FLASHBACK

As far back as I can remember I visited Euclid Beach amusement park in Cleveland, Ohio every summer with my family.  My dad worked in Akron for Goodyear Tire & Rubber who rented the park for one day every year for employees and their families.  It was a big event for us farm kids.  Our dad would cook breakfast (which he rarely did), pack the six of us up in the Nash and we’d drive an hour to the park.   Once on the road, Dad would NOT stop for any reason so Mom made cookies or fudge to keep us entertained (and quiet) in the car.  Food bribes were common and they worked – still do!  We rarely left the farm so this was an exotic trip for us all….probably the equivalent of a kid’s trip to Disney World today.

The park had many exciting rides for a young boy and I took in as many as I possibly could in our allotted time.  But my favorite (and most terrifying) attraction was a trip through the Fun House.  Moving through dark, dusty corridors with evil demons jumping out at me from every direction was intense…. and exhilarating!

Power running in the NFL would sometimes remind me of those visits to Euclid Beach – exciting, spontaneous, adrenaline-charged.  So when I was shown this highlight reel featuring me and set to CCR’s “Run Through The Jungle,” I had a total flashback to that childhood amusement park!

A power runner in the NFL is seldom going to out run those demon defenders…..so we get low and get mean!  If you run with rage and have the instinct to attack first, you have the ability to be a power runner.  Add five All-Pro offensive linemen to the mix and you’re there!

Mean Joe Greene, Dick Butkus, Bubba Smith, Ben Davidson, Roy Winston and others were my demons in the jungle!

Hope you enjoy the clip….

ZONK