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So I mosey on over to Falcons QB and former Bulldog lead man, DJ Shockley and ask him what his handicap is, he stops and says , 45 with a big grin…cool I have finally found someone who’s golf game parallels mine..nahh, of course he’s better than that–and sure is better than that on the football field–always felt like he was a star at Georgia…great foot speed and arm strength to elude the defenders…should get his chance with the Falcons this year if,
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Some of the best times I’ve had as the MC for the Atlanta Touchdown Club has to be seeing the thrill in the high school football players eyes as they are intrdouced at the luncheon and asked to come up and receive their player of the week award> It’s a big deal and would be for you too, 17 years old–the community recognizes your accomplishments and your family, coaches and friends in attendance–It’s a very big deal—I get to have some fun with them and sometimes even ask them if they have a brother or sister who they competed against as a youngster–some of them say yes and roll along with the teasing when I say–did you ever play your sister in basketballl as a kid? come on admit it, she beat you a couple of times–the audience would laugh and the good humored kids like this guy, star Quarterback Gordon Beckham, tearing it up as a baseball player for the Georgia Bulldogs-NCAA leading 21 Hr’s to this point. He went on to become the 8th overall pick after his Senior season with the Dawgs..in the Major league baseball draft–2nd best Shortstop in America)
recognition of our youngsters accomplishments on the field and off is the key to building a supportive community relationship from the ground up–The Atlanta TD Club certainly does it right…
First thing I did when introducing Georgia coach Mark Richt to the Atlanta Touchdown club crowd was to talk about his calm demeanor on the sidelines how he never wavers in public and has a balance of emotions like you’ve never seen from any other major college coach, “It’s my honor to introduce to you, Georgia head Coach Mark Richt.” even his speech was balanced–a bit of humor, a bit of x’s and o’s and a bit about the kids that organizations like The Touchdown Club inspire and educate on a higher level. Read the rest of this entry »
Cory with Tashard Choice 3 days after the GA Tech RB was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 4th round of the NFL Draft.
So here I am waiting in line at The Post Office and the guy behind the desk helping customers says–”hello Mr choice” where were you drafted and who’s got your services–The dallas Cowboys in the 4th round.” Choice responds..I turn around and directly behind me is the former gerogia Tech running back–the same guy who ran rampant against the Notre Dame this past season for 196 yards and two TD’s..you talk about a cool kid! Tashard Choice is that kid–23 years old–the world is his oyetsr–mellow demeanor and mild mannered. the Cowboys selcted Choice in the 4th round and I’ll tell you this–they have a gem of a player, watch this Yellow Jacket doing his stinging in Irving Texas…next season..
He’s the son of former Falcons QB Bobby Hebert but T-Bob Hebert is ready for a whole new game. LSU signee T-Bob Hebert dominated on the high school level at Greater Atlanta Christian as a LINEMAN and he’s fired up about getting started for the Bayou Bengals. “Yea I can’t wait to start. He’ll graduate tomorrow, enroll this summer and has already been told by LSU coach Les Miles that the Tigers will go two deep on Freshman Lineman. “I really can’t wait.” Read the rest of this entry »
In my last posting I spoke about the growth of the Arena football League. And it just so happens that I just got off the airplane returning from Orlando. I look to my left, and there’s a 6-4 wide body, then another and then two and three more big fellas trying to squeeze into their seats. Turns out these they are the nucleaus of the Orlando Predators piling onto the Jumbo Jet headed to Las vegas for a game tomorrow.
I strike up a conversation with a few of them and the guy sitting right next to me is regarded as one of the best defenders in the league. His name is Greg White. Played at Minnesota, he’s in his second year with the Predators. nd in his last 5 games has had 5 and a half sacks, and one fumble recovery returned for a Touchdown. His Pr guy told me he was the best Defensive Lineman in the Arena Football league.
All of a sudden you hear, “Hey, who went first in the NFL draft one of the yells out? Jemarcus Russell one of the guys tells his teammate. What about number two, hold on, we’re coming in for a landing, whoa, bump, bump a little rough as we approached Hartsfield International airport, ..finally the wheels screech on the concrete and Greg White tells his QB, Calvin Johnson, best receiver in the nation.”
the NFL draft is something special but I have to say, these AFL Orlando predators all sat in the same area of the plane on their ride from Orlando to Atlanta before boarding their flight to Las Vegas for their game Sunday. the cohesion on that plane by those players was noticeable. Most NFL players may have been complaining about the lack of leg room on the flight in Coach Class, but not today. The AFL players show their humility like some NFL players but on the whole, they feel fortunate to be playing the game they love at all. Yes, they all want to be in the NFL but they are making money doing what they love. And hopefully the fans will catch on to the quick pace of this sport and many of these players like Defensive Lineman Greg White could get a shot at the next level of professional football.
How many NFL games have you seen in the last 5 years? You’d agree, A 35-31 final is a high scoring game, right! In the AFL, you get that score routinely in ONE half.
Chris Greisen is the QB for the Georgia Force of the Arena Football league; he threw 10 Touchdown passes in his teams 78-63 win Saturday night. Yes, 10. The field is half the size of an NFL field and it provides the perfect opportunity for players to score and fans to get involved. The fans are in close proximity to the field, If the ball goes into the stands they’ll find themselves with a nifty souvenir, just like in our national pastime.
Evan and Rebecca Langfelder could be the top Georgia Force fans around or maybe their just fans of the game. They sat right next to me at my position between the players benches Saturday night at the game. “Hey, Do you ask the players about their touchdowns when they come off the field? How do you know what to ask them?” This is so cool, there’s so much scoring?” They asked questions as fast as the Force scored touchdowns. I found myself answering their inquisitive little minds and jotting down game stats as fast as Chris Greisen released the football from his hands. Oh, Hold on, another TD for Greisen, this one to his third receiver Troy Bergeron. Ok, I’m sorry, Evan what did you say?” Yes, that was his 8th Td pass tonight and he had 10 last week.”
The point is, the Arena Football league is not only a league worth watching, it’s a league with tremendous growth and appeal to fans of all ages. Oh wait, hold on, there’s another TD strike from Greisen to Chris Jackson. No wonder the league is still around after the first game back in 1987. And I bet it’ll be around for at least another 2000 TD passes or so from Chris Greisen and the other rocket launchers in the AFL.
Kenny and David Irons both played football at Dacula high school in Georgia. They both went on to star at Auburn and now, they’re days away from being part of a whole new family and possibly making NFL history.
Kenny is one of the top running backs in the country. His brother David is a top cornerback prospect. The Bills, Packers and Giants all expressed interest in Kenny. And the Dolphins are as well but doubt he’ll be around by the time they select in the draft. Especially if they take a QB with their 9th pick because they don’t select again until 40th.
Think about that! you grow up dreaming of an opportunity to play football in the NFL just like millions of other kids around the country. Playing football as a youngster with your brother and arguing over who scored the last TD in your back yard game. Those conversations went on for years at the family dinner table and now, you’re just days away from hearing your name called into the family known as the NFL.
David Irons is Kenny’s older brother and is expected to go in the 2nd or 3rd round as a defensive back. The last time there were two brothers in the same draft getting the same amount of attention was in 1997 when two guys with the last name BARBER were selected on the same day. Tiki and Rhonde.
Kick your feet back, flip on the tube and wait to see if the Irons’ brothers will have a wrinkle- free size fits “All in the family” jersey by the end of the weekend. I say they both play in the NFL and Kenny goes on the first day.