(S30) PT 2 - Alternate History

[Vikain]

How did Rodka get here? Well he was always pushed to play football. His parents wanted to get him as “American” as possible and fit in. Being Russian, the family felt they wanted to blend in and get their son to help build friendships. But there are always thoughts of “where would I be if not football?”. “I’d like to think if I never went professional I would do exactly what my dad does, truck driving. He has his own business and I probably would have followed it. “ My dad seems to enjoy it and he built up that business from the ground up. Which is cool, and we could have been a dynasty. Even now when he’s driving and I’m on the road we will call each other and keep each other company. Some of the teammates even have got to know him during the face time calls.

Outside of that, I always thought about doing some sports. Maybe sports medicine or even sports management would have been interesting. I play GM modes in sports games, so that would have been another dream come true type scenario.” “But I do what I love and this is one of the best jobs in the world. Not many can say they do what I do. So I’m extremely grateful, and want to just put my best foot forward”.

[Raven]

Code:

Written option: Life is made up of choices. What choice did your player make that led them to the ISFL? What would their life be like if they never pursued a career in football? What would they be doing for a living?

Davriel Lavigne was but a young lad when his parents moved from Haiti to the United States. His parents figured it would be good for the young boy to be involved in american culture right away and football was one way for him to meet new people and get used to living i nthe states. Who knwos what would have happened if his parents had not decided this course for him. What if instead of football it was soccer, baseball or basketball. What if is was not a sport at all. Maybe they decided that just moving to a neighbour hood and sending him outside would work the magic. Lavigne always had a nack for science. What if his future had been within those fields. Growing up to be a scientist in the field of biology or physics. Maybe it would have been an office job in finance. No one can know what live would have looked like for Davriel if it was not for him growing up in football culture and showing promise on the field. At the end of the day Lavigne loves what he is currently doing and is enjoying the best days of his live being a professional football player. The question Lavigne is busy with nowadays is what he wants to do after the career, but that is a topic for another time.

[g2019]

I'm often asked, "Sconnie, what would you do if you weren't a professional football player?" The answer is quite simple...I would be a professional soccer player. 

I was named Gatorade High School Boys Soccer Player of the Year in high school, as I led my hometown high school to their first ever State appearance and championship. I also went through the ranks as a member of Minnesota United's MLS youth team, and had numerous MLS teams reach out about wanting to draft me. While it was a tough decision to choose between my two loves, soccer and football, I felt more drawn to the ISFL as a whole and the legacy I could try to build there. 

As a striker and goal-scorer, I was tenacious in attacking the goal and leading my team to victory. I bring that same drive and energy to the football field, it just takes the form of hitting opposing players and trying to make plays. Maybe when I hang up the football cleats, I'll try to get back in to soccer and work my way up the US soccer pyramid. I would love nothing more than to don the pink uniform of Forward Madison later in my career, but for now, that will remain a dream, and I will focus on the present: grinding, getting better, and helping make my team better.

(228 words)

[JayWhy75]

I heard "Don't Go" often as a kid. I never understood why. It was like a rallying cry, in some ways. Or at least, that's how my brain processed it. I would be told "Don't Go" and off I went, Jason Waterfalls, heading on my next adventure.

Often, I didn't know what that adventure would be yet. That was part of what made it exciting. That was part of what changed my life when I was just a teen, involved in a bad accident just as I had finally become old enough to drive. I wasn't listening to my parents, or my friends, and I went out at two in the morning to search for new adventure. Adventure found me.

"Don't Go" they cried, as I left. And next thing I knew, all I saw were headlights coming toward me, and the screech of metal clashing. I was hit by a drunk driver.

In the hospital, they cried again. "Don't go, Jason." I could hear every plea, but I didn't have the strength to respond. At one point, I felt the pull of self doubt. I felt the tug of despair. I was drowning, and I couldn't speak up. I was stuck in a hospital bed for over a month, and I had thoughts of just letting go.

But that's the choice I made, was to fight on. I made a choice to keep pushing, and I made a full recovery. How easy it would have been to give in then, and how lucky I am to have survived at all. Cars were totalled, it was the third drunk driving charge for this man, and he sits in prison to this day. But because of him, because of that time, I now understand the cry -- "Don't Go." Who knows where I would be without that moment, but I know now, I won't go.

