L.T. shares Walter Payton award with Brees...
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:55 pm
....the only League award to recognize both off the field community service as well as playing excellence.
LaDainian Tomlinson has been to Pro Bowls, led the NFL in rushing, broken records and named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, but according to the Chargers’ all-time leading rusher, the award he received Friday trumped all of his accomplishments.
Tomlinson and Saints quarterback Drew Brees were honored Friday as the 2006 recipients of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, the only League award to recognize both off the field community service as well as playing excellence.
“To me this is the top honor,” Tomlinson said. “I say that because it’s not only about what I’ve done on the field but also the impact that I’m trying to make off the field with the community and the younger generation.”
As a child, Tomlinson admired Walter Payton the player. As he grew up, he also developed an appreciation for the Hall of Famer’s commitment to helping other people.
“I am honored to receive this award because it’s named after a man who had a tremendous impact on me growing up,” Tomlinson said. “I idolized and wanted to be like Walter Payton when I was growing up. He was more than a great running back. He was a great person. LaTorsha and I have been blessed, and we’re grateful to be able to continue his legacy of leadership that has had such a positive impact on kids just like me growing up.”
Tomlinson’s Touching Lives Foundation will receive a $25,000 donation in conjunction with the award. L.T.’s 21 Club provides Chargers game tickets to local children, who are then treated to a postgame dinner hosted by Tomlinson and receive a goodie bag filled with school supplies, books and games. Each year, L.T.’s School is Cool Scholarship Fund helps 25 college-bound students who are selected based upon academics, community involvement and volunteerism.
He also hosts the Giving Thanks with L.T. & Friends Holiday Program, working with community leaders and law enforcement in San Diego to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys and take needy children shopping and holds free youth football camps in both San Diego and his hometown of Waco, Texas.
"LT personifies the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award," said Chargers president Dean Spanos. "He leads by example both as a player on the field and as a citizen in our community. He has his priorities in the right order. Faith and family are number one in his life. He takes his status as a role model seriously and truly is a role model for all of our kids. We’re proud of the way LT represents himself, the Chargers and the community of San Diego.”
Walter Payton’s widow Connie presented the award at a press conference in Miami. She lauded Tomlinson’s work with young people and his commitment to bettering his community.
“Your time, efforts, generosity and funding programs for children of all ages are nothing short of admirable,” Connie Payton said. “Everything you do is hands‑on, and it focuses on the well‑being of today's youth who are tomorrow's future. And yet you say you have so much more to accomplish, not just as a player, but as a giver. And how fortunate for those who know and will get to know the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson.”
Tomlinson was honored to share the award with Brees, his good friend and former teammate. This was the second time that two players have been co-recipients. Connie Payton said that she struggled to decide which player to vote for and said that her ballot looked as if a child had scribbled on it by the time she kept crossing one name out to write the other.
“This was the first time for me that when casting my ballot for the recipient of the Walter Payton NFL Man of The Year Award, I just couldn't decide between Drew and LaDainian,” Connie Payton said. “Obviously, I wasn't the only one who had this same experience. And with all of that being said, I couldn't be more pleased and thrilled that you are both here sharing this platform with me and my family.
Tomlinson is the fourth Charger to win the NFL Man of the Year Award, carrying on a strong commitment the Spanos Family has made to community service. He joins former Bolts John Hadl (’71), Rolf Benirschke (’83) and Junior Seau (’94). Tomlinson’s long list of thanks included his wife LaTorsha as well as the Spanoses, who flew cross country to show their support Friday.
“I thank Dean and Susie Spanos, who have believed in me and the things that I've tried to do, not only on the football field, but I think in the community,” Tomlinson said. “They've always been supportive of me and our family, I think it's just tremendous that they're here supporting this award and us.”
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award was established in 1970. In all, 14 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and five Super Bowl Most Valuable Players have won the award. Each team names a finalist for the award, which is ultimately decided by a panel that includes the Payton Family and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
...I call bullsh!t..
The Three Amigos
LT had the gall to call Belichump "classless" and get in the face of Ellis Hobbs after a crushing loss...he can't be human! I mean come-on, no one has ever done anything so dastardly before, what a whining snatch gropper, freeking crybaby. Yea, I've lost total respect for the guy.
RJ
DF
Densedale
...hey fishies, I'll be gone for a couple of days so I'll have to wait for your comments...wait, no I won't!
Another day, Another Snatch DisCharge Fan getting pwnt and kicking thier own pathetic ass. DF
Does a day ever go by where C-Dyke doesn't kick his own ass? RJ
Chargertard have to be dumbest fucking fanbase ever. and the biggest bunch of dripping pussies the sports world has ever witnessed. Densedale
You can look at just about any thread on this front page and see C-Dyke getting his ass kicked. . The Amigos
LaDainian Tomlinson has been to Pro Bowls, led the NFL in rushing, broken records and named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, but according to the Chargers’ all-time leading rusher, the award he received Friday trumped all of his accomplishments.
