(S20) - PT2 - Role Model

[White Cornerback]

Written Option: The passing of Kobe Bryant devasted many people in the world yesterday. In honor of him, this PT will be about your real world (or NSFL) sports role models. In a minimum of 200 words, reflect about what positive effects they have on either you or your NSFL persona.

Mine's a little different. I didn't grow up watching or playing american football or having any interest in it at all being from the west of europe. I had a strong interest in football from a young age. One of my earliest memories of football was 2001-2002 where I wouldve been at most 5-6 then. Watching early united games and seeing the absolute grit that Roy Keane held in his younger days, the pace and skill of ryan giggs whipping it in from deep, the hard nosed ability of gary neville to crunch fuckers in the open field along with the goalscoring and silky smooth ability of the recently signed Ruud Van Nistlerooy who was a literal god among men. Then you had the crazy prick that was Barthez in goal who could lose or win you a game one week and do the opposite the next. I don't think I had one idol growing up or really any idol, I mean I loved many different aspects from various different teams around the league. You couldn't watch football then without loving the antics and ability of Di Canio up front. I do remember I fucking hated Pires though.

I remember growing up and playing in what was called Pepsi football camps from a young age and being given the moniker of JT or John Terry because I would crunch fuckers in 50/50's and that was realy my entire thing and even to this day is (although I'd like to imagine my game now is somewhat more polished than an 8 year old dermot's was) but the principle really remains the same. I'm an absolute prick on the field if you're not on my team but thats what makes sports great for me. In no other aspect or niche in the world would you be allowed to be so awful to people and have little to no consequences, but you can also incite people into aggression and violence and smack them about and not even be sent off for it in self defense.

[jsteele14]

PBE Affiliate

[HalfEatenOnionBagel]

As a Lions fan it's no surprise to find out that my sports role model is Calvin Johnson. I mean on the field what he did is something very few receivers will ever be able to touch. I remember watching him when he played at Georgia Tech and just dominating everyone. When the Lions ended up taking him coincided with the time I really started following the Lions closely so he's just been my favorite player ever since. But for me it's certainly not just about what he did on the field but also how he composed himself. He was soft spoken, humble, hard working. The most celebrating he did was dunking the ball through the goalposts and most of the time he would just give the refs the football. He was nothing close to the sort of diva era receivers that preceded him. You never heard a bad word about him in the media. Heck the worst thing you probably heard about him in the news was that he wasn't that great on dancing with the Stars. He was close with his family and just a true professional in every sense of the word. It's hard to find true role models in professional sports despite the attention a lot of these guys get. But Calvin Johnson is one guy that I think everyone would agree is a true role model. I'm just sad that his time with the Lions wasn't filled with more winning as he deserved that ring more than anyone.

[Jonny2x]

PT Pass

[Duilio05]

PBE

[Lowlycrib]

I think I'm going personal with this point task because why not. Growing up in Canada obviously impacted the sports and people i looked up to but the appeal and magnitude of the American professional sports also impacted me. From a young age i have been a Calgary Flames fan and have played hockey myself for as long as i can remember. One of the players that i have looked up to would Miikka Kiprusoff as i grew up as a goalie in hockey and looked to the many fundamentals he was able to provide. On the other hand Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames provided me with how an individual should go about in their community and shaped how i carried myself. As many of you could probably tell Tyron Brackenridge from the Saskatchewan Roughriders has been one of my favorite defensive players that i have seen in a long time who was able to play all across the field and often be one of the better players on the field, which helped me develop the versatility in life as we often aren't only subject to just one spot in life and must adapt and change all the time. One player that i did want to mirror my IRL football self was Kory Sheets, who was one of the best runningbacks in the Canadian Football League and bounced around the NFL but his game centered around explosive speed and great vision

(242)

[Frostbite]

Graphic Option: Create a graphic of your player meeting your role model.

As a CB in the DSFL, my role-model is a Myrtle Beach legend Kacey Dream, and he mentored me into getting my first pick six!

[run_CMC]

Ashley Owens has several role models from growing up watching the NSFL (and NFL), but one National Simulation Football League Player made an impression on Owens that few others have approached. That player? Running back Reg Mackworthy. Now, Mackworthy had a handful of excellent receiving seasons, but could by no means be considered a receiving back. Despite a smaller frame, he pounded the ball on the ground more than anyone else in NSFL history. But the other thing he did? He stayed humble. Hardworking. Dedicated. When the going got tough, the tough got going, but they were all still far behind Mackworthy who was putting in 100% every day of the year. Through good seasons and bad seasons, Mackworthy worked and stayed humble. When he was fighting for the job and when he'd already had it for several years... he remained a presence on the field. Reg Mackworthy taught excellence by example in a way few others can. Ashley Owens works every day to embrace Mack's attitude towards the game and the team, knowing it can only help him become a better player and a better person. Reg reached the Hall, as everybody saw coming. Ashley hopes to follow in his role model's footsteps.

(204 words)

[124715]

Richard D'Attoria V grew up watching the NSFL for his entire life, and one of the players that spoke to him most was this undersized, underrated DB drafted high in the draft to the godawful Legion. He didn't know that this player, future Hall of Famer Blackford Oakes, would eventually play out a legendary career and become the career leader in interceptions among safeties. Of course, Richard admired him on the field. But as he struggled through blowout Legion games, suffered through every single Bercovici interception, grimaced at terrible defenses, and dejectedly watched the playoffs in his black and gold Alexandre LeClair jersey, one thing stood out to him - the rising playmaker snagging picks and sacking quarterbacks in just his first season.

The next season, LeClair defected to the Baltimore Hawks, and the Legion crashed and burned to 1-13. Richard almost bandwagoned the Otters. But there was hope to be found, not just with the revitalized offense, but also with the defense, led by rising superstar Oakes, whose jersey Richard requested for his next birthday. That jersey would be purple and teal, though, as his beloved childhood Legion rebranded and moved to New Orleans. And in the new environment, Oakes thrived, filling the stat sheet with juicy numbers and cementing his reputation as one of the league's premier safeties.

Richard admired not just Oakes' statistics, performance, and awards, but his leadership; no matter who cycled through those Second Line defenses he adored so much - Benson Bayley, Jayce Tuck, Fuego Wozy, Brian Mills, Vladimir Fyodorovich - it was obvious Oakes was in charge. He was drafted to a defense allowing 32 points per game, and turned into a devastating ballhawk that helped his squad terrorize quarterbacks and stroll to four straight Ultimus appearances. Richard also loved the perpetual underdog status that hounded Oakes and the Second Line - even after cementing his legacy as the greatest safety of all time, he failed to receive an unanimous HoF induction.

Code:

324

[moonlight]

One of my real world sports heroes was Warren Moon. I found his story very inspirational as he had to fight racism for a large portion of his career. From highschool, to college to the NFL, he found opposition to the image of the black quarterback at every level of his career. Going into college coaches tried to get him to play wide receiver or cornerback but he managed to convince them to let him play quarterback. He had a very successful career in college, culminating in a Rose Bowl championship. Instead of being a high draft pick after his time in Washington, he was forced to play in the Canadian Football League, specifically with the Edmonton Eskimos. He ended up winning an absurd 5 straight championships there. Instead of looking at his time in the CFL as a negative, he instead says to this day that it helped his career. He felt grateful for the support he got north of the border. His time in the CFL allowed him to develop his passing skills and further hone his mechanics. When it was time to start his NFL career, he further paved the way for the concept of free agency, as he is considered to be one of the first free agents in NFL history. He signed with the Oilers and went on to be inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Code:

234 words