***Titles and Phatahls “Just Doing Me” kicks in, slowly fading down to just be heard in the background as narrator comes in***
Narrator: The Prospect Bowl is now through and there have been some mixed signs from our main guy L’Gazzy Burfict. At one point last night it looked as if his team was heading to the finals but a second half comeback put and end to that. It’s perhaps a sign that off-season work on the track and in the gym are yet to really come together as one as he struggled to replicate his college form on the field as a member of the Tumbleweeds, making only seven tackles in the game. That said, you’ll always see him with his head held high, focused on what he wants to achieve . And that hard work and mentality will be needed tonight as the DSFL draft has finally arrived, perhaps the most exiting day in L’Gazzy’s football career so far. For this first episode of the series we sent BoBo Saxton down to the local sports complex where he was able to catch up with L’Gazzy during a workout overseen by his father and coach, college track star Dion Burfict.
***Tape cuts to Bobo Saxon, Dion Burfict and L’Gazzy Burfict standing trackside at a deserted sports complex. It’s clear that L’Gazzy is in the middle of a workout and under the instruction and guidance of Dion.***
BoBo Saxton: Huh. Well you join me down on the track today with main man himself… and his son L’Gazzy.
*BoBo and Dion both chuckle deeply, L’Gazzy gives them both a bit of a smirk*
Dion Burfict: Yeah you know if they’d had all this back in my day, all this demand to film like future stars like this, hell maybe I cudda had my own show like L’Gazzy you know! That wudda been something, right!
L’Gazzy Burfict: Sure thing Pop. I’m surprised you ain’t brought up the…
Dion Burfict: The time I beat Olympian Calvin Smith back in 12th grade? Ha, oh yeah… So it was the final event of the day, a great day, all eyes were on Calvin as he was the main man in the state. But you know, I got a great start but it’s all about getting to that finish line first but I knew that it was my time that day, cos…
BoBo Saxton: Huh, Dion, yeah let’s not get dug down in all that now. This is about L’Gazzy, you’ve had your day.
Dion Burfict: Hey ok, sure thing, I know why you’re down here and I respect that.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so yeah, right, L’Gazzy, some real tough games in the Prospect Bowl for you, how had you been preparing for that and why do you think it wasn’t enough to go all the way?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Man, it was a tough day at the office what can I say. They were just better than us on the day; we let our guard down and they took full advantage to take the win so credit to them. Maybe I wasn’t mentally as prepared as I was physically, I dunno, it just didn’t work out, you know what I mean? I expected to be in better shape than that.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, sure.
L’Gazzy Burfict: I mean, preparation has been good so far. Working out at the track, in the gym, down on the beach. I like the variation to keep me on my toes. I ain’t one of these guys who settles, or finds that one routine and stays put. I wanna push myself, stay out of my comfort zone, that’s why I’m back down here at the track today with Pops to work on my
Dion Burfict: Work on your speed son, so, sorry BoBo, take your marks….
*L’Gazzy jogs down to the other end of the 100m straight, takes position on the start line and takes a breath. Meanwhile Dion, stopwatch around his neck, fires a starters pistol*
Dion Burfict: PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, KEEP PUSHING, GOOD, YEAH, FINISH HARD…
*Dion stops the stopwatch as L’Gazzy flies past him on the finish line and records the time in a small, battered old notebook. He smiles and nods knowingly before closing the book and putting it back in his pocket*
BoBo Saxton: Huh, that looked impressive Dion, what was the time?
Dion Burfict: Ha, yeah, it was good, a good time, but there is always better to be had, work to be done, ain’t that right son?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Yeah I been working on my reaction times, figure the quicker I’m out the blocks the quicker I’m taking down that man when I take this back on the field. I was on YouTube the other day and checking out some tape of track stars from back in the day, looking for inspiration and all that. I wanna be as quick out the blocks as those guys, they are champions, even if they gonna beat me across the line, you feel me? One man I saw, Linford Christie, he was so quick to react at the Atlanta Olympic Games back in the 90s that the computer kicked him out for false starting, now that’s what I’m wanting. Hell, back then that wasn’t even Windows XP though so I hope these computers now gonna be quick enough to keep up with my starts, you know. I don’t want coach getting on my back for them throwing down a flag on the play for me.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, yeah lets hope so, that looked quick. So with the varied workout plan you mentioned; track, gym, beach, you’ve clearly been targeting a whole lot but are there any key areas you’ve looked to improve in the run up to the draft to keep the scouts on their toes?
Dion Burfict: Speed baby, all about that speed on the field! When you have a kid his size, running at you at that speed, man, that’s what he gonna bring to the DSFL. No QB wants that, they ain’t getting any time to think on the field when my son is bringing that.
