The
Saint Louis Rams had just beaten the Tennessee Titans 31-27 and the players
were leaving the field. Our seats for the game were in the section above where
the Rams enter & exit the field. I knew players would sometimes throw their
gloves or wristbands to the children fans in the stands. I thought Samantha
would enjoy seeing that happen and if she was lucky, maybe get a glove herself.
Samantha went down to stand where the players enter & exit the field. Some
players were off the field and Samantha came back to me with red eyes and tears.
She had been standing there cheering and watching the players leave the field.
She told me that Marc Bulger (Rams quarterback) had a game ball that he threw
to a boy 2 people away from her. She had yelled, "Ball" along with
many other kids but no ball. She continued cheering and celebrating as the Ram
players left the field. As she was cheering, Marshall Faulk (Rams future Hall-of-Famer
running back) made eye contact with her, then handed her his hat. Samantha froze.
Marshall said, "Here" and waved the hat. Samantha said thank you and
came back to me crying. She was so happy that only tears could express her feelings.
She
was shaking and told me that Marshall Faulk gave me his hat. She didn't know
if she should smile or cry.
I was (and still am) extremely happy for her. This is so great for her. I was
so happy for her and it was moving to see her joy. I held the hat in amazement.
Does this really happen to people like us? Obviously, it does. Then she hugged
me. With tears in her eyes, she hugged me tightly, and said, "Thank you
Dad for bringing me to the game." I'm tearing up now thinking about it
and I was tearing up then as my daughter and I shared an amazing moment in the
Edward Jones Dome.
She examined the hat after our hug as we soaked the ecstasy. She said, "Dad,
it's still wet with Marshall's sweat" and she was not grossed out. She
was amazed and honored and extremely happy. Upon further review, the tag on
the hat had a black marker's writing on it and it said, "28." Wow!
I still can't believe it happened.
All
I can say is thank you Marshall for your hat and thank you Mark & Jo Anne
for the tickets.
The
Saint Louis Rams had just beaten the Tennessee Titans 31-27 and the players
were leaving the field. Our seats for the game were in the section above where
the Rams enter & exit the field. I knew players would sometimes throw their
gloves or wristbands to the children fans in the stands. I thought Samantha
would enjoy seeing that happen and if she was lucky, maybe get a glove herself.
Samantha went down to stand where the players enter & exit the field. Some
players were off the field and Samantha came back to me with red eyes and tears.
She
was shaking and told me that Marshall Faulk gave me his hat. She didn't know
if she should smile or cry.
All
I can say is thank you Marshall for your hat and thank you Mark & Jo Anne
for the tickets.
