Joe Delaney - 30 years.
 

Always my favorite Chief.

Great article, Sean. Thanks for writing it. First rate.

The article touches on an interesting point: what could the foundation have accomplished with today's social media outlets?

"You look at his numbers and work in the NFL, and I think if he had maintained his health and progressed in his career, he would've had a career very much like (Sanders). I played against a lot of guys with similar abilities, but Joe just had the knack, just pure speed ... if he would've played eight or 10 years in the league, he would've put up some outstanding numbers."


yep

I told Sean that in some ways, 37 Forever functioned in a primitive social network. We'd have never been able to do half of what we did without ChiefsPlanet though. FWIW, I didn't tell Sean I was a founder of 37 Forever. That's all Adam Jassey.

Sad.

I think it is cool he is remembered the way he is. Hope a new generation of Chiefs fans can appreciate the man Joe Delaney.


He should be the "Crazy Horse monument" from the Mt. Rushmore of Chiefs.

Whatever became of Adam? I know I'm not around enough to know for sure but, I don't think I've seen him post in forever and a day.

He's still in New York. He's a father and he comes around here. I'll bet he will throw a rare post on this thread.

What do you think about a relaunch now that social media is more developed?

I am gonna go have a drink for Joe, right now.

It would be cool if someone made a movie about his life someday. It honestly feels like something Hollywood would love.

and I might add Jamaal Charles has been my sort of Joe Delaney all since the day he was drafted by the Chiefs. Always thought of Joe when I watched Jamaal's college games. They don't run the same, Joe was a wide open footed scampering guy, whereas Jamaal has always run in small spaces and has the kind of footing to squirt through small spaces, but the two change direction similarly and have that explosion out the cut you just cannot teach -- that is a man's will.

There's a group of people trying to get Haughton to finish the park. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joe-D...347685?fref=ts That group is at least a couple years old. Don't know how they're marketing it but it seems like interest is still minimal.

Damn that sad. They need some new blood.

Great read!

An ESPN 30 for 30 would be great.
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Absolutely. I'm kinda surprised it hasn't happened yet.

They did a pretty significant segment for the 20th anniversary and played it several times. Sent a reporter down to Louisiana for about a week and hired a crew to shoot it. Spent a ton of money on it.

Rip joe you're are a self less hero.
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You're about as cool as a Bronco fan can get, Garcia... :)

Damn it, it's hard to believe it's been 30 years...

I'll never forget that 80-something yard run Joe busted against the Broncos...And I'll never forget thinking that the long dark years had finally come to an end for the Chiefs...

Damn it all to hell...

What a great story!

Joe was amazing and could have ended up a Hall of Famer.

Would have been great to tie it in with Project Swim. Would have been even greater if we had been more successful and the event that led to Project Swim could have been avoided.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/artic...g-lessons-kids

Damn good article. Never got to see Joe play, but his legacy certainly lives on.

I live in Haughton and graduated from Haughton High School. They have a shrine built for Joe Delaney in the gym, but the "park" in Haughton is a joke. Its a bare field the size of a Circle K parking lot, overgrown grass, with a sign saying future home of Joe Delaney park. Its stuck between some old shotgun houses and a couple old run down mobile homes. Joe D is the biggest star to come from this town, and you see his picture up in the local grocery store and other places, but the park is downright insulting. I would post a pic of it but don't know how, and not sure if I even have the priveleges due to my post count.

I thought about this the other day because there are some kids like 5-4 that wander out to the deep end of the apt pool I attend that can't swim. Should be a basic right to learn.

Whoa... i didnt know you started that foundation Phil, cant believe that slipped by me through the years, way to go dude, i appreciate that about you.

I've said my peace several times over the years about Joe and i guess its time to say it again... he was the first celebrity death to deeply affect me, i was in an honest to God funk for a week.

It wasnt just losing my favorite Chief, the guy who actually made me a Chiefs fan, tearing me away from Dorsett and Payton, a massive accomplishment... but even as a young boy, the way he died got to me... he had went in to save boys my age.

His death made me grow up a bit, start to ponder some of the deeper issues of life... thats the best compliment i can think of.

That park sounds like a disgrace, wish i had the means to do something about it.

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:

You might not, but WE do.

If someone were to organize it and or get the Chiefs involved, I'd be willing to pledge 200.00 dollars toward the park.

I can't believe no one has recognized this gesture. That's...I'm not sure what to say...pretty damn amazing, Garcia.

I just meant i certainly couldnt do too much damage by myself, but i can certainly scratch something together for this, just like i did SOC.

