Jacksonville’s Peterson hosting free football camp
May 31st, 2007
Jacksonville Jaguars’ linebacker Mike Peterson’s foundation has been involved in charitable causes for a couple of years. This year, Peterson is hosting a free football camp for children, with several NFL players scheduled to take part.
“It cuts out a lot of kids when it’s not free,” Peterson said. “That cut me out when I was a kid. I never went to a camp.”
Space is limited to approximately 250 campers and each participant will receive a camp t-shirt and an autographed photo from Peterson. While football will be taught, Peterson is looking forward to also having the young children interact with his teammates and peers.
“We are going to take breaks from playing ball and just talk to them,” Peterson said. “I want them to see a NFL player with their pants pulled up or a NFL player respecting an older woman with ‘yes maam or no maam’ in a lunch line. These kids see that and then they know how it’s supposed to be.”
In a day when we hear too much about thugs like Pacman Jones, Michael Vick and practically the entire Cincinnati Bengals team, it’s refreshing to read something like this.
Hat tip: Gordon
I agree, it is nice to hear a feel good story from the NFL. I hope that other’s will follow Mr. Peterson’s lead and either join in or start their own in other NFL towns. Lord knows Cincinnati and others could use it. (sorry for the spotlight being shown on Cincy. I guess that is the Steeler fam in me.)
It’d be nice if good things like this were better publicized too. Think we’ll be seeing this on Sportscenter?
I think this is great… but I also think this is sad. It is sad that it has to take a football player to get that kind of message across. Whatever happened to the respected working man? The father? The mother?
It is very telling that a child will honor and respect an athlete over and above their parents and those who are respectable in their community. Our priorities are crooked in this generation.
j razz
I agree with you j razz. It is sad. I do feel that parents should be respected over athletes. But it is good that the Lord is using this for good.
I also agree Zoner. Stories like this never get to much pub.
If the NFL is going to punish bad behavior like that of Pac Man Jones and Michael Vick, why don’t they also reward good behavior like this. Why not chip in a few thousand dollars to help out a player who wants to give something back?
just a thought