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Post by wehoga on Feb 16, 2005 11:44:35 GMT -5
Why stop here? My all-time favorite is Steve Grogan. That man took a weekly pounding !
When I've watched the dynasty at work these last few super bowls, I can only imagine the goose-bumps they must feel.
Bruschi Law Vrabel McGinest Harrison
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Post by 1TruPatriot on Feb 16, 2005 22:49:14 GMT -5
Drew Steve Grogan Russ Francis Tedy
Funny this topic came up, I was glad to see some Drew supporters. I heard at my local coffee shop this morning that he was let go by the Bills, and I posted on their message board. This is what I said, hope it is ok to share it here:
I heard the news this morning about Drew being released, and I wanted some info so here I am. Not sure why I feel the need to do this, but humor me, its a girl thing. I grew up watching football, sitting at my Dad's knee watching, running to get him a beer every now and then, not allowed to talk or ask questions...be uiet kid, Im watchin the game. It was never anyone but the Patriots, we are a dyed in the wool clan of Pats fans. I still have the nightgown I wore when I was 7 years old, with Russ Francis' name across the back in patriot red. I grew up idolozing Steve Grogan and thinking I could be the first girl in the NFL. I played punt pass and kick and lived and breathed football. I learned to find answers for myself, what a first down meant, how to predict the rush. Then I grew up, and life took over, and I found myself alienated by the big money, big name game. I didnt watch for awhile, didnt want to see the showing off, spiking balls, jerkiness of it all. I turned the tv on one fall day in my late 20s, and there was this football player being signed, by MY team, who looked like he wasnt a ***, wasnt cocky or arrogant. I started watching again. That man was Drew Bledsoe. I watched him go from the young kid newcomer to a superstar. And I never saw him change who he was, or how he played the game. I never saw him pull out a sharpie or shove a ref. When my son was born in 1995, he sat at my knee and watched the greatest game on earth WITH me. He was allowed to ask questions, make noise, throw his little football around pretending to be one of his heroes on the tv. He got his first Bledsoe jersey for his 2nd birthday, someone had had it emblazoned with his name "Jesse James" instead of BLEDSOE, and he cried and cried until he got one that said Bledsoe. He wore that jersey like a trophy, until his little boy body got too big and he was squeezing out of the seams. When it came time to get another one in a bigger size, he gently folded it away and told us he was keeping it for his little boy someday. As he went from a curly haired toddler to a freckle faced boy, his love for Drew Bledsoe grew with him. And my respect for the man my son idolized grew too. I noted the qualities in him that I thought were most important, and used him as an example of a true athlete for this headstrong boy of mine. We watched every game together, the good and the bad and even the sometimes ugly. It didnt matter if they won or lost, but how they played, the spirit of the team that mattered. When Bill Parcells left the dejected team after a lost Super Bowl and flew off to join the Jets, I used that as an example of poor sportsmanship. Jesse learned a lot of things from watching Drew play. About working through pain, about being a decent person first, about kindness and compassion and winning and losing like a man. We are laundry rooters here, if you arent in a Patriots uniform we arent interested...until Drew. When he was traded after a dismal season, it broke our hearts. That man gave EVERYTHING to his team, he was pure heart. Broken fingers, cracked ribs, punctured lungs...and he never complained. and he took his release like a MAN, he never bad-mouthed his former team. He put on the Bills jersey and went to work for you all with the same heart and soul he did for us. And 2 more Bills fans were born. It almost felt like cheating, but we were Bledsoe fans. He may not have been the superstar for you guys he was for us, but he gave it everything he had. While you are berating him as a player, try not to forget who he is as a man. True fans know that fate throws different twists, and are grateful for the time they had. I am grateful for the time we had, I am grateful that he is healthy and whole and I am still hopeful that he will find his niche and get back to being the kind of player he was then. No matter what, though, he will always be one of the greatest players I have ever watched. Not because of his flash, or his status, but because of who HE is, as a man. And because he gets part of the credit for showing my son, the aspiring football player, how it is done with CLASS. Drew, if you are reading this, know that you hold a place in our hearts. Thank you for bringing me back to football, and thank you for setting an example for the little ones behind you. I hope my son is half the man you are.
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Post by JessLovesthePats on Feb 17, 2005 6:38:56 GMT -5
great post tru. i really enjoyed reading it.
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Post by Mama on Feb 17, 2005 7:10:58 GMT -5
That was a beautiful post. So well written. Kudos to you for demonstrating to your son what a true athlete is.
As for my favorite player, I have 2. I adore both Tedy and Adam V. I can't chose a favorite between the two. They're both amazing at what they do and are gentleman athletes. That is a trait to be admired.
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Post by wehoga on Feb 17, 2005 13:33:33 GMT -5
Great post !!! There are a lot of players jerseys available out there, but I pick and choose my jerseys carefully, for they say something about me as a person and a fan. I only own 2. Bledsoe Bruschi.
