To an Athlete Dying YoungTo an Athlete Dying Young

A.E. Housman A.E. Housman (Pronounced “hooseman”)(Pronounced “hooseman”)

(1859-1936)(1859-1936)

The time you won your town the raceThe time you won your town the raceWe chaired you through the market-place;We chaired you through the market-place;

Man and boy stood cheering by,Man and boy stood cheering by,And home we brought you shoulder-high. And home we brought you shoulder-high.

To-day, the road all runners come,To-day, the road all runners come,Shoulder-high we bring you home,Shoulder-high we bring you home,

And set you at your threshold down,And set you at your threshold down,Townsman of a stiller town. Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes awaySmart lad, to slip betimes awayFrom fields were glory does not stayFrom fields were glory does not stayAnd early though the laurel growsAnd early though the laurel growsIt withers quicker than the rose. It withers quicker than the rose.

Eyes the shady night has shutEyes the shady night has shutCannot see the record cut,Cannot see the record cut,

And silence sounds no worse than cheersAnd silence sounds no worse than cheersAfter earth has stopped the ears: After earth has stopped the ears:

Now you will not swell the routNow you will not swell the routOf lads that wore their honours out,Of lads that wore their honours out,

Runners whom renown outranRunners whom renown outranAnd the name died before the man. And the name died before the man.

So set, before its echoes fade,So set, before its echoes fade,The fleet foot on the sill of shade,The fleet foot on the sill of shade,

And hold to the low lintel upAnd hold to the low lintel upThe still-defended challenge-cup. The still-defended challenge-cup.

And round that early-laurelled headAnd round that early-laurelled headWill flock to gaze the strengthless dead,Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,

And find unwithered on its curlsAnd find unwithered on its curlsThe garland briefer than a girl's.The garland briefer than a girl's.

What you talkin’ bout Housman??What you talkin’ bout Housman??The time you won your town the raceThe time you won your town the raceWe chaired you through the market-place;We chaired you through the market-place;

Man and boy stood cheering by,Man and boy stood cheering by,And home we brought you shoulder-high. And home we brought you shoulder-high.

To-day, the road all runners come,To-day, the road all runners come,Shoulder-high we bring you home,Shoulder-high we bring you home,

And set you at your threshold down,And set you at your threshold down,Townsman of a stiller town. Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes awaySmart lad, to slip betimes awayFrom fields were glory does not stayFrom fields were glory does not stayAnd early though the laurel growsAnd early though the laurel growsIt withers quicker than the rose. It withers quicker than the rose.

Eyes the shady night has shutEyes the shady night has shutCannot see the record cut,Cannot see the record cut,

And silence sounds no worse than cheersAnd silence sounds no worse than cheersAfter earth has stopped the ears: After earth has stopped the ears:

Now you will not swell the routNow you will not swell the routOf lads that wore their honours out,Of lads that wore their honours out,

Runners whom renown outranRunners whom renown outranAnd the name died before the man. And the name died before the man.

So set, before its echoes fade,So set, before its echoes fade,The fleet foot on the sill of shade,The fleet foot on the sill of shade,

And hold to the low lintel upAnd hold to the low lintel upThe still-defended challenge-cup. The still-defended challenge-cup.

And round that early-laurelled headAnd round that early-laurelled headWill flock to gaze the strengthless dead,Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,

And find unwithered on its curlsAnd find unwithered on its curlsThe garland briefer than a girl's.The garland briefer than a girl's.

The athlete that’s being discussed was a hometown hero because The athlete that’s being discussed was a hometown hero because he won the competition (be it a race, game, match). The town was he won the competition (be it a race, game, match). The town was so proud that they carried him home on their shoulders, holding him so proud that they carried him home on their shoulders, holding him high above the rest.high above the rest.

He’s above the rest. He’s the best. He has made his mark in a this He’s above the rest. He’s the best. He has made his mark in a this town as an incredible athletetown as an incredible athlete

He dies, but his death is being referred to as a good thing because He dies, but his death is being referred to as a good thing because even though his victory flourished so quickly and beautifully it’s even though his victory flourished so quickly and beautifully it’s glory withers and wilts quicker than a rose.glory withers and wilts quicker than a rose.

Death is being referred to as blissful for this athlete. The record that Death is being referred to as blissful for this athlete. The record that was held so dear is eventually going to be beat or broken but he was held so dear is eventually going to be beat or broken but he will never know because he died with the memory of being the will never know because he died with the memory of being the greatestgreatest

He will never have to feel the disappointment of his record being He will never have to feel the disappointment of his record being beaten. His name outlives him instead of he outliving his name ir beaten. His name outlives him instead of he outliving his name ir his legend.his legend.

