FbCoachB
05-12-2004, 08:59 AM
Kellen Winslow JR. knew what he had to do. After holding up the honorary #1 Jersey of the Cleveland Browns while posing with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Winslow took an extraordinary step. When the flash bulbs had stopped popping, Winslow leaned in and whispered into the commissioner's ear. He wanted just a moment at the microphone, to address the assembled crowd at Madison Square Garden and the millions of fans around the nation.
Looking jittery for the first time in his life, Winslow stepped to the podium and spoke: "I'd like to thank the Browns for selecting me today. It truely is the greatest day of my life," he announced. "Like every other athlete in this building. I've always known that I'd have to sacrifice a lot to get where I am today. To reach this moment, I knew I'd have to give everything i had. And until yesterday, I thought I had."
The throng at MSG grew silent as Winslow spoke.
"But yesterday, we were all taught what the meaning of sacrifice really is. Yesterday, we were all taught what the meaning of sacrifice really is. Yesterday, we were reminded that the games we play don't really amount to much, and that there really are more important things going on in our lives."
As Winslow continued, Tagliabue discreetly ordered the Detriot Lions' draft clock stopped. For the next several moments, the wheeling and dealing was halted, the war room phones went silent, and the NFL nation stared intently at the stoic young man at the podium.
"On the greatest day of my football career," Winslow continued, "I cannot stop thinking about the worst day of my career."
"Last November, my Miami Hurricanes were beaten by Tennessee. i was upset. And I said some things that I've never really understood until yesterday. People always compare football to war, ant that day , I believed I knew what war was." A single tear emerged from the corner of Winslow's eye.
"I screamed and called myself a soldier," he stammered. "And I said I wanted to kill my opponents because they wanted to kill me. I said i was at war." Another extended pause. The tear struggled to maintain its grip.
"Well yesterday I finally realized what a soldier was. And I finally understood what killing really means. Now I know what war really is. And today, as I stare up at that No. 40 Cardinals jersey, my only wish is that I could have known Pat Tillman. I wish I knew the man who actually understood the meaning of the word 'sacrifice'. Someone who was actually willing to give it his all. Someone who knew what was worth fighting for, and who had the courage to actually fight for it."
"Today I apologize to Pat Tillman. And to every soldier who is risking his life for me. And to every family that has to live with the sacrifice made by their loved ones.
"Today, we will celebrate the great acheivements of our careers, but we'll also finally have some perspective, and some understanding of how lucky we are to be playing games instead of fighting in real wars. God bless you, pat Tillman, and thank you for the lesson you've taught us."
In the standing ovation that followed, no one noticed a visibly moved Eli Manning slipping through the crowds and embracing Winslow as he left the stage. And the crowd once again fell silent as Manning approached the podium.
"I, too, want to apologize. To everyone. Pat Tillman gave up a multimillion-dollar career to die for his country, and I've been up here acting like a spoiled brat, upset about which team was going to be3 paying me tens of millions of dollars for the rest of my life. I'm sorry, San Diego. And I'm sorry for not understanding how good I have it. I'm sorry, Pat."
A couple of class acts, in a world where every child spoiled rotten, these guys got a wake-up call.
Looking jittery for the first time in his life, Winslow stepped to the podium and spoke: "I'd like to thank the Browns for selecting me today. It truely is the greatest day of my life," he announced. "Like every other athlete in this building. I've always known that I'd have to sacrifice a lot to get where I am today. To reach this moment, I knew I'd have to give everything i had. And until yesterday, I thought I had."
The throng at MSG grew silent as Winslow spoke.
"But yesterday, we were all taught what the meaning of sacrifice really is. Yesterday, we were all taught what the meaning of sacrifice really is. Yesterday, we were reminded that the games we play don't really amount to much, and that there really are more important things going on in our lives."
As Winslow continued, Tagliabue discreetly ordered the Detriot Lions' draft clock stopped. For the next several moments, the wheeling and dealing was halted, the war room phones went silent, and the NFL nation stared intently at the stoic young man at the podium.
"On the greatest day of my football career," Winslow continued, "I cannot stop thinking about the worst day of my career."
"Last November, my Miami Hurricanes were beaten by Tennessee. i was upset. And I said some things that I've never really understood until yesterday. People always compare football to war, ant that day , I believed I knew what war was." A single tear emerged from the corner of Winslow's eye.
"I screamed and called myself a soldier," he stammered. "And I said I wanted to kill my opponents because they wanted to kill me. I said i was at war." Another extended pause. The tear struggled to maintain its grip.
"Well yesterday I finally realized what a soldier was. And I finally understood what killing really means. Now I know what war really is. And today, as I stare up at that No. 40 Cardinals jersey, my only wish is that I could have known Pat Tillman. I wish I knew the man who actually understood the meaning of the word 'sacrifice'. Someone who was actually willing to give it his all. Someone who knew what was worth fighting for, and who had the courage to actually fight for it."
"Today I apologize to Pat Tillman. And to every soldier who is risking his life for me. And to every family that has to live with the sacrifice made by their loved ones.
"Today, we will celebrate the great acheivements of our careers, but we'll also finally have some perspective, and some understanding of how lucky we are to be playing games instead of fighting in real wars. God bless you, pat Tillman, and thank you for the lesson you've taught us."
In the standing ovation that followed, no one noticed a visibly moved Eli Manning slipping through the crowds and embracing Winslow as he left the stage. And the crowd once again fell silent as Manning approached the podium.
"I, too, want to apologize. To everyone. Pat Tillman gave up a multimillion-dollar career to die for his country, and I've been up here acting like a spoiled brat, upset about which team was going to be3 paying me tens of millions of dollars for the rest of my life. I'm sorry, San Diego. And I'm sorry for not understanding how good I have it. I'm sorry, Pat."
A couple of class acts, in a world where every child spoiled rotten, these guys got a wake-up call.