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Thursday, 10 November 2005 |
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Click the title above to read this entire entry. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed hearing about it.
First, some site administratrivia... The Panthers take on the Jets this Sunday at 4:05 PM. While I (your webmaster) will be attending the game in Charlotte, please come to Kitty O'Shea's in Arlington (directions) to watch the game. Look for us Sunday above the players tunnel with our "DC Panthers Fans.com" banner (Section 106, Row 19, we're right on the rail at the top of the tunnel).
Now, I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a story about someone we all know of but may not necessarily know. Hopefully, this will endear you to him even more. It's our Carolina Panthers quarterback, Jake Delhomme.
I have a friend, Steve, who works for a small PR firm in Virginia. They are working on a promotion for 17 weeks where he goes to different cities where a local school hosts a local NFL player. Usually, the school chosen is one where the kids would never have such an opportunity.
The player meets with about 30-45 kids where they play an online game my friend's firm developed called "Financial Football." The kids are split into two teams where the player works with one "team" while the coach/atheltic director works with the other "team."
The game provides a way for the kids to learn about finance and investing. In the game, kids are asked questions about finance. Easy questions result in a gain of a few yards, medium questions result in a first down and hard questions produce results like a 35-yard catch. Incorrect questions are turnovers.
On Tuesday, Steve went to Charlotte and brought Jake Delhomme to a school. Jake told the students,"ask me anything - about the game, about money, whatever." One student asked him about his obvious frustration the camera caught after an interception in Detroit. Jake responded that he gets really animated on the field and the camera technologies these days tend to catch some non-flattering remarks. He added, "I need to watch myself."
One of the students asked, "did you see our kicker win that game last week?" and Jake replied that he missed it but he immediately added "You guys are playing [some school] this Friday, right?"
During the discussion, A senior walked up to him and said, "I need to get the Panthers involved in my Habitat for Humanity project. How can I do it?" and without missing a beat, Jake said told him to call Mike (someone) at 704-571-xxxx and tell him you met with Jake on Tuesday. He then added (paraphrasing) "I'll see him Wednesday at practice and follow-up."
Jake spent an hour talking with the students about anything and everything that came to their mind (even the Bojangles commercial). At the end of the meeting, one student was given two free tickets to Sunday's game against the Jets.
Now, my question is this: How can someone with the status of Delhomme in the Carolinas be that involved in the community that he knows what team the high school is playing? Is he the Charlotte/Mecklenburg schools superintendent? And how could he fire off the phone number and contact person to the student asking about the Habitat for Humanity help?
I'll tell you how: He is a true sports hero that people - not just kids - can look up to. He is involved in the community and he appears to genuinely care.
In a day where the lead NFL story is about an immature, multi-millionaire crybaby who cares more about publicly humiliating his team mates and coaches than taking up his responsibility to be a role model, I am happy to have someone like Jake in the game.
At the end of the event, Steve mentioned to Jake that he has (at least) two huge fans in the D.C. area. He brought me a printout of the front page of this site with, "To Keith and Amy - Happy Anniversary - Jake Delhomme #17" written on it.
I have a piece of paper with a signature on it that I am going to frame and treasure. But what makes me feel good – and the reason I wrote this – is because of what Steve told me about Jake's willingness and openness with the students. This may be the only opportunity these kids get. Not just in Charlotte but in the 16 other cities in which this program is taking place. If these athletes can have a positive influence on just one student in a one-hour discussion about football or finance then it is well worth it.
I doubt Jake is going to read this but just in case, I'm putting it out here:
Thank you, Mr. Delhomme. Thank you for your involvement in the community. Thank you for taking your time to help these students be better citizens and give back to the community. Thank you for making me a proud fan and supporter of the Carolina Panthers. Keep pounding. |
