MACK STRONG
The announcement of Mack Strong retiring from football is a sad day for Seahawk fans. In the world of sports its pretty hard to get excited about the constant barrage of poor choices athletes make aka. Michael Vick, but Mack Strong is the real deal. He is a true role model on and off the field and he will be missed, but in his announcement Monday he hit on some life choices that further exemplify his champion character. Each of us would do good to take a look at some of the things he said.
"I've played a long time, 15 years. I felt like I was pretty lucky, pretty blessed," a teary-eyed Strong said Monday after learning that a herniated disk in his neck is pinching his spinal cord - and ending an unheralded, improbable career that began as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia in 1993.
Realizing in the midst of a herniated disk that is pinching his spinal cord he is counting his blessings. Life deals us change, challenge and coerces us to succumb to the negative. Mack could have said, "Why me," but instead he is counting how lucky and blessed he is. Very cool.
"I'm a fullback. That kind of goes with the territory, you are always going to have some kind of pain or injury that you have to push through," Strong said. "(But) at the same time, I want to be smart. I don't want to do anything that would jeopardize my long-term quality of health.
Our careers, like football, come with a some kind of pain: mental and/or physical. I've got to respect a person that can take the pain, but then realize when it's time to make the change. I'd say, when our long term vision for life is compromised it's time for change.
"You know, there's a lot more to life than football. I've got my wife and two kids," he said with a cracking voice, before pausing 10 seconds with his head bowed to control his emotions, "and there's nothing more important then being able to spend time with them."
16 Sundays a year minimum this man plays out his career on a huge stage in front of millions of fans. At the end of the day his wife and kids are most important. Perspective is key in this pursuit of our career. What is most important to us is what is left when they turn out the lights on what we've worked for. For me, may I being looking at my wife and kids.
"I've given every ounce inside of me to football," he said, pausing again, this time for almost 30 seconds with his head down, sniffling and then clearing his throat, "I felt like I gave every ounce I had. So I have no regrets."
When throwing our heart and soul into everyday there is no way we can have regrets. Mistakes and what might have beens will happen, but no regrets.
It goes back to his first flight to Seattle, out of Georgia in the spring of '93 as that undrafted, no-chance free agent. Strong didn't have enough money to buy luggage. So he borrowed his mother's suitcases. He put all his shoes in a garbage bag. "I remember going down to the carousel down at baggage claim to get my garbage bag full of tennis shoes. And I remember someone saying, 'Somebody put a garbage bag on there,"' Strong said. "Just as I was about to reach for it, I took my hand back. I walked away for a little while and came back when everyone kind of left.
Mack is the kind of man who has never forgotten from where he came from. No matter what, remembering where we started is, I believe, the key to long term success.
I will definitely miss watching Mack Strong block for Shawn Alexander, but I am so thankful his body will recover and his life will be full. And now perhaps I will meet him someday. I had the privilege of meeting his mother some time ago. As a strong believer I would expect Mack to live a powerful life influencing people for Christ.
"I've played a long time, 15 years. I felt like I was pretty lucky, pretty blessed," a teary-eyed Strong said Monday after learning that a herniated disk in his neck is pinching his spinal cord - and ending an unheralded, improbable career that began as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia in 1993.
Realizing in the midst of a herniated disk that is pinching his spinal cord he is counting his blessings. Life deals us change, challenge and coerces us to succumb to the negative. Mack could have said, "Why me," but instead he is counting how lucky and blessed he is. Very cool.
"I'm a fullback. That kind of goes with the territory, you are always going to have some kind of pain or injury that you have to push through," Strong said. "(But) at the same time, I want to be smart. I don't want to do anything that would jeopardize my long-term quality of health.
Our careers, like football, come with a some kind of pain: mental and/or physical. I've got to respect a person that can take the pain, but then realize when it's time to make the change. I'd say, when our long term vision for life is compromised it's time for change.
"You know, there's a lot more to life than football. I've got my wife and two kids," he said with a cracking voice, before pausing 10 seconds with his head bowed to control his emotions, "and there's nothing more important then being able to spend time with them."
16 Sundays a year minimum this man plays out his career on a huge stage in front of millions of fans. At the end of the day his wife and kids are most important. Perspective is key in this pursuit of our career. What is most important to us is what is left when they turn out the lights on what we've worked for. For me, may I being looking at my wife and kids.
"I've given every ounce inside of me to football," he said, pausing again, this time for almost 30 seconds with his head down, sniffling and then clearing his throat, "I felt like I gave every ounce I had. So I have no regrets."
When throwing our heart and soul into everyday there is no way we can have regrets. Mistakes and what might have beens will happen, but no regrets.
It goes back to his first flight to Seattle, out of Georgia in the spring of '93 as that undrafted, no-chance free agent. Strong didn't have enough money to buy luggage. So he borrowed his mother's suitcases. He put all his shoes in a garbage bag. "I remember going down to the carousel down at baggage claim to get my garbage bag full of tennis shoes. And I remember someone saying, 'Somebody put a garbage bag on there,"' Strong said. "Just as I was about to reach for it, I took my hand back. I walked away for a little while and came back when everyone kind of left.
Mack is the kind of man who has never forgotten from where he came from. No matter what, remembering where we started is, I believe, the key to long term success.
I will definitely miss watching Mack Strong block for Shawn Alexander, but I am so thankful his body will recover and his life will be full. And now perhaps I will meet him someday. I had the privilege of meeting his mother some time ago. As a strong believer I would expect Mack to live a powerful life influencing people for Christ.
