Plaxico Burress You Say? Donald Driver I Say

Good guys, bad guys, which is which?  The white collar worker or the digger of the ditch?  Man, who’s to say who’s the better man?  I’m doing the very best I can.  -Minor Threat

Public Service Announcement:  OK, here we go!  Plaxico Burress was sentenced to two years in prison yesterday on a weapon charge and left court to begin serving his jail term immediately.  I’ve heard all the excuses.  I’ve heard all the cries of unfairness.  That is not why we’re here today.  Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life.        

With all this focus on the negative in the NFL,  there are plenty of positives.  You’ve got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative.  Latch on to the affirmative.  Don’t mess with Mister In-Between.  Time to mess with the good guys.  Men who should win the Nobel Prize.  All that and McDonald’s French Fries.  The men in the white hats.  The Dumbledores.  The Peter Petrellis.  The guys you’d be proud to have on your team. 

Today we start with Green Bay Packer wide receiver Donald Driver.  We all know about Driver’s exploits on the field.  We all know he’s high profile.  Agile.  Versatile.  Don’t you tell me to smile.  You stick around I’ll make it worth your while.  Got numbers beyond what you can dial.  We all know he makes the tough plays on the field.  One of the toughest wide receivers in the game.  For years he’ had the most catches in the NFL in the middle of the field.  It’s off the field however, where he makes the toughest of plays.  

Donald persevered through incredible setbacks.  At one time in his youth, he lived in the back of a U-Haul truck.  His father went to prison.  Driver himself turned to desperate measures.  He dealt.  He stole cars.  And I’m driving a stolen car.  On a pitch black night.  And I’m telling myself I’m gonna be all right.  He turned out all right.  He received a four-year scholarship to Alcorn State University, where he earned a B.S. in Accounting, and worked on finishing his master’s degree in Computer Science. 

Since he turned pro, Driver has become one of the most active athletes in the community.  He has made hundreds of appearances since his rookie 1999 season.  In the spring of 2001, Donald and his wife Betina created the Donald Driver Foundation.  The foundation offers assistance to ill children with unmanageable hospital bills.  It provides housing for the homeless.  It donates to a variety of local charities.  Donald’s foundation has put previously homeless families in new, fully furnished homes. 

Donald has also donated much of his time and efforts to such institutions as the Milwaukee Juvenile Detention Center, the PALS program, and the Children’s Miracle Network.  He has made numerous guest-speaking appearances and visited Green Bay-area schools stressing the importance of fitness and the importance of making the right decisions in life.  Driver was awarded the Community Service Award by the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his outstanding community involvement.  Donald also had the honor of receiving the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which is the only NFL award that recognizes off-the-field community service as well as playing excellence.   Sweetness!  Here’s to you Donald Driver.  One of the good guys.

Public Spectacle:

Peace out homies.  Six Two and Even!

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