You may have noticed that many NFL players have been donning an awful lot of pink recently. Pink cleats, pink gloves, pink mouth guards, pink towels, pink headbands, pink stocking caps, hats and pins. Even the coaches and referees (of the non-replacement persuasion) are getting in on the act. That’s because October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for the fourth year the NFL, in conjunction with the American Cancer Society, is supporting the cause by wearing pink during games each week this month.
One player has taken his support for breast cancer awareness to another level. Arizona Cardinals wide receiver extraordinaire Larry Fitzgerald lost his mother to breast cancer in 2003 after she battled the disease for five years. To honor his mother and to raise awareness, Fitzgerald is donating 25 cents for every new Facebook and Twitter follower he receives in the month of October. Additionally, he is donating $5,000 for every touchdown and $1,000 for every reception.
Fitz wore these cleats with his mother’s name on them in last Thursday night’s game against the Rams.
HHSR is on record as saying Larry Fitzgerald is the best wide receiver in the NFL, but this confirms our suspicion that he is truly one of the great people in the sports today. He never gets into trouble off the field. His name is never in the news for negative reasons. His teammates love him, he always plays hard and he never bad-mouths his quarterback (and he’s had some rough ones in recent years). His leadership, along with 30 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns, has helped the Cardinals to a 4-1 record to start this season. Fitz also recently became the youngest player in NFL history to haul in 700 career receptions.
Everybody knows someone who has, or has been affected by breast cancer. I myself am the son of a breast cancer survivor. I cannot imagine what my life would be like if I had lost my mother, which is why I have such respect for a guy like Larry Fitzgerald.
For more info on NFL Pink — A Crucial Catch, check out http://www.nfl.com/pink.
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