Joe Delaney June 29 1983

[Dob Hooligan]

I remember reading the story when it happened, and it stays in the recesses of my mind. But, for some reason Mike Florio of NBC's Pro Football Talk decided to run a post about his story every year on the anniversary.

joe Delaney was a running back for the Kansas City Chiefs who was preparing to enter his 3rd season with the team. From Louisiana, he had a wife and 3 daughters. He was near a pond in Monroe, when he learned that 3 small boys were in the water and drowning. He was admittedly a poor swimmer, but went in to attempt to save them. He was able to save one of them, yet lost his life in the effort.

I'm doing a poor job of telling the story. He was a man who jumped in when no one else was able to help. The supreme sacrifice by a small town fellow. It moves deeply every year when I read it.

I love sports and the people who play them.

I love America.

[Pete]

I remember this.

Hero gets thrown around a lot but Joe Delaney truly was one.