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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.

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Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > May > 18 > Entry

A Sunday morning with Marvin & NFL’s immortals

By Chick Ludwig | Sunday, May 18, 2008, 12:03 PM

‘CLASSIC EVENT’ FOR A GREAT CAUSE

Sunday, May 18, 2008, was the kind of day where, for a couple of hours, I wish everyone could be me.

It’s not everyday you get to shake hands and rub shoulders with Pro Football Hall of Famers, current and former Cincinnati Bengals’ players and coaches, and retired NFL greats. But this day was one of ‘em.

The Marvin Lewis Golf Classic, presented by Cincinnati Bell, at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio, was a Who’s Who of NFL celebrities.

I interviewed Hall of Famers Anthony Munoz, Leroy Kelly and Elvin Bethea; chatted with former Pittsburgh Steelers L.C. Greenwood, Kevin Greene, Greg Lloyd and Rod Woodson; hugged my former Ohio State classmate Pete Johnson; did a shoulder-bump with Bengals quarterbacking legend Ken Anderson, now serving as Steelers quarterback coach; and mingled with former Bengals stars Isaac Curtis, Louis Breeden, David Fulcher, Eric Thomas, Jim Breech, Max Montoya, Tom Dinkle, John Simmons, Eric Ball and Cris Collinsworth.

TIME FOR ‘GIVING BACK’

All of them spoke of the importance of “giving back” to the community, which is the purpose of Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis’ foundation.

The national perception is that half the current Bengals are in jail or in trouble with the law. The reality is that most of them are actively involved in the community, raising funds that benefit the less fortunate.

And Lewis spearheads the team’s effort in the community.

“Coach Lewis is a great guy,” Greenwood said. “He really is. I’ve been to a lot of these charity golf tournaments, and I don’t know of any other coach who does as much to promote the team as well as impact the community. This event is absolutely great. Plus, it’s good for raising money for those that are less fortunately.

“As a person, I think it’s important to give back,” Greenwood added. “Whether we’re players or just people. We have to, and should, think about and want to give something back.”

SETTING AN EXAMPLE

Thirteen high school students received college scholarships to the schools of their choice at the Golf Classic Post Play Party. Last year, eight students received scholarships and 15 students total have received college scholarships from the Marvin Lewis Community Fund. The students must meet a number of requirements and are only selected after a personal interview with Coach Lewis.

“We’ve been very fortunate,” Lewis told me during a “time-out” before Sunday morning’s shotgun start at Shaker Run. “The support we’ve gotten from all the local businesses as partners, working alongside us, we’re able to raise a lot of money and do a lot with it. The 15 children we have in school right now, and another 13 scholarships we’ll give out today, and the research grant we’ve done with MS (Multiple Sclerosis), and all the local charities we’re supporting in the region, we’re just grateful to be able to that, help young people and hopefully show them a better way.”

PLAYERS ARE ‘REAL’

In addition to being the Bengals’ head coach, Lewis is the club’s king of community service, setting the example for his players to follow.

“I’ve tried to push it, and our guys have taken the lead and done it,” Lewis said. “Leon (Hall) had his football camp on Saturday and Brad St. Louis has one coming up. Herana-Daze Jones was involved in an event on Saturday. John Thornton and his support of autism is great. Each and every guy has done and gone about it in his way, and done good things. This year, (Eric) Ghiaciuc is involved with Special Olympics. So hopefully the guys keep growing and it gives them something to look forward to. I think that’s the thing they found more than anything is by going out and getting involved in something, it gives them something else to look forward to other than football.

“We’re very fortunate to have the opportunities we have. And when you to have an opportunity to give back and touch somebody else’s life, that’s what it’s all about. Young people look up to these guys and so they look forward to being around them, and touch them, and see them, and see that they’re real.”

CHICK LUDWIG TRIVIA

Chick Ludwig is honored to serve on the 40-person Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee. When I told Houston Oilers defensive end Elvin Lamont Bethea, a North Carolina A&T alumnus, that I voted in favor of his induction for the Hall of Fame Class of 2003, he looked me all serious.

“You were in that room?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said.

His eyes got misty.

“Thank you,” he said. “Thank you so much.”

It’s rewarding to know, that in a small way, I helped change Bethea’s life … from NFL legend to pro football immortal.

Contact Chick Ludwig at cludwig@daytondailynews.com

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