a man who worked his ass off. A man who never threw a teammate or coach under the bus. A man who treated the auditioning kicker with the same respect given to Troy Aikman or Emmitt Smith. A man who signed one autograph after another. A man who refused to see race.
Mostly, the man who would surrender his subclavian in the name of catching a football.
To find the real Michael Irvin, all one had to do was watch Sunday night as he stood at a podium inside Fawcett Stadium and gracefully, gratefully accepted the honor of his lifetime. Irvin may well be the first inductee into any pro sports Hall of Fame to speak without notes or prepared words, and it played wonderfully.
"I want to send love to every fan everywhere because you hear so often that people say, 'Oh, these are the guys that built this game,'" he said, the words engulfed by cheers. "No. It's your hunger and your love for the game, you love for what we do that make this game what it is. I thank you for loving the game like we love it."
Irvin was who he has always been -- spontaneous and heartfelt. Rambling and babbling. Poignant and insightful. Most of all, Irvin was humbled. He spoke of gridiron triumphs, but the most jarring moment came when Irvin discussed his two sons, Michael, 10, and Elijah, 8, and how he prayed for them to avoid the lapses that, sadly, pock his brilliant 12-year career. It was a page out of later-day Mickey Mantle; a snapshot of a flawed hero succumbing to his shortcomings.
"I say, please, help me raise them for some young lady so that they can be a better husband than I," he said. "Help me raise them for their kids so that they could be a better father than I. And I tell you guys to always do the right thing so you can be a better role model than dad."
The tears streamed from Irvin's eyes, forming small puddles alongside his nose that refused to dry.
They told the story of a broken man.
Of a redemptive man.
Of a triumphant man.
Of a Hall of Famer.
Jeff Pearlman is a former Sports Illustrated senior writer and the author of "Love Me, Hate Me: Barry Bonds and the Making of an Antihero", now available in paperback. You can reach him at anngold22@gmail.com.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
NFL Hall of Fame Induction
Associated Press
CANTON, Ohio -- The Pro Football Hall of Fame induction became a family affair Saturday night.
Michael Irvin lauded the Dallas Cowboys family for inspiring him to make it to Canton. Thurman Thomas asked his wife to marry him again. Charlie Sanders finally got to say "Hi Mom."
Bruce Matthews campaigned to have his brother, Clay, join him in the hall. Roger Wehrli praised the timing of his election because it allowed his grandchildren to share the special moment.
And Gene Hickerson's son, Bob, accepted on behalf of his father, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Then Gene was brought onto the stage in a wheelchair guided by former teammates Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell -- all running backs he helped get into the hall.
Irvin kissed his hall bust before he capped the riveting ceremony with preacher's intensity. His eyes wet, his words coming slowly and emphatically, he commended Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and fellow "Triplets" Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman for motivating him. He saluted Cowboys fans, but saved his most moving tributes for the relatives who stuck with him through three Super Bowl wins and all the difficulties away from the field.
Irvin pleaded no contest to felony cocaine possession and was put on probation for four years after a March 1996 arrest. Police crashed Irvin's 30th birthday party and found him, marijuana, cocaine and strippers in a hotel room.
He subsequently had other incidents with police.
On Saturday, Irvin asked sons Michael, 10, and Elijah, 8, to stand before he recited the prayers he gives up for his sons.
"Help me raise them for their kids, so that they can be a better father than I," Irvin said. "I tell you guys to always do the right thing so you can be a better role model than dad.
"Look up, get up, but don't ever give up."
Thomas set a record by leading the NFL in total yards from scrimmage four consecutive seasons. The 1991 league MVP, he rushed for 12,074 yards in his career, and only all-time rushing leader Smith and Barry Sanders ran for more yards in the 1990s.
Thomas didn't kiss his bronze bust but rubbed the head when it was unveiled, and mentioned "it's really, really scary up here."
He later turned to wife Patti, seated in the crowd of 12,787, and asked if, after nearly 20 years together, she would marry him again.
Finally, Thomas saluted the thousands of Bills fans in the crowd.
"In closing, to the fans of Buffalo," he said to a huge cheer, "every guy that probably has stood here in all these Hall of Fame jackets and said they had the best fans supporting you, I am here to say that's hogwash. No fans are like my fans, Bills fans.
"It was a ride that none of us will ever forget. Unfortunately, we can't buy tickets for that ride again, but we will always have those memories."
Citing what he called a "simple but memorable life," Charlie Sanders entered the hall by thanking a mother he never knew -- she died when he was 2 years old.
