Even Us Old Men Have A Football Story to Tell!

[GAMBREL]

Jan 3, 2009 0:06:45 GMT -5 costampede45 said:

Hey Gambrel,

Now you know how the Utah Utes must feel- 13-0 is just fantastic! Great season, how did you do, any memories for the old retirement home? Is your son, Brandon still playing with you on the Thunder? Best of luck to you and the team as you head into the Championship game, fill us in on the details afterwards. And, at 41, you are still a "youngster", tell your wife that retirement can wait... at least another year or three...

Tons of Memories.....some good...some bad....some funny but none sad
Actually had a good season...times have changed....this year we had 8 O-Lineman...so for the first time in my playing career, never had to play an entire game....which was great on the body
Brandon.....sat out this year and has enrolled at St Francis University (Ft Wayne Indiana) and will begin spring ball next month.
About playing another year or 2....just dont have it in me anymore. I still love the game, but the will to suit up has let me.
Plus we have plans and giving up every weekend during the summer hurts our plans....
I will let you guys know how the game goes in a few weeks

[costampede45]

Best of luck to you Gambrel, sitting out after playing so long and so well is going to be hard for you. There will never be a season where you don't feel those great collisions in your mind. Football is in the bloodstream for all of those who have felt the jolt and thrill of contact. There is nothing quite like it, and nothing that can duplicate it.

I hope that your son does well at his new school, and that he fulfills the legacy of his old man, true commitment and strong heart!

Best to you in your Championship game.

[costampede45]

Trouts today for the High Desert Lightning,

I feel like a nervous 19 year old.... god, this game keeps me young... excited and nervous... just like it ought to be.... Love this game!

[GAMBREL]

Back from the Beautiful state of Florida....


The Chicago Thunder (my Team) went up against a tough Ohio Team (Mid-Ohio Jets) in one of our most physical games that we have played in the past 3 years....
Out Come....
Chicago Thunder 21.......Mid-Ohio Jets 16
[glow=yellow,2,300]Chicago Thunder AA National Champions[/glow]

This was my last game as I have made a commitment to the wife that I would concentrate more on our business and plus my son is a freshman in college...while I'm still young enough to play (41) its time to let the game go....
I even left all my equipment in Miami with the exception of my helmet....I have every helmet for each team I played on
I wish you Old Youngsters the best and I will continue to keep my eye on you Costampede45.....Keep doing what we all Love

Sorry for the blurry Picture...but that has to be the biggest trophy I have ever seen presented to a Football Team.....

[costampede45]

Hey GAMBREL:

Just to let you know... that these pictures tell a thousand words.... I am so damned happy for you going out like John Elway... being a Champion and ending your career with a Championship playing the greatest game on the planet will stay with you forever! Those memories will burn warmly in your heart as the years go on. The sweetness of your teams accomplishments is a wonderful way to finish. Congratulations to you, GAMBREL, this is so great. Best to you old friend, keep those memories, cherish the players, coaches, and friends made along the way. Life is too short and too sweet not to take it all in, and savor the moment.

Again, congratulations, this is a great story. This is a great inspiration to us all,

Best to you as you "ponder" another year,

Bill

[busman]

sentinelsource.com/articles/2009/01/25/sports/local/free/id_340767.txt

Late bloomer
Area 40-something helps Vermont teamcapture national semi-pro football title

By KEN MURPHY
Sentinel Staff
Published: Sunday, January 25, 2009

Andre Martineau decided to try and go out on top. Knowing that he was in the twilight of his semi-pro football career, one of the original members of the Monadnock Marauders opted to play what was likely his final season with the Vermont Ice Storm.

A former rival of the Marauders in the New England Football League, the Ice Storm compete in the Empire Football League in the AAA Division, the highest level of semi-pro football.

Putting his 44-year-old body through some tough practices, as well as his BMW 328i through a grinding, 320-mile round-trip commute, paid off for the 6-foot-5, 270-pound defensive end. Last weekend, the Ice Storm downed the D.C. Explosion 17-12 in the USA Bowl in Miami to win the Division I AAA national championship.

It was quite a season for Martineau who, if he does retire, will go out as a national champion — and as the Ice Storm’s reigning rookie of the year.

