Alive & Kicking - Softcover

Rolf-benirschke

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1885553404 ISBN 13: 9781885553409

Verlag: A K Productions, 1996

Inhaltsangabe

Alive & Kicking is the autobiography of one of the best place kickers in NFL history. Drafted by the LA Raiders in 1977, the 334th player out of 335, Rolf was a twenty-two-year-old rookie from UC Davis - a Division II school. Soon traded to his home team, the San Diego Chargers, Rolf was in the unenviable position of being a rookie on the last-placed team in the NFL. That first season with the Chargers, Rolf broke the team record kicking twelve consecutive field goals.. September 1978, at a Monday Night Football cookout at the home of the Chargers' equipment manager, Rolf experienced his first pangs of the ulcerative colitis which would bring him near death. Assailed by severe cramps and a fever, believing he just had the flu, Rolf took the field the following Sunday against the Raiders. But when his symptoms persisted and tests were conducted, it was concluded that the young kicker was suffering from Crohn's disease.

As Rolf's fame as a kicker grew to the point where he had converted 34 of his last 38 kicks, his condition worsened. But with support from his coaching staff and the public, he continued to play. Finally, during a return flight to San Diego fresh from a loss to the New England Patriots, Rolf collapsed.

Rushed from the plane to the hospital, Rolf began the series of tests and treatments that led to the correct diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and to the four surgeries which saved his life. October 18, 1979. Two surgeries later, at 124 pounds, Rolf returned to Charger Stadium to the cheers of his teammates and a standing ovation by 52,000 Charger fans, to co-captain a game with Louie Kelcher. Uncertain of whether or not he could make it to mid-field for the coin toss, Rolf was reassured by Kelcher, "...if you can't make it, I'll carry you!" Kelcher didn't have to carry him, but he did hold Rolf's hand. September 7, 1980, less than a year after Rolf almost died from inflammatory bowel disease, the Chargers opened a new season in Seattle. Wearing two ostomy devices, Rolf joined them, returning to professional football. He went public with his disorder thus bringing about a greater understanding and acceptance of the disease with which he was afflicted. And he set the example for other ostomy patients, playing seven more seasons in the NFL and becoming one of the best and most respected kickers in NFL history.

Well known for his generosity of spirit, Rolf began the Kicks for Critters program to support the San Diego Zoo's Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, he has worked tirelessly for the United Way, and he is a great supporter of the annual San Diego Chargers Blood Drive begun originally in support of him. Marriage, the birth of his daughter, adoption of two brothers from Russia, and a successful business career followed Rolf's years with the NFL. He created the Great Comebacks program which each year honors a person who has faced down inflamatory bowel disease and gone on to make a difference. And finally, he has written this book.

Alive & Kicking is a story of faith, courage, family, friends, determination, and survival. Originally written by Rolf to encourage others with inflamatory bowel disease, it is also an inspirational story for anyone who has ever faced or who is facing the vissicitudes of life. In plain yet eloquent language, Mike Yorkey and Rolf Benirschke use Rolf's story to inspire each of us to perservere, to overcome, to succeed. And to take the lessons we learn during the process to make the most of the life with which we are gifted.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Rolf Benirschke is a former placekicker for the San Diego Chargers, having played in the National Football League for ten seasons from 1977-1986. He retired with sixteen team records and as the third most-accurate kicker in NFL history. Today, he is in the financial services business with Eastman Benirschke Financial Group, and he is a sought-after inspirational speaker around the country as well.

Rolf remains active in the community and serves as a National Trustee of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) and as a spokesman for ConvaTec, a Bristol-Myers Squibb company. He is also a long-time supporter of the United Ostomy Association, the United Way, and the San Diego Zoo. On the hepatitis C front, he united with Amgen and created a program called "Keep Up The Fight" for hepatitis C patients, and continues to advocate for hepatitis C public awareness.

Rolf and his wife, Mary, are the proud parents of four children: Erik, Kari, Timmy, and Ryan. They live in the San Diego area.

Mike Yorkey attended La Jolla High School with Rolf, and served as an editor of Focus On The Family magazine for eleven years. Most recently, he is the author or co-author of seventeen books. He and his wife, Nicole, reside in Encinitas, California, with their two children, Patrick and Andrea.