L’Gazzy Burfict: Ha, thanks Pops. But no, he’s sure right there for starters. I been working hard on my speed sure, specially my reaction times. When I declared for the DSFL draft my speed was fine you know, but it had slipped a bit since back in the day at the War Eagles when I used to help out on special teams. Those days I was smaller, you know, so I could carry more speed. Maybe I’d let that slip a little, gaining the weight, gaining the muscle. So speaking with the coaches at Rutgers, and obviously Pops back home, yeah speed was something I knew I wanted to work on.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, and any idea of the improvement made, it’s only been a few weeks of training right?
L’Gazzy Burfict: You know it’s difficult to say exactly…
Dion Burfict: Hell, listen now BoBo, lets just say that my boy should be… lets see…
*Dion removes the notebook from his pocket and flicks through a few pages. He then starts doing sums before underlining something several times with a smirk*
Dion Burfict: Sure, I think we’re looking at hell, over 20% improvement since in speed L’Gazzy declared for the DSFL draft. So that’s looking at speed out the blocks and the times we been working on over 100m. But you know, the draft ain’t until tonight and he ain’t done yet as, are you, now on my mark, beep test.
L’Gazzy Burfict: Ahhh, Pops…
*L’Gazzy takes his mark behind a chalk line before his father Dion opens his notepad and presses play on an old battered looking boombox… BEEP*
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so what else you been working on, if you can still talk?
*L’Gazzy is now running the beep test between two chalk lines while Dion looks on, taking time to look down at his stopwatch and write notes in the notebook*
L’Gazzy Burfict: Well speed been something I’m working hard on, but yeah, things like this should help with my general agility. You know, no point having the speed gains over the distance, the reaction time gains out the blocks, if I ain’t able to use that when I’m in my cleats on the football field. Gotta be agile, you know. Gotta find my way to the ball carrier and take ‘em down. And then sure, of course, I gotta keep myself in shape in the gym, I been making little adjustments each time, working on my max rep numbers, working on the max weights I’m using, just building up strengths in my arms, in my legs. Slow and steady, but not letting up, you know. I’m blessed with the chance in the draft, I been working hard at it.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, impressive stuff L’Gazzy. Clearly Dion has got you working hard here today too.
Dion Burfict: I just wanna make sure he, sorry, DON’T YOU DARE FALL BACK SON, I wanna make sure he’s in good shape and he makes the most of what he got. I’ve got the story from the 12th grade, but I ain’t got nothing after that. I didn’t make the most of what I had and I don’t want that to happen to L’Gazzy. I making sure he makes the most of what god given him, and then making that a little quicker off the mark, ha!
BoBo Saxton: Huh, ha, right, sure yeah. Listen, L’Gazzy, final one from me today I promise. Now the real DSFL draft comes tonight, no more of these mock drafts to fill out the pages of the morning news to think about. What you gonna be doing tonight and what are you feeling about it all?
Dion Burfict: Andddddd rest, good – now drink this son, you need it. We go again in two minutes so be ready.
L’Gazzy Burfict: Thank you Pops, I need this, phew. And thanks BoBo, yeah, so tonight is not just about me but also about my family. I’m gonna be back at home here in Shubuta, with Pops and my LaFawnduh, we gonna just have a meal, you know, and then just wait to see when that call comes. LaFawnduh cooks up some mean soul food, you know, so I looking forward to that. Now, i’ve done all my talking with the scouts who reached out to me, and they all seen what I’m all about up until now. I know the L’Gazzy Burfict they saw at the Prospect Bowl wasn’t all I can give, no sir, so it’s down to them to make their decisions, nothing I can do with that now but hope. Do I hope I’m sitting high up on their boards? We all like that, you know, cos that might mean that you’re gonna be the main one on the team, but there are a lot of talented players in this class – you saw that in the Prospect Bowl. And no just my boys from Rutgers you know, but they put on good shows. Now it’s up to the team General Managers now, that is their call, you know, who they want on the team. So when the call comes, wherever it comes from, I’ll be feeling blessed to hear that with my family next to me. But yeah, sooner rather than later means I can chill a little earlier, you know.
Dion Burfict: And we gonna celebrate, you know, we gonna celebrate. Making up some punch, why not, its Draft night after all!
BoBo Saxton: Huh, well alright then, well tell me now, do you have any preferred destination?
*L’Gazzy opens up with a wide smile, turns and Dion pats him on the back. Dion puts his arm around L’Gazzy, points to his notepad and gestures for L’Gazzy to run up to the far end of the track*
BoBo Saxton: Huh, well listen, I’m gonna leave you to it. And so there it is. Where will L’Gazzy Burfict end up going tonight in the DSFL draft. Portland? Dallas? London? Who knows. All I know is that the kid is ready, he’s looking in great shape and wherever he goes we gonna follow him on that journey. Take care, BoBo out.
