Dusty too.

Goddamnitsomuch, subby. I've got something in my eye.

Wow, that's one of the saddest things I've ever read.

Poor guy.

No_47: That article deserves to be written by a better writer.

Seconded.

Here's an excellent piece that ESPN did last year.

Link (new window)

PPL_Wannabe: No_47: That article deserves to be written by a better writer.

Seconded.

For sure.

If any Admins are still reading this, PLEASE greenlight this.

/not subby

How sad and inspirational at the same time...

Amazing story. I can't believe he's kept it up this long. That's a good man right there.

wow, smog is really bad today.....gonna need to a moment like everyone else

RIP chuckie. brad, you are a good man

s1ugg0: Amazing story. I can't believe he's kept it up this long. That's a good man right there.

And a good father. Kids learn by example - and I'd wager something of considerable value that his are going to grow up just fine.

PPL_Wannabe: No_47: That article deserves to be written by a better writer.

Seconded.

Yeah, but you know what? It is a heartfelt attempt, by a writer with severely limited skills, to do the best job he could. And, under these circumstances, it's acceptable.

Can we get a Football Veterans Day in August during a pre season week? They deserve it, and August deserves a holiday.

Dammit - why do I read anything with the "sad" tag attached to it while at work????

It is a great story, though, and I am sending this to my daughter so she can see there is more to life than her 20something yuppiness. I am humbled by his devotion to this man.

PPL_Wannabe: No_47: That article deserves to be written by a better writer.

Seconded.

Thirded. (Umpteenthed?)

But, while it smells a bit of creative-license taking, this turns the article around:

"A ventilator was rhythmically hissing at his bedside. Gaines shuffled near the bed, bent over and strained to make out what Mullins said.

'It wasn't your fault.'"

What I don't get is the general, "why does he do it?" perplexedness. I mean, the guy was responsible for killing another good guy. Maybe it says more about the author than anyone in the story, in his lack of understanding that some people, you know, take responsibility for their actions. Maybe an extreme example that we could all learn something from, but I don't understand how it's hard to see why he does it.

not sure which made me want to cry more....the touching story or the HORRIBLE WRITING
/sweet jesus, seriously?

SFSailor: PPL_Wannabe: No_47: That article deserves to be written by a better writer.

Seconded.

Thirded. (Umpteenthed?)

But, while it smells a bit of creative-license taking, this turns the article around:

"A ventilator was rhythmically hissing at his bedside. Gaines shuffled near the bed, bent over and strained to make out what Mullins said.

'It wasn't your fault.'"

What I don't get is the general, "why does he do it?" perplexedness. I mean, the guy was responsible for killing another good guy. Maybe it says more about the author than anyone in the story, in his lack of understanding that some people, you know, take responsibility for their actions. Maybe an extreme example that we could all learn something from, but I don't understand how it's hard to see why he does it.

That's the point - he was not responsible. The kid hit him, he had nothing to do with it any more than a tackling dummy would.

flaming99: That's the point - he was not responsible. The kid hit him, he had nothing to do with it any more than a tackling dummy would.

Yeah, I had to read it a few times to make sure I understood that Mullins broke his own neck tackling Gaines, not the other way around.

Stupid chemicals are making me teary and stuff .

flaming99: That's the point - he was not responsible. The kid hit him, he had nothing to do with it any more than a tackling dummy would.

And maybe that's my point. Why is his feeling responsible so alien?

He was there. He was involved, directly or indirectly, with the other kid's surprisingly, untimely demise. Some people feel responsibility in situations like that.

But, I have been accused of being overly sympathetic at times, so maybe it's just me.

wow.

Those are 2 are both a hell of a man

And if, on one of these guilt-assuaging trips, he crashes, or hitchhikes with the wrong guy and winds up dead ...

Who's going to take care of his family? Who's going to replace the Christmases you selfishly took yourself away from your children?

Yes, "selfish" is the word. Get some counseling, rich boy. Chucky forgave you - forgive yourself and live your life, before it's too late.

TheHopeDiamond: And if, on one of these guilt-assuaging trips, he crashes, or hitchhikes with the wrong guy and winds up dead ...

