SI’s resident NFL guru Peter King takes a USO trip to Afghanistan with several NFL players, including Panthers veteran DE Mike Rucker. Made quite the impression, especially when a ceremony honoring a fallen trooper took place during the ballers’ visit to Bagram AFB. King explains:
A military band played as the casket slowly was carried to a stop near the C-130 transport plane that would take the body to Dover, Del., and then on to his family home in California. The base chaplain spoke. I stood next to Mike Rucker, who got emotional several times during the week, and he was so rigid at attention during the ceremony that he appeared to be in a standing coma. Then the casket was wheeled into the plane, and the plane taxied out; and just a few hours, maybe 12, after this young man died, he was on his way home.
Anyway, a few minutes later, we found ourselves in front of this crowd of soldiers, all waiting to be entertained. As master of ceremonies, I couldn’t let the moment pass without opening the evening with a question about the impact of this trip on the three players’ lives.
When it was Rucker’s turn, he took the mike and took a deep breath. “When I go home,” he said, “part of my vision is I want to keep your story alive. I want to make sure NO ONE forgets about the job you’re all doing … ”
And then he started to choke up.
“I just … I love you guys,” he said, and he had to stop.
“Little things we take for granted … ” he said, and he had to stop again, and he put his hand to his face.
The crowd gave him an ovation, long and loud.
Be sure to read the whole thing and feel pretty stupid and insignificant.
