LITTLE ROCK — LeGrand’s retirement just a start
With all the negativity surrounding football - particularly college football, lately - here is a new chapter to a feelgood story that started a couple of months ago.
Paralyzed former Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand retired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, a little less than three months after his symbolic signing with the NFL team.
The contract LeGrand received from the team now led by his former college coach, Greg Schiano, had no monetary value. His No. 52 jersey remains available through the team’s website with proceeds benefiting spinal cord research, and a book chronicling his life story is scheduled to be released in September.
“I’ve been blown away by the tremendous outpouring ofsupport, both in Tampa Bay and nationally, through this whole thing,” LeGrand said during a conference call. “Everyone’s support has really motivated me more and more to get better. I grind hard every day to [achieve] my main goal, and that’s to walk again.”
LeGrand broke two vertebrae and sustained a serious spinal cord injury in October 2010 during a kickoff return against Army.
He became an inspiration to his college teammates, eventually being able to stand upright with the help of a metal frame.
He resumed his studies through video conferences in 2011 and last fall led the Scarlet Knights onto the field before a game. LeGrand continues therapy and hopes to finish school next year before pursuing a career in broadcasting.
Not an average fan
London’s Chinatown is hosting an unusual Olympic fan: A farmer who says he has cycled on a rickshaw all the way from China for the games.
Chen Guanming, 57, said he undertook the two-year trip tosupport the athletes and “spread the Olympic spirit.” He’s also seeking a last-minute ticket to attend today’s opening ceremony.
He said Thursday his extraordinary journey began in April 2010 in his village in eastern China’s Jiangsu province. Over the next two years, he said he covered 16 countries that included Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan, Turkey and Italy. He arrived in Britain by a ferry from France on July 6, he said.
His rickshaw, loaded with his possessions, is plastered with pictures of him posing in front of international landmarks like the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
What’s in a name?
Satirical sports website sportspickle.com has compiled a list of the 60 funniest athlete names in the London Olympics.
Here is a sampling of the list:
Michael Arms, rowing, New Zealand
Jack Bauer, cycling, New Zealand
Usain Bolt, track, Jamaica
Yu Du, shooting, China
Tim Lips, equestrian, Netherlands
Sparkle McKnight, track and field, Trinidad and TobagoQuote of the day
“We’ve made Austin
eat gumbo and drink sweet tea, and we’ve told
him it’s OK to say ‘Hi’
to people on the street, even if you don’t know them.” Arkansas offensive guard Tyler Deacon on helping Austin Flynn get acclimated to Arkansas after growing up in California
Sports, Pages 22 on 07/27/2012