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Keep the Peace and Be of Good Behavior
Group: Past PNET Supporter
Last Login: 9/8/2008 3:06 PM
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I'm here watching Monday Night Football, and the Broncos have their backup utility runner in the game. Well, he scored, and gave the mile high salute. Al Michael's called it "A mile high salute from the ex Marine" (even though there is no such thing as an EX Marine, we'll cut him some slack).
So I ventured onto the internet and sure enough Mike Anderson, #38 on the Broncos squad was a United States Marine. I couldn't find much on his service through a quick internet search, but I did find this...
quote:
Pros like Mike Anderson of the NFL Denver Broncos and David Robinson (right) of the NBA San Antonio Spurs started their professional sports careers after serving in the military. Anderson, a running back, was a Marine. Robinson, a center, was in the Navy.
"There was a time I was fighting for freedom and not yards in the NFL," Anderson said, who served four years in the Marine Corps and was in Somalia and Kenya. "I'm very proud that the Marines are in the forefront. That's what we stand for -- to honor our country and fight for freedom."
It is commitment to service that makes a successful military career. Commitment requires you to do the things "second stringers" don't want to do, aren't ready to do, and when called upon, can't do, Anderson said.
The second paragraph is rather important as I heard Al Michael's continue his commentary by saying Anderson will play wherever the coach will put him, a real team player. No surprise coming from a Marine.
He didn't play any sports in high school, joined the Corps, and then played for Utah before going in the 6th round of the NFL draft. Now he is playing and playing well on MNF.
SEMPER FI to this Somalia/Kenya vet, we could use more role models like him.
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Hard Charger
 
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That is awesome. Right up there with him is Pat Tillman, the starting safety for the Cards last year who turned down a multi-million dollar contract and promising career to join the Army alongside his brother and play for the Rangers instead!
Here's a great ESPN article on Tillman as well as great NFL players in Vietnam: http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1387154.html
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Trooper
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Last Login: 10/2/2008 11:38 PM
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The first professional football games were played between a canadian team from McGill university and an american team, cant recall from where. It truly is americas sport though. Even though the CFL is older.
Proud Canadian Redneck
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Keep the Peace and Be of Good Behavior
Group: Past PNET Supporter
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quote:
The first professional football games were played between a canadian team from McGill university and an american team, cant recall from where. It truly is americas sport though. Even though the CFL is older.
Uhhhhh, the issue at hand is not who can officially lay claim to the origins of the sport, it's that another NFL player has ties to the United States Military. Clear?
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Hard Charger
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quote:
Uhhhhh, the issue at hand is not who can officially lay claim to the origins of the sport, it's that another NFL player has ties to the United States Military. Clear?
You are correct Vo, but since Canuck brought it up and he is wrong let me make a quick on the spot correction. He is refering to the first time two colleges played each other and it was not Mcgill University. The first time two teams suited up against each other was Rutgers and Princeton in 1869. The game was played in New Jersey.
Later on in 1874 Harvard played Mcgill University.
Both games were more of a Rugby/soccer style game. Then in 1876 Walter Camp (an American who attended Yale) wrote the first set of rules for Football as we know it today.
And that concludes todays FootBall History lesson. Now back to our regulary scheduled discussion.
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Detachment Sergeant
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Mike Anderson is a great running back and a fabulous human being. Every time he touches the ball (like when he scored a touchdown on the Raiders!), I let out a solid "Semper Fi"! I'd say that he has DEFINITELY Been There and Done That! [thup]
 ALWAYS OUT FRONT
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