Spring Break
Parental Control
Ken Woods
Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: Sports
A young child waits for his favorite athlete outside the playing field. He is in awe of what he has just witnessed on the football field. He is nervous, yet anxious; and his shy demeanor is evident from his stature. In his hand, he holds a wrinkled Western Illinois football game ticket.
His mother stands with him, anxious as well, with a slight grin on her face in anticipation of meeting this athlete her son admires. The athlete walks over, dog-tired and exhausted from a record-setting performance.
The young child is timid, yet overcome with excitement. He can't find the words to speak; his mother approaches the football player cradling her son by the tops of his shoulders. She says her son would love nothing more than if he signs his game ticket and takes a picture with him.
The athlete is somewhat stunned, but always willing. With no hesitation, he obliges and cradles the child much like his mother had done for the picture. He graciously signs the ticket and speaks to the child with a tremble in his voice.
The child's smile resembles that of Ronald McDonald. His mother shares in the joy. The athlete offers his jersey, but cannot hand it over because it belongs to the university. He does, however, hand the child a wristband worn in the game. On the wristband, he leaves a signature.
That signature read "Herb Donaldson."
Not only was the child's mother in attendance, but Donaldson's mother was as well. Laura Smith witnessed this kind and humble act and was overcome with emotion at the demeanor of her son.
"That moment brought me to tears," Smith said. "He was so gracious and humble and he approached the whole thing with the greatest amount of humility. That was the proudest moment I have had of Herb to this date. To watch him do that was just the best thing, to see him interact with that kid.
"I have expectations of how I think he should treat people," Smith added. "Herb has a light on him and I don't want attitude, demeanor or behavior to diminish that light."
His mother stands with him, anxious as well, with a slight grin on her face in anticipation of meeting this athlete her son admires. The athlete walks over, dog-tired and exhausted from a record-setting performance.
The young child is timid, yet overcome with excitement. He can't find the words to speak; his mother approaches the football player cradling her son by the tops of his shoulders. She says her son would love nothing more than if he signs his game ticket and takes a picture with him.
The athlete is somewhat stunned, but always willing. With no hesitation, he obliges and cradles the child much like his mother had done for the picture. He graciously signs the ticket and speaks to the child with a tremble in his voice.
The child's smile resembles that of Ronald McDonald. His mother shares in the joy. The athlete offers his jersey, but cannot hand it over because it belongs to the university. He does, however, hand the child a wristband worn in the game. On the wristband, he leaves a signature.
That signature read "Herb Donaldson."
Not only was the child's mother in attendance, but Donaldson's mother was as well. Laura Smith witnessed this kind and humble act and was overcome with emotion at the demeanor of her son.
"That moment brought me to tears," Smith said. "He was so gracious and humble and he approached the whole thing with the greatest amount of humility. That was the proudest moment I have had of Herb to this date. To watch him do that was just the best thing, to see him interact with that kid.
"I have expectations of how I think he should treat people," Smith added. "Herb has a light on him and I don't want attitude, demeanor or behavior to diminish that light."
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Wayne Whipps
posted 11/19/08 @ 11:10 PM CST
Makes me proud to be a Leatherneck just reading about Herb. I sure hope he makes it in the NFL. If not he will be successful in broadcasting or whatever field he chooses. (Continued…)
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