He still owns the challenge or the cup. Even though his record may He still owns the challenge or the cup. Even though his record may already be broken he is still the reigning champalready be broken he is still the reigning champ

The crown he wore for being the best is wilted and dead but to him The crown he wore for being the best is wilted and dead but to him it will forever be beautiful and invincible it will forever be beautiful and invincible

So let’s put some faces on this poem:So let’s put some faces on this poem:Jim Brown and Walter PaytonJim Brown and Walter Payton

Jim Brown

Cleveland Browns RB from:

(1957-1965)

Walter Payton

Chicago Bears RB from:

(1975-1987)

Some of their stats…Some of their stats…Jim BrownJim Brown

(1936 - ????)(1936 - ????)

Cleveland Browns RB: 1957 – 1965Cleveland Browns RB: 1957 – 1965

Pro Bowls: Pro Bowls: 99

Total rushing yards: Total rushing yards: 12,312**12,312**Total receiving yards: Total receiving yards: 2,4992,499

Total all-purpose yards: Total all-purpose yards: 15,45915,459

Inducted into hall of fame: Inducted into hall of fame: 19711971

** THIS WAS THOUGHT TO BE AN ** THIS WAS THOUGHT TO BE AN INDISPUTABEL RECORD UNTIL…INDISPUTABEL RECORD UNTIL…

Walter “Sweetness” PaytonWalter “Sweetness” Payton

(1954 - 1999)(1954 - 1999)

Chicago Bear’s Running Back: 1975 - 1987Chicago Bear’s Running Back: 1975 - 1987

Pro Bowls:Pro Bowls: 99

Total rushing yards:Total rushing yards:16,726**16,726**

Total receiving yards:Total receiving yards: 2,3362,336

Total all-purpose yards:Total all-purpose yards: 21, 80321, 803

Inducted into hall of fame: Inducted into hall of fame: 19931993

**OCTOBER 7, 1984 HE SHATTERED **OCTOBER 7, 1984 HE SHATTERED BROWN’S RUSHING YARDS BROWN’S RUSHING YARDS RECORD! BUT WE CAN’T RECORD! BUT WE CAN’T

FORGET…FORGET…

Emmitt…Emmitt…Emmitt Smith Emmitt Smith

(1969 - ????)(1969 - ????)

Dallas Cowboys RB: 1990 -2002Dallas Cowboys RB: 1990 -2002

Arizona Cardinals RB: 2003 - 2004Arizona Cardinals RB: 2003 - 2004

Pro bowls:Pro bowls: 88

Total rushing yards:Total rushing yards:18,355**18,355**

Total receiving yards:Total receiving yards: 3,2243,224

Total All purpose yards: Total All purpose yards: 21,56421,564

Inducted into hall of fame: Inducted into hall of fame: n/an/a

**ON OCTOBER 27, 2002 (18 YEARS **ON OCTOBER 27, 2002 (18 YEARS AND 20 DAYS LATER) EMMITT AND 20 DAYS LATER) EMMITT SURPASSED HIS CHILDHOOD SURPASSED HIS CHILDHOOD

HERO TO BECOME THE NFL’s ALL-HERO TO BECOME THE NFL’s ALL-TIME RUSH LEADER…TIME RUSH LEADER…

Here’s my point…Here’s my point…Jim Brown, Walter Payton, and Emmitt Smith are three NFL legends Jim Brown, Walter Payton, and Emmitt Smith are three NFL legends

with this in common:with this in common:

1.1. Running BacksRunning Backs

2.2. Record settersRecord setters

3.3. Record breakersRecord breakers

4.4. Heroes to manyHeroes to many

BUT… Here’s a difference that’s significant to A.E. Housman’s Poem:BUT… Here’s a difference that’s significant to A.E. Housman’s Poem:

Jim Brown set the record, but was alive to see it broken by the late Jim Brown set the record, but was alive to see it broken by the late Walter Payton.Walter Payton.

Walter Payton died with his record under his belt. He was buried as a Walter Payton died with his record under his belt. He was buried as a great man, but also as the ALL-TIME LEADING RUSHER because great man, but also as the ALL-TIME LEADING RUSHER because he was gone before he could see Emmitt Smith break it next. he was gone before he could see Emmitt Smith break it next.

Think about it…Think about it…

Who would you rather be??Who would you rather be??

Can you imagine how Brown felt to see Can you imagine how Brown felt to see his record shattered? his record shattered?

Do you see Housman’s point??Do you see Housman’s point??

  

"I want to be remembered as the guy "I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on who gave his all whenever he was on the field." - the field." - Walter PaytonWalter Payton

……and he is. and he is.