For this former Viking, dreams DO come true!
With all the off-field negativity surrounding professional athletes nowadays, its easy to become disillusioned with professional sports. With player salaries out of control, rookies failing to report to training camp, players switching teams on an annual basis. There are plenty of reasons for a fan to wash his or her hands of it all.
Which makes this next story and other stories like it so important. It is stories like the one I'm about to tell that remind us all why we love sports so much.
Growing up as a frisky lad in Sacramento, Calif., Onterrio Smith would seldom be seen without his football, carrying it everywhere like a mother with a newborn child. Sprinting down the aisles at the grocery store, he would pretend he was charging through pursuing linebackers en route to the end zone, always culminating in the same familiar phrase, "TOUCHDOWN BLUE BOMBERS!"
Yes, this week the childhood dream of former Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith became reality as he inked a deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.
Sure, excelling at the University of Oregon was nice. Rushing for over 1100 yards and 7 touchdowns in just nine starts over two years for the Vikings was a blessing. But Smith could never have called himself fulfilled until he had a chance to lead the blue and gold to the incomparable Grey Cup.
The Bombers said it best in an official press release that proudly stated, "The Winnipeg Blue Bombers could have the best offensive backfield tandem in the CFL this season..."
The other half of the highly touted tandem to which the Bombers are alluding is Charles Roberts, or as I like to call him, "Chucky Rob." Chucky Rob led the CFL in rushing last year with 1624 yards. Who knows how many games those stats were compiled in, but who cares!
Brendan Taman, Bombers general manager could hardly contain his excitement when he said, "Onterrio Smith is an exciting, dynamic player who will add a lot to this team."
Of course by "add a lot to this team," we can only assume he meant rushing yards and touchdowns as opposed to killer bong hitting techniques and Original Whizzinators.
There will be some who will try to label Smith harshly, claiming he has "ruined his career" and he is an "idiot" or a "pot head."
Well I say, If being kicked out of the NFL for repeatedly smoking weed only to end up as a member of the storied Winnipeg Blue Bombers franchise makes someone an idiot, then Onterrio must be an idiot.
But I choose to call him a young man who is not afraid to chase his dreams...and a killer buzz!
Which makes this next story and other stories like it so important. It is stories like the one I'm about to tell that remind us all why we love sports so much.
Growing up as a frisky lad in Sacramento, Calif., Onterrio Smith would seldom be seen without his football, carrying it everywhere like a mother with a newborn child. Sprinting down the aisles at the grocery store, he would pretend he was charging through pursuing linebackers en route to the end zone, always culminating in the same familiar phrase, "TOUCHDOWN BLUE BOMBERS!"
Yes, this week the childhood dream of former Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith became reality as he inked a deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.
Sure, excelling at the University of Oregon was nice. Rushing for over 1100 yards and 7 touchdowns in just nine starts over two years for the Vikings was a blessing. But Smith could never have called himself fulfilled until he had a chance to lead the blue and gold to the incomparable Grey Cup.
The Bombers said it best in an official press release that proudly stated, "The Winnipeg Blue Bombers could have the best offensive backfield tandem in the CFL this season..."
The other half of the highly touted tandem to which the Bombers are alluding is Charles Roberts, or as I like to call him, "Chucky Rob." Chucky Rob led the CFL in rushing last year with 1624 yards. Who knows how many games those stats were compiled in, but who cares!
Brendan Taman, Bombers general manager could hardly contain his excitement when he said, "Onterrio Smith is an exciting, dynamic player who will add a lot to this team."
Of course by "add a lot to this team," we can only assume he meant rushing yards and touchdowns as opposed to killer bong hitting techniques and Original Whizzinators.
There will be some who will try to label Smith harshly, claiming he has "ruined his career" and he is an "idiot" or a "pot head."
Well I say, If being kicked out of the NFL for repeatedly smoking weed only to end up as a member of the storied Winnipeg Blue Bombers franchise makes someone an idiot, then Onterrio must be an idiot.
But I choose to call him a young man who is not afraid to chase his dreams...and a killer buzz!
posted by Jon Sladek at 8:26 PM
1 Comments:
Unlike the Vikings, the Blue Bombers have had championship seasons over the course of their 76-year existence (albeit, none in the last 15 years or so).
So in that respect, this is a step up for Onterrio.
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