*** Phatahls “Just Doing Me” kicks back in, slowly fading up as BoBo’s piece to camera ends***
Narrator: The Prospect Bowl is now through and there have been some mixed signs from our main guy L’Gazzy Burfict. At one point last night it looked as if his team was heading to the finals but a second half comeback put and end to that. It’s perhaps a sign that off-season work on the track and in the gym are yet to really come together as one as he struggled to replicate his college form on the field as a member of the Tumbleweeds, making only seven tackles in the game. That said, you’ll always see him with his head held high, focused on what he wants to achieve . And that hard work and mentality will be needed tonight as the DSFL draft has finally arrived, perhaps the most exiting day in L’Gazzy’s football career so far. For this first episode of the series we sent BoBo Saxton down to the local sports complex where he was able to catch up with L’Gazzy during a workout overseen by his father and coach, college track star Dion Burfict.
***Tape cuts to Bobo Saxon, Dion Burfict and L’Gazzy Burfict standing trackside at a deserted sports complex. It’s clear that L’Gazzy is in the middle of a workout and under the instruction and guidance of Dion.***
BoBo Saxton: Huh. Well you join me down on the track today with main man himself… and his son L’Gazzy.
*BoBo and Dion both chuckle deeply, L’Gazzy gives them both a bit of a smirk*
Dion Burfict: Yeah you know if they’d had all this back in my day, all this demand to film like future stars like this, hell maybe I cudda had my own show like L’Gazzy you know! That wudda been something, right!
L’Gazzy Burfict: Sure thing Pop. I’m surprised you ain’t brought up the…
Dion Burfict: The time I beat Olympian Calvin Smith back in 12th grade? Ha, oh yeah… So it was the final event of the day, a great day, all eyes were on Calvin as he was the main man in the state. But you know, I got a great start but it’s all about getting to that finish line first but I knew that it was my time that day, cos…
BoBo Saxton: Huh, Dion, yeah let’s not get dug down in all that now. This is about L’Gazzy, you’ve had your day.
Dion Burfict: Hey ok, sure thing, I know why you’re down here and I respect that.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so yeah, right, L’Gazzy, some real tough games in the Prospect Bowl for you, how had you been preparing for that and why do you think it wasn’t enough to go all the way?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Man, it was a tough day at the office what can I say. They were just better than us on the day; we let our guard down and they took full advantage to take the win so credit to them. Maybe I wasn’t mentally as prepared as I was physically, I dunno, it just didn’t work out, you know what I mean? I expected to be in better shape than that.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, sure.
L’Gazzy Burfict: I mean, preparation has been good so far. Working out at the track, in the gym, down on the beach. I like the variation to keep me on my toes. I ain’t one of these guys who settles, or finds that one routine and stays put. I wanna push myself, stay out of my comfort zone, that’s why I’m back down here at the track today with Pops to work on my
Dion Burfict: Work on your speed son, so, sorry BoBo, take your marks….
*L’Gazzy jogs down to the other end of the 100m straight, takes position on the start line and takes a breath. Meanwhile Dion, stopwatch around his neck, fires a starters pistol*
Dion Burfict: PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, KEEP PUSHING, GOOD, YEAH, FINISH HARD…
*Dion stops the stopwatch as L’Gazzy flies past him on the finish line and records the time in a small, battered old notebook. He smiles and nods knowingly before closing the book and putting it back in his pocket*
BoBo Saxton: Huh, that looked impressive Dion, what was the time?
Dion Burfict: Ha, yeah, it was good, a good time, but there is always better to be had, work to be done, ain’t that right son?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Yeah I been working on my reaction times, figure the quicker I’m out the blocks the quicker I’m taking down that man when I take this back on the field. I was on YouTube the other day and checking out some tape of track stars from back in the day, looking for inspiration and all that. I wanna be as quick out the blocks as those guys, they are champions, even if they gonna beat me across the line, you feel me? One man I saw, Linford Christie, he was so quick to react at the Atlanta Olympic Games back in the 90s that the computer kicked him out for false starting, now that’s what I’m wanting. Hell, back then that wasn’t even Windows XP though so I hope these computers now gonna be quick enough to keep up with my starts, you know. I don’t want coach getting on my back for them throwing down a flag on the play for me.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, yeah lets hope so, that looked quick. So with the varied workout plan you mentioned; track, gym, beach, you’ve clearly been targeting a whole lot but are there any key areas you’ve looked to improve in the run up to the draft to keep the scouts on their toes?
Dion Burfict: Speed baby, all about that speed on the field! When you have a kid his size, running at you at that speed, man, that’s what he gonna bring to the DSFL. No QB wants that, they ain’t getting any time to think on the field when my son is bringing that.