You're right, WE do, the collective power of this place should be able to put a very tidy sum together... we're you to donate $200, i will relegate my Bronco hating to only sundays and not every minute of each day of the week!

Don't go changin'


But seriously, Joe is an inspiration to the impossible and the good that is within us all. He wasn't first and he's not the last, but to feel such passion for the people around you...to be so driven in a crisis situation to forget his own short comings is nothing short of amazing. It should be respected. I wish the NFL would make his story more known because it's powerful.

:thumb:

I was in for the first round of 37 Forever, I'm certainly down for a part two.

I'll kick in some money too.

Joe gave all of us old timers reason to believe in the Chiefs again after the Wiggins era. A once proud franchise being lifted up by such a small guy than any BIG man in camp or anything Lamar could do by himself at the time. Opposing teams knew, much like Barry Sanders of late, get him down quick or bare the fruit of watching him hit the open hole and turning on the after burners. Joe knew when to hit a hole with precise timing and let the speed do the rest.

Many people want to talk about his speed ( which was was awesome ), But Joe was never ever given the credit for setting himself up with the blockers, much like Preist Holmes would do.That when Joe would hit the hole, each time it was basically credited for his speed. With this in mind, many times the hole opened up quickly enough, the speed came on early and the rest was history. Joe was a quick reader of defenses, at times his speed out ran our blocking. His quick cuts and 2 strides left many of teams behind chasing him down field. Joe left us way too quick, the guy had HOF written all over him.

To all the members and supporters of the 37Forever Foundation, I raise my glass to each of you. To all the officers that plugged a lot of hours, heart & soul into it, I still applaud you for your hard work and dedication. I was so proud the day came we were able to finally have our first few sponsored kids complete the swimming lessons with the ARC on behalf of 37Forever. I know I got to meet many members here and developed a friendship with several good people because of 37Forever. It was tough watching the interest die off after the Ring of Fame as Phil mentioned. There just wasn't enough young blood to keep it going until more interest came along. We needed a full time person to spearhead it in KC while Adam,Scott, Pam, myself and a few select others ( of our later officers ) all lived out of town and could not always get the KC ground work. Leaving it all for Phil to do was just too much to ask of him with him starting a business, I know first hand.

It was a short sweet ride for a great guy. The man's heart was bigger than his 180# frame, he cared that much for his fellow man.

We lost a wonderful man that day yet end the end, the story of Joe Delaney is a reminder of how we should feel about one another.

RIP Joe, signed, 37Forever.

So very true, Roy. From the original article Phil posted... what would be absolutely incredible is if Sedarrius (Joe's grandson) does in fact make it big time and turns out to be a bonafide college football star, worthy to be drafted - how sentimental would it be if the Chiefs drafted or signed Sedarrius and it was agreed by all parties that he wear #37.

What a perfect ending that would be....

It really is great when you see rival fans realize that in this particular case, some players transcend the jersey they happen to wear. Chiefs were very lucky to be the team that #37 played for. Thanks Garcia Bronco.

Pam suggested a page on Facebook to me - the Joe Delaney Memorial Project. Seeing some early interest already here, decided to inquire within. Here's the thread from yesterday of that - looks like the biggest obstacle facing it is the stagnant Haughton local government unable/unwilling to get this off the ground. So here's what was written and as you'll see, I suggested they come here as there still exists widespread support for this.

Conversation started Sunday
2:38pm
Adam Jassey

This is a very worthy endeavor you and your organization are pursuing.

From 1999-2004, I was the founder of the 37 Forever Foundation. It was a group of nationwide Chiefs fans committed to seeing Joe Delaney would never be forgotten and be given his just due by the Chiefs; something that was obviously lacking as the memory of him definitely had disappeared in Kansas City.

This non profit organization relentlessly lobbied the Chiefs to do the right thing. A website was formed and it began to bring attention from national media outlets. Without question it climaxed on the 20th Anniversary of the Tragedy, as SportsCenter did a 10 minute feature on Delaney. I was consulted and gave them Delaney memorabilia that they used. Also Rick Reilly penned a feature on that weeks Sports Illustrated. The Chiefs were no longer able to snub our good intentions and two months later they announced that Joe Delaney would be inducted into the Chiefs Ring of Fame. At the 101 Banquet in Kansas City in March, 2004, Delaney finally got his just due. There at the table with Carolyn Delaney and their children as their guests sat myself and a few dedicated members of 37 Forever. It was really just a surreal experience, just as it is when we travel out to Arrowhead and see his name there in the Ring of Fame. There is absolutely no doubt that if not for 37 Forever, he would still have been forgotten.

