By John D. Mckinnon, Jr.
Saturday, February the second was more than just the eve of the Super bowl. In fact, for a couple of hours it was easy to forget there would be a game played in Phoenix the next evening. The news of Art Monk and Darrell Green being selected to the Hall Of Fame was enough to supersede just about anything a Redskin fan could hear.
As a young Redskin fan, somewhere between the ages of 9 and 11, Art and Darrell became my two favorite football players. I always wanted to play Wide Receiver and Cornerback as a result of watching Art and Darrell. These guys exemplify what it means to be gentlemen and by the end of their football careers they’d solidified their status as two of the best that ever played.
Art Monk as a young draft pick out of Syracuse dominated the 80s and helped revolutionize the wide receiver position. By the time Art received his degree from Syracuse he was standing at 6’3 and weighing about 210. Art developed a reputation for “punishing” opposing defenders with his ability to lower his shoulder to absorb any resistance from opposing tacklers. Art also developed a reputation for being humble and quiet despite his successes on the field.
Darrell Green was drafted out of Texas A & I University where he eventually received his Bachelors of Science Degree. Darrell was an athletic freak of nature. Standing at a modest 5’8 Darrell was arguably the fastest man in the NFL. He was eventually nicknamed the “ageless wonder” as he remained one of the leagues fastest men into his early forties when he retired in 2002.
As much as I would love to go on about their amazing play or their ability to seemingly defy the laws of nature, I’ll have to take this story in another direction. Sure I’d love to talk about Darrell Green shifting into over-drive and catching Tony Dorsett after giving him a 20 yard head start or Art catching touchdowns in front of me while I sat at RFK with my dad. Unfortunately, these two football legends are comprised of a lot more than football and I will have to reserve their athletic highlights for another story. In fact, football may only make up about 10 percent of what these guys were really about.
Darrell and Art are involved in their Foundations, (The Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation) and (The Good Samaritan Foundation), respectively. Another common thread these guys share is their dedication to Jesus Christ. As a result both men have created a bond and a brotherly closeness that carries over to their families. While Darrell was always considered more vociferous, Art was more of a quiet storm that led by example.
In a new era of young players some of which perform touchdown dances after every catch, Darrell and Art’s inductions couldn’t have come at a better time. Firstly, it brings to center stage two of the many athletes that do a lot more than many of their detractors and critics. Secondly, it gives the children and young fans, two balanced individuals. Shortly, after Monk received the news he would be inducted, he responded by cell phone and stated many of the factors that led to his success. The influence of his Dad and Mom, which stressed the importance of academics and leading a godly life, was one of them. Art also spoke about the importance of applying those principals to other areas of life. In other words, not becoming a thoroughbred that needs sports but being a champion in every facet of life. So when “Pacman” Jones states trouble has “followed” him throughout his life and this could’ve happened to anyone, we can point out to him that Art and Darrell have never had one of these things happen to them in nearly thirty years.
During the same media session Darrell was sure to mention his influence on his own son, that’s a promising young athlete. I can remember getting Darrell Green’s autograph for the first time in ’84 and what it meant to me as a ten year old. Since youngsters look up to athletes and hold them in high regard, it’s important for the younger players to follow the lead of Darrell and Art. Athletes should be held accountable for their actions as individuals, not just for the sake of them being athletes. But it doesn’t stop there. In fact that’s where it starts. Parents need to be responsible for their children and shouldn’t look for athletes to raise their kids. In fact, the influence of athletes or anyone other than parents should serve as reinforcement of what’s already been instilled, not as initial parenting. In addition, the media (i.e. newspapers, television, and periodicals) can place more emphasis on athletes like Gilbert Arenas, Etan Thomas, Emeka Okafor, Lawrence Funderburke and Marquis Daniels. Between these athletes one is a world renowned poet / political activist (degree in Business) two graduated in the top of their class at their respective Universities, two have written books, two graduated in three years, and all are active in their communities. (There’s a lot more about these guys on Wikipedia.) For any of my valued readers that would like to know why these types of athletes are the ones we rarely hear about it baffles me as well. We are left to assume that “Pacman” and others who don’t graduate or take themselves seriously respresent the populace of athletes. I’m here to tell you they don’t (Feel free to research this). Guys such as Art and Darrell won’t get much press unless they’ve committed a crime or unless their inducted into Canton and that’s why this past weekend’s event was something to behold.
