FIVE DAYS ‘TIL KICKOFF

Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006
By Steve Karges, Chargers.com

Charger fans will always remember watching LaDainian Tomlinson run to the pylon to score his record-setting 29th touchdown of the season.  It is a picture that will live in our minds forever.  Whether you watched Sunday’s game in-person at Qualcomm Stadium or saw it on television, SAVOR THE MOMENT!

L.T. is having the greatest season of any running back in the 87-year history of the NFL.  We are blessed to be watching one of the all-time greats in the prime of his career.

One day, Tomlinson should be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and have his bronze bust on display with the busts of Jim Brown, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders.  Think about this; Brown never played against the Chargers.  He retired in 1965, five years before the NFL-AFL merger.  Payton only played in two games against the Bolts in San Diego (1978 and 1984), and Sanders only played one professional game at Qualcomm Stadium (1996).

I said hello to Jim Brown when he was in San Diego several weeks ago with the Cleveland Browns, but I never saw him play in person.  Fortunately, I was at the stadium for both of Payton’s games and Sanders’ only game.  During the Chargers’ 47-year history, three of the greatest running backs in NFL lore played in only three games in San Diego.

That is why I encourage you to savor the moment and appreciate the greatness of L.T.  He is doing things that have never been done before and we have the privilege of watching him every Sunday. Through five-plus seasons, Tomlinson has played in 93 games (92 regular-season and one post-season game) for the Bolts, and starting with his very first game in 2001, Charger fans knew that L.T. was something special.

LaDainian Tomlinson is a civic treasure and a player for the ages.  Let’s give thanks and be grateful that he plays in San Diego so we can see and enjoy his exceptional talent each week.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“When we’re old and can’t play this game anymore these are the moments that we’re going to remember, being able to tell our kids and tell our grandchildren…we made history today.” ---LaDainian Tomlinson (referring to his teammates at his postgame press conference)

TALKIN’ ABOUT THE BOLTS IN NEW YORK CITY

Following the Chargers’ victory over the Bills in Buffalo, I headed to New York City for visits to Sirius Satellite Radio (NFL Channel 124), ABC’s Good Morning America and the National Football League Office on Park Avenue.

Throughout the media capital of the world, one could hear taxi drivers and executives talk about the Chargers and LaDainian Tomlinson’s record-setting season.  Even Robin Roberts of ABC’s Good Morning America keeps up to date with the Bolts and L.T.

There all a lot of Bolts fans in the Big Apple.

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW

I have a wonderful mother-in-law (REALLY!), even though she is a devoted Denver Broncos fan.  I have known Barbara Pullin for 25 years and have been married to her youngest daughter, Janette, since 1983.  (Janette was nearly ex-communicated from the family for marrying a Chargers’ fan and moving to San Diego.)

“Bobbie” lives in Colorado and is one of the most passionate football fans I have ever met.  To say that Bobbie is a Broncos fan is putting it mildly. Fanatic is a better description.  Bobbie recently traveled from her home in Fort Collins to San Diego to visit our family and to watch her favorite college and professional football teams (Colorado State University and the Broncos) on the road against the SDSU Aztecs and Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.  Both games were recently played at the “Q” within a span of eight days.

On Sunday, Bobbie joined me and my 13-year-old son  Kevin at the Chargers-Broncos game.  For the first time since I married her daughter, the Bolts swept the two game series against the Broncos. (There go my Christmas presents from the Colorado relatives!)

Anyway, there is one thing that Bobbie and I agree upon, we both hate the Raiders!

The countdown begins now!  Remember, there are only FIVE DAYS ‘TIL KICKOFF!