Vermont practices and plays in Colchester, Vt., which is 160 miles from Martineau’s home in Roxbury. When the Storm asked Martineau to join the team, coaches told him he could come to one of the two weekly practices.

Martineau, a computer systems engineer for C&S Wholesale Grocers, trekked to Vermont every Tuesday after work from the time practices started in late May until the final playoff game in October.

“Everyone was very impressed and loved him dearly for coming up and doing all that driving,” said Ice Storm Coach Doug “Doc” Perez, who knew Martineau from his Marauder playing days.

Perez, taking advantage of a semi-pro rule that allows teams to add players for the postseason, initially contacted Martineau to play for the Ice Storm during the team’s 2006 postseason run. Martineau played for Vermont, and then returned to the Marauders for the regular season. Last season, Martineau played for Vermont in the Division I AAA Bowl Game in Miami — which the Ice Storm lost — before he agreed to suit up for Vermont throughout the 2008 regular season.

“We had played against him, and he was just a mountain man from our days in the NEFL,” Perez said. “He went down to Florida with us last year and had a good time, and that’s when the idea crept in that if he was going to play one more year at 44, that he’d play for us.”

The idea, as it turned out, had merit.

“People couldn’t go around the outside on us,” Perez said. “The team voted him the rookie of the year — at 44. This past year he worked out like a banshee. He rode a mountain bike six days a week. Whenever he wasn’t here he was riding a bike or lifting weights. He was just amazing.”

Martineau, who hadn’t played a down of organized football before joining the Marauders at the age of 38, said that he joined Vermont to play at a higher level of competition.

“The competition level was the top reason I wanted to go there,” he said. “To play at the AAA level and a nationally ranked team — you don’t get that opportunity too often.”

Given the opportunity, Martineau said he became re-energized, largely due to the efforts of defensive coach Mike LaBarre.

“When he saw me, he told me that he wanted me to play like he thought I was capable of,” Martineau said. “He said that he’d kill me in practice and that I’d want to hit him at the end of every one. He just instilled in me a new passion for football and got me excited. … I love playing football, but he’d get you in a frenzy and so excited to play. He’s a large part of the reason why I stayed up there.”

LaBarre, of Plattsburg, Vt., died in August at 43. The Ice Storm’s home web page dedicates its championship season to his memory.

Martineau said that the tough practices conducted by LaBarre, Perez and the rest of the coaching staff were legendary.

“Every practice was full hit to the ground, “ Martineau said. “We never went easy. Every practice was almost like playing a game.”

After the Empire Football League season ended — the Ice Storm lost to the Quebec Titans in the Empire championship — the team had a few weeks off before preparing for the bowl game. Perez said that Vermont, despite the loss to Quebec, was selected to play in Miami because of national rankings.

“The coaches were really focused on getting us ready for what we had to do,” Martineau said. “Because of the long layoff, we were almost playing games in practice. It was a game atmosphere so we were ready for when we went down (to Miami).

“Our philosophy was to be in better shape than the other team, and for the most part it was really evident and I think that was the case (against the Explosion),” Martineau said. “They weren’t used to getting hit that hard, that fast.”

Now that the national championship is in hand, Martineau likely has delivered his final hit.

“I’ve already told the team I’m pretty much done,” he said. “And I’m already getting the pressure to go back. To stay with these guys who are right out of college, though, is tough. Most likely this has been my last year.”

Martineau said he will fill the void with a lot more mountain biking, some travel, scuba diving and a lot of golf.

“And maybe some basketball, C league maybe,” he said.

Maybe there’s another rookie of the year award at the age of 45 in Martineau’s future

[costampede45]

Hey Mr. Busman:

Thank you so much for posting this story. This is what it is all about; this game never leaves your bloodstream, there is nothing like the contact you feel in football. Nothing compares, it never leaves you; the will to HIT, to get HIT, the will to get back up, and kick ass on the very next play keeps us oldies golden.

[costampede45]

Hey All of You Football Fans, Old and Young:

Have you read this great football story yet???

December 23, 2008, 9:24 AM
Life of Reilly
There are some games in which cheering for the other side feels better than winning.
by Rick Reilly


Melinda Wright

They played the oddest game in high school football history last month down in Grapevine, Texas.

