While we missed seeing Eric Berry of the Kansas City Chiefs play this year due to an early season injury, we got an opportunity to spend a little time with him right before Christmas and we couldn’t be prouder of our association with this fine young man.In a world where professional athletes increasingly lose sight of the team concept and exist with a sense of entitlement, Eric Berry is one of the good guys. Literally. Berry, who has been ranked as one of the Top 5 Good Guys in the NFL, along with Tim Tebow and Drew Brees, is truly a humble guy with a bright future.
Before beginning his NFL career, Berry decided he wanted to give back to the recreation department where he grew up. Duncan Park, in Fairburn, Georgia, is managed by Berry’s father James, who was a three-year starter for the Tennessee Vols. Eric wanted the park to have the benefit of a synthetic turf field so that young athletes in Fairburn would have a first-class field on which to play and develop their skills. He partnered with AstroTurf to provide a state-of-the-art field at Duncan Park. As a result of the partnership, Berry also took a huge interest in player safety and worked with AstroTurf to help open the Center for Athletic Field Safety at the University of Tennessee.
He also formed the Eric Berry Foundation to give back to kids and he is a great representative for all that is right about sports.
Prior to his rookie year, Eric was at preseason camp where temperature soared to over 100 degrees. After practice, he performed his rookie duties and carried the pads of two veterans from the field back to the locker room. On the way, he stopped to sign autographs for fans and was the last player left outside. He’d signed for everyone who wanted an autograph, but there were two kids left who wanted an autograph, but had nothing left to sign. Berry sat down and took his cleats off and signed them for the boys, leaving him to carry the equipment back to the locker room in his socks.
Berry is willing to sign for so many fans because when he was in high school, he was shunned when he approached the great Deion Sanders. Berry vowed that if he made it as a pro that he would never do that.
Eric joined us at Competitive Edge Sports (CES) in Atlanta right before Christmas to film a commercial and be interviewed about the safety and other benefits of playing on AstroTurf. The commercial will air on January 21st on the NBC Sports Network during the AstroTurf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. Some of his other video comments will air at the American Football Coaches Association in San Antonio next week.
He came in and talked to everyone who wanted to talk to him and was very accommodating. He also displayed his classic humble attitude. After filming, Eric and I discussed a high school game of his that I had officiated. He spoke about that game with a passion that would have made you think he was still playing for Creekside High School. Eric hasn’t forgotten where he came from.
One thing’s for sure, I can tell you where he’s going. I, for one, will be encouraging my son to follow Eric’s career and look up to him as a role model.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Chip Smith of CES in Atlanta for letting us use his facility to film with Eric. CES is the premiere training facility for professional athletes all over the country and is also recognized for training future NFL players who are working out to participate in combines.
We also owe a big thanks to Ashley Kerns of Allegiant Athletic Agency (a3), Eric’s agency, for coordinating the shoot. She’s a real trooper who works hard to help Eric honor all his commitments, as well as a tireless worker in organizing Eric’s football camps, which help kids all over the country.
Like us on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/AstroTurf/124352067595110
No comments:
Post a Comment