Best of luck Drew. Get better Tedy.
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Post by becca on Feb 17, 2005 18:47:18 GMT -5
tedy bruschi christian fauria mike vrabel richard seymour rodney harrison dan klecko adam vinatieri lonie paxton
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Post by Beanie12 on Feb 17, 2005 21:27:27 GMT -5
I heard the news this morning about Drew being released, and I wanted some info so here I am. Not sure why I feel the need to do this, but humor me, its a girl thing. I grew up watching football, sitting at my Dad's knee watching, running to get him a beer every now and then, not allowed to talk or ask questions...be uiet kid, Im watchin the game. It was never anyone but the Patriots, we are a dyed in the wool clan of Pats fans. I still have the nightgown I wore when I was 7 years old, with Russ Francis' name across the back in patriot red. I grew up idolozing Steve Grogan and thinking I could be the first girl in the NFL. I played punt pass and kick and lived and breathed football. I learned to find answers for myself, what a first down meant, how to predict the rush. Then I grew up, and life took over, and I found myself alienated by the big money, big name game. I didnt watch for awhile, didnt want to see the showing off, spiking balls, jerkiness of it all. I turned the tv on one fall day in my late 20s, and there was this football player being signed, by MY team, who looked like he wasnt a ***, wasnt thingyy or arrogant. I started watching again. That man was Drew Bledsoe. I watched him go from the young kid newcomer to a superstar. And I never saw him change who he was, or how he played the game. I never saw him pull out a sharpie or shove a ref. When my son was born in 1995, he sat at my knee and watched the greatest game on earth WITH me. He was allowed to ask questions, make noise, throw his little football around pretending to be one of his heroes on the tv. He got his first Bledsoe jersey for his 2nd birthday, someone had had it emblazoned with his name "Jesse James" instead of BLEDSOE, and he cried and cried until he got one that said Bledsoe. He wore that jersey like a trophy, until his little boy body got too big and he was squeezing out of the seams. When it came time to get another one in a bigger size, he gently folded it away and told us he was keeping it for his little boy someday. As he went from a curly haired toddler to a freckle faced boy, his love for Drew Bledsoe grew with him. And my respect for the man my son idolized grew too. I noted the qualities in him that I thought were most important, and used him as an example of a true athlete for this headstrong boy of mine. We watched every game together, the good and the bad and even the sometimes ugly. It didnt matter if they won or lost, but how they played, the spirit of the team that mattered. When Bill Parcells left the dejected team after a lost Super Bowl and flew off to join the Jets, I used that as an example of poor sportsmanship. Jesse learned a lot of things from watching Drew play. About working through pain, about being a decent person first, about kindness and compassion and winning and losing like a man. We are laundry rooters here, if you arent in a Patriots uniform we arent interested...until Drew. When he was traded after a dismal season, it broke our hearts. That man gave EVERYTHING to his team, he was pure heart. Broken fingers, cracked ribs, punctured lungs...and he never complained. and he took his release like a MAN, he never bad-mouthed his former team. He put on the Bills jersey and went to work for you all with the same heart and soul he did for us. And 2 more Bills fans were born. It almost felt like cheating, but we were Bledsoe fans. He may not have been the superstar for you guys he was for us, but he gave it everything he had. While you are berating him as a player, try not to forget who he is as a man. True fans know that fate throws different twists, and are grateful for the time they had. I am grateful for the time we had, I am grateful that he is healthy and whole and I am still hopeful that he will find his niche and get back to being the kind of player he was then. No matter what, though, he will always be one of the greatest players I have ever watched. Not because of his flash, or his status, but because of who HE is, as a man. And because he gets part of the credit for showing my son, the aspiring football player, how it is done with CLASS. Drew, if you are reading this, know that you hold a place in our hearts. Thank you for bringing me back to football, and thank you for setting an example for the little ones behind you. I hope my son is half the man you are. Excellent post and thanks so much for sharing your story!! I really enjoyed reading it and it brought tears to my eyes! I also grew up in a "no talking when football is on" home and the Patriots were always playing. My Dad and brother taught me everything I know about the sport and I am happily passing it along to my son and daughter, who I always play football with in the house (soft football! LOL) I was definitely moved by your story! Thank you so much!
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Post by OregonPatsFan on Feb 18, 2005 17:41:24 GMT -5
Hey Everyone! I am new to the boards and thought I should put my two cents worth on on this one! I totally love this board - I am from Oregon and NE fans are few and far between - I feel like I am HOME! ;D
It's hard to make a list cause I just love them all, but it I have to choose:
1. Harrison 2. and all the rest!
I just love that guy and what makes him even better is that my husband is a Chargers fan - he gets sooo irritated when we watch Harrison doing so well on MY TEAM! ;D
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