Welker Down With Left Knee Injury; Patriots Fans Left Asking Why

With wideout Wes Welker being carted off the field with what appears to be a serious injury to his left knee, fans of the New England Patriots have already begun asking the question why.

Why did coach Bill Belichick decide to play his starters in a near meaningless game?

Why did we have to lose the heart and soul of our offense?

Why have our playoff hopes been dashed for the second year in a row?

With the Patriots driving down the field in the first quarter of their game with the Houston Texans, Welker, who entered the game with a league leading 122 receptions, caught a ball from quarterback Tom Brady in the left slot and ran for a first down before getting his foot caught in the Texans turf and immediately grabbing for his left knee.

Welker was being covered by safety Bernard Pollard, though the injury was sustained before Welker was hit. Pollard was involved in a below the knee hit last season while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. The play, which occurred in the first quarter of the first game, knocked Brady out for the season.

With Brady, receiver Randy Moss and the Patriots trainer looking on, Welker was helped from the field and was seen with a towel over his head in a display of obvious pain and disappointment. He was carted off the field to the Patriots looker room with approximately six minutes to play in the first quarter.

Many fans believe that any hopes of the Patriots competing in the upcoming AFC playoffs rest squarely on the shoulders of the diminutive receiver who has caught 345 passes over three years with the Patriots and is a key component to their effective passing offense.

The Patriots missed the playoffs last season after Brady was injured in the first period of their first game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Despite an 11-5 record, the Patriots missed the playoffs.

Entering today’s game with a 10-5 record, the Patriots have clinched the AFC East and a home game for the first round of the playoffs and are playing today’s game simply to determine whether they would be a number three or four seed.

Todd Civin is a feature columnist for Bleacher Report and Sports, Then and Now. His work can be found on his own blog at The ‘xoxo’ of Sports.

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Welker Down With Left Knee Injury; Patriots Fans Left Asking Why

With wideout Wes Welker being carted off the field with what appears to be a serious injury to his left knee, fans of the New England Patriots have already begun asking the question why.

Why did coach Bill Belichick decide to play his starters in a near meaningless game?

Why did we have to lose the heart and soul of our offense?

Why have our playoff hopes been dashed for the second year in a row?

With the Patriots driving down the field in the first quarter of their game with the Houston Texans, Welker, who entered the game with a league leading 122 receptions, caught a ball from quarterback Tom Brady in the left slot and ran for a first down before getting his foot caught in the Texans turf and immediately grabbing for his left knee.

Welker was being covered by safety Bernard Pollard, though the injury was sustained before Welker was hit. Pollard was involved in a below the knee hit last season while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. The play, which occurred in the first quarter of the first game, knocked Brady out for the season.

With Brady, receiver Randy Moss and the Patriots trainer looking on, Welker was helped from the field and was seen with a towel over his head in a display of obvious pain and disappointment. He was carted off the field to the Patriots looker room with approximately six minutes to play in the first quarter.

Many fans believe that any hopes of the Patriots competing in the upcoming AFC playoffs rest squarely on the shoulders of the diminutive receiver who has caught 345 passes over three years with the Patriots and is a key component to their effective passing offense.

The Patriots missed the playoffs last season after Brady was injured in the first period of their first game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Despite an 11-5 record, the Patriots missed the playoffs.

Entering today’s game with a 10-5 record, the Patriots have clinched the AFC East and a home game for the first round of the playoffs and are playing today’s game simply to determine whether they would be a number three or four seed.

Todd Civin is a feature columnist for Bleacher Report and Sports, Then and Now. His work can be found on his own blog at The ‘xoxo’ of Sports.

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Pat Patriot Arrested For Going “Long and Deep” Once Too Often (Satire)

In a story that sounds more reminiscent of something coming out of the Tiger Woods’ scandal, New England Patriots mascot, Pat, has reportedly been arrested as part of a prostitution sting.

The Providence Journal reports that one of the 14 individuals who serves as the “Pat Patriot” mascot has been arrested by R.I. State Police in a prostitution sting.

Robert Sormanti, 47, of Warwick, R.I., is one of the people who wears the mascot costume for the New England Patriots. When contacted by the newspaper, the team released the following statement:

“The Patriot mascot costume is worn by multiple people, all are held responsible for their actions. The individual in question has been suspended.”

The Patriots official added, “Our main concern is that none of the other individuals who play Pat want to get in the suit.”

Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, has allegedly applied for Federal Stimulus money in hopes of getting the over-sized suit dry-cleaned. 

Added Kraft, “Not since John Hannah arrived with the nickname “Hog” or Brady was photographed with the goat have we had such a sexual scandal here in New England.”

The Vice president of Human Resources for the Patriots weighed in on Pat’s arrest, “Pat does a great job arousing the crowd and apparently, he began taking the job home with him.”

Coach Bill Belichick saw the scandal in a different light, “Our offensive line has had difficulty opening up holes and we may have found a solution for our running game.”

Rumors have surfaced that the Patriots may change the name of the mascot from Pat to either Dick, Peter, Johnson, John, or Woody.

Patriots Vice-President Jonathan Kraft added, “This is a real blow to the organization. We are uncertain at this time whether Pat was actually wearing the costume at the time of his indiscretion. But since it is constructed without a fully functioning fly, we believe that only the large head may have been worn.”