Who's going to take care of his family? Who's going to replace the Christmases you selfishly took yourself away from your children?

Yes, "selfish" is the word. Get some counseling, rich boy. Chucky forgave you - forgive yourself and live your life, before it's too late.

0/10 not the story for trolling

I'm gonna run him off the road.

(sorry, just an attempt to throw everyone for a second)

Guys from Mississippi don't cry much. One of the few ways to get them to cry is to mention the name Chucky Mullins.

I CRIED TOO HAHAHAHA

TheHopeDiamond: And if, on one of these guilt-assuaging trips, he crashes, or hitchhikes with the wrong guy and winds up dead ...

Who's going to take care of his family? Who's going to replace the Christmases you selfishly took yourself away from your children?

Yes, "selfish" is the word. Get some counseling, rich boy. Chucky forgave you - forgive yourself and live your life, before it's too late.

I am strangely impressed with your trollish behavior. Are you that cynical or do you just genuinely not feel the anguish and guilt in the hearts of others? I'm sure his wife has brought up your talking points to him, but those words fall on deaf ears.

Whether Mullins died directly or indirectly through the action of Gaines on the football field, the fact is, the series of events that led to Mullins' death began at the chest of Gaines. Whether his guilt is misplaced or not, Gaines feels responsible and I feel no amount of counselling will relieve this man of the pain he feels daily. As an outsider, it's easy to think, "Wow, this man bears no responsibility, why does he suffer?" I think all of us would have feelings of unforgiveable guilt had we been placed in this situation.

I feel sorry for this man and his daily suffering.

KJUW89: TheHopeDiamond: And if, on one of these guilt-assuaging trips, he crashes, or hitchhikes with the wrong guy and winds up dead ...

Who's going to take care of his family? Who's going to replace the Christmases you selfishly took yourself away from your children?

Yes, "selfish" is the word. Get some counseling, rich boy. Chucky forgave you - forgive yourself and live your life, before it's too late.

0/10 not the story for trolling


I'm not trolling at all. Being a woman, I'm immune to the clouds of testosterone created by using the words "football" and "death" in the same article. This guy is cheating his own family to pick at the scabs of one tragic day.

He needs help, not a bunch of enablers telling him to waste the rest of his life.

Selfish, selfish, selfish.

They ran a story on this in Memphis when Ole Miss retired his number. They showed video of the hit if I remember correctly. Pretty interesting story nonetheless.

Had no idea he was doing that. That's...wow.




/"It's Time"

I'm sorry - really, I am... Window seat, please...

it was sad and all, but I just couldn't think of anything else after I saw that pic.

He sounds a lot like Jack Tatum. Oh, never mind - he doesn't sound at all like Jack Tatum.

TheHopeDiamond: I'm not trolling at all. Being a woman, I'm immune to the clouds of testosterone created by using the words "football" and "death" in the same article. This guy is cheating his own family to pick at the scabs of one tragic day.

He needs help, not a bunch of enablers telling him to waste the rest of his life.

Selfish, selfish, selfish.

Cheating his own family? Please. He spends three days per year making these road trips. How is that cheating his family? A guy isn't allowed to spend three freaking days per year doing something that's important to him, even if you, the cynic, decide it shouldn't be important?

If the guy spent those three days per year going hunting or going to the game with his buddies or playing in a Saturday rec league or any other hobby, is that also cheating his family? He doesn't do this every week or every month. Three days per year.

Just because it's not something YOU find important, doesn't mean he's somehow cheating his family. You sound like the kind of woman who gets mad if her man wants to spend one Saturday a month watching football with his friends because YOU don't find it interesting.

If his family begrudges him three days per year, they are the ones being selfish.

Unless you are trolling. I can never tell.

TheHopeDiamond: And if, on one of these guilt-assuaging trips, he crashes, or hitchhikes with the wrong guy and winds up dead ...

Who's going to take care of his family? Who's going to replace the Christmases you selfishly took yourself away from your children?

Yes, "selfish" is the word. Get some counseling, rich boy. Chucky forgave you - forgive yourself and live your life, before it's too late.

Exactly. I'm sure if Chucky saw what he was doing, he'd be pissed.