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June 21, 2004
NFL BEGINS USO TOUR IN
KUWAIT; Camp Wolverine, Kuwait – Almost one year to the day of the first NFL-USO visit to the Middle East, a pair of NFL players touched down this morning in Kuwait to begin a four-day tour of U.S. bases in Kuwait and Qatar. Marco Rivera of the Green Bay Packers and Brian Baldinger, who played for the Cowboys, Colts, and Eagles during a 13-year career and currently works as an NFL analyst for FOX, were greeted by a wealth of warm receptions that exceeded the 110-degree heat. After checking into their Army base accommodations at Camp Wolverine, the duo set out for Camp Doha. There they signed autographs and posed for pictures with servicemen and women. Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant Christine Dare surprised Rivera by producing a “Green Bay Packers” football for the Pro Bowl veteran to sign. “The last think I expected to find in Kuwait was a Packers football,” said Rivera. If she hadn’t already, Dare then proved without a doubt that passionate Packer fans are everywhere. “When the Eagles beat the Packers,” said the sergeant from Fox Lake, Wisconsin, “I lost a $5 bet. I was really upset so I paid it back in pennies. But first I painted one side of the pennies gold, flipped them over and the other side green. Then I placed them in a jar with vegetable oil and said to the person, ‘here -- now try to spend these.’ ” “I was somewhat surprised by the positive attitude everyone has,” said Rivera. “No one complained about being here. They’re so young, but they’re so mature.” Not to be outdone, Baldinger took part in a friendly “pushup” competition with members of the Air Force at the APOD – “Aerial Port of Departure” – where Col. Jamie Crowhurst introduced the players. “Baldy” did the NFL proud, knocking out close to 100 pushups. # # # |