37 Forever also found another calling with this project and that was partnering with the American Red Cross to provide for free swim lessons for the underprivileged kids in the Kansas City, Haughton, Monroe and other Louisiana areas. Dozens if not a few hundred kids benefited from this.

Not sure if you knew about this. Until yesterday, we didn't know about you.

Though 37 Forever ceased operations, I know that for your project we could definitely put you in the touch with the right people that could maybe just maybe help this get off the ground.

If interested, lemme know but without question THE place to really go after in hot pursuit HAS to be Northwestern State. Joe Delaney is a treasure to that university and we had their endless support. Matter of fact, any of these contacts - if you threw 37 Forever Foundation out there, I'm certain they still remember years later what was done.

Congrats again on everything you have done so far and hopefully I (and other former 37 Forever Foundation members) can help assist you in making your dream come true.

37 Forever

Sunday
5:49pm
Joe Delaney Memorial Park Project

This is from Tina Jolley. Thanks for your info. I appreciate it. I am in the middle of something today but i wanted u to know i appreciate your time in writing. I will keep all that u said in mind. I have some appointments i will be making with some of my legislators to work on this project. Once again thank you.


5:57pm
Joe Delaney Memorial Park Project

Thank you Adam for taking the time to tell me about this. I would love to have you as part of this effort with me. After reading above, It is clear to me, that I need more people like you if I am going to reach the goals that we have for this effort/page. My goal, has always been to build the Memorial park the way Joe Delaney had it visioned. Up until about a month ago, We had James Blessington here as admin, who wrote a book about Delaney, and was our primary connection inside the Chiefs organization. Things have changed, and sadly, James threw in the towel last month after literally 10 years worth of frustration with the lawmakers in Haughton.

James is a great writer. And I was part of his effort for the longest time. His website, "IamJoeDelaney.org" was our driving force for the longest time. To my knowledge? The site is still up, but has not been updated in quite sometime. If you find the time to visit this site though? You would find out how long we have been trying to produce Results for the Delaney family. I am connected with many of them here on FB as well. Let me know when you take a look, as I'd like to know I got ya brought up to speed on our past efforts. You are welcome to join me here on this page, and would love you to be a part of it.

Take that into consideration, and give me a shout. I will send you a friend request as well.

Thanks again Adam. Be well.
Barry Peraino


6:36pm
Adam Jassey

Thanks Barry. We are proud that efforts to remember Delaney have continued on after 37 Forever accomplished most of its goals. I will take a look at that website.

I had much more free time years ago. Now as a Dad, a lawyer, etc. it is very difficult to really get back into it the way I did back then. You have to understand how committed we were back then. We turned every stone and kicked the tires on every car to advance things forward. There were so many people besides me who helped out significantly. Collectively we may have enough support to team up.

A website I must suggest to you and your organization to join is chiefsplanet.com.

This website contained pretty much every member from 37 Forever. There was a thread about the 30th anniversary on the first or second page.

Not sure about why Haughton would be dragging their feet like that. It might be funding. That place is very impoverished.

If there is a place to go to which may turn the tide, it definitely is Northwestern State in Naitichodies. Delaney is such a legend over there. They will be behind every project dedicated to his memory. Think about it for a second. There's alumni there with deep pockets that will gladly contribute to this, especially in state and it being his hometown. They will be throwing their support behind it no doubt. Heck, how many alumni are past or present Louisiana state legislators? Unfortunately there's so much politics with things like this and it's so unfair that it is like that. But you must be able to overcome this somehow someway.

Didn't ever realize that Joe had hoped for a community park in Haughton. That is truly great! But let's say its not gonna ever be passed in Haughton. Why not see if NW State is willing to maybe erect the park on their campus or nearby. Pretty sure Carolyn went there to college with Joe.

We will chat more I'm sure.

In the meantime Chiefs Planet should give you an immediate boost and upgrade.

Oh geez not Barry.

OMG - Out. Unbelievable. Worst news I've heard in a while.

Adam,

Please, as a request from an old dear friend, Please refrain from Barry!

Just bad news, and I do not like to talk about anybody, but this guys is a bad as our ( not so called ) friend from NEPA.

Makes me sad.

Glad you let me know. That's as far as the convo went. I'll stay away. What if I may ask did he do?

He's one the idiots who tried to worm his way into SOC last fall and then when he got rejected politely, he tried to discredit the organization and start a competing group. Just a hack running around the internet looking for a niche. Guess the park group was ripe for the picking.

Barry will ruin anything your group ever accomplished.

Too bad that not that many people were there for the induction. Although MarkM was a happy camper.