RedskinsSuperBowl21
October-18th-2008, 11:04 AM
Redskin Running Back Bust Turns into Home Town Hero
Redskin fans love their most recent UCLA draftee. That seventh round gift from the Bruins, Safety Chris Horton, has proven to be the jewel of the Washington draft class so far in 2008. He is tied for second in the league in interceptions, logged 10 tackles last week alone, and has become a force in the defensive backfield, already winning an NFL rookie of the week honor.
Trivia time: Who remembers the last UCLA alum the 'skins picked before Horton? Hint: it was in 2005 and it didn't turn out nearly so well for Washington.
That year the Redskins had two first round picks, which they used on Auburn's finest, cornerback Carlos Rogers and quarterback Jason Campbell. Both have blossomed this year—becoming genuine Redskin Heroes. The next man selected is no longer on the team—nor in football.
Manuel White was a 6'2" 240-pound tailback who proved injury prone and ineffective in the pros. To add insult to ineptness, White was a fourth rounder, as the skins had traded away their second and third round choices. After a couple of unsuccessful years on the team, and a broken leg, he gave up football. White became an official Redskin "Bust."
So...why bring up a guy who went from hometown hero to Redskin zero? Because Manuel White is once again a hero. No, he doesn't fight for Old DC, he puts it on the line out here on the Left Coast--near LA. How can that be? We all know the City of Angels has no pro football team—if you don't count USC.
In football, White was an offensive specialist. His new job puts him both on the offensive, or when called for, defending against a relentless enemy. There's no more cheers from hometown throngs. Instead he's more likely to be hugged out by grateful local homeowners. (And he's not a Mortgage Bailout expert. )
And these are not three hour, once on Sunday outings. This week, for instance, White was at it for 48 hours straight. No stays in luxury hotels, either--he grabbed sleep when he could on the ground, or sprawled out over the tools of his trade. Not alone, of course. He was joined by hundreds of fellow members of LA's most appreciated heroes.
White spent the week ready to defend a most precious possession belonging to people he'd never met before. He no longer takes it to the house, he saves the house--and the apartments and places of work. The former running back is now a Pasadena firefighter. Firefighters risk more than a blown out knee or broken limbs when they go to work. They quite literally put their lives on the line--and for considerably less pay and significantly less glory.
Firefighters in LA and surrounding communities fought two major brush fires earlier this week that were at times propelled by wind gusts exceeding 80 MPH. As a news junkie who once briefly covered some fires, and who now watches the aerial and ground battles as avidly as a Redskin game, I can tell you Southern California firefighters are as good, and brave, and honorable as anyone gets. The interplay between ground units and aerial assets is as precise and coordinated and exciting to watch as any football play.
White is a rookie at his profession, but the day may come when he will literally save lives. Said White to KABC-TV News, Wednesday: "This is my first time being deployed on a strike team. It's a learning experience for me…eyes open the whole night and just ready to go if the fire was to come our way."
And while a great runner would have been oh-so-nice for the Burgundy and Gold, somehow I suspect this is one football bust who has moved on to a greater calling.
http://www.nfldraftdog.com/NFL%20Team%20Columns/washington_redskins_nfl_team_col.htm
Redskin fans love their most recent UCLA draftee. That seventh round gift from the Bruins, Safety Chris Horton, has proven to be the jewel of the Washington draft class so far in 2008. He is tied for second in the league in interceptions, logged 10 tackles last week alone, and has become a force in the defensive backfield, already winning an NFL rookie of the week honor.
Trivia time: Who remembers the last UCLA alum the 'skins picked before Horton? Hint: it was in 2005 and it didn't turn out nearly so well for Washington.
That year the Redskins had two first round picks, which they used on Auburn's finest, cornerback Carlos Rogers and quarterback Jason Campbell. Both have blossomed this year—becoming genuine Redskin Heroes. The next man selected is no longer on the team—nor in football.
Manuel White was a 6'2" 240-pound tailback who proved injury prone and ineffective in the pros. To add insult to ineptness, White was a fourth rounder, as the skins had traded away their second and third round choices. After a couple of unsuccessful years on the team, and a broken leg, he gave up football. White became an official Redskin "Bust."
So...why bring up a guy who went from hometown hero to Redskin zero? Because Manuel White is once again a hero. No, he doesn't fight for Old DC, he puts it on the line out here on the Left Coast--near LA. How can that be? We all know the City of Angels has no pro football team—if you don't count USC.
In football, White was an offensive specialist. His new job puts him both on the offensive, or when called for, defending against a relentless enemy. There's no more cheers from hometown throngs. Instead he's more likely to be hugged out by grateful local homeowners. (And he's not a Mortgage Bailout expert. )
And these are not three hour, once on Sunday outings. This week, for instance, White was at it for 48 hours straight. No stays in luxury hotels, either--he grabbed sleep when he could on the ground, or sprawled out over the tools of his trade. Not alone, of course. He was joined by hundreds of fellow members of LA's most appreciated heroes.
White spent the week ready to defend a most precious possession belonging to people he'd never met before. He no longer takes it to the house, he saves the house--and the apartments and places of work. The former running back is now a Pasadena firefighter. Firefighters risk more than a blown out knee or broken limbs when they go to work. They quite literally put their lives on the line--and for considerably less pay and significantly less glory.
Firefighters in LA and surrounding communities fought two major brush fires earlier this week that were at times propelled by wind gusts exceeding 80 MPH. As a news junkie who once briefly covered some fires, and who now watches the aerial and ground battles as avidly as a Redskin game, I can tell you Southern California firefighters are as good, and brave, and honorable as anyone gets. The interplay between ground units and aerial assets is as precise and coordinated and exciting to watch as any football play.
White is a rookie at his profession, but the day may come when he will literally save lives. Said White to KABC-TV News, Wednesday: "This is my first time being deployed on a strike team. It's a learning experience for me…eyes open the whole night and just ready to go if the fire was to come our way."
And while a great runner would have been oh-so-nice for the Burgundy and Gold, somehow I suspect this is one football bust who has moved on to a greater calling.
http://www.nfldraftdog.com/NFL%20Team%20Columns/washington_redskins_nfl_team_col.htm