You guessed right, Phil!

Wow, it's now 30 years. Have to say, loved the article here. Nicely done. There's actually some really other new great articles/features that are out for the 30th Anniversary, including one by the Chiefs that really does such an incredible job of making everyone truly see what an amazing football player #37 was. We know about the events of June 29, 1983, we know about the stats he put up in his brief career. But one thing that I personally always found wanting was the actual video footage of how great Joe Delaney was. We've seen since the tragedy, great Chiefs RB's come through here. Okoye, Marcus, Priest, LJ, Charles. Was Joe Delaney really on the same level as those guys? See for yourself - the first one especially is just unreal:

http://www.kcchiefs.com/media-center...b-ea04fc495990

Other Notable Stuff:
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...134847818.html

http://www.kcchiefs.com/media-center...d-b18dced65672

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...w-joe-delaney/

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ter-his-death/

http://iamjoedelaney.org/

As for what we all collectively did to help bring attention to #37 in creating "37 Forever", people who weren't around Chiefs Planet (or before that the KC Star Chiefs BB board), best way to describe it is this was an endeavor on par with the greatness displayed with the Save Our Chiefs project. You had Chiefs fans from everywhere get on board with this idea and we relentlessly put pressure on the Chiefs over the course of several years to finally do something - that here before them was as true a hero as one would ever find and here we were 10, 15, 20 years after the tragedy and there wasn't even a hint of remembering him. That's what drove me particularly at first, that here was this champion of a man and yet countless Chiefs fans had no idea who he was.

That changed with us. We spearheaded this grassroots movement, we worked closely together (there are so many people I still vividly remember that I know still remember me with a few I have been able to still communicate with regularly - lasting friendships were definitely formed) we started a website, we contacted the great folks down in Louisiana at Northwestern State, local community newspaper outlets in Monroe, Shreveport and Haughton who were the ones who really felt Joe's loss the most. We found a new cause early in getting many underprivileged kids to swim via the American Red Cross in the Kansas City, Louisiana areas and more (I remember Roy really doing a great job running with this in his native Kentucky). We got support from Marv Levy, we got quiet support from the Chiefs as they began to see we were looking to honor him and most importantly, we got the much needed support from Carolyn Delaney and the entire Delaney family. When the 20th Anniversary of the tragedy happened 10 years ago, SportsCenter had a 10 minute feature that was a tour de force while Rick Reilly wrote a great article in that same week's Sports Illustrated. Both prominently mentioned 37 Forever. The Chiefs could not ignore this snub anymore. Not surprisingly, 2 months later, the Chiefs finally decided to induct #37 into the Ring of Fame. At the 101 Banquet in March 2004, Joe Delaney was honored. At the table where Carolyn and their children sat, also sat Phil, Stevie Ray and me (although I think maybe Scott was there too - if so, I'm sorry for the oversight). You have to understand how triumphant that was to be there for that moment and we were there as the Delaney family's honored guests.

Only thing that matches that is going to Arrowhead and seeing Delaney in the Ring of Fame display. Though yes it would be absolutely awesome to be alive to see the Chiefs win a Super Bowl (or heck, just be in a Super Bowl), I don't know about you.... but when I see Delaney in that Ring of Fame and realize what we all did to make that happen and really have a part in Chiefs history like that and for this person in particular, man in a sense I feel as if we did win a Championship after all.

So to everyone who was involved with 37 Forever - the names are endless and from all parts of the country - be proud today by what we all did and ensuring that Joe Delaney's legacy will now always survive and be remembered the way it always should've been by the Chiefs.

37 Forever!

I've seen that first clip from kc.com before, and its always funny to me how they play up his strong southern dialect and how hard it was to understand, i honestly have no problem at all understanding what he's saying.

I've seen another one that included Dan Rather, but I hadn't seen that one until now. Jeez. Goosebumps.

And the only thing that prevents me from considering Rick Reilly an assclown is the piece he wrote about Joe. I still go back and read it from time to time.

One other thing. All the people who created 37 Forever can rest assured that they accomplished something great. Truly great.

That implies I was the founder. I wasn't. I was with the group from the beginning but it was Adam's brainchild and of all people, Tom Cash was involved as well. I just helped run it for a while mostly because I had the biggest mouth.

Incredibly post, Adam. That was worth the click.

Considering this place, and this fanbases proven ability to raise awareness and money... what might we be able to do for Joes park in Haughton?

No small part was played in getting ***** the hell outta here, surely we could raise some bucks, hearing about a weeded over parking lot with nothing in it is shameful.

I say we get you, Flop, PR, Marty, 88 and Jwhit back on the case...

It is a disgrace, but it is a small town, 1 stop light. Limited resources I'm sure, so I don't know where the funding would come from to build it up. I would be more than happy to get the information, but it would probably take some outside resources to really build it up the the level that would honor Joe Delaney.

Nice to hear from you Adam. I'm not sure anyone will ever understand how hard 37 Forever worked. The entire group should be proud. It is amazing what was accomplished in the days really before social media. I am glad I had the opportunity to be involved and have truly great friendships to this day and some great memories. I'm damn glad you asked me to be a part of it.

The NFL 360 program donates thousands of dollars to parks around the nation. Why couldn't they throw a bunch of money at Joe Delaney Park?

One would certainly think that would be a perfect match.

Just put out the word a couple of places.

You're welcome Lee. There will always be some absolutely great memories from those days. That was a very difficult and time-consuming project for all of us - so to see it ultimately succeed despite its many obstacles (one of which, if you recall was 3 days after the first 37 Forever Weekend at the golf course and the old Adam's Mark Hotel, 9-11 happened and that just stopped in its tracks any would-be momentum that was gonna happen). Still, to see the bunch of us trek in from everywhere for that weekend - that really was IIRC the very first time Chiefs Planet members nationwide found a reason to get together and it's great that tradition keeps going.

I've been on the site. More regularly than one would think cause I know this is the place to find the most up to date Chiefs news (Royals too). From afar, I admired greatly how well orchestrated Save Our Chiefs was and it was very apparent early on you guys were gonna see this through to its successful conclusion (totally agreed with every thing you guys were doing and became a Facebook follower). Kudos to all of you! :thumb:

It's unfortunate I'm not on to post more, but with a wife for 9 years, a son who is 7 and being a lawyer, there just isn't anywhere near the amount of time anymore. But make no mistake about it, I'm still here and I always will view so many of you as my friends. We always will know that together we accomplished something very very special....

Good man, Adam. I'm looking forward to staying connected via FB.

One Joe Delaney trumps every Travis Henry, Maurice Clarett, Derrick Thomas, Pacman Jones, Art Schlichter and every other example of a self-worshiping life that this league has marketed to us.

Hey lay off dt man.

Your 7 year old son is a lawyer? :eek: