Thursday Morning Update

I'm not feeling the organized, list version of our morning update so I'm just going to throw some stuff out there. It's basically Friday anyway.

Unfulfilled college dreams. An 8th round draft pick. Sounds like J.J. Birden knows how lucky he is.

A product of the inner city of Portland, Birden came to Lakeridge because he was in the very last group of students who were bussed in order to achieve racial balance in schools.

While doing his part to promote integration, Birden did even more to help the Pacer football team. He was good as a junior and great as a senior, making the all-state football team.

But where Birden really shined was in track as a sprinter and jumper.

Birden had to wait until his sophomore year to even try out for the Oregon Ducks. I had a most unimpressive college career in football."

"I started as a junior, but I broke my arm against Nebraska. As a senior I twisted my arm against UCLA. I had one touchdown my whole career."

Now, Birden sells "special" chocolate. The chocolate has pain relieving powers, which Birden was sick of using over the counter meds for.

The Kansas City Chiefs will beat up on the Minnesota Vikings during their annual practice a week after training camp starts.

The Chiefs will depart for River Falls on Thursday, July 24 with the first day of practice scheduled for Friday, July 25. Kansas City will hold a joint practice session with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, July 31 at UW-River Falls. Family Fun Night is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 2. The Chiefs will open their 2008 preseason schedule with a contest at Chicago on Thursday, Aug. 7. The club is currently scheduled to break camp and return to Kansas City on Friday, Aug. 15.

I have to say that Nap Harris' softball event in Chicago sounds like it was a lot of fun.

Harris was so successful in recruiting his teammates for the game that one might have thought the game was being played in Kansas City.

Chiefs star running back Larry Johnson, linebacker Derrick Johnson, running back Kolby Smith and defensive back Patrick Surtain all played.

Bears running back Garrett Wolfe and wide receiver Mark Bradley, along with former Bear and current broadcaster Jerry Azumah, were on hand to give the crowd some local stars to cheer on.

That's it for now. We'll have a community projection up later in the day but if you're anything like me, your mind is already drifted towards the weekend's activities. Let us know if you have any good 4th of July/fireworks stories.