There had been talk of the Patriots putting up a statue of their famous mascot, but stories of Pat’s erection were premature.

In the video footage seen below, Pat is apparently scouring the end-zone following a touchdown searching frantically for a madam.

Said Sormanti following his arrest, “I was only there to hang out. If I had only been satisfied with a ‘Pat’.”

Todd Civin is a freelance writer who writes for Bleacher Report , Sports, Then and Now , and Seamheads . Civin performs “sit-down comedy” in his free time stating that “stand-up is simply too tiring.”

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Through The Eyes Of …Lauren Gardner: Not Just Another Pretty Face

I confess. Despite being the most happily married man this side of the Rockies, I’m still a sucker for a pretty face. My wife Kate, allows me to look at the menu as long as I promise not to eat from the buffet. And I promise faithfully. Not so much as even a light snack.

So, when I saw that Lauren Gardner had joined the Linked-in group, A Glove of Their Own, I approached her to do a story before the ink even cooled. I was familiar with Lauren after seeing her cheer for the Denver Broncos in 2007 and remember her as a woman amongst girls.

No offense to the other members of the squad, but Lauren’s flaming red hair, flying crazy against the sea of orange and blue was a sight that few of the 70,000 plus football-hungry males at Invesco Field could ever forget.

Blessed with flowing red locks, a gorgeous white toothie smile, and abs that a forty something like me would die for, Lauren registers on the smoking scale somewhere slightly north of “mucho caliente.”

I asked Lauren, if she would be interested in being the latest subject of my weekly column, Through The Eyes of….My thought being that I could present would-be readers with the sideline perspective of the game through the eyes of the NFL cheerleader.

Much to my disappointment and the suspected disappointment of those 70,000 rabid fans, Lauren is no longer a Bronco cheerleader, but remains Denver’s “Queen of the Sports Air Waves” in her multiple roles as the In-Game Host at the Colorado Rockies, as well as, an on-air personality at Altitude Sports and Entertainment for the Colorado Mammoth Lacrosse Team and the Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League.

In her spare time (say what?) she works full-time as a real estate sales assistant for the Spire Denver.

Lauren was nice enough to spend some time with me on the “other side of the microphone” and clearly proves to the readers that she is more than just another pretty face in this week’s segment of “Through The Eyes of…Lauren Gardner…Not Just Another Pretty Face.

 

Civ: You originally went by the name Mile High Sports Betty. How did this come about and do you still use it?

Lauren: Ha ha….Oh that brings back memories. Mile High Sports Betty was a term coined by the publishers over at Mile High Sports when I began doing a TV segment for their show on Altitude. I would go around town checking out different places and events.

It was the first time I’d ever done anything on TV. I remember the very first segment was at the Stock Show and I had bought a new outfit and was so excited only to have it completely ruined by all of the dirt and manure. I have had many nicknames and still do, but that one never really stuck.

 

Civ: You are the in game host for the Rockies. Is there anyone you interviewed who made your knees weak?

Lauren: Unfortunately, as in game host, I only interviewed fans. They are all so interesting and it was so much fun to be in the stands and mingling with the people that make the sport so great.

My most memorable fan interview was Todd Helton’s number one fan who brings a giant Helton sign to every game and knows everything about him. However, when I worked for Champ Car, (a race car series that is now merged with the INDY Car series), I was lucky enough to interview Mario Andretti. He was driving the two-seater F1 car and was as nice as can be, although I was surprised at how little he is.

 
Civ: Do you go in the locker room or strictly baselines, benches, and bleacher interviews?

Lauren: When I work the sidelines for the Mammoth and the Eagles, (not the football team), I stay rinkside and outside of the dressing rooms. For the Mammoth, they allow me bench access for interviews during the games, which is incredible, and it gives the viewer the feel for the emotion of that very moment!

 

Civ:  Should women reporters be allowed in the locker room? Would you blush?

Lauren: I feel that’s a decision for both the team and the reporter. It really depends on the situation. I have been in the teams that I cover locker rooms and keep my eyes straight ahead and go about my business. It’s strictly professional and both parties have always acted as such.

 

Civ: You are very polished on air despite your relative youth. Is this the result of your college work and education?

Lauren: Well, thank you. Sometimes I feel like I sound like an absolute mess, but try my best to be articulate and composed. I realize I’m quite young, but I don’t feel it’s an excuse to speak like a surfer or a valley girl.

I do think that studying Political Science in college was a great way to hone reading, writing and verbal skills, as well as, analytical thinking. Growing up, I was always that kid that would read on the playground and loved English class. I was such a nerd!

 
Civ: How did you decide to enter this field and what are your long term goals?

Lauren: I studied Political Science in college and had plans of going to law school. Playing softball was a very significant part of my life growing up as I am extremely competitive and there’s nothing like the feeling of leaving everything you have out on the diamond (the softball diamond in my case). My family and I would always go to sporting events and watch them on TV.

My sophomore year in college, I ended up with an internship at Mile High Sports and later at FSN Rocky Mountain. It was then and there that I decided that I love the excitement of the industry and that I wanted to try and make it in sports broadcasting. I’m definitely at the stage of trying to get my foot in the door and I’m loving every minute of it!

