The Long Shot pt 2

By Scott Long as told to Travis Williams
March 19, 2010

This is the second entry for the Scott Long diary. Scott has been sharing his daily activities with the Main Event Sports crew as he awaits this year’s NFL draft. He’s predicted to be a sixth to seventh round pick by most draft experts.But his impressive combine performance may have bump him slightly higher. Either way, the North Carolina native will be in an NFL uniform this season somewhere.
One can only guess as to how much Long will impact the NFL or what caliber of player he’ll become by looking at his game film.


Everything from the college level or even the combine doesn’t always translate to The League.

But solid beliefs, hard work and a strong support system goes a long way in any area of life. Luckily Long has all of those. So trust me when I say that if Long gets drafted or makes the league through free agency, he’s gonna be ok.

Charity Work

My agency put on an annual charity event for the United Way this past weekend. We (myself and some of his other clients) did an appearance, auctioned off some things and put on a fundamental skills camp for kids. All the proceeds went to charity so it was a pretty cool thing. Just seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces was a great feeling. I remember being a young kid looking up to NFL players so I can only imagine how fun it was for them to be around those guys.

(Charity) is something that’s right up my alley. I wanted to get going on that as soon as possible. I’ve actually got some plans, once I get established, to do an annual kids camp that would be half football and half
worship and praise or like a bible study deal.
 
It's a Business
 

I got to talk to a guy who recently signed with the Patriots and had been in the league for awhile.  He really opened my eyes to how much of a business the NFL is.  He gave me some insight on the new collective bargaining agreement and how I should really save my money that first year with the potential lockout.  You hear about the horror stories of players blowing their money but I only imagined it being people who didn't play anymore.  I mean the minimum salary in the NFL is more than the majority of paying jobs in the United States.  I couldn't imagine someone being employed in the NFL and struggling with money.
 
And some of the examples he gave were guys that are currently playing in the league that have no money when the season is over. 

That just blew my mind!

I come from a small farm town in Winnabow North Carolina. I don't come from money so I'm not a big spender. I'm not a tennis show guy or a jewerly guy and don't wear designer clothes.  I've got the same car I had when I first got my license and it's on its last leg now.  I'm just an average dude so I think I'll make the transition well as far as managing my money. 
 
Workouts

I've gotten a couple more calls (from teams), people with heavy interest are coming in to do private workouts.  A receiver coach wants to come in and do an hour meeting with me after my pro-day.  (Fomer UofL quarterback Bill Ashburn will be throwing to me, I work four days a week at the Tragher Center with him on getting our timing down so we'll be ready.
 
In Closing
 
Hopefully nobody else forgot to move their clocks an hour ahead this past weekend. While driving to the stadium, late for my workout earlier this week, I thought about how great spring is. March madness is here, football is around the corner and we can finally look forward to some good weather. Spring to me symbolizes a new beginning, the growth of all things new. This same idea can be applied to life.
 
Too often we are held captive by our past. The only way to shake free from those things is to put your best foot in front of you and "spring" forward without looking back. Philippians 3:14 reads," I press on toward the goal to win the prize, for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
 
Keep your eyes fixed on what lies ahead, God doesn't keep a record of the wrongs in your past, so why should you?


Yours truely, 84