Hail To The Redskins!
As a young Redskin fan, somewhere between the ages of 9 and 11, Art and Darrell became my two favorite football players. I always wanted to play Wide Receiver and Cornerback as a result of watching Art and Darrell. These guys exemplify what it means to be gentlemen and by the end of their football careers they’d solidified their status as two of the best that ever played.
Art Monk as a young draft pick out of Syracuse dominated the 80s and helped revolutionize the wide receiver position. By the time Art received his degree from Syracuse he was standing at 6’3 and weighing about 210. Art developed a reputation for “punishing” opposing defenders with his ability to lower his shoulder to absorb any resistance from opposing tacklers. Art also developed a reputation for being humble and quiet despite his successes on the field.
Darrell Green was drafted out of Texas A & I University where he eventually received his Bachelors of Science Degree. Darrell was an athletic freak of nature. Standing at a modest 5’8 Darrell was arguably the fastest man in the NFL. He was eventually nicknamed the “ageless wonder” as he remained one of the leagues fastest men into his early forties when he retired in 2002.
As much as I would love to go on about their amazing play or their ability to seemingly defy the laws of nature, I’ll have to take this story in another direction. Sure I’d love to talk about Darrell Green shifting into over-drive and catching Tony Dorsett after giving him a 20 yard head start or Art catching touchdowns in front of me while I sat at RFK with my dad. Unfortunately, these two football legends are comprised of a lot more than football and I will have to reserve their athletic highlights for another story. In fact, football may only make up about 10 percent of what these guys were really about.
Darrell and Art are involved in their Foundations, (The Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation) and (The Good Samaritan Foundation), respectively. Another common thread these guys share is their dedication to Jesus Christ. As a result both men have created a bond and a brotherly closeness that carries over to their families. While Darrell was always considered more vociferous, Art was more of a quiet storm that led by example.
In a new era of young players some of which perform touchdown dances after every catch, Darrell and Art’s inductions couldn’t have come at a better time. Firstly, it brings to center stage two of the many athletes that do a lot more than many of their detractors and critics. Secondly, it gives the children and young fans, two balanced individuals. Shortly, after Monk received the news he would be inducted, he responded by cell phone and stated many of the factors that led to his success. The influence of his Dad and Mom, which stressed the importance of academics and leading a godly life, was one of them. Art also spoke about the importance of applying those principals to other areas of life. In other words, not becoming a thoroughbred that needs sports but being a champion in every facet of life. So when “Pacman” Jones states trouble has “followed” him throughout his life and this could’ve happened to anyone, we can point out to him that Art and Darrell have never had one of these things happen to them in nearly thirty years.
During the same media session Darrell was sure to mention his influence on his own son, that’s a promising young athlete. I can remember getting Darrell Green’s autograph for the first time in ’84 and what it meant to me as a ten year old. Since youngsters look up to athletes and hold them in high regard, it’s important for the younger players to follow the lead of Darrell and Art. Athletes should be held accountable for their actions as individuals, not just for the sake of them being athletes. But it doesn’t stop there. In fact that’s where it starts. Parents need to be responsible for their children and shouldn’t look for athletes to raise their kids. In fact, the influence of athletes or anyone other than parents should serve as reinforcement of what’s already been instilled, not as initial parenting. In addition, the media (i.e. newspapers, television, and periodicals) can place more emphasis on athletes like Gilbert Arenas, Etan Thomas, Emeka Okafor, Lawrence Funderburke and Marquis Daniels. Between these athletes one is a world renowned poet / political activist (degree in Business) two graduated in the top of their class at their respective Universities, two have written books, two graduated in three years, and all are active in their communities. (There’s a lot more about these guys on Wikipedia.) For any of my valued readers that would like to know why these types of athletes are the ones we rarely hear about it baffles me as well. We are left to assume that “Pacman” and others who don’t graduate or take themselves seriously respresent the populace of athletes. I’m here to tell you they don’t (Feel free to research this). Guys such as Art and Darrell won’t get much press unless they’ve committed a crime or unless their inducted into Canton and that’s why this past weekend’s event was something to behold.
Hail To The Redskins!
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