Jimmy Graham: A 1% chance

I was interested in the comments made by Chris Collinsworth about Jimmy Graham, the Saints TE, in the game tonight. His story is pretty amazing. Abandoned by his mother and step-father and raised by a single mom on a very limited budget, this kid's story is an inspiration. In his own words, he had a 1% chance to succeed. It shows not only his own dedication but the devotion of a compassionate woman who just couldn't turn away a kid that was hurting. It will warm your heart. Here are a couple of links to his story:


http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/13232/jimmy-graham click the video on the right

http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/021511aab.html

At first I thought Graham was a douche after he mocked Aaron Rodgers in his touchdown celebration, but he's an outstanding player and an even better person. You also can't help but like the guy when he's on your fantasy team

Originally posted by YungAce:
At first I thought Graham was a douche after he mocked Aaron Rodgers in his touchdown celebration, but he's an outstanding player and an even better person. You also can't help but like the guy when he's on your fantasy team

rodgers is a douche for using that celebration in the first place

Originally posted by WillistheWall:
rodgers is a douche for using that celebration in the first place

let's not thread highjack but

Originally posted by WillistheWall:
rodgers is a douche for using that celebration in the first place

You wouldn't think he was a douche if he was doing that for the 49ers.

Graham is a talent. He is hard to cover and getting harder.

I watched the story on ESPN gameday. Pretty crappy up bringing.

Originally posted by Rubberneck36:
Graham is a talent. He is hard to cover and getting harder.

I watched the story on ESPN gameday. Pretty crappy up bringing.

The part where he was in the JD center and wondering if he was worth anything and concluding it was only $98...that was touching.

The commitment Rebecca Vinson made to take him in is pretty incredible as well. She was putting herself through nursing school at age 26 and took the time to turn his grades around. Collinsworth has a good way of saying something serious but keeping it light as well. The way he put it when Graham came home with all Fs on his report card was, "Becca said 'that won't get it." She then stayed up with him until midnight, writing papers and doing other work to get him caught up. He wound up with As and Bs. All this while she was in nursing school, which is not an easy course of study. If only more kids had parents who would make that commitment. My wife is going to use this story in her classroom this week. She has a few Jimmy Grahams.

Originally posted by WillistheWall:

Originally posted by YungAce:

At first I thought Graham was a douche after he mocked Aaron Rodgers in his touchdown celebration, but he's an outstanding player and an even better person. You also can't help but like the guy when he's on your fantasy team

rodgers is a douche for using that celebration in the first place

That is the most badass celebration ever!

Some days I think everything is against me and then I read astory like that and makes me realize how blessed I really am.

Originally posted by monsterzero789:

Originally posted by WillistheWall:

Originally posted by YungAce:
At first I thought Graham was a douche after he mocked Aaron Rodgers in his touchdown celebration, but he's an outstanding player and an even better person. You also can't help but like the guy when he's on your fantasy team

rodgers is a douche for using that celebration in the first place

That is the most badass celebration ever!

They stole that from a past KC WR...Damn ! can't remember his name.. played for KC then went to Philly

Originally posted by 49AllTheTime:
They stole that from a past KC WR...Damn ! can't remember his name.. played for KC then went to Philly

and they stole it as well

The story almost made me tear up, but then my testicles reminded me whats up. But seriously, its sad that his new mom came back on the scene after his adoptive mother brought him up and got him through college into the NFL. I wonder how long it took her before she realized the son she abandoned was about to go pro.

Time to occupy Jimmy Graham?

Originally posted by Youngone:
The story almost made me tear up, but then my testicles reminded me whats up. But seriously, its sad that his new mom came back on the scene after his adoptive mother brought him up and got him through college into the NFL. I wonder how long it took her before she realized the son she abandoned was about to go pro.

Graham seemed to have the situation well in hand. As he said, "you can forgive but you can't forget."

Originally posted by Rubberneck36:
Graham is a talent. He is hard to cover and getting harder.

I watched the story on ESPN gameday. Pretty crappy up bringing.

There are many people who suffer that upbringing and worse.