My ultimate goal is to be on a big network covering the most exciting games.

 
Civ: In addition to the Rockies you work for Altitude Sports covering the Mammoth and the Eagles, how does your role differ covering lax, hockey, or baseball?

Lauren: My role with the Mammoth and the Eagles is much different than with the Rockies. I work in the in-game entertainment department for the Rockies and get to host different contests with the fans on the big screen. It’s a lot of fun and I can really relax and have a good time.

My true passion is what I do on the sidelines with the Eagles and the Mammoth. I am able to be right in the mix and get inside stories about what’s going on, as well as, interviews. I enjoy the challenge of live television and radio…you never know what’s going to happen and you have to be quick on your feet.

 

Civ:  You were a former Bronco cheerleader and rated as many as the Cheerleading Rookie of the Year in 2007. How did that make you feel?

Lauren: It was really honoring to be recognized, but it’s all really subjective. I guess I’ve always grown up as a tomboy and don’t see myself as much of a girly girl, but when the time comes, it’s fun to play dress up and embrace my femininity. Really, I see myself as a huge dork that laughs at my own jokes and forgets to shower sometimes. 

I had a great time cheering for the team that I grew up idolizing and watching. The best part about the experience was the friendships I made and being part of an organization that is so involved with the community.

 

Civ:  Who was the coolest player you met as a Bronco cheerleader? Did you date any players?

Lauren: I would have to say the coolest player I met was John Elway. John Lynch is also one of the greats I met as well. Him and his wife are very nice and are active in their foundation. I never dated any of the players and never had any interest.

 
Civ:  How did you become more than just a pretty face?

Lauren: That’s so flattering to be called pretty. I still blush when people say that. In all seriousness, it is hard to separate yourself from that stereotype when we live in the world that we do. Everybody uses the tools that they’ve been given and I’m using mine.

If I had it my way, I’d be an extremely athletic guy and would be able to fulfill my dream of playing baseball for a living. That’s not the case and I’m trying to do the next best thing, which is get as close to the excitement as possible.

I have a very long way to go and I know that I am where I am today is by being very persistent and working hard. I remember when I wanted to intern at FSN, I had to call them six times before they even got back to me.

 
Civ:  You were named Miss Hot Rod or something like that…cooler than an ESPY or not?

Lauren: LOL. An ESPY is certainly a huge honor….depending on what you’re awarded for. I was actually, The Face of Champ Car, abbreviated as FOCC, (I always thought that was kind of funny). As cheesy as the entire thing was, it gave me the opportunity to travel all over North America and meet some really great people from around the world. I grew up as a gear head of sorts going to car shows and races with my dad and watching open wheel racing on TV.

When I had the chance to be in the middle of it all…well, I couldn’t pass it up.

The experience was great! As the ambassador, I gave tours of the paddock to fans and told them all about the cars, the drivers and the series. It was nice to show people that I really knew what I was talking about and it was great to improve on my public speaking skills.

There were also a lot of public appearances…especially in Mexico City. There were billboards with my face on it! It was hilarious! The coolest part of the entire thing was riding in the Formula One two-seater in Long Beach, (I’ve been sky diving and I have to say this was even more exciting than that!).

 

Civ:  Did you ever feel that 60,000 screaming Bronco fans may have been distracted from the game when you cheered?

Lauren: I’m not sure. I would dance my heart out in hopes of entertaining everyone. So….my final answer is: I hope so.

 
Civ:  What does your daily menu entail?

Lauren: Honestly, I try and eat as healthy as possible when I can and have the will power to. That means lean proteins, salads, and whole grains…light on the sodium. When it comes to pizza, all bets are off. I love pizza, Mexican food and my biggest weakness of all are cupcakes.

There’s a place by my office that has the best cupcakes on the planet. I even stalk their website on a daily basis to look at the pictures and see what flavors they are featuring that day (that’s completely normal, right?).  www.happycakes.com

 

Civ: How many sit ups do you do a day to keep your abs that toned?

Lauren: Oh man! I have to say that I do spend my fair share of time in the gym. I enjoy being physically fit and I have a lot more energy when I’m working out on a regular basis. When I cheered for the Mammoth and the Broncos, the uniform was great motivation to stay in shape.

Now that I’m retired, (that makes me sound so old!! ), I am training for a mini triathlon. It’s definitely a challenge, but I’m having a lot of fun pushing myself.

 

Civ:  Did you win prom queen in your high school? Any awards?

Lauren: I was nominated for homecoming queen my freshman year in high school, but ended up losing. My team-mates voted me as captain as the dance team and the softball team in high school.

I also won outstanding athlete, academic award, (I don’t know where they come up with this stuff), as well as, first team all conference and all region in softball my Senior year (I think I was most proud of those). They were all character building experiences.

 
Civ:  You went to University of Colorado Boulder. I assume you cheered there. Were you a sorority girl? Was there hazing?  

Lauren: A lot of people assume both of those things, however, I didn’t do either. I began cheering for the Colorado Mammoth my sophomore year and never ended up joining a sorority. In high school, we would toilet paper all of the freshman’s houses on the softball team….is that considered hazing?