It was Grapevine Faith vs. Gainesville State School and everything about it was upside down. For instance, when Gainesville came out to take the field, the Faith fans made a 40-yard spirit line for them to run through.

Did you hear that? The other team's fans?

They even made a banner for players to crash through at the end. It said, "Go Tornadoes!" Which is also weird, because Faith is the Lions.

"I WOULDN'T EXPECT ANOTHER PARENT TO TELL SOMEBODY TO HIT THEIR KIDS. BUT THEY WANTED US TO!"

It was rivers running uphill and cats petting dogs. More than 200 Faith fans sat on the Gainesville side and kept cheering the Gainesville players on—by name.

"I never in my life thought I'd hear people cheering for us to hit their kids," recalls Gainesville's QB and middle linebacker, Isaiah. "I wouldn't expect another parent to tell somebody to hit their kids. But they wanted us to!"

And even though Faith walloped them 33-14, the Gainesville kids were so happy that after the game they gave head coach Mark Williams a sideline squirt-bottle shower like he'd just won state. Gotta be the first Gatorade bath in history for an 0-9 coach.

But then you saw the 12 uniformed officers escorting the 14 Gainesville players off the field and two and two started to make four. They lined the players up in groups of five—handcuffs ready in their back pockets—and marched them to the team bus. That's because Gainesville is a maximum-security correctional facility 75 miles north of Dallas. Every game it plays is on the road.

This all started when Faith's head coach, Kris Hogan, wanted to do something kind for the Gainesville team. Faith had never played Gainesville, but he already knew the score. After all, Faith was 7-2 going into the game, Gainesville 0-8 with 2 TDs all year. Faith has 70 kids, 11 coaches, the latest equipment and involved parents. Gainesville has a lot of kids with convictions for drugs, assault and robbery—many of whose families had disowned them—wearing seven-year-old shoulder pads and ancient helmets.

So Hogan had this idea. What if half of our fans—for one night only—cheered for the other team? He sent out an email asking the Faithful to do just that. "Here's the message I want you to send:" Hogan wrote. "You are just as valuable as any other person on planet Earth."

Some people were naturally confused. One Faith player walked into Hogan's office and asked, "Coach, why are we doing this?"

And Hogan said, "Imagine if you didn't have a home life. Imagine if everybody had pretty much given up on you. Now imagine what it would mean for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you."

Next thing you know, the Gainesville Tornadoes were turning around on their bench to see something they never had before. Hundreds of fans. And actual cheerleaders!

"I thought maybe they were confused," said Alex, a Gainesville lineman (only first names are released by the prison). "They started yelling 'DEE-fense!' when their team had the ball. I said, 'What? Why they cheerin' for us?'"

It was a strange experience for boys who most people cross the street to avoid. "We can tell people are a little afraid of us when we come to the games," says Gerald, a lineman who will wind up doing more than three years. "You can see it in their eyes. They're lookin' at us like we're criminals. But these people, they were yellin' for us! By our names!"

Maybe it figures that Gainesville played better than it had all season, scoring the game's last two touchdowns. Of course, this might be because Hogan put his third-string nose guard at safety and his third-string cornerback at defensive end. Still.

After the game, both teams gathered in the middle of the field to pray and that's when Isaiah surprised everybody by asking to lead. "We had no idea what the kid was going to say," remembers Coach Hogan. But Isaiah said this: "Lord, I don't know how this happened, so I don't know how to say thank You, but I never would've known there was so many people in the world that cared about us."

And it was a good thing everybody's heads were bowed because they might've seen Hogan wiping away tears.

As the Tornadoes walked back to their bus under guard, they each were handed a bag for the ride home—a burger, some fries, a soda, some candy, a Bible and an encouraging letter from a Faith player.

The Gainesville coach saw Hogan, grabbed him hard by the shoulders and said, "You'll never know what your people did for these kids tonight. You'll never, ever know."

And as the bus pulled away, all the Gainesville players crammed to one side and pressed their hands to the window, staring at these people they'd never met before, watching their waves and smiles disappearing into the night.

Anyway, with the economy six feet under and Christmas running on about three and a half reindeer, it's nice to know that one of the best presents you can give is still absolutely free.

Hope.

[eman87]

Is there a link where one can view these semi pro records?

I am 49 and playing my third season for the North shore Generals in the NEFl in lynn mass.

