A Class Act

On Tuesday defensive end Mike Rucker announced his retirement from the Carolina Panthers. In true Rucker fashion he made the press conference more about everyone else and not himself.

He thanked everyone in the Panthers organization from owner Jerry Richardson to the man who greets people at the stadium’s front desk.

Rucker came from the University of Nebraska and was the 38th overall pick of the 1999 NFL Draft. He became a starter for the 2001 season. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Month for September 2003 and September 2004 becoming the 11th player in history to win that honor for the same month in two consecutive years.

His skill on the field have him ranking No. 2 in Panthers history in sacks (55 ½) and tackles (553).

We saw Rucker on the field. You didn’t see him in the locker room. Whether the Panthers won or lost, whether he played well or didn’t, he was always gracious and always willing to talk to the media no matter how badly a loss hurt.

However it is his off the field skills/actions that are truly noteworthy. Rucker, along with former teammates Mike Minter, Stephen Davis, and Muhsin Muhammad, are co-founders of Ruckus House, a child development and learning facility. One of Rucker's long-term goals for Ruckus House is to get one in every city which has an NFL team.

In the 2008 offseason, he traveled to Afghanistan to visit with troops. Rucker made a video documentary of his experiences for NFL Network, stating that if he was not a pro football athlete, he could easily envision himself in the military.

He is a family man who stays out of trouble that unfortunately many professional athletes find themselves getting into off the field.

When Rucker said to Coach John Fox “I just want you to know that I gave you everything I got,” “The tank is empty. It’s empty.” It was the truth coming from a man who gave it all he had his whole career.

Let’s all hope as the Panthers search for someone to play opposite Julius Peppers (another great man) that his replacement can not only produce sacks and tackles (that is the easy part) but that he will understand the importance and priority of serving God, his family and his community the way The Great Mike Rucker did.

Getting on track

My intent for my blog is that every Friday will be about sports. Last week on Wednesday or Thursday I wrote my blog for Friday - well with my daughter's communion and company etc..... I never got in front of the computer to post it. So for this week there will be 2 sports blogs - one today and then the Friday scheduled post.

I chose sports because I love them, have many opinions about sports and I think it would be interesting for people to get a look at this woman's perspective on things. Now I will say - I am very much a people person - so lots of my blogs will be about players not necessarily the games they play.

I hope you all enjoy. And for another great Friday blog - check out my sister Colleen's at www.colleencorbett.blogspot.com - each Friday is music for her.

Her Form Of Therapy

My sister-in-law Regina is one of a kind. She is married to my husbands brother, Steve. I could not have hand picked a better, more loving person then her to be my sister-in-law. Frankly in my heart I now have 3 sisters instead of the two I grew up with.

Regina is a CPA - Full-Time working mom with 3 WONDERFUL daughters. When she is not at work she puts all she has into her girls and it shows. They are all polite, caring, respectful and on & on. And lets make note that 2 of them are teenagers!!! They value family - and I mean their extended family as well. They have learned this from their mother - who effortlessly hosts holidays, birthdays etc.....

Back to Regina - she has an amazing talent for baking. Anyone who has met her will request some of her baked goods. Back oh about 19 or so years ago Regina made her oldest niece's first birthday cake - it was an amazing clown - that first cake took 3 hours to decorate since as a newbie Regina didn't know about disposable pastry bags so she kept cleaning the one "real" one she had each time she changed colors. And so it began, all these years later and 10 niece's and nephew's later she is still at it - and I mean for all occasions and for our "extended" Charlotte family as well. It is just not a party/gathering without one of Regina's cakes.

Right now her life is extremely busy and she is being hit at all angles - so I called her last night and said "Please do not worry about making the cake for Danielle's Communion - I will just go get one". Well thank goodness I said that over the phone!!! She may have hit me if I was in front of her.... She said no, no I will absolutely make the cake for her (did I mention she is an awesome Aunt) which I followed up with "Regina you have so much going on...." again not hearing it she said no I will make the cake. Then she said (which she has said over and over) making the cakes is my THERAPY - and over the years it certainly has been. She gets so much joy out of the cakes and the reactions of the guest of honor and just all the guests. Like I said most people come to the parties just for her cakes!!!

So I say find your form of therapy (mine is writing) and embrace it!!!