 
Civ:  What are your favorite movie…Favorite food…Favorite TV show… ?

Lauren: Movie: tie between Anchorman, Caddy Shack, and Pulp Fiction.
Food: Pizza and Cupcakes (from Happy Cakes)
TV Show: Sex and the City, Seinfeld, and Family Guy

 
Civ: You are a member of the Linked in group, A Glove of Their Own..have you read the book yet and would it embarrass you if we named you the A Glove of Their Own cheerleader? 

Lauren: I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t read the book, but have fully intended on doing so. I would be honored to be named the A Glove of Their Own cheerleader!

Civ: You do a lot of charity work, tell us about what you’re involved in?

Lauren: Growing up, my family has made it a point for us to give back. Whether it was as simple as sponsoring a child on Christmas to taking on a big project. While cheering for the Broncos, we collectively contributed 1,200 hours to charity a year.

Last season we worked with Habitat for Humanity and we actually went out and built houses. I never knew I would be capable of operating a circular saw until then. The year before we raised $50,000 dollars in the name of one of the alumni that is a breast cancer survivor.

The best experience that I’ve ever had while giving back was when my mom and I traveled to Ecuador for two weeks to work in a school for disabled and impoverished children. I was nervous at first because I have never worked with disabled children, but it ended up being the best experience I’ve ever had. I want to go back when I can raise the money. TC

Todd Civin is a freelance writer for the Bleacher Report , Seamheads and Sports, Then and Now . He is a supporter of the award winning children’s story, A Glove of Their Own, which promotes paying it forward through sports. Visit the site at www.agloveoftheirown.com and purchase under today’s donor code, BEF777 Boomer Esiason Foundation as $3. per sale will go to Boomer’s Foundation.

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Through the Eyes of Karl Mecklenburg: To the Heart of a Student Athlete

The following is part of a weekly series called “Through the Eyes Of…” In each segment, I share interviews with or stories about those that I view to be the “good guys.” “Through the Eyes of…” is a part of my personal crusade to present sports in all its beauty, splendor, and goodness, instead of through hashing and rehashing all that is broken with our national treasures.   

I recently became acquainted with Karl Mecklenburg after being asked by his publicist, Julie Schoerke, to do a book review on Mecklenburg’s new book, “Heart of a Student Athlete: All Pro Advice for Competitors and Their Families”.

I hesitated at first for a number of reasons. Aside from the book having the longest name to ever appear in the Dewey Decimal System, Mecklenburg gave my New England Patriots fits every time they ventured into Mile High. Why would I want to help the enemy promote his book?

Also, I confess that I’m not much of a reader and have truly struggled through my previous attempts to become sports literature’s version of Siskel and Roeper. Amazing that someone can pretend to be so learned and have hardly cracked a book since college at Syracuse circa 1983. If a book doesn’t grab my interest in about the first five pages it becomes a door stop.

And lastly, my daddy always taught me that if I don’t have anything nice to say about something, don’t say anything at all. That philosophy makes for a rather lopsided review, as you can imagine, and has led to abstaining from reviews rather than refraining from spewing anything at all should the book not be enjoyable.

But, the truth of the matter is, I get excited rubbing elbows with the guys who donned the uni (not to mention that Karl could bench press me if he chose to) so I figured I’d give Karl, Julie, and the book the benefit of the doubt.

Well, as I hope you saw in my very honest review of the book in yesterday’s Bleacher Report, the book had me at “Hello” and didn’t drop me off until “The End.” Proud of myself for finishing any book thicker than Sports Illustrated, I called on Karl, who was gracious enough to follow up with a brief Q and A.

As I always mention in this series, Karl is one of the good guys in sports and therefore is the subject of my latest “Through the Eyes Of…”

 

Civ: As a parent, what do you suggest if your student athlete wants to quit their sport?

 

Karl: I have supported my children in their decisions to walk away, as long as it’s between seasons. During a season the coaches and other players are counting on your child to be a team member. Eventually we all walk away from playing our sport. I just waited until I was 34 years old. That said, I believe that kids need to be involved in some sort of team activity whether it’s sports, scouts, music, theater; something to teach them the nuts and bolts of teamwork and leadership.

 

Civ: Do you think this creates a pattern for life choices?

Karl: I know that when a child is given the opportunity to make decisions about which activities to participate in, they will value those activities. This is how they learn to make decisions that are appropriate for them before they become adults.

 

Civ: Who was the best coach you had and how did that coach impact your life?

 

Karl: I had many great coaches through the years, but my Augustana College defensive line coach Richard Peterson (Pastor Pete) impacted my life beyond just football. His combination of football toughness and uncompromising Christianity is an example I have tried to live up to.

 

Civ: Which player that you played with had the biggest impact on your team? Was that the person with the greatest talent?

 

Karl: The most dominant football player that I ever played with was a kid named Duane Anderson. He was a man among boys in the ninth grade and we rode his back to the Twin Cities Championship. That was his last season of football because his family needed him to work at the family gas station. Without opportunity, without desire, without courage, without dedication, without teamwork, without honesty and forgiveness, talent is worthless.

 

Civ: Tell me what it was like to play for Coach Dan Reeves. 

