Extraordinarily Ordinary
I listen to sports radio. (Why does that feels like a confession?) It may be unusual for a 50+ year old female, but I put Mike & Mike on ESPN while getting ready for work. I listen to ESPN sports radio most of the morning in my office. On the way home from work I listen to the local sports show, co-hosted by Chris Spielman. In addition to five days a week on the Columbus station, he also calls games on ESPN.
Spielman and his wife, Stefanie, are celebrities in Central Ohio. Chris was a football star at Ohio State, recently inducted into the Ohio College Hall of Fame. He went on to an all-pro career playing football for the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns, before a neck injury ended his career.
Although scarlet and gray runs deep in these parts, the Spielmans are just as famous for their public battle against breast cancer. Stefanie has fought cancer several times, and Chris has stood by her side caring for her and their children, even to the point of putting his pro career on hold at one point.
In between bouts of battling the disease itself, the Spielmans do a great deal of community education about cancer, and fundraising for cancer research through the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research. In addition to career responsibilities and the many events and activities around the Fund, the Spielmans also have four children and a very busy family life.
They sound like extraordinary people, don’t they? Today, Chris made a statement that was quite ordinary, but made him even more extraordinary, in my book.
During today’s show, one of the topics was the tragic death of former Tennessee Titan quarterback Steve McNair over the weekend. The circumstances around his death let to a discussion about how McNair will be remembered – as a great football player and team leader, or as a man who – it appears - was killed by the 20 year old woman he allegedly was having an affair with. Several men called in offering opinions. At one point in the discussion, Chris Spielman firmly said (not an exact quote; I was driving!):
I don’t want to be remembered as a football player, although at one time I did. I don’t want to be remembered as a talk show host or as an announcer on ESPN.
I want to be remembered as a man who did the best he could for his faith and his family. That’s it.
How ordinary! And, how extra-ordinary!
These days, there are so many “heroes” who are really not heroes at all. Chris Spielman is a man who is known for so many remarkable achievements, yet only wants to be known for being a man who did the best he could for his faith and his family. Yes, it bears repeating, again. For being a man who did the best he could for his faith and his family.
Tags: Family, Health, Integrity, Sports
You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.