For the first few years of my life, I had no interest in sports. I was growing up in the 80s with hemophilia. Back then, a sprained ankle or knee injury meant an ER visit, possibly an extended stay in the hospital. But for me at least, that all changed in 1985 when one of my classmates told me about “The Fridge” and the Super Bowl Shuffle. Over the next few years, I became hooked on football. On any given Sunday I could tell you who was leading the league in rushing, receptions or sacks.
I fell in love with the Chicago Bears. Who didn’t back then? A perfect defense, “The Fridge,” and of course the sweetest running back to ever touch the pigskin. But living in the Pacific Northwest, I couldn’t help but also be a Seahawks’ fan.
Over the years, my fanatical obsession with football has diminished. I still watch it. I love the Seahawks, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Boise State Broncos. But I can’t tell you who’s starting at quarterback tomorrow and stats? Not my thing anymore.
I still try to hit the news sites to see who’s winning and who’s losing, but now I only see my teams play if I manage to find somebody streaming a game online. Which leads me to the topic of this post.
Since arriving in Seattle, Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Seahawks has made it a habit of visiting children in the hospital. This past Tuesday, the team’s day off, Wilson received a gift from 11-year-old Allison.
The gift, a wallet made entirely of duct tape and sporting the Seahawks’ logo and “R. Willson” on the outside. Wilson was so deeply touched by Allison’s heart-tugging gift, he made sure to tell those in attendance at Thursday’s media session.
“So, before we get started, the best part of my week. I go to Children’s Hospital every Tuesday. This 11-year old girl, she made me this Seattle Seahawks wallet. It’s one of a kind. The coolest part about it is it’s all made out of duct tape. You guys gotta check this out. It’s, like, perfect,” Wilson said.
As somebody who spent many weeks and months during my childhood in the hospital, I want to personally thank Mr. Wilson. Not only did he remember that playing football isn’t just about the multi-million dollar check he receives, he remembered the impact he has on his fans, especially our children. Thank you.Photos courtesy of KOMO News
Leave a Reply