Noting how players often mug for the camera and salute their mothers, a teary-eyed Sanders said: "I thought it was something that was always special and I would want to do, but couldn't. So I take this time, right here and right now, in Canton, Ohio, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, to say, 'Hi Mom.' "
To finish his speech, the tight end with the Detroit Lions from 1968-77 read from a poem, "The NFL: Just Passing Through," that he wrote in 1976.
"So give your all and nothing less, today we win, tomorrow we rest.
"You are not just my teammate, but my very best friend. Let's play together until the very end."
Sanders foreshadowed the era of pass-catching tight ends that spawned fellow Canton inductees Kellen Winslow and Dave Casper. As a rookie in 1968, he made 40 receptions for 533 yards, almost unheard-of numbers for his position. He was selected to the NFL's all-decade team of the 1970s.
"Charlie is what you look for today at that position. He was a pioneer," said Lions owner William Clay Ford, his presenter. Sanders, currently an executive with the team, has spent all 40 of his years in pro football with the Lions.
Bob Hickerson remembered his dad, who was too ill to sit on stage or speak, as "still leading the way for" Brown, Kelly and Mitchell. Then those three great runners turned things around by leading Hickerson onstage.
As a 248-pound guard, Hickerson played 15 seasons for the Browns, and Cleveland never had a losing record in that time. He made five straight All-Pro teams (1966-70) and in 1964 won the NFL championship.
"It's a tremendous honor and the crowning achievement of his career," Bob Hickerson said.
Hall of Famer Mike Munchak, who introduced his former on the offensive line-mate, lauded Matthews' "work ethic, competitiveness and passion for the game, which were contagious. He raised the standard for all of us."
Matthews' set an enviable standard for blockers. He played in more games than any positional player in NFL history, starting 292 of 296, and 15 playoff games. He had 99 starts at left guard, 67 on the right, 87 at center, 22 at right tackle, 17 at left tackle.
"Having your name mentioned with the all-time greats in the game is very humbling," he said.
Matthews also asked hall voters to consider electing his brother, former linebacker Clay Matthews.
Wehrli was a shutdown cornerback from 1969-82 who also excelled as a punt returner. He recovered a franchise record-tying 19 fumbles during his career and made the NFL's all-1970s team.
Wehrli was elected in his final year of eligibility with the regular selection committee.
"The Hall of Fame is never a given. I never for once took it for granted that I would be or should be here," Wehrli said. "I believe I was elected at this time of my life so my children ... and three grandchildren could be here and enjoy this, and remember something special about their grand dad."
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
CANTON, Ohio -- The Pro Football Hall of Fame induction became a family affair Saturday night.
Michael Irvin lauded the Dallas Cowboys family for inspiring him to make it to Canton. Thurman Thomas asked his wife to marry him again. Charlie Sanders finally got to say "Hi Mom."
Bruce Matthews campaigned to have his brother, Clay, join him in the hall. Roger Wehrli praised the timing of his election because it allowed his grandchildren to share the special moment.
And Gene Hickerson's son, Bob, accepted on behalf of his father, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Then Gene was brought onto the stage in a wheelchair guided by former teammates Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell -- all running backs he helped get into the hall.
Irvin kissed his hall bust before he capped the riveting ceremony with preacher's intensity. His eyes wet, his words coming slowly and emphatically, he commended Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and fellow "Triplets" Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman for motivating him. He saluted Cowboys fans, but saved his most moving tributes for the relatives who stuck with him through three Super Bowl wins and all the difficulties away from the field.
Irvin pleaded no contest to felony cocaine possession and was put on probation for four years after a March 1996 arrest. Police crashed Irvin's 30th birthday party and found him, marijuana, cocaine and strippers in a hotel room.
He subsequently had other incidents with police.
On Saturday, Irvin asked sons Michael, 10, and Elijah, 8, to stand before he recited the prayers he gives up for his sons.
"Help me raise them for their kids, so that they can be a better father than I," Irvin said. "I tell you guys to always do the right thing so you can be a better role model than dad.
"Look up, get up, but don't ever give up."
Thomas set a record by leading the NFL in total yards from scrimmage four consecutive seasons. The 1991 league MVP, he rushed for 12,074 yards in his career, and only all-time rushing leader Smith and Barry Sanders ran for more yards in the 1990s.
Thomas didn't kiss his bronze bust but rubbed the head when it was unveiled, and mentioned "it's really, really scary up here."
He later turned to wife Patti, seated in the crowd of 12,787, and asked if, after nearly 20 years together, she would marry him again.
Finally, Thomas saluted the thousands of Bills fans in the crowd.