Keep playing!

[costampede45]

Hey Eman87,

Good for you in continuing to play at such a young age..

What we lose in physical skills, we make up with wisdom, leadership, and fire in the belly.

The Semi-Pro Football Headquarters has a Records link, look on the home page. However, I have contacted their historian, and the commish, so that they can be more inclusive of Semi-Pro football records across the nation; so far, Steve Brainerd is content to keeping things limited, why, I have no idea.

On my regional website, the Greater Northwest Football Association, there is a new Records section, after you get on the History button, and it shows updated league records for our area. They do it right, they keep it current, so it is more motivating for guys to set records for team and as individuals.

This website, unfortunately, is way behind in consolidating true records and new records as they occur. Maybe, if a few others push, it can get done, as I see the Semi-Pro Football Headquarters as the top website on the amatuer level to be the place to get ALL national records. I want to know if there are any other men out there that have scored a TD at 45? I have, and I am proud of it, and my desire is to have it as a National record to motivate and inspire others, like us, to keep after their dream.

Hell, why not? We bleed like everyone else, we work as hard as anyone else, why not include us golden seniors and make room for additional records?

All I know, is that you are still willing to put on the pads, and for that, you are to be commended. What position do you play? Do you start? What has been your experience playing so far? How are you treated as a senior member? etc. etc.

Thanks for posting and best of luck to you this season,

Bill Hoffman

[eman87]

Hey Bill,

thanks for the info about the records.

The first year I barely played at all. My second year I started 6 games.

Obviously, I am even older than many of my teammates parents. They call me the old man. But it is rewarding when I get the better of a youner player and someone gives the young guy shit for getting beat by a guy twice their age!

By the way, there is a guy who played for the Woonsocket RI Sentinels, #61, who was 61 years old last year. I think he plays linebacker. He is in the NEFL hall of fame and I think in the Semi pro Hall of fame. I saw an article on him a couple of years ago and he had about 335 games under his belt at that point!

My workouts are going great and can't wait for the season to start to prove myself all over again. keep us updated on your status.

[costampede45]

Hey Eman87,

We have to work three times as hard just to stay even. These young studs just keep coming, don't they? I think that the only time you can have any respect at all out there, is when the time comes for hitting, and that is the time you can prove yourself. When you knock the hell outta some 6'3, 245 MLB in practice, that, they remember. I loved going against our best and strongest players, just to see the look in their eye, like, "oh boy, this old man is nuts, but I sure do love him for trying". Nothing compares, except doing it for real in game time situations. Best to you, good luck with those work outs, keep those young legs pumping!

[GAMBREL]

Yes they keep coming....
I have played in 2 All-American games where we played against Div III and NAIA players in the Metrodome....Now the game was in December...so these kids were just coming off of practicing 5 days a week and lifting regularly.....
I know I was getting my but kicked as a OT playing against some tough DE but held my own as a Guard....
I know its hard for me to work 8-10 hours a day and run my family life....and then still compete against a kid who goes to bed at midnight when I go to bed at 8pm

[costampede45]

Division II and NAIA players...

Yeah, those young guns are out there, but they also offer a big ol' bullseye for us agin' vets aching to get another shot! In the Oregon Football League alone, there are several Divsion I and Divison II players that others just love to get a shot at in their lifetime.

They are from the University of Oregon Ducks, and these men were starters, not just backups!!!.. These guys played on Fall blustery Saturday afternoons at Autzen Stadium in Eugene OR. before 60,000 screaming maniacs, just so we's old boys can say one day, "wow, we de-cleated so-and-so... and they used to run against the likes of USC, Michigan, etc."

DE-CLEATED at our age means, we grazed off their thigh pads on their way to a 99 yard TD romp over our sorry, old wrinkled asses!!!

[costampede45]

““The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and play, his labors and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion.

He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he’s always doing both”.


James A. Michener

[seamhead75]

That is an awesome story Bill. I would love to play football one more time like I did when I was young. I have never played football since 18 when I had a major reconstructive surgery. Well I played two hand touch some. I miss stretching out in a full dive to catch a football. I understand your passion. I am glad you got the end zone splash. Who was your football hero's back in the day Bill? Mine was John Riggins, well he was my first favorite, but Barry Sanders thoughts choke me up....geez he was fun to watch.

