Sunday Spotlight: Larry Fitzgerald

Having gone through another tough week in Los Angeles between the move, school, internships and life in general, it feels great to be back on the blog and into a rhythm again here in the new spot. With homework in the back of my mind and the thought of starting my Master's Thesis this week, the preliminary research is well underway and I am excited about adding further value to my graduate studies through the completion of such a project. But as with every Sunday it is my goal to spotlight, or at least draw attention to the most influential and noteworthy athletes of our generation through a continued piece simply titled the Sunday Spotlight. This weeks article comes with much delight as I have chosen to draw attention to the career and tireless efforts of Arizona Cardinals Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The son of Larry Fitzgerald, Sr., a sportswriter for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, and Carol Fitzgerald, his now deceased mother (God Bless her life), Larry grew up in a caring home supported by a love of sports and underlying passion for the game of football. Serving as a ball boy for the Minnesota Vikings during the Randy Moss/Chris Carter days, Fitzgerald was exposed to an area of football not many youngsters get the opportunity or privilege of experiencing. Having attended high school in Minneapolis, Fitzgerald quickly enrolled in a number of private schools and military academies as a means of garnering his love of the game with an unrivaled education in preparation for his collegiate career. Having originally committed to Gustavus Adolphus College, Fitzgerald enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, quickly becoming one of the most sough after receivers in the country. After his sophomore season for the Panthers, Larry was on every body's radar having boasted a 2003 campaign that left many defensive backs and their coordinators searching for answers in a rather strong and competitive Big East Conference. Fitzgerald was recognized as the best receiver in college football during that same season having been selected to the First-team all-America team while also winning the Bilentnikoff Award (Nations Best WR), Paul Warfield Trophy (Nation Top Collegiate Wide Receiver) and Walter Camp Award (American football Player of the Year). With the accolades to boot and a Heisman Trophy candidacy that saw him place second, behind Oklahoma Quarterback Jason White, Fitzgerald was set to embark on a very promising NFL career. Fitzgerald left the University of Pittsburgh after a tremendous sophomore year in which he caught 92 passes for 1,672 yards and 22 TDs. He was drafted third overall in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, whose then coach, Dennis Green, knew Fitzgerald from his time as a Vikings ball boy. Having set the NCAA record with at least one touchdown catch in 18 straight games, the Cardinals had secured a true play maker who had a knack for finding the endzone. While his career has hit new and exciting heights including Four (4) Pro Bowl Selections, Two (2) First Team all-Pro Selections, the 2008 NFC Championship, and 2009 Pro Bowl MVP, and the Madden 10 over, Larry's work and contribution to fans and followers off the field is what really draws me in. Larry is a true professional in every sense of the word, having taken a great approach to self service and a dedication to his fans through his endless use of social media outlets like Twitter. Having committed myself to service this Saturday at Cantara Elementary School in Reseda, CA through the City Year LA Service Program, I had a great time offering my time, energy and effort to support those who need it most. This experience, supplemented through the work of my college friend Nick Heister in the one year service program was without a doubt a welcome alternative to the planned trip to Disneyland yesterday morning. While this may not have much to do in relation to Fitzgerald as a player on the field, Id like to draw comparisons to this experience and the talented wide receiver in terms of his ability to offer advice, self service and a free spirited approach to life as the overriding angle of this article. With an active Twitter account that offers an endless array of inspirational quotes, spirited conversation between fans and his now trademark Faith. Focus. Finish. (FFF) catch phrase, Larry is without a doubt one of the most sought after personalities on the web. Having gone through the process of further legitimizing his brand through his followers, Larry tried earlier this week to get his newest endeavor, #TeamFitzgerald, to trend on Twitter as a means of drawing support for and bringing awareness to his long time supporters. Fitzgerald is also constantly posting comments to his fans in relation to his travels, weekly preparation and is often cited after games reflecting on Sundays on the field action and is always willing to answer questions from fans in relation to the days events. This morning Fitzgerald simply stated, "Good morning everyone. Nothing better feeling than gameday! I'm focused on having a big day today! Sunday Funday! Faith Focus Finish." It's this sort of charismatic approach to life, along with his desire to add value to those who follow that entices me to tune in everyday to hear about his work. Having adopted his FFF trademark in my own life, I decided to tweak it to meet my needs through the words Faith. Family. Focus. For me these three words represent what is important in my life. Having respected the life and trials of Fitzgerald, noting his overarching support for Breast Cancer Awareness in reaction to his mothers untimely passing from Breast Cancer, I too share in his journey as my grandmother was diagnosed with and survived her battle with Breast Cancer a few years ago. Fitzgerald has also spent time with the service men and women of the armed forces through the USO program. With my brother currently serving in the U.S. Air Force, I am a huge advocate for any and all athletes that choose to support the lives of our troops overseas. In my life, Faith is the overriding factor and without it nothing is possible, Family is my sole purpose for life and continued work, and Focus represents a dedication to my studies, work and the relationships I carry with me everyday of my life. I feel that these three principles are interconnected and cannot exist independently, but are a direct result of the three working in harmony everyday in order to see the day through to the very end. With new shirts on board for fans to purchase at his website www.larryfitzgerald11.com, I am looking at purchasing one of his FFF tops as a means of continuing to support Team Fitzgerald and Larry's off the field efforts. While not everyone may feel that they are not built for service, my response to that would be how many times have you given yourself to others and how did that experience make you feel? Having committed my time this weekend to provide the kindergartners at Cantara Elementary with a number line, letter squares and hopscotch lines, I feel that I have had a positive impact on the lives of the future leaders of America. While I may never meet those children, much like I may not ever meet Larry Fitzgerald, it is the recognition of such work and its ability to empower and improve the lives of those you touch that ultimately outweighs everything we do. In my eyes, its never been about what I can do for myself, but how I can put myself in a position to help benefit the livelihood of others in an attempt to bring about an awareness of or support those in need. Whether that entails family, friends, members of my community or those I have never met, the idea of providing those around you with an inviting personality and unrelenting desire to help will carry you far in life and is the sole reason why I will continue to dedicate my time to service both now and into the future. *For a look at a video supporting the NFL's Crucial Catch featuring Larry Fitzgerald simply click on the title of this article