"In closing, to the fans of Buffalo," he said to a huge cheer, "every guy that probably has stood here in all these Hall of Fame jackets and said they had the best fans supporting you, I am here to say that's hogwash. No fans are like my fans, Bills fans.
"It was a ride that none of us will ever forget. Unfortunately, we can't buy tickets for that ride again, but we will always have those memories."
Citing what he called a "simple but memorable life," Charlie Sanders entered the hall by thanking a mother he never knew -- she died when he was 2 years old.
Noting how players often mug for the camera and salute their mothers, a teary-eyed Sanders said: "I thought it was something that was always special and I would want to do, but couldn't. So I take this time, right here and right now, in Canton, Ohio, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, to say, 'Hi Mom.' "
To finish his speech, the tight end with the Detroit Lions from 1968-77 read from a poem, "The NFL: Just Passing Through," that he wrote in 1976.
"So give your all and nothing less, today we win, tomorrow we rest.
"You are not just my teammate, but my very best friend. Let's play together until the very end."
Sanders foreshadowed the era of pass-catching tight ends that spawned fellow Canton inductees Kellen Winslow and Dave Casper. As a rookie in 1968, he made 40 receptions for 533 yards, almost unheard-of numbers for his position. He was selected to the NFL's all-decade team of the 1970s.
"Charlie is what you look for today at that position. He was a pioneer," said Lions owner William Clay Ford, his presenter. Sanders, currently an executive with the team, has spent all 40 of his years in pro football with the Lions.
Bob Hickerson remembered his dad, who was too ill to sit on stage or speak, as "still leading the way for" Brown, Kelly and Mitchell. Then those three great runners turned things around by leading Hickerson onstage.
As a 248-pound guard, Hickerson played 15 seasons for the Browns, and Cleveland never had a losing record in that time. He made five straight All-Pro teams (1966-70) and in 1964 won the NFL championship.
"It's a tremendous honor and the crowning achievement of his career," Bob Hickerson said.
Hall of Famer Mike Munchak, who introduced his former on the offensive line-mate, lauded Matthews' "work ethic, competitiveness and passion for the game, which were contagious. He raised the standard for all of us."
Matthews' set an enviable standard for blockers. He played in more games than any positional player in NFL history, starting 292 of 296, and 15 playoff games. He had 99 starts at left guard, 67 on the right, 87 at center, 22 at right tackle, 17 at left tackle.
"Having your name mentioned with the all-time greats in the game is very humbling," he said.
Matthews also asked hall voters to consider electing his brother, former linebacker Clay Matthews.
Wehrli was a shutdown cornerback from 1969-82 who also excelled as a punt returner. He recovered a franchise record-tying 19 fumbles during his career and made the NFL's all-1970s team.
Wehrli was elected in his final year of eligibility with the regular selection committee.
"The Hall of Fame is never a given. I never for once took it for granted that I would be or should be here," Wehrli said. "I believe I was elected at this time of my life so my children ... and three grandchildren could be here and enjoy this, and remember something special about their grand dad."
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Friday, August 03, 2007
Despite Loss, United Advances to Semis
Dynamo 1, United 0
By Eric Barton
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, August 2, 2007; Page E09
HOUSTON, Aug. 1 -- United Coach Tom Soehn's prayers were answered Wednesday night as Club America beat Monarcas Morelia, 3-2, giving D.C. a berth in the SuperLiga semifinals. It came down to prayers after D.C. lost to the Houston Dynamo, 1-0, earlier in the night.
"Right now we are going to go back and pray for Club America," Soehn said after United's loss. "We're out [if America loses]; there's nowhere else to go. We'll just focus on our next league game."
Monarcas Morelia was in a win-or-go-home situation with an 0-1-1 record. So United, which could have clinched a berth by beating the Dynamo, got in through the back door.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game going into Houston," Soehn said. "We had plenty of opportunities, but unfortunately we didn't put any of them away. We didn't give up much, but we didn't score either."
Missed opportunities seemed to be the theme of the game for United, which had five shots on goal, compared to Houston's four.
United missed an open shot in the second half. D.C. forward Luciano Emilio found defender Bobby Boswell open in front of the goal, but he slipped and fell as he tried to make the pass, then watched Houston's keeper, Zach Wells, pick up the ball and toss it in the other direction.
The game's lone goal came in the second half. Nate Jaqua passed to fellow forward Brian Ching, who caught the defense out of position and found the left side of the goal from 20 yards.
United keeper Troy Perkins had three saves in the game, but the long shot from Ching sneaked past him just as he lost his footing.