 

Karl: Dan was an offensive head coach, so I didn’t deal with him in the X’s and O’s of the game, but his passion set the tone for the entire team. He wanted to win more than anyone I have ever met. His drive to win pushed us beyond what anyone expected those teams to accomplish.

 

Civ: You missed the majority of your Super Bowl appearance in 1989 due to a leg injury. Can you tell us how it happened and how you deal emotionally with something like this? 

Karl: Injuries are tough to deal with, but especially when you are intentionally injured. I was leg whipped in the Super Bowl playing against the 49ers and tore cartilage in both of my knees. To work as hard as you have to work to get to the Super Bowl and have the chance to play taken away like that was devastating. Success is overcoming obstacles on the way to your dreams. I had offseason surgery, rehabbed both knees, and played my heart out pursuing the Super Bowl for five more years.

 

Civ: You speak quite candidly about players who used steroids and cocaine while playing, what do you say to an athlete who chooses to play using drugs?

 

Karl:  Stop! You are risking your life for something that is a crutch and a foolish shortcut to a place you can get anyway. You will never know what you could have accomplished clean.

 

Civ: You specifically mention fellow Bronco Bill Romanowski and his steroid use. Do you have a relationship with Bill and do you think he will be surprised that he is directly mentioned in your book?

 

Karl: I played against Bill and have met him at Bronco functions. He has admitted steroid use and regrets not knowing if he could have made it with out them. He may be surprised, but I feel strongly enough about warning young athletes of the unnecessary dangers and negative side of steroid use that I needed to use concrete examples.

 

Civ: What do you suggest to a parent whose student athlete puts athletics before study? 

 

Karl: It doesn’t matter how big or fast or strong an athlete is, if he doesn’t know where he’s going, he can’t get there. The best place to learn how to learn is in school. Insist on effort in school. Dedication is hard work, constant learning, and refusing to quit. Unless an athlete is dedicated, he cannot be successful.

 

Civ: You have created the six keys to success being teamwork, courage, honesty/forgiveness, dedication, desire, and goal setting. Are these keys that you had followed throughout your career or created specifically for the book? You present them in a random order, but do you feel one is more important or needs to be developed before the others?

 

Karl: These are universal, unchanging keys to success. As a motivational speaker, I have examined my life and the lives of other successful people and developed this list.  The keys are interrelated and interdependent, meaning you can’t chose three of them and be halfway successful. You need all six. I can’t identify one as more important than the others. They work together. It’s hard to write about one without mentioning others.

 

Civ: What made you decide to write a book? What do you hope to accomplish in writing it?

 

Karl: My desire as a speaker is to inspire long term positive change in teams and individuals. As a keynote speaker, the long term piece of that desire has always been a challenge. I decided to put my stories down on paper so people who had heard me speak could refer back to them and so I could impact people who hadn’t heard me speak. 

I chose to direct the book at student athletes and their families because I have been asked so many times through the years about what it takes to make it to the next level in sports. As a parent, coach, professional athlete, and professional motivator, I saw a need to answer those questions.

 

Civ: The book speaks in detail about the many challenges you faced, especially in your college career. Why didn’t you give up and become a student only? How do you differ from those who give up?

Karl: My parents allowed me to make decisions about my extra curricular activities and supported my love of football. Each time I ran into a challenge, I was given the opportunity to decide if I wanted to go on or not. These decision making opportunities cemented my determination. By the time I got to the NFL, I had developed a desire to be the best player that ever played. I wasn’t going quit until someone made me go home or until it wasn’t fun for me anymore.

 

Civ: Who is the best teammate you ever played with; the guy who personifies team and why?

 

Karl: John Elway is a great example of a team player. As a superstar, he didn’t really need to do all the team-related activities that he participated in. He was at every team function and every offseason workout, weightlifting and running with the rest of the team. 

John spent the time and made the effort to get to know everyone on the team. He went so far as to sit at a different lunch table every day so he could make sure he was connected to each of us. He put the team passion to win the Super Bowl first. His clear and consistent commitment to the team goal rather than his own statistics was a great example of leadership.

 

To Purchase or Win a Signed Copy…

“Heart of a Student Athlete: All Pro Advice For Competitors and Their Families” is available through Mecklenburg’s website at www.studentathlete.us or through your local Independent Bookstore, Barnes and Noble, Borders, or Walden Books. 

We will be giving away a signed copy to a Bleacher Report reader by visiting the guest book on the site.

Mention Bleacher Report and sign up at the site to be entered to win an autographed copy of the book.

 

To Learn More about Karl Mecklenburg’s REACH Foundation…

The goal Karl Mecklenburg’s REACH (Rewarding Experiences for All Children) Foundation is to provide Denver area children and youth with educational opportunities and resources needed to excel in the classroom and in life. The Foundation’s interactive programs and events are designed to help build a strong foundation through education and outdoor experiences.

Todd Civin is a freelance writer for Bleacher Report, Seamheads and Sports Then and Now and can be reached at toddcivin1@aim.com for hire or comment. Civin is also a supporter of A Glove of Their Own, the award winning children’s book that teaches paying it forward through baseball.