L’Gazzy Burfict: Ha, thanks Pops. But no, he’s sure right there for starters. I been working hard on my speed sure, specially my reaction times. When I declared for the DSFL draft my speed was fine you know, but it had slipped a bit since back in the day at the War Eagles when I used to help out on special teams. Those days I was smaller, you know, so I could carry more speed. Maybe I’d let that slip a little, gaining the weight, gaining the muscle. So speaking with the coaches at Rutgers, and obviously Pops back home, yeah speed was something I knew I wanted to work on.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, and any idea of the improvement made, it’s only been a few weeks of training right?
L’Gazzy Burfict: You know it’s difficult to say exactly…
Dion Burfict: Hell, listen now BoBo, lets just say that my boy should be… lets see…
*Dion removes the notebook from his pocket and flicks through a few pages. He then starts doing sums before underlining something several times with a smirk*
Dion Burfict: Sure, I think we’re looking at hell, over 20% improvement since in speed L’Gazzy declared for the DSFL draft. So that’s looking at speed out the blocks and the times we been working on over 100m. But you know, the draft ain’t until tonight and he ain’t done yet as, are you, now on my mark, beep test.
L’Gazzy Burfict: Ahhh, Pops…
*L’Gazzy takes his mark behind a chalk line before his father Dion opens his notepad and presses play on an old battered looking boombox… BEEP*
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so what else you been working on, if you can still talk?
*L’Gazzy is now running the beep test between two chalk lines while Dion looks on, taking time to look down at his stopwatch and write notes in the notebook*
L’Gazzy Burfict: Well speed been something I’m working hard on, but yeah, things like this should help with my general agility. You know, no point having the speed gains over the distance, the reaction time gains out the blocks, if I ain’t able to use that when I’m in my cleats on the football field. Gotta be agile, you know. Gotta find my way to the ball carrier and take ‘em down. And then sure, of course, I gotta keep myself in shape in the gym, I been making little adjustments each time, working on my max rep numbers, working on the max weights I’m using, just building up strengths in my arms, in my legs. Slow and steady, but not letting up, you know. I’m blessed with the chance in the draft, I been working hard at it.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, impressive stuff L’Gazzy. Clearly Dion has got you working hard here today too.
Dion Burfict: I just wanna make sure he, sorry, DON’T YOU DARE FALL BACK SON, I wanna make sure he’s in good shape and he makes the most of what he got. I’ve got the story from the 12th grade, but I ain’t got nothing after that. I didn’t make the most of what I had and I don’t want that to happen to L’Gazzy. I making sure he makes the most of what god given him, and then making that a little quicker off the mark, ha!
BoBo Saxton: Huh, ha, right, sure yeah. Listen, L’Gazzy, final one from me today I promise. Now the real DSFL draft comes tonight, no more of these mock drafts to fill out the pages of the morning news to think about. What you gonna be doing tonight and what are you feeling about it all?
Dion Burfict: Andddddd rest, good – now drink this son, you need it. We go again in two minutes so be ready.
L’Gazzy Burfict: Thank you Pops, I need this, phew. And thanks BoBo, yeah, so tonight is not just about me but also about my family. I’m gonna be back at home here in Shubuta, with Pops and my LaFawnduh, we gonna just have a meal, you know, and then just wait to see when that call comes. LaFawnduh cooks up some mean soul food, you know, so I looking forward to that. Now, i’ve done all my talking with the scouts who reached out to me, and they all seen what I’m all about up until now. I know the L’Gazzy Burfict they saw at the Prospect Bowl wasn’t all I can give, no sir, so it’s down to them to make their decisions, nothing I can do with that now but hope. Do I hope I’m sitting high up on their boards? We all like that, you know, cos that might mean that you’re gonna be the main one on the team, but there are a lot of talented players in this class – you saw that in the Prospect Bowl. And no just my boys from Rutgers you know, but they put on good shows. Now it’s up to the team General Managers now, that is their call, you know, who they want on the team. So when the call comes, wherever it comes from, I’ll be feeling blessed to hear that with my family next to me. But yeah, sooner rather than later means I can chill a little earlier, you know.
Dion Burfict: And we gonna celebrate, you know, we gonna celebrate. Making up some punch, why not, its Draft night after all!
BoBo Saxton: Huh, well alright then, well tell me now, do you have any preferred destination?
*L’Gazzy opens up with a wide smile, turns and Dion pats him on the back. Dion puts his arm around L’Gazzy, points to his notepad and gestures for L’Gazzy to run up to the far end of the track*
BoBo Saxton: Huh, well listen, I’m gonna leave you to it. And so there it is. Where will L’Gazzy Burfict end up going tonight in the DSFL draft. Portland? Dallas? London? Who knows. All I know is that the kid is ready, he’s looking in great shape and wherever he goes we gonna follow him on that journey. Take care, BoBo out.
*** Phatahls “Just Doing Me” kicks back in, slowly fading up as BoBo’s piece to camera ends***
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2066