As a younger kid, football or as you Americans want to put it, soccer, was the biggest craze and I saw myself becoming a soccer star in the future. This reality never came to be, but there were many different role models that I looked up to in the soccer world and I think the most influential one for me was Paolo Maldini. Anyone who knows a little about soccer will definitely know who Paolo Maldini is. He was never the most flashiest of players but during his playing days and after he has been admired by almost everybody in the soccer community. I think how he approached the game, his dedication, class and gentlemen like qualities are what drew me to him. Maldini was always someone who put 110% during training and games. He was a left back and center back by design and never looked to make the flashies plays but always be there when his team needed him. He also only played for AC Milan, which for my shows his loyalty towards his team. His dedication and passion towards the game alongside his thirst for knowledge and wanting to play the beautiful game without hurting anyone are important things for me and overall how he acted was something I felt like I wanted to emulate.
I think I might be the only person who will pick these two athletes. For me growing up, I looked up to Ahman Green and Michael Redd. For those who might not now, Ahman Green was a running back for the Green Bay Packers and Michael Redd was a shooting guard for the Milwaukee Bucks. Both of these guys were among the most underrated players of their time. Each were All Stars in the same season from 2003-04, with that being Redd's only appearance. Green had four pro bowl appearances himself. At the height of their careers, they were among the top players of their positions, yet never got talked about in the same breathe as their counterparts. Ahman Green was overshadowed by the likes of Shaun Alexander and Brian Westbrook. Both backs were phenomenal in their own right, but their stats were very similar overall. For Michael Redd, of course someone like Kobe Bryant (rest in peace) and some other elite talent like a then young Dwyane Wade were deservedly more talked about, but Redd had a couple seasons were he posted elite numbers. He was just behind Gilbert Arenas one season for leading the league in points per game. He was also an amazing 3 point shooter. He is probably best known for his unorthodox form, but he shot so well that it didn't matter. As a lefty and Bucks fan, I've always picked the #22 to wear in basketball and often times in football as well. Other than the fact that these two guys were on my sports teams, I really admired them because of how they were unsung heroes. They were among the best of their time, yet never got the credit. It was the sort of mindset I always had about myself in sports. Now I'm not trying to say I was an elite athlete because I was not, but I've had my fair share of moments over the years. Also like Green and Redd, I've had a couple bad injuries that I have never really recovered from. They both had injuries in the later prime years of their career. They each had a season or two after were they looked reminiscent of their former self, but they were never quite the same.
If there was any sports personality that I would look up to as a role model it would be New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees. Brees has shown great perseverance, loyalty, and leadership during his lifetime and sports career. When people think of Drew Brees they think of the huge passing yards and his accuracy. Not many people think back to the major injury in San Diego and the concern he may never throw a football again. Despite the injury and the doubt Drew got to New Orleans and began to fight. He had the determination and perseverance in him to work through this injury, the pain, and the doubt. Once Brees got to New Orleans he wasn’t settled on just being a starting NFL QB he wanted to help rebuild the city destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. He started change the Culture of the team, embrace the city and the culture around him. Much like Brees I’d like to incorporate these characteristic into my own life. The ability to work through the bad situations to end up in something better, the leadership to help others and build up others. Lastly the loyalty. Brees has mentioned this offseason that he will either return a Saint or retire, I appreciate he has that loyalty to the community and the fans. They put their faith and into him and he appreciates that and is not returning the favor.
Growing up, Tim Lincecum was my favorite pitcher. I was also a pitcher and every one would say I threw weird and watching him with his funky windup I kinda gravitated toward him. Watching him dominate in the MLB was so much fun to watch since he was my idol. I would always wear 55 for my jersey, and even all my profile names have 55 in it in some way.
When I would play wiffle ball I would try to recreate his windup, which I will say super hard since he was only 5’11 and would have a stride of over 6 feet when pitching. Now in the DSFL/NSFL league I will use 55 in a way to pay tribute to man I grew up aspiring to be. Tim was able to make 4 all star games and win 2 CY young awards while in the majors, I hope to be even better throughout my career. Tim also was able to be on 3 championship teams, I look to help my team win a few championships. While Tim is currently not on an MLB team I think he still has what it takes to dominate in the league, and would love if my favorite team the New York Mets would sign him
HehateMe Picksix's role model is himself. He doesn't like to be a role model to anyone and he doesn't want to look up to anyone but himself. He doesn't have any expectations but the ones he places on himself, which is to be the best damn CB the world has ever seen. Believing in role models is one way to get disappointed because ultimately no one can ever live up to those lofty standards, which is why PickSix only plays for himself. He sets his own goals, he decides whether to be in shape or not as that is the only way to guarantee success. If he fails in his ultimate goal of making it to the hall of fame, then he also has no one to blame but himself.
PickSix believes that it's never good to have a sports hero, because he is just a guy doing a job, like everyone else. He's not paid to inspire you or motivate you. He's paid to play a game that he happens to be good at. There are far more deserving people for your adulation than he and as such he's adopted the attitude that fans who loves him for anything more than his ability on the gridiron are cray cray.