[costampede45]

Hey Seamhead75,

Thanks so much for posting... by the way, I dig your name... seamhead75?

That's got to be one of the greatest football fanatic names out there!

I don't know how old you are seamhead, but by naming John "Riggo" Riggins as one of your childhood heroes, we must be about the same in age... I remember Riggo when he was a NY Jet, then a Redskin... does that date me or what?

Your dream of stretching full out in order to dive for a TD is very understandable... did you know? That if you see it, it will happen one day... you just gotta keep on believing and making it happen. On the morning of the day, when I got the shot at running that TD in from the five yard line, my horoscope read, "Make the most of every opportunity you get in life".

How true... I am sorry to hear that your dream and surgery had to cut your career down so short... but if you have that fire in the belly, the desire, the will, you can do it too. I love those that say, "you can't, you're too old, you don't have the skills anymore, etc. etc. etc...."

All of those doubters coupled with fighting my own inner doubt drove me to go back out for three more seasons... thank goodness, semi pro ball was there to help me live out that dream!

I hope for you, that you make that catch one day... never say die, never say never... best to you... please tell me more about your thoughts, you obviously have great love for this great game!!!

By the way, my heroes were Roman Gabriel, Joe Namath, and later on, Dan Fouts... gutsy leaders for sure!!!! And they never gave an inch!!!

Please keep on posting seamhead, all the best to you!!!!

Bill

[costampede45]

Speaking of my football heroes, yes, the usual guys come up: Walter "Sweetness" Payton, Butkus, Kramer, and the like... but you know what? These obsure, little guys, unknown, except for REAL fans would or may know these names. Some played just on Special Teams play, others for just a season or two... to me, it doesn't matter, these are my real football heroes:

Mini Mack Herron- RB- Patriots
Sam Mills- LB- Saints
Lionel "Little Train" James- RB/KR- Chargers
Hank Bauer- Special Teams- Chargers
Steve Tasker- Special Teams- Bills
Kenny Simonton- RB- Oregon State Beavers
Larry Izzo- Special Teams- Patriots
Steve Largent- WR- Seahawks
Karrim Osgood- Special Teams- Chargers, SDSU Aztecs
Bill Bates- Special Teams- Cowboys
Chuck Cecil- SS- Packers
Steve Atwater- SS- Broncos
Albert Lewis- Special Teams- Cheifs

[costampede45]

“The Eye Of Compassion”

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its
dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the
plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!

Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!


We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'

So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:

Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.

[frontseatdriver]

congrads on the td i also set a record this past feb playing in a pre season c i f l indoor game i kicked three 2pt dropkicks for the m c pirates been trying to get on a team in tge c i f l . no luck so far probably my age 54 .with a good long snapper i can out score your avg. groin pulling sidewinders. iam good from 40 yds out in indoor ball. oh well i keep knocking on doors!!!!

[costampede45]

Great job frontseatdriver, way to keep kicking ass in this great game!

What is the CIFL? Where are you guys located?

You remind me of George Blanda, PK and QB for the Oakland Raiders back in the 70's... the old grey haired man could win games, either by foot or by arm, he just kept coming after people... great man, great oldtimer, and a man who never quit or gave a damn inch!!!

Keep kicking it through, and best to you,

Bill

[frontseatdriver]

bill just e mailed you pics ya iam from portage indiana iam playing for a team in northern illinois .

[costampede45]

Thanks Scott:

Remember all you young guns out there... there are still some elders of the tribe out there to teach you a lesson or two... if you ever need any advice on anything we old farts can help you out with, let us know...

[costampede45]

Record Setting Touchdown/Field Goal

The Portland Monarchs continue to roll through the competition virtually unchallenged this season. After a 72-10 victory over the Klamath Crusaders a week ago, The Monarchs dispatched with the Vancouver Vipers 48-14 and in doing so, saw a player set a new GNFA record. Wayne Palmer became the oldest player to score a rushing touchdown on Saturday. The 52-year old Palmer is normally a starting offensive lineman for the defending GNFA champs. Congratulations Wayne!

Well, there goes my 15 minutes of fame. Congratulations to Wayne Palmer, hell, this only means one thing to me.... comeback.... hmmm.... ah yes, like the sound of that!

