I am a die-hard New Orleans Saints fan and I rarely follow an athlete when they get cut or sign deals with another NFL team.
One former Saints player in particular caught my eye on the team three years ago. I watched Benjamin Watson as he played tight end for the Saints where he served as team captain for one year and finished his third year with some season career ties of his record. He signed a two year deal this year to play with the Baltimore Ravens. Although I will not give up my Saints, I will follow Watson’s career as well.
His athleticism is impressive on the field, but his character off the field is what caught my eye.
Benjamin Watson was a letterman in high school from South Carolina who helped lead his team to several state championships. Watson was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
After an SEC college career Watson was drafted in the first round to the New England Patriots where as a rookie was able to be enjoy a Super Bowl win in 2004 and again in 2007.
Watson and his wife are the parents of five children and the founders of One More foundation.
What impressed me is that in his 12th year as an NFL football player, Watson uses his exposure as a pro athlete to serve as a true role model not only for the young and impressionable but older adults as well.
Watson has been speaking out about the recent racial tensions that are surrounding us and although his blog posts are lengthy, they are worth taking the time to read. They are thought provoking and insightful from the perspective of a black man.
While the Black Lives Matter protests are going on all around us, Watson speaks candidly and here is an excerpt from his most recent blog:
“Black lives DON’T matter when some politicians enable generational dependency, stifling individual responsibility while others completely deny the importance of programs that are needed to help the marginalized. A crutch is the vital friend of the injured, its ultimate purpose to one day be laid aside as its former dependent walks on their own. If it oversteps its purpose the user will no longer feel the need to walk. Erroneously, they may not even think they can ever do so. Consequently, a stagnant, hopeless life seems to matter less……”
That excerpt speaks volumes, but where do we go from here? How do overcome racial tensions or will we ever? Attacks on our law enforcement are not justified no matter what the reason for the protest. I just pray for our country because it seems as if the moral decay is sliding down hill faster and faster.
