I'm going to take it way back to the year 2004 for this one. I was 11 years old and I was just becoming obsessed with football. I was a good Canadian boy and my dad got me hooked on his diehard favourite team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders. At that time the Riders had a speedy little all purpose back / kick returner by the name of Corey Holmes. The guy was electric every time the ball was in his hands and you never knew what was going to happen. I wasn't a very big kid and Corey was only like 5'8" so seeing a small guy be so dangerous on the field made me think that maybe I could be that good one day. I remember one day writing Corey a fan letter and mailing it off to Taylor Field where he played in hopes of getting a signed card or a letter in return. As I eagerly awaited for a reply my world came crashing down - Corey got traded to a different team. How could this be!? Why would the Roughriders trade their most exciting player!? I was devastated and never got a reply from him. He was my first real football hero and role model and a guy I won't soon forget.
RIP Mamba
RIP Mamba