 

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Karl Mecklenburg Gives All-Pro Advice in “Heart of a Student-Athlete”

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is the often used cliche used by those who once sipped from a cup of swill only to rise and taste champagne.

Though not a direct quote in NFL-All-Pro Karl Mecklenburg’s new book, “Heart of a Student Athlete-All Pro Advice for Competitors and Their Families” it is the underlying theme between the covers of this wonderful new motivational manual.

Mecklenburg, who was once thought to be “too small, too slow and too stiff” to become a successful football player at any level, used his intelligence, his diligence and his refusal to accept defeat in countless stops along the journey to becoming a top NFL linebacker.

Frequently referred to as the “most versatile player in the NFL” for his ability to play all of the front seven positions, Mecklenburg recaps the many hurdles he had to leap throughout his life en-route to his famed NFL career.

He speaks candidly about being hazed by his early coaches and teammates and how life challenges helped him become the hard-nosed professional that earned six Pro Bowl and three Super Bowl appearances.

The former 12-year veteran of Denver Broncos fame, has traveled the motivational speaking and charity circuit since his retirement from football in 1995.

He now turns his skilled ability to motivate others into a useful guide intended to help increase the mental drive and toughness necessary to become a successful student athlete.

The book is a must-read, for parents of and student-athletes themselves, as it contains important ingredients to turn the skilled athlete into a successful athlete.

Mecklenburg’s book is also extremely beneficial for the non-athlete as well, as it guides any student or adult through very real-life challenges in and out of sport.

“Heart of a Student Athlete” is constructed around Mecklenburg’s Six Keys to Success, which include Teamwork, Courage, Honesty and Forgiveness, Dedication, Desire and Goal Setting. Throughout each chapter of this 130-page read, Mecklenburg cites real-life examples of the do’s and don’ts in building the well-rounded student athlete.

“Success is overcoming obstacles on the way to your dreams,” is the quote that Mecklenburg frequently uses throughout the book to remind the student athlete that the road to the top of the mountain is often a bumpy one.

In his chapter entitled “Goal Setting,” Mecklenburg reminds student athletes, “You need to take small steps when you dream big dreams. I am a published author with dyslexia, a professional speaker who was in speech therapy for three years as a child because I had a lisp; and a slow stiff kid from the suburbs who became an All-Pro in the NFL.”

He continues, “These things seem improbable, but each small step, each goal accomplished, brought me closer to my desires.”

In an era where pro athletes often shy away from becoming role models, Mecklenburg does what he did for much of his successful career as an All-Pro linebacker.

He broadens his shoulders and encourages his readers to climb aboard them. To see all the positive players as role models, and to ignite parents, coaches and teachers, to be role models as well.

The very first chapter of the book, entitled “Heroes”, dissects his 1983 Denver Broncos team and gives a player by player recap of where these players ended up in 2008, on the 25th anniversary of the team.

Almost to a man, Mecklenburg finds that his teammates can be found on the list of successful achievers and not playing the real life role of “dumb jock.”

He suggests that parents remain in the role of interested observer rather than fighting the actual battle as their student-athlete traverses through the rigors that accompany playing sports.

In my interview with Mecklenburg, which will be posted tomorrow on Bleacher Report and Sports, Then and Now,  he said, “When a child is given the opportunity to make decisions about which activity to participate in they will value those activities. This is how they learn to make decisions that are appropriate for them before they become adults.”

In the book, he speaks directly to parents and family members on this topic. “I know your instincts scream at you to intervene on behalf of your children when they struggle or feel something ‘unfair’ is happening to them on a team. Know that disappointments and challenges build character and allow your children to focus on their level of commitment.”

The book contains many wonderful recounts of hunting and fishing trips in Mecklenburg’s life and even retells the tale of forgiveness when one of his hunting buddies inadvertently pumped him full of pellets during a turkey hunting trip to southern Nebraska.

Perhaps the most compelling section of the book is in the chapter Big Games where Mecklenburg speaks of a teammate who used drugs during a Super Bowl game and of  his own personal decision to remain drug-free in his pursuit of excellence.

He tells of the contradictory path that known NFL steroid user Bill Romanowski and others took and how their decision permanently altered their health and abilities. For any parent of a student athlete, this is a chapter that will forever affect your child’s future.

And finally, my favorite section tells of his former high school teammate Duane Anderson, the greatest player you never heard of, who despite being one the most dominant players Mecklenburg ever played with, lacked the opportunity, desire and dedication to pursue his dreams. Anderson quit football to become a gas station attendant in his family’s filling station.

Mecklenburg says, “I often wonder if he could have dominated in the same way at other levels or if he was so dominant because he was shaving while we were watching Captain Kangaroo. We will never know, and neither will he, and that is a shame.”

Mecklenburg, a devout Christian speaks with conviction about God and how his relationship with Jesus Christ helps him through every day of his life both challenging or rewarding.

“Being a Christian isn’t an insurance policy,” explains Mecklenburg. “It’s a relationship that touches every part of who you are. I do everything from a Christian perspective. I don’t have another perspective. I am a Christian.”

 

To purchase or win a signed copy…

“Heart of a Student Athlete: All Pro Advice For Competitors and Their Families” is available through Mecklenburg’s website at www.studentathlete.us or through your local Independent Bookstore, Barnes and Noble, Borders, or Walden Books. 

