Orlando Thomas Passes on..ALS

Pack93z
Select Member Topic Starter

15 years ago

I remember hearing he was diagnoised with the disease, but then he kind of faded away into the background.

Class act from what I remember, I do remember an interview in which he used that "Everyday is a holiday"...

RIP.

Orlando Thomas loses battle with ALS
Posted by Mike Florio on October 28, 2009 6:40 PM ET
Former Minnesota Vikings safety Orlando Thomas, who in the mid-1990s was regarded as one of the best young safeties in the NFL, died Wednesday from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

He was 37.

Thomas began exhibiting symptoms in 2004, and his condition was revealed publicly in 2007.

Thomas, a second-round pick in 1995, spent seven seasons with the Vikings. He was a member of the 1998 team that went 15-1 and lost in overtime of the NFC Championship.

"He was always the guy joking around in the locker room, he had a big laugh," said tight end Jim Kleinsasser, the only current member of the team who played with Thomas. "There wasn't a guy on the team that didn't love him and there wasn't a guy on the team that he didn't love. O.T. had a big heart and he was a great character to have on the team. . . .

"Every day is a holiday," Kleinsasser said. "Orlando always used to say that. It was his way of saying how blessed we were to do what we were doing. He felt like it was a true honor to play for the Vikings and be a member of the NFL."

In seven seasons, Thomas started 87 regular-season games and four playoff games.

"PFtalk" wrote:

Added subtitle to reflect latest information. -- NSD

"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"

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gbguy20
Veteran Member

15 years ago

wow i never heard about this...rip

BAD EMAIL because the address couldn ot be found, or is unable to receive mail.

Formo
Veteran Member

15 years ago

I knew he had ALS, and then he fell completely off my radar. Until I saw that Jake Reed still visited and held a strong relationship with him in an interview Reed did.

This is very sad, as he was my favorite Viking DB. He had the heart and the integrity of a real champion, and I can only pray that the current members of the Vikings view playing for the Vikings the same way OT did.

RIP OT.. My prayers go to your family.

Thanks to TheViking88 for the sig!!

longtimefan
Registered

15 years ago

Jake Reed is disputing this on his twitter

Formo
Veteran Member

15 years ago

Jake Reed is disputing this on his twitter

"longtimefan" wrote:

I've noticed this as well. Wonder what the deal is.

Thanks to TheViking88 for the sig!!

porky88
Veteran Member

15 years ago

I never knew he was battling this. RIP. He was a great player, he and Robert Griffen formed a nice duo.

http://www.row12.com/

Formo
Veteran Member

15 years ago

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4603562

Everything in my post still stands, though.

Thanks to TheViking88 for the sig!!

Nonstopdrivel
Preferred Member

15 years ago

It would really be nice if reporters confirmed stories before jumping on a scoop these days.

porky88
Veteran Member

15 years ago

^ No doubt

Glad to see he's still fighting and hopefully he's winning.

http://www.row12.com/

Formo
Veteran Member

15 years ago

#10

^ No doubt

Glad to see he's still fighting and hopefully he's winning.

"porky88" wrote:

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like he's doing much winning. Apparently he can no longer talk.

Still a huge Viking fan, though!

Thanks to TheViking88 for the sig!!

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