OT: Roo's Miracle...A TPB's Community Thread Of Unity and Support

[Whydachargers?]

In honor of his off the cuff request of me I will tell one that I remember. I may have told it before.

It was 1961. I was seven years old and lived in Granite Hills area of El Cajon. My mom was in real-estate and sold the house across the street to Ron Nery. Ron was number 80 and Defensive end. Very cool guy. He kind of took me under his wing. He took me to practice at Balboa. They didn't have lockers there so we had to ride the bus from San Diego High School. We went to practice. After practice we got back on the bus. Players were huge and sweaty. The players on the defensive line that year were Ron, Ernie Ladd, Earl Faison, and Bill Hudson. I had a hot dog that Ron bought me and was on the isle seat. Ernie Ladd came down the isle and had to bend to fit. He saw my hot dog and put his foot on mine (gently) and said "Give me a bite!"

7 year old scared me, slowly raised the dog and in one bite he took all but my fingers. I started to cry. He felt really bad

He was huge and in full 1960 uniform and pads. Scared the hell out me.

awwwwwww. I'm giving a hug to seven year old Craig. Very cool story to retell later on but that had to be kind of scary for 7 year-old Craig. At least you had Ron. That part sounds so awesome!

[Whydachargers?]

Thank you Craig!!! You are helping more than you know. I hope you can share some more stories and wisdom and just general posts now. Appreciate you. I was hoping to hear that Ladd either said he was just kidding or bought you a new hot dog.

TG

Well, Ernie must have literally had a big mouth. That was some story!

[Whydachargers?]

I don't have a Chargers player experience but I did have major league HOF pitcher Bert Blyleven (and wife) visit our home in 1979 after his team just finished winning the World Series vs. the Orioles. He was so much FUN. Like Craig, one of my parents was in real estate and that's how he came across Bert's path. It was an EPIC night.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

Here's a story:

While covering the Chargers for CFW in the 80's, I would attend games and sit in the press box. Every once in a while, Coach Sid Gilman and his adorable wife Esther would attend games as guests of the team, and they would also sit in the press box.

On one occasion, the Gilmans were seated right next to me, with Esther next to me, and Sid on the other side of her. Sid was busy watching the play on the field with binoculars, so Esther struck up a conversation with me.

She was absolutely delightful. She understood a lot about football, and considered herself a sort of Woman Football Missionary to other women. She told me about how she broke the game down to women so that they'd better grasp what was going on, and then-- understanding things-- find the game interesting and be more interested in watching football with their husbands.

She saw football as an opportunity to connect with other people, so... why not better connect spouses?

Sid joined the conversation after a few minutes and was an exceptionally gracious man. Quite warm and engaging. They both treated me like a neighbor, not like someone they had just met.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

I don't have a Chargers player experience but I did have major league HOF pitcher Bert Blyleven (and wife) visit our home in 1979 after his team just finished winning the World Series vs. the Orioles. He was so much FUN. Like Craig, one of my parents was in real estate and that's how he came across Bert's path. It was an EPIC night.

Bert "Be Home Bly" 'leven as Chris Berman called him.

[jubei]

now we have a chargers fan angel watching over all of us fans. RIP Roo and thx for all you've done.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

now we have a chargers fan angel watching over all of us fans. RIP Roo and thx for all you've done.

Roo says to thank Jesus.

Roo was really a stickler about not accepting compliments or gratitude.

Roo believed that any goodness we saw in him was a reflection of Jesus. He acted like he was surprised that we had such great respect for him.

[Whydachargers?]

Roo says to thank Jesus.

Roo was really a stickler about not accepting compliments or gratitude.

Roo believed that any goodness we saw in him was a reflection of Jesus. He acted like he was surprised that we had such great respect for him.

I loved that about Roo.

[wu-dai clan]

Here's a story:

While covering the Chargers for CFW in the 80's, I would attend games and sit in the press box. Every once in a while, Coach Sid Gilman and his adorable wife Esther would attend games as guests of the team, and they would also sit in the press box.

On one occasion, the Gilmans were seated right next to me, with Esther next to me, and Sid on the other side of her. Sid was busy watching the play on the field with binoculars, so Esther struck up a conversation with me.

She was absolutely delightful. She understood a lot about football, and considered herself a sort of Woman Football Missionary to other women. She told me about how she broke the game down to women so that they'd better grasp what was going on, and then-- understanding things-- find the game interesting and be more interested in watching football with their husbands.

She saw football as an opportunity to connect with other people, so... why not better connect spouses?

Sid joined the conversation after a few minutes and was an exceptionally gracious man. Quite warm and engaging. They both treated me like a neighbor, not like someone they had just met.

Thank you again for CFW.

You were my soul lifeline to my beloved Chargers for many years up here in NorCal.

The articles.
The color pictures. The draft breakdowns from Duke Peasley.

Nobody knows about this.
Nobody remembers.
But I sure do.

[Whydachargers?]

I remember CFW. I wrote a note to CFW way back and it showed up in the next edition of CFW in the "fan messages" section or whatever it was called back then.. I was very happy about that. It must have been before 1980.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

Thank you again for CFW.

You were my soul lifeline to my beloved Chargers for many years up here in NorCal.

The articles.
The color pictures. The draft breakdowns from Duke Peasley.

Nobody knows about this.
Nobody remembers.
But I sure do.

You're welcome.

I found out about CFW when I was in grad school, at San Jose State in 1982. I bought a Street & Smith's draft guide, and inside was an ad for CFW.

In the pre-internet era, it was next to impossible to get news about your favorite team, unless you lived in the general area of your team's home city.

Desperate for Chargers news, I subscribed. I remember reading a few issues and thinking it was kind of a rah-rah, fanboy magazine. As a grad student, I wrote papers all the time, and I knew I could write at least as well. I promised myself if I ever moved back to the San Diego area, I'd get in touch with CFW.

In '85, I indeed moved back. A few months later, after writing a couple of mock articles that reduced the rah rah/fanboy stuff, I called CFW and editor Sandy Doyle answered the phone. I explained that I was a subscriber, and had some thoughts about how the content could be improved-- would she be willing to take a look at my articles?

I went in, showed Sandy the articles, and two weeks later I was writing for CFW.

$30 per article. Oh, and I got my subscription for free. Such a deal! lol

[Formula 21]

In honor of his off the cuff request of me I will tell one that I remember. I may have told it before.

It was 1961. I was seven years old and lived in Granite Hills area of El Cajon. My mom was in real-estate and sold the house across the street to Ron Nery. Ron was number 80 and Defensive end. Very cool guy. He kind of took me under his wing. He took me to practice at Balboa. They didn't have lockers there so we had to ride the bus from San Diego High School. We went to practice. After practice we got back on the bus. Players were huge and sweaty. The players on the defensive line that year were Ron, Ernie Ladd, Earl Faison, and Bill Hudson. I had a hot dog that Ron bought me and was on the isle seat. Ernie Ladd came down the isle and had to bend to fit. He saw my hot dog and put his foot on mine (gently) and said "Give me a bite!"

7 year old scared me, slowly raised the dog and in one bite he took all but my fingers. I started to cry. He felt really bad

He was huge and in full 1960 uniform and pads. Scared the hell out me.

Great memory.