Growing up watching the NSFL as an aspiring linebacker it was natural for me to focus on the greats of that generation: Jaylon Lee, Angus Winchester, and Julian O’Sullivan. But in my mind one LB stands above those players, Jonathan Saint. He wasn’t as outspoken as the others but he grinded away for ten seasons all with the Colorado Yeti. Back then the Yeti were rebuilding many of those years, but Saint never complained, he practiced hard every single week and was the tip of the spear on gameday. Saint’s career is my goal. I want to be an elite player for 10+ seasons ideally for the same franchise. A true leader and franchise cornerstone. One thing the Yeti could count on year in and year out is one of their defensive starters was going to be there and give elite production. A general manager’s dream player. Like I am right now, Saint came into the NSFL as a pure pass rushing 3-4 outside linebacker, but over the years he developed into a versatile do everything defender. Imagine having a weapon like that in the middle of your defense for a decade, I want to accomplish that, and win an Ultimus or two along the way. (206 words)
[OPTION]Height: 6'3"
[OPTION]Weight: 225lbs [OPTION]Birthplace: Livermore, California [OPTION]Number: 19 [OPTION]=========================================== [OPTION]DSFL Regular Season Stats [OPTION] S18 Portland Pythons | 795 Yards | 13.7 AVG | 37 Long | 9 TD [OPTION]=========================================== [OPTION]DSFL Playoff Stats [OPTION] S18 Portland Pythons | 117 Yards | 13.0 AVG | 30 Long | 2 TD [OPTION]=========================================== [OPTION]NSFL Regular Season Stats [OPTION] S19 Chicago Butchers | 916 Yards | 13.1 AVG | 40 Long | 2 TD [OPTION] S20 Chicago Butchers | 1254 Yards | 15.1 AVG | 44 Long | 9 TD [OPTION] S21 Chicago Butchers | 733 Yards | 11.5 AVG | 50 Long | 14 TD [OPTION] S22 Chicago Butchers | 1017 Yards | 15.2 AVG | 40 Long | 2 TD [OPTION] S23 Chicago Butchers | 1042 Yards | 14.3 AVG | 58 Long | 6 TD [OPTION]=========================================== [OPTION]NSFL Regular Season Career Stats [OPTION] 980 Yards | 13.7 AVG | 44 Long | 7 TD [OPTION]=========================================== [OPTION]=========================================== [OPTION]NSFL Playoff Stats [OPTION] [OPTION]=========================================== [OPTION]Trophy Case/Achievements: [OPTION] S18 Portland Pyhtons Ultimini Champions [OPTION] S20 Pro Bowl [OPTION] S21 Pro Bowl [OPTION] S22 Pro Bowl [OPTION]=========================================== Player | Update | Wiki
Ugarth's role model? HAH. He is the role model, everything an Orc should strive to be. Ugarth looks to gods for guidance. Strong and hearty like Bahgrtu. Clever and quick like Ilneval. Feared by many like Yurtus, and a victory of many wars, blemished yet unbroken like Gruumsh One-Eye. Every Orc (and even these puny pink skins) should strive to be more like Ugarth.
Ilneval says not to remember past victories, but to plot for ones to come. This wise. This smart. Many men forget themselves and are usurped by lesser men, but not Ilneval. Ilneval says be ready, prepare for every fight, be ready for every fight. Train hard and think crafty, for all of life is a battle. That what Ilneval says. Gruumsh says to raid, kill and conqueror! Gruumsh never loses a fight, never lost a war. Many winters ago when the gods were drawing lots for their domains, those other weakling gods trick Gruumsh and didn't give him a lot! Gruumsh was mad, stabbed his spear into the world to create the caves us Orcs grow up in, said Orcs would forever be at war with the rest of the world to claim what's rightfully theirs. Ugarth start by raid the quarterback! Kill the play! Conqueror the DSFL! Plunder the Ultimini!
I didn't really grow up a sports kid. I was a quintessential indoor child, one that spent more time with her nose in a book than paying attention to anything in the sports world. This means, of course, that my first sports role model was introduced not through the TV, not live, but through words on the page. Young elementary school Bex picked up a book out of the sports bin of silent reading one day and found someone to be inspired by. The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth tells the story of Jackie Mitchell, one of the first female pitchers in pro baseball. Mitchell was a teenage girl in it for the love of the game, and she was damn good too, striking out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition match against the Yankees in 1931. After that game, Mitchell's contract was voided, with the commissioner calling baseball "too strenous" for women. She wasn't able to play with the Chattanooga Lookouts anymore, but that didn't stop her from playing the game she loved.
I think one of the big ideas that I've grown up with has been: be the best that you can be, and don't let anyone tell you your gender makes you less than. I think a part of that starts with hearing about Jackie Mitchell at such a young age. I didn't know anything about baseball at the time, and to be frank, I still don't know a ton. But I know that every summer for the rest of elementary school, I went to as many local baseball games as I could. It helped that their stadium was two blocks from my house, but that detail doesn't matter. What matters is that I'd sit in the stands and think about what it would be like to watch someone like me out there kicking ass and making grown men angry just by being there. |
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