We will be giving away a signed copy to a Bleacher Report reader by visiting the guest book on the site.

Mention Bleacher Report and sign up at the site to be entered to win an autographed copy of the book. TC

Todd Civin is a freelance writer for Bleacher Report, Seamheads and Sports Then and Now and can be reached at toddcivin1@aim.com for hire or comment.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Patriots’ Stephen Gostkowski Bangs It Through In Good Sports Home Run Derby

New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski proved that kickers are athletes by winning the First Annual Good Sports Celebrity Home Run Derby yesterday at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Mass.

Gostkowski, the Patriots’ pro-bowl kicker, amazed the crowd of about 1,000 by smashing 20 long balls in the first round and another 13 in the final round over the slightly-drawn-in fence at LaLacheur.

Gostkowski, who aside from Lowell’s own “Irish” Mickey Ward, may have been the smallest contestant in the derby, smashed home runs on nine of his first 11 pitches, easily advancing into the final round.

“I was a pitcher in college,” explained Gostkowski, who actually attended Memphis State on a baseball scholarship. “I took my share of BP (batting practice).”

Other competitors in the contest included Patriots Tully Banta-Cain and Christian Furia, Bruins Lyndon Byers and Andy Brickley (NESN), Celtic Bill Walker, WEEI personality Mike Adams, NESN anchor desk personality Cole Wright, and the stars of the Biggest Loser reality series, Mark and Jay Kruger.

Furia and Wright advanced to the final round along with Gostkowski, with Furia setting the pace with 12 long balls. Gostkowski trailed Furia in the finals, 12-9, with only one more out remaining.

“The pressure got to me once they put my kids on the mic,” laughed Furia, who smashed 10 in round one to advance.

Just like he’s done so many times for the Patriots, Gostkowski stepped to the metaphorical scrimmage line and banged his next four pitches “through the uprights” for a last-second victory.

“I think we better bring in the testing truck,” quipped Lyndon Byers of the WAAF Hillman Morning Show, alluding to the fact that the kicker may be juiced.

The real winners at the event were the fans, the kids and Good Sports. Good Sports is a non-profit organization whose goal is to increase youth participation in sports, fitness and recreational programs by targeting one of the major obstacles in participation, access to sports equipment.

Since 2003, Good Sports has provided more than $3.8 worth of equipment, while impacting more than 180,000 kids in nearly 600 youth programs.

Good Sports CEO Melissa Tatro Harper, took the microhone at the end of the event and reminded fans, “Every home run hit was a home run to help kids.”

The event also featured an appearance by the Devil Dawg from the Lowell Devil Hockey team, as well as, numerous vendors, raffles and auctions of sports items and memorabilia.

After the event the crowd was treated to a cook out with the athletes and their families.

“This was really exciting,” exclaimed Billerica’s Derek Gardner, a youngster who attended the event with his family. “Gostkowski had a great swing. He was awesome.”

Gardner’s sister Brennah stopped chewing her hamburger long enough to tell me, “Yeah, it was cool to be here.”

Overall, the event was a home run for Gostkowski, Good Sports and all the fans of the event. 

Visit Good Sports Boston site for more information and to see all of the wonderful events on the Good Sports Calendar. 

Todd Civin is a freelance writer for the Bleacher Report. Feel free to contact him at toddcivin1@aim.com. He is also a supporter of the book A Glove of Their Own, the award winning children’s book that teachers children to pay it forward through baseball. Visit www.agloveoftheirown.com and purchase the book under donor code GSB 133 Good Sports Boston. AGOTO will donate $3.00 from each sale will go to Good Sports Boston.

PHOTO CREDIT: Holly Johnson

Tom Brady: Like A Kid In a Candy Store With Sweet Offensive Weapons

Tom Brady looked a little bit like a fat kid in a candy store as he took the field for the first time since tearing his ACL last October.

No, Brady hasn’t put on weight during his recovery. He just truly looked wide-eyed and on a bit of a sugar high after participating in OTA drills at the Patriot’s training camp this week.

In an upcoming story by Sports Illustrated Peter King, Brady described himself “as confident as anyone could be that I’ll be ready to play, back to playing normally, when the season starts.”

“I’ve done everything I could to push myself, sometimes too hard. Right now, I’m doing everything. Literally everything. There’s nothing I can’t do.”

That confidence, along with Brady’s showing at this week’s first full team practice, has his teammates equally “buzzing”.

ESPN reporter Wendi Nix reported that Brady’s teammates were “re-energized” after watching Brady throw and that Brady himself was “upbeat and confident.”

And confident he should be. Brady finds himself with some sweet offensive options as he enters the 2009 campaign.

Brady should feel like Charlie Bucket finding the Golden Ticket after the team added running back Fred Taylor, wide receivers Joey Galloway and Greg Lewis and tight ends Chris Baker and Alex Smith to an offense that scored 410 points (25.6 p/g) last season.

In Taylor, who was signed as a free agent after 11 seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Patriots are getting a power runner with breakaway speed to compliment their existing stable of rushers.

