When I was a young kid, I was watching the Wolverines play and this guy scored a touchdown and struck a pose. It was the Heisman pose and it was Desmond Howard. From that moment I was a fan of his and hoped the Packers would draft him. Whenever dad and I were playing catch, I would strike the Heisman if I made a nice grab.
Howard flopped as a WR and years after being drafted he was cut. I was a fortunate teenage boy and had many electronics/distractions and instead of sending me to my room for a (well deserved) punishment, dad said I had to sit in the living room with the family. That's when the news broke that the Packers signed Desmond Howard. I couldn't contain my excitement as I leaped up off the couch doing a fist pump. That's the season Howard won Super Bowl MVP for the Packers.
The following year ('97) again watching the Wolverines and this guy jumps towards the sky, reaches one hand to the stars and somehow catches the ball for an interception. I couldn't believe what I just seen. I became a fan of Charles Woodson on that day, on that play and hoped the Packers would draft him. Then when the Packers had a chance to land him in 2005, I couldn't believe it. Could this be happening, again?? Sure enough, Packers ink Woodson and another Super Bowl victory followed.
One of my favorite stories about Woodson was when he donated over $2 million to a Children's hospital. The reporter acknowledged a few times how Woodson only allowed the interview because it brought attention to the hospital and almost demanded his contribution be minimized. But how can you minimize a $2 million donation to help children with cancer, heart disease, kidney disorders and autism?