DREAMS FULFILLED, PROMISES KEPT

- Scott Lancaster, YouthEvolutionSports.com

On a beautiful clear summer evening, where you would expect to hear the crack of a bat, and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” in the middle of the seventh, I witnessed the energy and excitement of a high school football game. Not any high school game, but an all-star game that was presented as professional as any NFL game I’ve attended. Every year around this time one of the best high school all-star games in the country is played between New York City and Long Island. The Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge is a game that is hosted by the Boomer Esiason Foundation to benefit Cystic Fibrosis.

For the past 13 years this game has been played, but with not quite the magic that took place on this particular night. This is where a young man once dreamed of playing baseball on this type of evening on a stage this big, now has the opportunity to fulfill a dream and promise on a football field in June.

Approximately six years ago a 12 year old from East Flatbush, Brooklyn took part in the NFL’s Junior Player Development Program (JPD). A program specifically designed to introduce the game of tackle football by teaching every young athlete every position. It didn’t involve scrimmages or games; it emphasized fundamentals through fun competitions.

Jeffery Legree, a 12 year old who loved baseball but had a desire to become a better football player remembers it like it was yesterday when Boomer Esiason the former NFL Quarterback and CBS NFL Analyst visited his JPD program at Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn. “I introduced myself to Boomer that day and immediately told him I was going to play in his All-Star Game some day, and win it.”

A bold statement from a 12 year old, who over the years would continue to run into Boomer and repeat his prediction, which was actually a promise he had made to himself. “You have to take chances and do everything you can to keep promises to yourself, it’s the only way to improve and hopefully succeed.” Legree explained the next day, as he was getting ready for graduation.

Jeffery Legree came out of 3 years of JPD as a quarterback with the confidence and desire to fulfill his dreams. “JPD was a great program, it taught us the fundamental and mechanics that allowed me to understand and respect the responsibility of every position. But most importantly it taught me how to be coached by carefully listening, watching, and then executing. I could not have asked for a better experience.” That was until Tuesday night.

As the commemorative USA Football soared into the air at kick-off, Jeffery Legree knew what to do. Jeffery had watched the game first hand last year from the stands when his brother, David, now a quarterback at Syracuse University, and his best friend, Keith Stroud, now a wide receiver at Rutgers were victorious. On this particular night, with former Empire players Devale Ellis, Detroit Lions Wide Receiver, and James Wyche, Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive End looked on along with the incoming group of New York Jet Rookies, Jeffery spent this game darting around the field making things happen with both his arm and feet.

By the end of the 3rd quarter Long Island led 20 to 14. Jeffery had thrown and run for both New York City scores, but his night was not quite over. With less than a minute remaining and facing 4th and 20 yards in their end of the field Legree faced a prevent dime package as he stood over center. “We ran a hitch and go that didn’t quite work. It was a broken play and I found myself escaping out from a tackle, he had me by the leg, but I got out and found Shaahiyn Alston (RB from Curtis High School) free 20 yards downfield.” The play resulted in a continuation of a 78-yard drive, capped with a eight-yard touchdown completion by Legree in the corner of the end zone with 8 seconds left in the game, and with the one point conversion New York City went on to defeat Long Island. Legree had not only successfully fulfilled a prediction he had made to Boomer years ago but a promise to himself. Something that seemed so unlikely to others, Jeffery had envisioned, believed in, and fulfilled.

This story is not dissimilar to the promise Boomer had made to his son, Gunnar, and hundred of thousands of other young Cystic Fibrosis patients around the world. Boomer continues to fulfill a promise to raise enough money (over $60 million to date) for research to find a cure. What once was an average life span of 25 years of age for a CF patient when Gunnar was diagnosed has now become 40 + years of age. A feat that Boomer and his foundation can directly be proud of accomplishing.

Are there any more predictions and promises Jeffery Legree would like to make for the future? “I would like to attend a big time Division One Football School after a year at Union Prep in Virginia, then win a major bowl game and become the Heisman Trophy Winner within three years.”

With odds still enormously against both of them they pursue their future dreams. Two individual quarterbacks that don’t look at life as odds against but odds for, I wouldn’t bet against either one.