Coupled with running backs Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, and Kevin Faulk, the Patriots should add to a running attack that compiled nearly 2300 rushing yards a year ago.

Though he won’t be expected to shoulder the entire load as he did in his years with the Jaguars, Taylor claims there is still a lot left in his tank.

“I’ve always said I’ll run until the wheels fall off. Drive this car, get rotations, you’re going to keep pushing, because if those tires come off you’re in trouble. I’m going to keep going forward.”

“I want to learn the playbook so I don’t have to hesitate,” explained Taylor.

“I don’t want to feel like a rookie out there. So I listen, I’ve always been coachable. Whatever I gotta do, I gotta do it. But it starts with learning the playbook.”

Familiar Brady targets of Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and tight end Benjamin Watson will be joined by veterans Lewis, Galloway, Smith and Baker to form an experienced and versatile passing attack.

Under Cassel’s regime last season, the team racked up over 3,500 yards via the air after throwing for 4,731 behind Brady in 2007.

In Lewis, the Patriots get a possession type receiver to replace spare part Jabar Gaffney, who signed with the Broncos during the off-season. Lewis had only 19 receptions a year ago, but has a career high of 48 receptions for 561 yards in 2005  when he was Donovan McNabb’s third receiver.

He is expected to be an added receiver when Brady goes four or five wide, along with Moss, Welker, Galloway and perhaps rookie Brandon Tate.

Lewis is also expected to see time on the special teams as he has recorded 41 special teams tackles while playing for the Eagles.

Galloway, who enters his 15th NFL season, provides another deep threat to Brady’s arsenal. Though he  caught only 13 passes last season in nine games, Galloway is coming off seasons of  57, 62, and 83 receptions in the three years prior.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 197-pound wide receiver has 682 career receptions for 10,710 yards (15.7 avg.) and 77 touchdowns in 185 career games.

Galloway’s career average of 15.7 yards per reception, ranks him at number one for  active NFL players with 300 or more career receptions. Moss ranks second at 15.66 yards per reception.

In addition to Galloway’s receiving accomplishments, he has recorded 141 career punt returns for 1,349 yards (9.6 avg) and five touchdowns.

The Patriots also added tight ends Chris Baker and Alex Smith during the off season, to compliment the tandem of Watson and David Smith. Baker and Smith both caught 21 passes last season for the Jets and Buccaneers, respectively, while Watson and Smith caught 22 and nine balls in 2008.

With all of these sweet offensive weapons, it may be opposing defenses who leave Foxboro writhing in pain this season. Only this time it will be from one big dose from Tom Brady’s candy store. 

Patriots Sign Free Agent Paris Lenon to Free-Agent Deal

The New England Patriots shored up a thin middle line backing corp today by signing free-agent linebacker Paris Lenon. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Paris is excited to finally be a part of a winning organization and eager to contribute in whatever way Coach Belichick and his staff see fit. Now, quite simply, he’s eager to go to work,” agent Jon Persch said.

Lenon, who played the past three seasons with the Detroit Lions, is expected to challenge Patriot veteran Tedy Bruschi and second-year player Gary Guyton for playing time along side last year’s defensive rookie of the year, Jerod Mayo.

Lenon, who was once called a “punt-team junkie” by Lions special team coordinator, Stan Kwan, is also expected to see time on the Patriots’ special teams.

The Patriots find themselves especially thin at inside linebacker after losing third-round draft choice Tyrone McKenzie for the season with a torn ACL suffered in rookie mini-camp.

The Patriots traded longtime inside linebacker, Mike Vrabel, to the Kansas City Chiefs, along with quarterback Matt Cassel for a second-round pick prior to the 2008 draft.

Lenon, 31, started all sixteen games in each of the past three seasons for the Lions, playing middle linebacker in a 4-3 set. He will be making the switch to inside linebacker for coach Bill Belichick’s Patriot’s squad. Unlike the Lions, the Patriots play a 3-4 defensive alignment.

The speedy linebacker, who has been referred to as a younger, quicker Zach Thomas (inside linebacker currently with the Kansas City Chiefs), played his college football for the Richmond Spiders.

The 6-foot-2 inch, 235-pound linebacker, averaged 135 tackles per season in his three years in Detroit, including a team leading 146 tackles last season (98 solo). He recorded 1.5 sacks, forced two fumbles, and recovered two fumbles.

In 2006, Lenon’s first season with the Lions, he finished second on the team with 97 tackles (60 solo). He also had one interception.

In 2007, he was again second on the team in tackles (161), with two sacks, and one interception. His 161 tackles for Detroit in 2007 were the seventh-highest total in Lions team history.

He has career numbers of 523 career tackles (331 solo), 5.0 sacks, two interceptions for 61 yards, and one touchdown, as well as, four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 16 passes defensed, and 58 special teams tackles.

Prior to playing for the Lions, Lenon was a member of the Green Bay Packers on two occasions (2001, 2001-05), the Seattle Seahawks (2001) and the Memphis Maniax (2001) of the XFL.

He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina Panthers in 2000, but was released before training camp. He spent 2000 out of football before signing with Memphis.

Lenon made his NFL debut in 2002 with the Packers, where he played in all sixteen games and led the team with 22 special-teams tackles.

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