One of my favorite players...

During his professional football career, he was one of the most admired players in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected to play in the Pro Bowl six times, tied an NFL record for most interceptions in a game, and was honored with the NFL Players' Association's highest award.

His parents were both educators, and education was a very important part of his life growing up.  He graduated from high school with honors.

It was his skill on the gridiron, however, that caught his college coache's eye, and he was granted a full football scholarship.  He used the opportunity to achieve his academic goals.  He played baseball as well, and was offered a chance to sign with the Phillies, but declined as signing with the team would mean he wouldn't be able to finish his education.

He eventually even forsook his football scholarship to use financial aid - with the scholarship he wasn't allowed to work.  Even with a full class schedule and heavy football requirements he took a night job loading freight.  He also worked as a camp counselor during the summers.  This was his favorite job.

He set several single season records for his college, including most punts and most yards rushed.  He tried out for the Chiefs as a punter coming out of college, and while the Chiefs were impressed with him as a punter, they were more impressed with him as an athlete.  He didn't land the job as a punter, but they did sign him as a safety later that season.  I guess the Chiefs have a long history of asking good players to switch positions to get them signed to the roster.  I'm happy they didn't sign him as a punter, I believe he was a much better safety.

This punter turned safety went on to do great things for the Chiefs.  Regarded as one of the finest free safeties to have ever played the game, he was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, starting in five of them in his 11 years with the Chiefs.  Over the years he set or tied several records and received many awards, including most interceptions in a game (4) and American Football Conference (AFC) Defensive Player of the Year.

He's quoted as saying his favorite award was the Byron R. 'Whizzer' White Humanitarian Award presented to him by the NFL Players Association.  The annual award is the NFL Players' Association's highest honor and is presented to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of Byron White, a former U.S. Supreme Court justice and NFL player who distinguished himself through athleticism, education, and community service.

He's gone on to more success since leaving the NFL as a player, including owning or managing several businesses and being one of only two African-American owners of an NFL franchise.  He's continued the community service that he was known for as a player, and become an active member of the business community.

But ignoring all that, he was just plain fun for me to watch growing up.  He seemed to always come up with a clutch tackle, or an interception just when you needed it.  He was one of those players that, well, just made plays.  He, for me, made watching the chiefs during the 80s bearable.  There were other players back then that were fun to watch as well, but I don't know that any of them were quite as fun for me to watch as Deron Cherry was...

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