"I just tried to get set wherever I was and I was in a bad position. We were all in a bad spot," Perkins said. "We had opportunities on the other end; unfortunately we didn't put them away so it comes back to bite you a little bit."
When the tournament concludes, Perkins said, he will look back on it fondly, but he hopes it will be at a different time next year.
"It was a great experience, but it's right in the middle of our season," Perkins said. "It's the middle of summer time for us, there's lots of injuries, and the Mexican club teams are in the middle of the season. It was our third game in seven days, so I knew it was going to be sloppy."
On the other end, Houston's Wells had five saves, including one on a free kick by Christian Gomez following a Houston foul that almost sneaked into the top left corner of the goal. Wells leaped and knocked the ball over the goal with his right hand.
United's lone bright spot came as forward Jaime Moreno returned from hamstring injuries for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks. United's captain didn't have any shots on goal, but did put in valuable time on the field.
"I'm feeling better and excited to play," he said. "It was a roller coaster tonight. We tried to sort it out, but we couldn't put it together. . . . Hopefully we can go back and figure things out so we don't make the same mistakes again."
The teams came into Wednesday's match tied for first place with Group B SuperLiga records of 1-0-1 and four points each.
Heading into the game, the Dynamo was reeling from a 1-1 draw with Monarcas Morelia in a game that could have guaranteed Houston a spot in the semifinals, while United was playing off the momentum of the 1-0 victory over Club America.
United will face the Los Angeles Galaxy and possibly David Beckham, who is injured, on Aug. 15 thanks in part to a 6-5 L.A. win over FC Dallas on Tuesday night that secured first place in the Group A bracket.
Pachuca of Mexico also earned a berth in the semifinals on Tuesday by topping Chivas of Guadalajara, 1-0.
Houston will host Pachuca on Aug. 14 at Roberson Stadium. The final is Aug. 29 at a site to be determined.
By Eric Barton
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, August 2, 2007; Page E09
HOUSTON, Aug. 1 -- United Coach Tom Soehn's prayers were answered Wednesday night as Club America beat Monarcas Morelia, 3-2, giving D.C. a berth in the SuperLiga semifinals. It came down to prayers after D.C. lost to the Houston Dynamo, 1-0, earlier in the night.
"Right now we are going to go back and pray for Club America," Soehn said after United's loss. "We're out [if America loses]; there's nowhere else to go. We'll just focus on our next league game."
Monarcas Morelia was in a win-or-go-home situation with an 0-1-1 record. So United, which could have clinched a berth by beating the Dynamo, got in through the back door.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game going into Houston," Soehn said. "We had plenty of opportunities, but unfortunately we didn't put any of them away. We didn't give up much, but we didn't score either."
Missed opportunities seemed to be the theme of the game for United, which had five shots on goal, compared to Houston's four.
United missed an open shot in the second half. D.C. forward Luciano Emilio found defender Bobby Boswell open in front of the goal, but he slipped and fell as he tried to make the pass, then watched Houston's keeper, Zach Wells, pick up the ball and toss it in the other direction.
The game's lone goal came in the second half. Nate Jaqua passed to fellow forward Brian Ching, who caught the defense out of position and found the left side of the goal from 20 yards.
United keeper Troy Perkins had three saves in the game, but the long shot from Ching sneaked past him just as he lost his footing.
"I just tried to get set wherever I was and I was in a bad position. We were all in a bad spot," Perkins said. "We had opportunities on the other end; unfortunately we didn't put them away so it comes back to bite you a little bit."
When the tournament concludes, Perkins said, he will look back on it fondly, but he hopes it will be at a different time next year.
"It was a great experience, but it's right in the middle of our season," Perkins said. "It's the middle of summer time for us, there's lots of injuries, and the Mexican club teams are in the middle of the season. It was our third game in seven days, so I knew it was going to be sloppy."
On the other end, Houston's Wells had five saves, including one on a free kick by Christian Gomez following a Houston foul that almost sneaked into the top left corner of the goal. Wells leaped and knocked the ball over the goal with his right hand.
United's lone bright spot came as forward Jaime Moreno returned from hamstring injuries for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks. United's captain didn't have any shots on goal, but did put in valuable time on the field.
"I'm feeling better and excited to play," he said. "It was a roller coaster tonight. We tried to sort it out, but we couldn't put it together. . . . Hopefully we can go back and figure things out so we don't make the same mistakes again."
The teams came into Wednesday's match tied for first place with Group B SuperLiga records of 1-0-1 and four points each.
