This weekend was extraordinary for Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, New England Patriots, LaDainian Tomlinson, Jerry Jones, TCU, Dallas Cowboys fans, Lady Gaga fans, and all football fans — OK, practically everyone who lives in North Texas.
The incredible come-from-behind, first overtime game in history was riveting. And our Fort Worth and Dallas stars, Tomlinson and Jones, were inducted into the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame the night before.
What a game! We’re all still trying to figure out how
And how about “LT” Tomlinson who
When I heard LaDainian was being inducted into the Hall of Fame, I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving. Not just as an athlete, but as the kind of man who came back to finish his college degree in 2005 after he’d promised that to his mother.
He writes on his foundation’s website that “my hope is someday my legacy is based on how I’m defined as a husband, father, colleague, citizen and what I contribute to the community, not what I did for a living.”
As a player, LT took time to visit children in hospitals, give food to the hungry, start a charity golf tournament, and gave Chargers tickets at every home game to children who might otherwise not have a chance to see a game.
Since retiring from the NFL, he has continued to make the world a better place. His non-profit Touching Lives Foundation develops programs that assist needy families and build a better community. These programs focus on key issues like healthy living, education, cultural awareness, and positive self-esteem.
It was an honor to meet LT several years ago at the C.A.L.F. (Children’s Activities for Life and Fitness) 5K Run and Healthy Foods Competition. His foundation partnered with C.A.L.F. and I was a sponsor of the worthwhile event.
C.A.L.F. works year round to support and train our children for the 5K sponsored by the Cowtown Marathon, with race proceeds going towards giving 5,800 grants to North Texas children for running shoes and entry fees to participate.
The Cook Children’s 5K race is coming up on Saturday, February 24th. More info is here.
Let’s hope our children grow up to be role models like LaDainian Tomlinson, fierce competitors like Tom Brady, and astute businessmen like Jerry Jones.