[Tylus]

When Tychondrius Hood began playing soccer for his Junior High School team he merely wanted to play a game with some of his other middle school friends, and didn’t take it very seriously. When the school’s football coach watched some of his play he was very impressed with Hood’s speed and ability to use his feet to juke people out, and decided to reach out to young Tychondrius to see how interested he would be in playing on the football team. Hood took a few days to think about it, and ultimately, as you can see, he decided to join the team! After having some of his schools most productive seasons the rest is history. Hood would go on to play lights out football for the rest of his still blooming career. If Hood had not made the decision to join the team, he had other interests he most likely would have followed. Soccer being one of those options, Hood saw himself playing for the olympic team and at the professional level. If not playing sports Hood also was very interested in archaeology and marine biology. Tychondrius wouldn’t have been surprised if he ended up on a dig site somewhere or diving in the ocean to study some of it’s creatures! While Hood did end up playing the sport we all know and love, he definitely had other intentions if it didn’t work out as planned.

[IsaStarcrossed]

In an alternate history to this one, I believe there is a fairly good chance that Adelie de Pengu is a movie star. You see there is a huge phase going on right now with animated movies being made into live action remakes and one of the most popular animated series over the last decade has been the Penguins of Madagascar. Adelie is a huge fan of the movies as those penguins really do make his people proud. In the world where Adelie doesn't become a professional football players, perhaps he is on the big screen starring with some of his penguin friends. He could have learned martial arts and other athletic skills and done all of his own stunts like Jackie Chan. He would become one of the most famous martial artists in the world. In fact in this sense, there is a fair chance that Adelie would have become even more popular than he is now. As fun as it is the see the penguin on the field doing his thing, everyone would love seeing a little adorable penguin on the big screen kicking butt and taking names. He could have been Skipper, his favorite of the penguins and truly represented his people. Perhaps in his next life!

[Dextaria]

In a whole other universe if Beniri T'Chawama did not stumble upon American football with the help of his high school P.E. teacher, he most certainly would have followed in the footsteps of his father, Lunouc T'Chawama. Beniri's dad is a chef at his school's cafeteria, cooking food for the students. Beniri has always been a big fan of cooking and in particular, pancakes. He has mentioned this before where his father's pancakes were always his favourite as a kid and of course he learned how to cook them.

With that said, I think it's a pretty clear path for Beniri to become a head chef at a restaurant specializing in pancakes. Whether it be blueberry pancakes, pancakes with maple syrup, or even the T'Chawama family special pancakes, everyone would enjoy the cooking and have a great time together because that is what food does! Although some may say that you should never mix your job with what you love because you're going to get tired of it, Beniri has been eating pancakes for all his life and has yet to say no. With this much knowledge about the topic of cooking from a young age, it's an absolute no brainer that he goes down this route. Maybe... this is not too late to still think about... maybe after he is done his career. Look out of "On Nom Pancakes"!

[Bigred1580]

[Goat_Whisperer]

Blago Kokot would have been some kind of teacher. Kokot is a man of the people, he likes to spend time with people and share his wisdom with them. Kokot would have been a cool and calm educator that the students would have feared due to his massive size. Physical education teacher is the obvious career path as Kokot used to play few sports while growing up, basketball, soccer, football, and also golf, so he has good idea about few sports, and as mentioned Kokot would be tough but a fair teacher who takes everybody into consideration to inspire and motivate as many as possible to play sports.

Another career option would be more of a modern alternative - social media influencer. Kokot likes to travel and go to places that not many have visited. For example, Kokot's nature pictures usually gather a fair number of comments and likes, so he clearly has some talent for connecting with the online audience. Kokot also likes to openly discuss hot topics in his various social media accounts. Those are usually a real mess as Kokot drops unedited and unfiltered commentary about everything and anything, usually in Croatian, which might be the reason why he has not been fined as often as you would think.

[y2bobman]

Looking back, L'Gazzy Burfict could have spent longer in college which in turn could have raised his draft stock when entering the DSFL. But in truth, I don't think that would have made much difference... If anything he improved far more as a player in London than he would have done back in Rutgers. And if he'd waited another year he would have missed out on Ultimini glory too. Looking at the ISFL, Burficts agent was pretty open in discussions with the scouts, and it was Arizona who held their nerve to take him in the draft. Maybe a more a vocal and active agent would have led to a higher draft pick, who knows. Who cares. Arizona is home.

If football wasn't a possibility then I'd have expected Burfict to chase down a career in athletics... Following in the footsteps of his father. Perhaps a 100m or 200m specialist... Not sure he could manage much further than that. As an athlete he has that mentality to be the best and that could have driven him towards representing the USA in the Olympics. L'Gazzy would look good with some gold around his neck.

And outside of sports... Well he's pretty good at grilling chicken and flipping burgers on the BBQ. There weren't too many opportunities back in his home town so who knows where he would end up to try and find some work. I guess thinking about that makes him realise how lucky he has been to have the opportunities in football.