Heading into the game, the Dynamo was reeling from a 1-1 draw with Monarcas Morelia in a game that could have guaranteed Houston a spot in the semifinals, while United was playing off the momentum of the 1-0 victory over Club America.
United will face the Los Angeles Galaxy and possibly David Beckham, who is injured, on Aug. 15 thanks in part to a 6-5 L.A. win over FC Dallas on Tuesday night that secured first place in the Group A bracket.
Pachuca of Mexico also earned a berth in the semifinals on Tuesday by topping Chivas of Guadalajara, 1-0.
Houston will host Pachuca on Aug. 14 at Roberson Stadium. The final is Aug. 29 at a site to be determined.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
"Chocolate Rain"
Original Song by Tay Zonday
Then . . .
Chocolate Rain (ORIGINAL SPOOF)
Chocolate Rain - Darth Vader remix
Fresh Prince of Chocolate Rain
Chocolate Rain Sung By McGruff The Crime Dog
and it goes on and on and on and on . . .
Then . . .
Chocolate Rain (ORIGINAL SPOOF)
Chocolate Rain - Darth Vader remix
Fresh Prince of Chocolate Rain
Chocolate Rain Sung By McGruff The Crime Dog
and it goes on and on and on and on . . .
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
DC United Update
D.C. United tops Club America
WASHINGTON -- Rod Dyachenko scored the game's lone goal as D.C. United held on to post a 1-0 victory over Club America in a rain-soaked SuperLiga contest at RFK Stadium on Sunday night.
With the victory, DC United went a long way toward securing one of the two semifinal berths in SuperLiga Group B. It now will travel to Houston for Wednesday's Group B finale.
It was a vital match in the group between two of the most storied clubs in their respective countries. D.C. United has won four Major League Soccer titles - most of any club - while Club America has won 10 championships in Mexico.
"This was a very important match, considering how we let the last Superliga game get away from us. We stayed in control," United coach Tom Soehn said. "We took them out of the game and controlled the second half. Club America just ran out of gas."
The clubs did not disappoint in this one, battling in an intense match rife with controversy. Club America was forced to play the final 35 minutes shorthanded after Oscar Rojas was tossed with a straight red card.
Dyachenko provided the decisive tally, scoring on a feed from Christian Gomez, who headed the ball in front of the net to set up the game's only offense in the 12th minute.
"It was a big advantage scoring early in the match, my teammates set me up beautifully," Dyachenko said.
Goalkeeper Armando Navarrete made four saves for Club America, which was outshot by D.C. United, 16-2.
ESPN Soccernet
WASHINGTON -- Rod Dyachenko scored the game's lone goal as D.C. United held on to post a 1-0 victory over Club America in a rain-soaked SuperLiga contest at RFK Stadium on Sunday night.
With the victory, DC United went a long way toward securing one of the two semifinal berths in SuperLiga Group B. It now will travel to Houston for Wednesday's Group B finale.
It was a vital match in the group between two of the most storied clubs in their respective countries. D.C. United has won four Major League Soccer titles - most of any club - while Club America has won 10 championships in Mexico.
"This was a very important match, considering how we let the last Superliga game get away from us. We stayed in control," United coach Tom Soehn said. "We took them out of the game and controlled the second half. Club America just ran out of gas."
The clubs did not disappoint in this one, battling in an intense match rife with controversy. Club America was forced to play the final 35 minutes shorthanded after Oscar Rojas was tossed with a straight red card.
Dyachenko provided the decisive tally, scoring on a feed from Christian Gomez, who headed the ball in front of the net to set up the game's only offense in the 12th minute.
"It was a big advantage scoring early in the match, my teammates set me up beautifully," Dyachenko said.
Goalkeeper Armando Navarrete made four saves for Club America, which was outshot by D.C. United, 16-2.
ESPN Soccernet
Football Season is Here !
It's Not Our Ball
Coach, Wrong Ball...
Arkansas vs Auburn (2006) Fish Trick Play
Arkansas vs Alabama (2006) - Trick Play
Whooooooooop
OM v Memphis 9/03/06 McCluster scores on trick play
Coach, Wrong Ball...
Arkansas vs Auburn (2006) Fish Trick Play
Arkansas vs Alabama (2006) - Trick Play
Whooooooooop
OM v Memphis 9/03/06 McCluster scores on trick play
Meh . . .
Not quite as funny (to us at least) as recreating
Brad's room out on the front lawn of the KSig house
Actually a pretty cool prank though
Brad's room out on the front lawn of the KSig house
Actually a pretty cool prank though
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