tk13
09-26-2004, 01:07 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/9761334.htm
Long wait ends today as Delaney finally joins Ring of Honor
JEFFREY FLANAGAN
For Joe Delaney's wife, Carolyn, and for the hard-working folks at the “37 Forever Foundation,” today is a long time coming: It's the day that Joe Delaney's No. 37 will be put up on the Arrowhead Stadium Ring of Honor.
The Chiefs Hall of Fame ceremony for Delaney will take place at halftime of the Chiefs-Texans game.
Chiefs fans have longed for this day and this is a fitting tribute to Delaney, who gave his own life in an attempt to save others.
Delaney, a second-round draft pick from Northwestern Louisiana, started 10 games during his rookie season in 1981 and gained 1,121 yards. He had five 100-yard games, including a 193-yard performance against Houston.
Delaney also led the Chiefs in rushing with 380 yards during the strike-shortened 1982 season.
But on June 29, 1983, three weeks from the start of training camp, he sat near a pond in Monroe, La., when he heard the screams of three boys. Though he was not a swimmer, Delaney dived in the pond and tried to pull the boys out.
Delaney, 24, and two of the boys drowned. Another was able to make it out of the pond.
Delaney was survived by Carolyn and three daughters.
“He had all the qualities and character traits that you look up to in great people,” Tom Condon, a Chiefs guard during 1974-'84, said a day after Delaney's death. “Courage, tenacity, honesty, loyalty. His rookie year he played beat up and hurt like you wouldn't expect a seasoned veteran to. And then he had the courage to come back from a serious eye injury and play again.
“I was talking with a friend about what Joe did to help those boys and he said, ‘I guess that's just the kind of thing you do in an emergency.' That's not the kind of thing you do. That's the kind of thing Joe Delaney does.”
Said J.D. Helm, an offensive coach, at the time, “There would be no question in my mind and there was none in Joe's (about attempting the rescue). It doesn't make any difference if it was 1,000 feet deep. I'm sure he thought it was the right thing.”
Former Chiefs safety Deron Cherry once said of Delaney: “When you come in as a rookie and take the league by storm, and accomplish the things he accomplished, that says the guy is special.
“We will never really know what Joe Delaney could have accomplished in a uniform. We had glimpses.”
***
On the subject of Delaney, the 37 Forever Foundation will play host to the fourth annual 37 Forever Foundation Banquet on Monday starting at 6 p.m. at the Arrowhead Club.
Cost is $100 but the attire is business casual (tuxes are not required).
For more information, call (816) 665-1208.
***
On the question of whether it's the coach's system or the players, Panthers offensive coordinator Dan Henning told The Sporting News of Gunther Cunningham, “Gunther is a good football coach. But maybe he doesn't have the bullets, I don't know.”
Long wait ends today as Delaney finally joins Ring of Honor
JEFFREY FLANAGAN
For Joe Delaney's wife, Carolyn, and for the hard-working folks at the “37 Forever Foundation,” today is a long time coming: It's the day that Joe Delaney's No. 37 will be put up on the Arrowhead Stadium Ring of Honor.
The Chiefs Hall of Fame ceremony for Delaney will take place at halftime of the Chiefs-Texans game.
Chiefs fans have longed for this day and this is a fitting tribute to Delaney, who gave his own life in an attempt to save others.
Delaney, a second-round draft pick from Northwestern Louisiana, started 10 games during his rookie season in 1981 and gained 1,121 yards. He had five 100-yard games, including a 193-yard performance against Houston.
Delaney also led the Chiefs in rushing with 380 yards during the strike-shortened 1982 season.
But on June 29, 1983, three weeks from the start of training camp, he sat near a pond in Monroe, La., when he heard the screams of three boys. Though he was not a swimmer, Delaney dived in the pond and tried to pull the boys out.
Delaney, 24, and two of the boys drowned. Another was able to make it out of the pond.
Delaney was survived by Carolyn and three daughters.
“He had all the qualities and character traits that you look up to in great people,” Tom Condon, a Chiefs guard during 1974-'84, said a day after Delaney's death. “Courage, tenacity, honesty, loyalty. His rookie year he played beat up and hurt like you wouldn't expect a seasoned veteran to. And then he had the courage to come back from a serious eye injury and play again.
“I was talking with a friend about what Joe did to help those boys and he said, ‘I guess that's just the kind of thing you do in an emergency.' That's not the kind of thing you do. That's the kind of thing Joe Delaney does.”
Said J.D. Helm, an offensive coach, at the time, “There would be no question in my mind and there was none in Joe's (about attempting the rescue). It doesn't make any difference if it was 1,000 feet deep. I'm sure he thought it was the right thing.”
Former Chiefs safety Deron Cherry once said of Delaney: “When you come in as a rookie and take the league by storm, and accomplish the things he accomplished, that says the guy is special.
“We will never really know what Joe Delaney could have accomplished in a uniform. We had glimpses.”
***
On the subject of Delaney, the 37 Forever Foundation will play host to the fourth annual 37 Forever Foundation Banquet on Monday starting at 6 p.m. at the Arrowhead Club.
Cost is $100 but the attire is business casual (tuxes are not required).
For more information, call (816) 665-1208.
***
On the question of whether it's the coach's system or the players, Panthers offensive coordinator Dan Henning told The Sporting News of Gunther Cunningham, “Gunther is a good football coach. But maybe he doesn't have the bullets, I don't know.”