October 20, 1997

"PURE UNADULTERATED JOY"

What does it mean for NFL players to play in front of the home fans? Here is an excerpt from a recent USA Today column by Tim Green, former Atlanta Falcons linebacker:

"Playing in front of an enthusiastic home crowd is one of the NFL's greatest joys…As a player, what you crave is the roaring energy of a packed house. When you make a big play at a real home game, you stand in the middle of the field and raise your hands like lightning rods. The energy from thousands of people surges down through you like a thick hot electric current. You're lifted into the air, not by teammates, but by exultation. The chaotic roar is like a narcotic. There is no pain. There is not worry. There is only pure unadulterated joy."