Tomlinson and Saints quarterback Drew Brees were honored Friday as the 2006 recipients of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, the only League award to recognize both off the field community service as well as playing excellence.
“To me this is the top honor,” Tomlinson said. “I say that because it’s not only about what I’ve done on the field but also the impact that I’m trying to make off the field with the community and the younger generation.”
As a child, Tomlinson admired Walter Payton the player. As he grew up, he also developed an appreciation for the Hall of Famer’s commitment to helping other people.
“I am honored to receive this award because it’s named after a man who had a tremendous impact on me growing up,” Tomlinson said. “I idolized and wanted to be like Walter Payton when I was growing up. He was more than a great running back. He was a great person. LaTorsha and I have been blessed, and we’re grateful to be able to continue his legacy of leadership that has had such a positive impact on kids just like me growing up.”
Tomlinson’s Touching Lives Foundation will receive a $25,000 donation in conjunction with the award. L.T.’s 21 Club provides Chargers game tickets to local children, who are then treated to a postgame dinner hosted by Tomlinson and receive a goodie bag filled with school supplies, books and games. Each year, L.T.’s School is Cool Scholarship Fund helps 25 college-bound students who are selected based upon academics, community involvement and volunteerism.
He also hosts the Giving Thanks with L.T. & Friends Holiday Program, working with community leaders and law enforcement in San Diego to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys and take needy children shopping and holds free youth football camps in both San Diego and his hometown of Waco, Texas.
"LT personifies the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award," said Chargers president Dean Spanos. "He leads by example both as a player on the field and as a citizen in our community. He has his priorities in the right order. Faith and family are number one in his life. He takes his status as a role model seriously and truly is a role model for all of our kids. We’re proud of the way LT represents himself, the Chargers and the community of San Diego.”
Walter Payton’s widow Connie presented the award at a press conference in Miami. She lauded Tomlinson’s work with young people and his commitment to bettering his community.
“Your time, efforts, generosity and funding programs for children of all ages are nothing short of admirable,” Connie Payton said. “Everything you do is hands‑on, and it focuses on the well‑being of today's youth who are tomorrow's future. And yet you say you have so much more to accomplish, not just as a player, but as a giver. And how fortunate for those who know and will get to know the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson.”
Tomlinson was honored to share the award with Brees, his good friend and former teammate. This was the second time that two players have been co-recipients. Connie Payton said that she struggled to decide which player to vote for and said that her ballot looked as if a child had scribbled on it by the time she kept crossing one name out to write the other.
“This was the first time for me that when casting my ballot for the recipient of the Walter Payton NFL Man of The Year Award, I just couldn't decide between Drew and LaDainian,” Connie Payton said. “Obviously, I wasn't the only one who had this same experience. And with all of that being said, I couldn't be more pleased and thrilled that you are both here sharing this platform with me and my family.
Tomlinson is the fourth Charger to win the NFL Man of the Year Award, carrying on a strong commitment the Spanos Family has made to community service. He joins former Bolts John Hadl (’71), Rolf Benirschke (’83) and Junior Seau (’94). Tomlinson’s long list of thanks included his wife LaTorsha as well as the Spanoses, who flew cross country to show their support Friday.
“I thank Dean and Susie Spanos, who have believed in me and the things that I've tried to do, not only on the football field, but I think in the community,” Tomlinson said. “They've always been supportive of me and our family, I think it's just tremendous that they're here supporting this award and us.”
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award was established in 1970. In all, 14 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and five Super Bowl Most Valuable Players have won the award. Each team names a finalist for the award, which is ultimately decided by a panel that includes the Payton Family and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
...I call bullsh!t..
The Three Amigos
LT had the gall to call Belichump "classless" and get in the face of Ellis Hobbs after a crushing loss...he can't be human! I mean come-on, no one has ever done anything so dastardly before, what a whining snatch gropper, freeking crybaby. Yea, I've lost total respect for the guy.
RJ
DF
Densedale
...hey fishies, I'll be gone for a couple of days so I'll have to wait for your comments...wait, no I won't!
Another day, Another Snatch DisCharge Fan getting pwnt and kicking thier own pathetic ass. DF
Does a day ever go by where C-Dyke doesn't kick his own ass? RJ
Chargertard have to be dumbest fucking fanbase ever. and the biggest bunch of dripping pussies the sports world has ever witnessed. Densedale
You can look at just about any thread on this front page and see C-Dyke getting his ass kicked. . The Amigos