(S20) - PT2 - Role Model

[flyeaglesfly29]

Pt pass

[karl]

shl s52 pt1

[nunccoepi]

Blackstone's role model growing up changed over time. He grew up always wishing for another Muslim football player to watch and emulate, but they were hard to find. He seemed to find them more often in basketball with players such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and Nazr Mohammed. The way that they lived out their beliefs, including fasting during Ramadan even if it meant they were often hungry during the season was an inspiration to him. But more than anything, he often cites Muhammad Ali as his top professional athlete inspiration in the faith. Blackstone is inspired by how Muhammad Ali absolutely transformed the sport of boxing and the influence that he had on all professional athletes. Right now he can only dream of influencing his sport in the same way some day. Right now he can't really think of any Muslim all time greats in the sport of football -- so he takes great solace in the fact that others may look up to him as an inspiration and a role model in the sport, just like he was looking for a role model when he was younger. Blackstone was heartbroken when Ali died a few years ago, but he knows that he is better off for having learned from him.

[Jiggly_333]

I'm always very vocal about my love of soccer and my love of the Chicago soccer teams, both the Fire and the Red Stars. You might expect me to talk about some obscure player from one of those teams or some random women's player, but a role model is someone you look up to as a kid and I was kind of a basic kid.

Like any kid, I always liked strikers and wanted to be a goalscorer. Then one day that changed. I was 6 years old in July of 2005. The Chicago Fire were scheduled to have a friendly against AC Milan at Soldier Field. Now, I was already familiar with Milan since they were one of my dad's European teams and they were the first team to show up when you selected "Serie A" in FIFA. I already thought Andriy Shevchenko and Hernan Crespo were the best from playing FIFA 02, 03, and 05. So before the game was set to be played, the Fire set up an open training session for Milan so that fans could come see the best team in all of Europe (this was 2005, guys, they were objectively the best).

That was the plan, but there was a massive thunderstorm that rained out the practice. Instead of practicing, they turned it into an impromptu signing session, where the players just walked over to the fans that were there and hung out with the fans. My dad insisted on having me bring something to b signed, so we brought my school indoor soccer jersey. It was signed by pretty much the whole team and my dad even had a small conversation with Gennaro Gattuso. I remember very little of this, I really only remember the rain hitting the windshield that night as we drove up to Soldier Field.

When I got home, my dad checked my jersey and pointed out that Maldini had signed right underneath my #3 (I'm the third of my name, so I wear #3). That's when I decided to actually look into him and just got really into the way he played. I discovered the quiet dignity of defense from him and demanded to grow my hair out like him (although I went to a Catholic school, so this was an issue). I would always love playing defense because it would mean that I could be like Maldini. Turns out I'm not a good defender and I'm a much better Inzaghi-type poacher, but still.

As I've gotten older, learning more about Maldini and his influence, I've grown to appreciate him more and more. For one: Once I stopped being a front-running piece of shit child, I realized that I really respected him for sticking to a single club his entire 25-year career, his hometown club. I've learned about his ability to lead his club and while I personally prefer a much more rough and dirty style of defending, I really do admire his very technical approach to defending that isn't seen very often in the game.

In a smaller detail that I only learned about recently, he had a contentious relationship with the fans later on after the ultras essentially attacked the team for losing to Liverpool in the 2005 Champions' League Final. He called them out for being assholes and they resented him for it. For his final game, Maldini left the pitch while being booed by the Milan support while they held up a banner saying that he was never the real captain of the club. He showed them the finger and said later that he was "...proud to be nothing like them."

This whole thing just reminded me so much about why I appreciate him. He was never spoken about for the wrong reasons and he never made excuses for a fanbase that would tend to be a bit... extra. He would always play the game the right way and conduct himself in the best way possible. I think he's someone that every athlete should strive to be.

[Revolution5]

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[Leafs4ever]

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[Jepox]

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[BRNXB0MBERS]

Ahoy from Norfolk! As ye may 'ave guessed, me role model be a Pirate: Honus Wagner, “Th' Flyin' Dutchman”.

He was introduced t' th' game by his big brother, Albert, who got 'im into his first game in 1895. Aft bouncin' around in several leagues, Honus made his NL debut fer th' Louisville Colonels in 1897. He joined th' Pittsburgh Pirates in 1900 aft th' Colonels were casualties o' th' league contraction. Honus stayed loyal t' th' Pirates in 1901, declinin' huge offers from multiple teams in th' newly formed AL. He dominated in th' first decade o' th' 1900s as he lead in well-nigh every statistically category. Wit' 722 stolen bases (98.0% success rate), 640 doubles, 'n 252 triples, he earned th' nickname “Th' Flyin' Dutchman” in recognition o' his amazin' speed. Aft an outstandin' career, perhaps one o' th' best NL players o' all time, Honus played his last game fer th' Pirates in 1917.

That be only part o' wha' makes 'im a role model though. One o' nine sprogs, Honus was th' epitome o' hard work from th' time o' his birth in 1874 t' his death in 1955. His offseason workouts were well ahead o' his time. H e stayed in shape by fishin', huntin', 'n playin' th' new sport o' basketball. Although t' be fair, he hated Sprin' Trainin' 'n often held out or did his best t' avoid or at least delay it. 'cause o' his frugal livin', he was on solid financial ground when th' Great Depression hit. His resilience was truly remarkable.

His stance on tobacco use prolly be ‘is longest-lastin' off-field legacy. Although he chewed tobacco 'n smoked cigars, he didn' want t' incentivize cigarette use among sprogs. When Pirates firs' mate John Gruber sold a picture o' Wagner t' th' American Tobacco Company, Honus stopped th' deal as soon as he could. Even wit' his quick action, a few cards were produced 'n released. They be known as th' Wagner T206 cards, one o' th' most expensive in th' world. Lucky fer me, I was able t' pilfer one from th' New York Public Library. 'tis buried somewhere special; who knows, maybe I shall draw a map on me deathbed.

His humble upbringin', work ethic, 'n public health conscious make 'im a true hero.

385 words

[Drizzy]

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Username is dankoa

[W.Sconnie]

Growing up in Wisconsin there was one team that united the state, the Green Bay Packers. Watching Brett Favre gun sling all over the field helped me fall in love with football, as well as everyone else in the state. I can remember going to church on Sundays and half of the congregation was wearing the packer’s green and gold. I can remember being 8, it was Jan. 4, 2004 and the packers and Seahawks were going to overtime. Matt Hassleback said “we want the ball, we’re going to score” then immediately got picked off by Al Harris. It’s one of my favorite football memories. I remember my whole family cheering as Hassleback dove for Harris’ feet. My grand parents even bought shares for my sister and I back in 1997, so we could be shareholders for life.

But even the greatest relationships fail, and after the ugly breakup with Favre played itself out a new young gun showed up, Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers turned out to be good at football, and did a pretty great job replacing Favre. Rodgers took a beat-up team and won a superbowl. While we all know that the Lombardi trophy is no Ultimus it’s still a big deal. Rodgers has had a few MVP caliber seasons, and has kept Wisconsin believing in the packers. This team is not only my sport role model, but the whole state’s role model.

(243 words)