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On
the TUNNEYSIDE of SPORTS April 29, 2013 #434 Up next.."'Don't
cost nuthin' to be nice"
After
further review...There's a classic story that the legendary University of
Alabama football coach, Paul "Bear" Bryant used to tell on
himself. In his first year as head coach with the 'Tide, the
"Bear" was on a recruiting trip to the southern part of
Alabama. He was having trouble finding the athlete's school and as lunch
time approached he stopped at an old cinderblock building with a sign
that read "Restaurant". He walked in and sat at the
counter---the only white man in the place on that day in 1958.
The
owner approached and said, "You probably won't like it here. Today
we're having chitlins, collard greens, and black eyed-peas with
cornbread". Bryant looked him straight in the eye and said,
"I'm from Arkansas and probably eaten a mile of chitlins. Sounds
like the right place to me". Then Bryant asked about the young man
he was looking for and needed directions to the school. When he finished
his meal, the owner refused payment, but asked for an autographed picture
from the coach. It arrived from Tuscaloosa the following week, signed and
inscribed, "Thanks for the best lunch I ever had".
Jump
ahead a few years and Bryant is interviewing another athlete from that
same area, who told the coach he was set on going to Auburn-Alabama's
arch rival. Two days later the athlete called Bryant and asked him
"Coach, you still want me at Alabama?" "Sure do, said
Bryant, but what changed your mind?" The athlete responded "When
my grandpa found out that I had a chance to play for you and said no, he
pitched a fit and told me I wasn't going nowhere but Alabama. He sure
thinks a lot of you and has ever since y'all met". Over chitlins...
Segue
to the NFL who held its draft this past weekend and as a media event was
bigger than ever. But do you know who was selected as the last draft
choice, the so called "Mr. Irrelevant". I mean, who is more
irrelevant than the last guy picked? This 'honor' is the brain-child of Paul
Salata, who 38 years ago created the event "to do something nice for
someone for no good reason"! Mr. Irrelevant gets a trip to Newport
Beach, CA, a parade, and weeklong celebration closing with a banquet
where he will be presented with the "Lowsman Trophy". Go to www.irrelevantweek.com to
find out more.
Will
you never remember what you give, but never forget what you receive?
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