[thebusiness]

I'm the GM of the Indianapolis Yellow Jackets
We are a new team just getting started in the Semi Pro league . We have a basic Them to our team If you Build It we'll rip it down or have fun trying.

I am the founder of Global World Sports LLC. I have created GWS to cater to the dedication that I see in individual's with the drive and determination to do the thing they love as athletes. I promote and organize sports tournaments of all kinds Football,Soccor,Basketball,Tennis,Golf,ECT.... on an armature base .
Why ? Most people that play a sport organized or for hobby has the ability just as pro do the only difference is life's breaks or life happens. I see the pro in any man women ,boy,or girl who needs the chance to be seen by scouts in any arena of sports. So i have set out to bring the recognition to the areas for armature sports just to let the Big timers know one the. life might of happened to a lot of individuals but the still have the talent,drive and determination to keep doing something they love for just that the love . So you'll be hearing more and seeing more of GWS by just doing what you love to do and I can do what I love to do helping Individuals find their chance in the world of professional; sports.
God Bless all who have the will to fight for a chance to prove the you can't because wrong.

[frontseatdriver]

bill wanted to give you the heads up on my quest to make a dropkick in the c i f l . milwakee bonecrushers pic me up last week and on my first p a t i scored a 2pt dropkick mist two others . doug flutie will have to come out of retirerment to get bak on top l o l !! he did it on jan 1 2006 against miami. my kick came on may 22 mil vs chicago slaughter it was worth just what mongo mc mc mikeal the head coach had to say to me looks like you got one on us oldtimer!!!!i sayed ya what am i 2 years older than you!!! oh ya iam theoldest player at 54 and also the first to score a dropkick in the c i f l .check out there website thy got a vedio of it later scott

[costampede45]

Now this is what this game, the men who play it, is all about!

Congratulations Scott, this is going to be a warm, burning memory you get to take proudly to the grave.

If I died today, right now, I would do so with a huge smile on my face... now that is the way to measure life! Everytime I think of that TD run, it brings perma-grin to me whatever mood I may have been in moments before!

Long live the old men who just keep making it happen!

[eman87]

Hey Bill,

How are things going? Are you playing again this year?

I am excited about the season starting on July 18th for the NEFL. We start with a home game under the lights.
I am competing with two other talented tight ends and am having more fun than I should be allowed to have. I feel that I am better than last year with the work that I did in the off season.
Our team is looking good and the excitement is building. We have already had a couple of preseason scrimmages. We need to clean some things up, but I think we are the best team we have put together in the three years that I have been associated with the Generals.

I am sorry to hear that the 60 year old guy Paul Skopetski retired before the start of this season. This probably makes me the oldest guy in the NEFL now, but I am not sure about that.

anyway, I will try to keep you posted on our progress from time to time.

thanks,
Eric Rosengren
TE #87 North Shore Generals

[costampede45]

Thank You Eric!

This is so great. With Mr. Skopetski retiring, how old does that make you? I know the last time we talked, you were working on getting those legs back in shape. Apparently, you have done so, and more! Good for you, old man, good for you... And being a TE in football means= ACTION, 100% of the time, blocking, receiving, wow, it is the whole full meal deal.

My thoughts are for you to have an OUTSTANDING year. This is YOUR year. Get that ball, and get it into the endzone, will you please?! You need to feel that complete, fulfilling moment, where it all makes sense, that one moment in frozen time, where everything else falls silent, and you are left alone, knowing, you made your mark on the field of glory!

It is a lifelong feeling, it is one everyone over 40 should experience. Why waste youth on younger players? We golden oldies know how to get it done, how it should be done, and hold onto those memories with an even bigger grin. Long live the elders of the tribe, those that storm the beaches of Normandy in their minds and hearts!

Best to you Eric, please keep me posted. I think a nice post pattern to get you into the record books would be the play that will happen for you this season. Remember, a simple, skinny post, watch the strong safety's eyes as you cross that endline... it will last you a lifetime!

Bill

[costampede45]

BTW: for the record: I will be having rotator cuff surgery sometime this summer. So I am out for the year. It has been 3 years since I put on the Stampede uniform last. I crave to play again, be a part of it, not as a spectator or coach or fan... but in full uniform, ready to roll.

One goal: Back in '10 !