https://www.mitchalbom.com/alone-at-peaceby-choice-hardship-awaits-ex-player/ #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Fri, 06 Jan 2023 16:39:30 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://www.mitchalbom.com/alone-at-peaceby-choice-hardship-awaits-ex-player/#comment-3636 Fri, 06 Jan 2023 16:39:30 +0000 http://www.mitchalbom.com/alone-at-peaceby-choice-hardship-awaits-ex-player/#comment-3636 I had the pleasure of meeting Shawn back in 2009. I have great respect for him and his philosophy.
Shawn had signed up to play for a “minor” league men’s adult full contact football team – Bergen Hawks out of Bergen County, NJ. He was not there to re-enter the football atmosphere, as he told the owner. He explained that he has a wife and children to support & take care of. I totally respect that; he worked hard to fulfill his duty to his family.
I watched Shawn occasionally show up for practice , & in all my years of coaching I saw the incredible skills he had. He scrimmaged with us & when he asked to go into battle, he crushed OT’s & RB’s. – but only for a few plays because he only wanted to “blast” opponents for a few shots.
This man had apparently left a sport he was excelling in because he saw the complete life picture.
Football is a sport, but only a mere slice of life. All respect for Shawn.

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