|
By John Wright
The Paducah Sun, Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Reprinted with permission.
It is not every day a young boy gets a chance to meet his favorite football player.
That day came Tuesday morning for 10-year-old Jerome Reed Jr. of Paducah. As one of 34 winners nationwide in the NFL Take a Player to School sweepstakes, Reed got the royal treatment in the form of a visit to his home on Adams Street, then a limousine ride to Clark Elementary School with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch.
To top it off, the avid Steelers fan and his fourth-grade classmates caught passes from the veteran pro signal caller, who became Reed’s favorite player when he took over for starter Ben Roethlisberger for two games during Pittsburgh’s march to a Super Bowl title in 2007.
“That was easily the greatest pass I’ve ever caught,” a beaming Reed said, clearly still trying to come to grips with the events of this day. “It was a dream, really. I mean to get to do all of this stuff with him, you just don’t think it will happen to you.”
Amanda Herald of the National Football League’s Play 60 fitness program said Reed was selected out of 100,000 entrants nationwide. He was one of two at-large selections, reserved for winners not living in NFL cities.
“It leaves you kind of speechless,” said Jerome’s mother, Angel, who watched Batch autograph a football in her living room, then tour Jerome’s bedroom, which Steelers memorabilia adorns.
“I was probably more excited than anybody here today,” Batch said, remembering back to his own childhood in the Pittsburgh area. “That’s where it all started for me. At around 8, 9 or 10, I started having dreams of doing big things. That’s what is so great about this, to be part of those dreams for not just Jerome but all of these kids today.”
Batch made a short speech to the student body and faculty after arriving in a black stretch limousine with Jerome. He emphasized the hard work factor.
“You’ve got to have good grades, because if you don’t, you can’t play,” Batch told the students. “And if that happens, you only have yourself to blame.”
Sara West, the school’s principal, said she did not know how to react when the NFL called the school Friday to inform personnel that Batch was coming. She had to ask the messenger to repeat herself.
“I’ve never had the NFL call me,” a smiling West said as she watched Batch work with her students. “This guy is just larger than life. And you have to feel so good for Jerome. He is such a great kid."
“To these other kids, he’s a hero today.”
The school received $2,000 from both the NFL and JCPenney, which sponsored the sweepstakes.
Contact John Wright, a Paducah Sun photographer/staff writer, at 270-575-8694.
|