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

...Sunday, November 18, 1979-- would be a day I'd remember forever. I was going to watch the chargers play the Pittsburgh Steelers in a crucial football game for both teams. I was almost as nervous as if I was going to play myself. I found it hard to believe it had been only eight weeks since I had last set foot in an NFL stadium. Had it really been only two months since I had collapsed on the team plane coming back from New England? ...I put on my "uniform"-the big white painter overalls and a sweatshirt. ...I was anxious to get down to the locker room before things got too hectic. Sensing this, Rick Smith, the Chargers' public relations director, led me to the elevator. On the way, we passed several sportswriters--who almost didn't recognize me in my emaciated condition. We exchanged pleasantries, but I was looking forward to getting downstairs. When we arrived at the locker room, the first guy I ran into was Dock Brooks... He quickly sized me up, and like a good equipment manager, said, "That uniform will never do." "Doc, I don't need anything else. I just came down to say hello to the guys and to wish everyone good luck." Doc and Rick led me through the doorway into the players' private world. Suddenly, everything came back to me. The stereo was going full blast, the guys were in various stages of getting dressed. On a couple of cushioned tables, several teammates were getting stretched by the training staff. ...A gruff voice called out from behind me. "Hey, Benirschke! Where'd you get those designer overalls?" It was our leader, quarterback Dan Fouts, irreverent as usual. Before I could respond, Louie Kelcher, our big, gentle All-Pro defensive tackle, came up and carefully wrapped his six-foot-five-inch frame around me. I grinned as I remembered the time he came to visit me in the intensive care unit but was told that visits were strictly limited to immediate family "But I am a family member," he had told the nurse indignantly. "I'm his big brother, Louie Benirschke." ...Louie, unbknownst to me, stepped away and sought out Coach Don Coryell. "What do you think if we made Rolf honorary captain for the day?" asked Louie... ..."Sounds fine to me," said Coryell. "I think it would be good for the team." Kelcher came back a few moments later with a big surprise. "I just spoke with Coach Coryell, and you, good buddy, are one of our co-captains for today's game. You'll have to come out on the field with me and Russ for the coin toss before the opening kickoff." I tried to object. I honestly didn't know if I'd have the strength to walk that far. But louie insisted. "Don't worry, Rolf, if you can't walk all the way, I'll just have to carry you." Doc Brooks emerged from his office with my number 6 jersey and handed it to me with a wink. I reminded Louie and Russ that I'd have to walk slowly - very slowly- because of the wire sutures still in my abodomen. With about four minutes to kickoff, Coach Coryell, a master motivator, began charging up the troops with another special pre-game oration. I always felt that Coryell didn't miss very much, and he proved it that afternoon. "Listen up, everybody," he said. "We have a special visitor today. Rolf came down to check up on us. I'm happy to tell you he's going to be one of our co-captains today." The players exploded into cheers and applause. I musthave been quite a sight sitting there next to all those giant men with my skinny frame draped by my oversized Charger jersey. I felt rather sheepish and just wanted to get out of the way. I didn't feel like I belonged. My teammates had a big game to play, and they didn't need any distractions. I watched the players file out of the locker room, and I waited until everyone had left before I followed. Just before stepping onto the playing field, I paused and looked back at the messy dressing room. I sadly wondered if this would be the last time I'd see a locker room on game day. As I slowly shuffled to the Charger bench, the offense was being introduced to the year's largest home crowd. I looked up into the stands and wondered what my parents were thinking. I had been gone more than forty five minutes. When the National Anthem was finished, I turned to find Louie. I was worried I would take too long to walk to midfield. The voice of the public address announcer snapped me back to reality. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, the team captains for today's game..." The crown watched expectantly as Louie, Russ, and I began walking slowly to midfield. I could sense a low buzzing from the crowd, but it changed dramatically when the PA announcer blared, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, San Diego Charger captains Russ Washington, Louie Kelcher, and returning for the first time in many weeks, Rolf Benirschke!" As if in unison, the 52,000-plus fans rose to their feet and began applauding and cheering. The noise grew louder and louder and by the time we reached midfield, I could feel tears starting to form. I was overwhelmed by this spontaneous demonstration of encouragement. At that moment I didn't know if I would ever walk on another football field again, but it didn't matter...I was just happy to be alive. The emotions that I had tried to hold in check over the past few months came gushing out. Like a dam that had broken, tears flowed freely down my cheeks. Well, at least Mom and Dad know where I am, I thought.

Following our marriage in February, 1990, Mary and I endured three miscarriages and a stillborn child at twenty-five weeks before we were finally able to have a daughter. Unfortunatley, little Kari was born thirteen weeks prematurely, and she weighed in at just over two pounds. She wasn't supposed to survive. When it was apparent she would, the doctors braced us for the worst. She had been badly infected with E. Coli bacteria at birth, and she had suffered a stroke and a grade four bilateral brain bleed. For the entire ten weeks Kari was in the neonatal intensive care unit, the possiblity of a brain shunt was very imminent, but it was finally averted by continual spinal taps to relieve pressure building up in her brain. What saw Kari through? Constant prayer by Mary and me and countless others, plus a complete reliance on God and the good medical treatment she received at the same hospital where I had undergone my major operations thirteen years earlier. Today, Kari is a bright, precious daughter who has a mild case of cerebral palsy in her legs, yet she is a blessing that I can not possibly explain. ...Unable to have any nmore children, Mary and I began looking into adoption, and in the spring of 1996, we adopted two young boys from a Russian orphanage. ...Within a few short months, Erik and Timothy became an integral part of our family. Their English is now excellent, and they are healthy, active Southern California boys. It is impossible to explain the feelings we have for our three children. Each in our eyes is a special gift from God and a miracle we witness every day. The difficult times we endured with each one are now just memories, used to remind us of why we are so blessed.

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: A K Productions
• Erscheinungsdatum: 1996
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1885553404
• ISBN 13: 9781885553409
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar