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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > August > 08 > Entry
Cryin’ time again at training camp
THE CHICKSTER SILENCES
TWO CRYIN’ KIDS WITH
SOOTHING. SCARY VOICE
===As you read this blog entry, keep in mind one thing: LUDWIG AT LARGE is known as “The Concierge.”===
The sidelines of the lower practice field at Georgetown (Ky.) College on Thursday were littered with Bengals’ corporate sponsors — big spenders and high rollers who brought their passion for the team, along with their sense of shoulder-rubbing entitlement, to a scorching workout.
Among all the fancy folks — who intermingled with one another while standing on the white-dotted line about five yards away from the playing field (it’s called the “GET-BACK!” line because you have to get back behind it or risk life & limb in case a player wipes you out) — were children in strollers.
I’ve never seen so many kids in strollers ANYWHERE, much less an NFL practice. Why they were there I have no idea. Not a clue. It will forever puzzle me.
Suddenly, I hear a child crying … in his stroller. Maybe it was because of the blazing sun. Maybe it was because of the late-afternoon heat. Maybe it was because strong safety Chinedum Ndukwe was on crutches with a sprained left knee and no timetable for a return.
At any rate, I felt I should take action. So I walked over, knelt in front of the child in the stroller — his name was either Braden or Brandon, I apologize for forgetting — and did my thing. I began rubbing his bare feet with my hands and speaking to him. AND HE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED CRYING. And when I say immediately, I mean like right now. Silence. Golden silence.
I go back to the GET-BACK line, and pretty soon, I hear another baby cryin’ … in a mother’s arms … she’s standing at the yellow rope … on a hillside … about 20 yards away from the corner of the end zone.
And I approach, and do my thing. The baby boy’s name is Ryan. He’s dressed in a one-piece cotton outfit decorated with Bengals logos. He’s wearing a rubber Bengals helmet — no cross-bar.
I began rubbing his back in a circular motion, and speaking to him. “Hi, Ryan. How are you? Look out on the field. The Bengals will be finishing practice soon. You’ll get some autographs. And then you get to go home.”
AND HE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED CRYING. And when I say immediately, I mean like right now. Silence. Golden silence.
I’m told my voice has a way of getting people’s attention. I whisper … and the room … and the house … shakes.
Back in 2006, tailback Terrell Davis, the ex-Denver Broncos great, visited Paul Brown Stadium to do a series of interviews for NFL Network.
He was relaxing in the media room watching TV when I broke out my best rendition of “A Season Awaits,” by John Facenda, the late, great “Voice of NFL Films” …
“There’s glory in the legends of this hard muscle life,
and there’s poetry in each season made of sweat and strife,
Winds whisper of high hopes,
Victory is in the skies,
A Season Awaits with glory in her eyes,
One joins with many on Summer’s green field,
It’s time to strive, to dare, but above all, not to yield…”
Terrell Davis — yes, the immortal “T.D.,” a man who rushed for 2,008 yards in 1998 — said my voice scared him.
Hey, T.D., I’m just doing my job, stud.
Contact Chick Ludwig at cludwig@daytondailynews.com
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By Robert
August 8, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
Chick I too have a voice that the whisper is heard down the block and have seen the calming/scary reaction of babies. Though you did leave out one pertiant fact, the effect a really deep voice can have on a diaper!