Now to list a few of my favorite masterpieces as prepared by Regina:

The Dinosaur for Little Joe's Birthday - IT WAS ACTUALLY STANDING UP!!!
The Baby in a Stroller for Colleen's Shower
The Spaceship with Buzz Light looking out the window
The Hamburger Cake for Memorial Day - and I mean a stacked up burger with Lettuce, Tomato, Mustard, Ketchup all hanging out of the bun - that had sesame seeds on it!!!
The Aquarium for her niece Emily's Birthday with fish swimming and all

All of the cakes are beautiful and truly a labor of love, the above are just a few that overly impressed me.

Very Special Day

This Saturday, April 26th, my daughter Danielle will be receiving her First Holy Communion. We are of the Catholic Faith so she has worked toward this for the past 2years in her Religious Education Classes.

Those closest to us know that God is doing very special things with Danielle. She is remarkably connected with The Lord at such a young age. I am her mother but I can honestly say she really, really gets it. She speaks of God and The Church all on her own. If we pray together her prayers are always deep, meaningful and for the good of others.

We visit other Churches of different denominations and no matter where we are she is at "home" and getting the "word".

My sister attends Elevation Church here in Charlotte and it is a very young, hip congregation with a full rock band. Danielle loves it there - they put the words to the songs up on a screen and she sings with her whole heart and soul.

My baby will be receiving The Body and Blood (if she chooses) of Christ this Saturday and afterwards we will rejoice and celebrate this AWESOME day.

As her mother I hope with all my heart that she continues to serve God in the way He sees fit.

Dedicated To The One I Love......

Lots of people like to say behind every good man is an even better woman - I am here to tell you behind this good woman is a GREAT man. God sent me my husband Joe and for that I will be forever appreciative. Those closest to me have heard me say many, many times "Thank God for Big Joseph".

We met at the end of our first year of College and 20+ years later we have now been married for just about 14 years and we have two children (Danielle/8 and Joseph/6).

Joe (or Big Joe) as he will be referred to alot is a supportive, caring and loving husband, a wonderful, hands-on dad, a brother/brother-in-law who would do anything for family and a friend you can always count on.

Over the 14 years we have been married we have had several of MY family members need to live with us. My sister and her daughter, my mom (who still lives with us), my grandmother (who we sadly lost about 2 years ago) and my grandmother's sister (who we lost just over 2 years ago). Never once has Joe complained, said enough is enough, lost his patience - NOTHING negative. And I am here to say it has not always been easy but he somehow is able to keep it in perspective. More importantly he/we are teaching our children how important family is and how if they need you and you can do for them, you should.

He is the lowest maintenance husband. If I didn't cook (which I love to do) for a month he would never say a word. If I make him a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner (like I did tonight) he is fine. If I didn't keep a clean/neat house he would never say a word. He has not one me man - you woman bone in his body. Don't get me wrong he is the man of our house - but because I respect him for the man he is - not because he commands it.

Our road has not always been well traveled - those of you who are married know that it is not always smooth sailing and I don't mean just in your relationship. I mean jobs, finances, kids, families etc.... all the things that just happen in life, but I would be lying if I said I wouldn't come down the same road with him again. Even when the times are tough and the chips are down I know I have him and in my heart I know we could live in a cardboard box together and be just fine.

We have grown-up together (some people grow apart - we have grown stronger).

When I have a really bad day or days he is the person who puts it all back into perspective for me and reminds me of the many blessings we have. One hug from him and the world is right again.

So for the GREAT man behind this good woman - I am so glad that:

I GOT YOU BABE!!!!

Getting Started

My sister is right - I have wanted to start a blog for quite a while now. I appreciate her helping me get started. I have enjoyed her blog from the beginning and I am always trying to "assign" her stuff to write about!!!

I am going to (for now) leave what she wrote in my back ground - for me it is flattering - as she is a single mom of two with two jobs and yet she thinks I am "super woman".

Here we go...........

The Big Launch!

I am launching this blog for my sister because she has been wanting a blog for a while and has tons of great experiences and thoughts to share. The face may change, and the photos, maybe even the title. Who knows. I just wanted to get it up and running since she never seems to have the time. Now you have to MAKE the time to blog! no more excuses! Here you go sissy! I can't wait for your first post!