I've not seen anything about his off the field activities. Is he one of the few superstars that are ultra-giving to the community or is he of the ilk of a younger Randy Moss? Can anyone shed some light on this for me? Thanks.
From the article- a section at Qualcomm Stadium filled with kids from his LT 21 Club, needy kids who otherwise never would see a game in person? new flag football program at San Diego's inner-city Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, which includes 50 gang members from three schools, is thriving because of L.T.'s influence? He later vowed that if he ever made the NFL, he would fund a free camp for kids back home near Waco. As a rookie, he did just that. Now he has three camps -- two overnight ones in Texas (Waco and Fort Worth) and another in San Diego. He also gives out 25 $1,000 college scholarships and laptop computers annually to needy kids from Waco and San Diego selected by him and his wife. He just fed 8,000-plus folks at Thanksgiving and helped hand out the food himself. And on Tuesday, he gave away 1,500 toys to sick kids at a children's hospital and in a Ronald McDonald House. In February, he will take a seriously ill child and family to the Pro Bowl for an extended holiday, the start of a new program, the goal of which will be to send groups of needy kids to places around the world.
Um, Tiki Barber's no slouch, either. Not quite in the same league as LT- but hell, who is? Of course the obvious difference at this point is LT's going to be around helping his QB for several more years. Tiki's probably heading for the TV booth. I do agree, however, that Tiki hasn't been a slouch. But just because Eli has the same last name as Peyton, don't necessarily expect there will ever be any other similarities. Like YYM said, I'm sure Eli has to have occasional thoughts he could be playing on a playoff team, in the beautiful sun, with a great defense (minus big-mouth Michael Strahan) and, of course, a dominating running back.
Very proud of LT, he gave my hometown so many thrills on the colledge grid and has been one of the most upstanding and outstanding pro around. But with past winners of this award like McLain, Simpson, McGwire and Sosa this award seems tainted, maybe he can put a shine on it once again.
I really hate to buy into awards magazines hand out to athletes, especially one that gave the same award to McGwire and Sosa not too long ago But with past winners of this award like McLain, Simpson, McGwire and Sosa this award seems tainted Yeah! And lets not ferget them cheatin' barstids Rose and Brett! Hell, I bet they even voted for Nixon and Clinton! It appears as if you all's hindsight is workin pretty good!
It sure is mjk! And by the way, thanks for questioning my integrity! Great stocking stuffer!
That's the easy way to score e-points, though. Sometime I should create another name and question my own integrity.
Ying, thanks for the input on LT's community envolvement. It's always heartening to see one giving back and not acting the shelfish prick that so many of the "professional" atheletes seem to turn into.
forrestv, I did not "question your integrity", I generally agree with much of what you say, actually. I was only pointing out that, in the years that the people you mentioned won the award, they had great years, and the fact that the athletes were later found to be somewhat lacking is not at all the fault of the writers at The Sporting News, and that to point it out that they may not have deserved the award now is only exercising perfect 20-20 hindsight.
Not 20-20, though I understand what you are saying mjk. I had my doubts even back then about McGwire and Sosa -- and that's saying a lot for me as I was a big "Bash Brothers" fan when I was a kid. So I wouldn't have given McGwire an award as the sportsman of the year (though I have to admit I really don't respect Paul Attner, the author of the piece, as a journalist and always hated working with tools like him, so that may have influenced my opinion.) The point is, I really hate awards not awarded by or players/coaches. To me, they're on the same level as the Grammys and the Oscars. Worthless.
Just please, whatever you do, do NOT put him on the cover of Madden '08! Hate to be the bearer of bad news but if/when L.T. wins the league's MVP award, that's the player that goes on the cover of Madden. Damn Madden curse!
Actually the player has to agree to be on the cover of Madden. It has nothing to do with previous MVP. Daunte Culpepper was never the MVP of the league, nor was Ron Mexico or many of the others that graced the box.
Wait for the playoffs before you kiss LT's ass. A huge problem with sports today is people's willingness to fall in love with numbers. If LT steps up in January, he should get consideration...but unil then he's just another regular season record breaker, hardly worthy of sportman of the year. Right now, the only award I'll give him is the "Arod award" for the nicest numbers when they don't matter.
Except that the playoffs will start next year. LT wins the Sportsman of the Year for 2006, the playoffs happen in 2007. Plus, without LT's numbers, the Chargers probably don't do nearly as well. If you say those numbers don't matter then you're crazy.
